Inner Insights Online Newsletter

Save Our Children: Create an Atmosphere of Love

by June Michael

I debated whether or not to write this article about the alarming rate of death of children and young adults in our country. It seems that you can’t turn on the news or pick up a newspaper without reading about a heinous crime against or by children. My first reaction to these crimes is to pause and affirm that God is in this situation no matter what the outer appearance may be. I then pray for every soul that is involved that includes the victim as well as the perpetrator. In these situations there are not winners. Twenty years ago, I could not have prayed for the offender as well. Instead, I would have cried an eye for an eye. Many of you who have been avid readers of Inner Insight, know that I dedicate every November issue to my brother, Charles “Chuckie” Jones, who loved softball. What you don’t know is that my family and I figuratively belong to a unique club reserved for those who have lost a loved one to a violent crime—The Victim’s Family Club.

Chuckie was only 19, in November of 1978, when he was robbed of his life. The offenders were never brought to justice. Through many years of evolving spiritually, I have learned to forgive those who transgressed against him. The Law of Karma will determine their fate. They will not be able to escape from the Laws of the Universe.

I know that some of you will find this difficult to accept. But in order for us as a human race to evolve spiritually, we must learn how to forgive and hold a prayer vision of love for everyone. Additionally, there is always a spiritual lesson (s) for everyone to learn from these misdeeds against another soul. I believe that the lesson to be learned for all humankind is how to love self and others. The root cause of these crimes against and by our children is the lack of love. Somewhere during this great technological age, we lost or might I say, never grasped the fundamental or number one Law of God—love thyself and love they neighbor. It is time for us to teach love and better still demonstrate love.

We have passed laws, incarcerated offenders, tried juveniles as adults, and enforced capital punishment, but the crimes continue. The laws and the social service system we have in place are not enough. We need to see and deal with this problem from a spiritual viewpoint. It is now time for us to become wayshowers of love. We don’t want another school massacre, a young child or young adult to die.

Love and bonding should start in the home, but unfortunately as you know, this is not always the case. A teacher, principal, minister, priest, librarian, another parent, or anyone that comes in contact or has responsibility for children might have to be the wayshower for love and spiritual nourishment. For instance, the bus driver for my son’s former school showed a special interest in his special education students by learning sign language, wiping running noses, singing to his charges and handling them with tender loving care. He created an atmosphere of love on the ride to and from school. It doesn’t take a lot.

How can you help? If you have children, work with children or come in contact with children here are some points that will help you create an atmosphere of love. For those who do not have children or come in contact with children, you are still part of this village to raise a child.

There is something for everyone to do:

Children need to hear the words—I love you.
Children need to be hugged everyday.
Children need to feel part of the family.
Children’s rights need to be respected.
Children need boundaries and limitations.
Children need freedom to express themselves.
Children need a spiritual foundation.
Children need space to be themselves.
Children need to be listened to.
Children need to learn to share.
Children need to learn to give and receive.
Children need to be read to.
Children’s creativity needs to be nurtured.
Children need to play.
Children need to see adults demonstrate their words.
Children need to learn responsibility.
Children need to know that the adults are there for them.
Children need to have their basic survival needs met (food, shelter, clothing and education).
Children need to follow their own paths.
Children need to feel secure.
Children need to be able to express themselves verbally.
Children need to learn happiness in order to be happy adults.

I want to close down the Victim’s Family Club. Won’t you help me?

Inner Insights newsletter
P.O. Box 55804, Washington, D.C. 20040
202-722-1733 (fax), junemichael@hotmail.com

 Faith is Essential

by Josephine E. Pamphile

One of my ongoing goals is to be spiritually well adjusted. Now, you may ask what exactly does that mean. Well, it merely means living a life that is consistent with what you believe in. This is not always as easy as it sounds.

I have found, in my experience and in observing others, we often say that we have faith, then in the very next sentence we claim to be worried about something. Well you can't have faith and worry at the same time. Worry negates or cancels out faith. Fear likewise is a negation of faith.

When we are afraid of someone or some thing or are worried about an outcome, we are mobilizing a tremendous amount of mental, physical and emotional energy. That concentrated energy only intensifies the fear and the worry, causing a manifestation of the very thing we are worried about or afraid of.

The good news is that we need only redirect that energy to the spiritual realm with the faith and belief that right action will take place. Keep in mind though that right action is not always what we think. That's where faith comes in. We must be willing to accept what we do not understand at the moment. How many times have we had the experience where weeks or years later we were actually glad that the situation haven’t worked out the way we initially wanted it to? One of my favorite sayings is "I can see to the end of the block, but God sees around the corner."

