Foundation

A spider web, yonder in a tree, behind it the sunrise and surrounding all of us a cloud; a morning fog that speaks of Fall. The light is a golden yellow, and though life has become slower, more recovering, the illuminating light displays life and energy, showering down from its horizontal source, to wash upon me on my porch with a cup of coffee and my morning cigarette.

In my heart I am dancing to the familiar tune that is playing on my computer, and I feel settled in my Faith. I cannot imagine life without it. Everything needs a platform, and I carry with me a new sense of purpose as all of my beliefs now rest upon this foundation. The nuts and bolts are now in place. Without them, all efforts seemed compromised and what one might call ‘castles made of sand’. Everyone and everything needs a firm foundation. True belief and Faith, I believe are necessary to establish this.

I now practice Yoga with a new center, I can tap into my God when asked to be in the moment and wipe my mind of all clutter. I can pray about concerns for the environment, governments, and human rights knowing that I am being heard, knowing that there are answers to the prayers of the eagle, orca, and young girls in India. It is easy to become desperate and devastated when dealing with this world. I have found myself among many causes in the past; the mental health system and knowing souls that are so lost and going through such suffering or young children that needed a most basic need met while I was working in childcare. In my neighborhood in Columbia City, the van that rescued abused children drove down my street what seemed like every other day and sometimes I would hear their screams and felt the need to call myself. I mingled among the ‘street punks’ with no family, homeless, all with stories of destitution or abuse bringing them to their current lives. To know that everyone has access to belief, and to learn how much of a difference this can make in one’s life, and that one can discover that there is hope, is monumental. There is real hope for everyone and everything, if you truly believe. It is easy to give up this hope when faced with battling these issues, afraid that prayers go unanswered. Now, I trust everything and everyone is watched and heard. Nothing exists without purpose. No pain goes unrewarded. Gifts reside in our very souls; all we need to do is believe to tap into them.

I still practice yoga, and I believe that God gave us free will so that we can and will always have a choice. This was not a mistake. I still am an environmentalist, mental health advocate, child activist, feminist and human rights activist in my heart. I am also a believer, and this has made all that I am even stronger. What could our world accomplish if Faith was as common as the Simpsons or sending your child to childcare while you strive to pay the bills? I can only start with me. I know my prayers are answered; I have seen and experienced this. It is important to act, care AND pray. I thank my life and God for bringing me through a journey where I have discovered this truth, and I am thankful for the rock on which I now stand.