Show Terry Dillon Columnist Let the words o of f my mouth and the meditations o of af f my heart be acceptable in thy sight Psalm 19 1914 14 IN N putting our house in order sometimes es the house II needing t toe he most attention attention attention at at- is within our own souls The bible v verse about a ahouse ahouse ahouse house divided is fitting because because because be be- cause it is most true of our spiritual nature When we find our loyalties divided between between between be be- tween two opposing value systems we are miserable Such a division is the source of str stress ss anxiety and low self worth A confused psyche can make us think crazy and distorted distorted distorted dis dis- dis- dis thoughts thoughts further further separating us from a sense of our true being One way this can happen is isby isby isby by being raised within a family with conflicting religious values such as when a devout Roman Catholic marries a committed protestant or Jew Dysfunctional Dysfunctional Dysfunctional families suffer from conflicting values usually ona on a much more serious scale th than n mere doctrinal differences ces however As adults we get to re ex the problems of conflicting conflicting conflicting con con- values we knew as children These lessons come up for us to be healed within our own souls We will continue continue continue con con- to have the same challenges challenges challenges chal chal- lenges face us again and again until we learn to stop making the same old mistakes Such problems arise begging to be mastered by byus us Through meditation we can learn how to get out of our own way so to speak in order to clean up our out internal houses II Through meditation meditation ti tion n we can allow ourselves the peace and serenity needed to grow grow emotionally emotionally and intellectually in in- in in the way we are meant to as spiritual beings of divine origin That is because meditation helps us to get in A house divided cannot carmot stand stand JT touch with our most urgent feelings It is important to know that the Universe wants us to emerge from difficulties masterfully h hAn An example of a challenging ing obstacle in a house divided is the disclosure of homosexuality It is not only at odds with what seems to be exp expected expected ex ex- p by community standards stand stand- ards for ards-for for example marriages between sexed same-sexed partners are not yet provided for under the law law but but it is especially a dilemma for someone whose upbringing was religiously conservative Sadly this division usually sends gays and le lesbians fleeing fleeing fleeing flee flee- ing from any connection with organized religion religion religion-or or worse running totally away from the idea of God But God the God the Universe Higher Love Spirit Spirit has has given us an exciting ting choice We get getto getto getto to exercise freedom and dominion over our own lives This is exciting because we get getto getto to discover who we are and what God intends intends' for us more or less at t our own pace and in our own o time It is a wonderful thing to know that we are created in the image of a divine God who is expressing in us and through us To a person person person per per- son with homosexual challenges challen challen- there is no more comforting comforting comforting comfort comfort- ing feeling than to know that we are all created in the image and likeness of a God that expresses expresses expresses ex ex- presses though us in a unique and beautiful way Our house hous stops being divided when we know that we are children of the Most High that God hasn't made a mistake with us but has given us the chance to be masters of our own destinies It is a remarkable gift to watch ourselves as we grow and unfold beautifully lIy to the full glory of a heavenly creation This does not mean 1 t rejecting any part of the self but rather it urges us to grow more whole within our own own unique set sett of circumstances As we grow in self we we become radiant in our love and non-judgemental non acceptance acceptance acceptance tance of our brothers-and brothers sisters Let us celebrate the love that has created life that says yes to our innermost needs and desires and which supports supports supports sup sup- ports each individual childs child's efforts to put our house hous in J order Let us enjoy the struggle struggle struggle toward with gle mastery open eyes ey s and open hearts I |