By strengthening my faith, I have been able to minimize stress, demonstrate abundance and see challenges as opportunities. Challenges have forced me to grow while strengthening and reinforcing my faith.

The greatest demonstration of this was when I lost my husband, and suddenly found myself a “single parent head of household.” I felt as though my world and my dreams had completely crumbled. Furthermore, all I had to my credit was a high school diploma and a few years of work experience in a clerical capacity.

I decided that I needed a career and not a job in order to provide for my self and my daughter. So, I went about the business of enrolling in college to complete my undergraduate degree.

I was terrified but excited when I walked on to the campus. Every day, I asked God to guide and provide. I began each semester writing down the grades I wanted in each subject. Four years later, I graduated with a 3.8 GPA and was on my way to Columbia University for my Masters. Me, at an Ivy League College, not in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that. By the time I finished my Masters, I was the Executive Director of a not-for-profit organization, and my career was on its way.

When my expenses went up, my income went up too. My favorite saying at that time was “God does not finance foolishness.” Every year instead of making resolutions, I would set goals for every area of my life (health, relationships, finances, family, career etc.), write them down on a piece of paper, and put the paper away. I can’t begin to describe the experience of looking at that paper at the end of the year finding almost all my goals achieved

Needless to say, I did work very hard, but I always acknowledged and thanked God for the ability to do the work. This is extremely important. We should not only have faith in God, but also understand that we are God’s demonstration on earth. Therefore, we need to make sure that when we experience God’s blessings, we don’t go on an ego trip, and take all the credit. This is a sure way to lose ground, and reverse the process.

Remember now, that while I was working during the day and going to school at night, I was raising a child, who had now become a latch key kid going through adolescence. Talk about challenges. Every day I would ask God to keep me informed, watch over her, and protect her when I wasn’t there. Talk about faith. Well, she not only graduated from high school on time, but also graduated from the same college as her mom.

I can’t describe the joy I experienced every time two alumni newsletters came in the mail. Till this day, I can’t explain how I paid for three college degrees. But that’s the whole point, I didn’t. How can I say this? Well, I know that I wasn’t earning enough money to pay for two undergraduate degrees at a private university and a Masters degree at an Ivy League school. If I thought about that before I enrolled, I probably wouldn’t have enrolled. As a matter of fact, it never occurred to me to worry about that. I honestly believed that since I was doing the right thing for the right reasons, God would work out the financial details. That’s faith.

It’s really not difficult to have faith. The issue is to have faith in God, not the almighty dollar, the organization you work for, someone outside of you, or the stock market. God is the source and supply for all things. This is one stop shopping at its best. God works through all things and therefore can provide all things. It doesn’t get any better than this.

Angelology 101

Orishas are gods (either male or female) worshipped by the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria and brought to the New World by Yoruba slaves where they merged with Catholic saints. Orishas serve many of the same functions as angles.

Islam is one of the three great monotheistic religions of the world and it recognizes angels. It was an angel who appeared before Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, with the word of Allah. The angel’s name was Djibril, which is the Arab name for Gabriel, the same angel that told the Virgin Mary about Jesus. (The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Angels by Jay Stevenson, Ph.D.)

For Those Who Love Writing and Spirituality

If you would like to contribute to the Inner Insights newsletter, please e-mail to junemichael@hotmail.com

Or fax to 202-722-1733.

The purpose of this newsletter is to raise the consciousness of humankind by sharing with others information and anecdotes of how metaphysical truth principles can apply to daily existence. Articles are to be written with the above purpose in mind. They are to be no longer than 1500 words. The editor has the right to edit. Please include two to three sentences about yourself. The newsletter will be published four times a year: January, April, July and October. Articles must be submitted one month in advance of publication.

 Book Club and Discussion Guide

One of the great things about being on the Path of Light is expanding one's consciousness through reading the great esoteric literature of antiquity and of the present time period. The purpose of the Path to Truth Book Club will be to provide an organized and systematic approach to the study of higher wisdom. The Path to Truth Book Club will offer you the opportunity to expand your consciousness, obtain lots of information, connect with others, and nurture your spirit. Join the Path to Truth Book Club either on line or attend a monthly group session and share your knowledge with others as well as learn from them. Membership is limited, so register now.

Offline and online sessions: Please contact June Michael at sessions@pathtotruth.com.

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