Category Archives: spiritual/religious

Sweet Sixteen… and “Always” Been Kissed!!

By | family stuff, inspired writings, life lessons, personal, spiritual/religious | 2,327 Comments

Today is the special day where we celebrate the birth of our 4th son, and remember in great gratitude the many blessings he brings to us each and every day!  He is sixteen years old today, and unlike the popular notion of “sweet 16 and never been kissed,” Daniel has always been kissed… and blessed from the heavens above.

Daniel continues to bring many blessings to our family and to everyone who has met him… knows he truly is a miracle. The following is an excerpt that will be featured in the upcoming book, called “Unwavering Strength,” which will be released this September.

Since today is his “birth” day… I would like to share his story now…

 

Daniel – A True Life Miracle

“Love your children fully, as they are seeds to transforming the world they will need every bit of their strength and leadership ability to right “the damage” that has been done, it is not accurate to say “the wrong” because God created it all, so that all can be experienced. However, people need to become more aware of “the damage” they have done from their own darkness or lack of knowledge. The consequences of this are that some of the wonderful creations of God can be destroyed, and it will take these seeds that he has planted and entrusted to you to help create healing in the world.”

 

It was 12:10pm in Omaha, Nebraska, and my husband had just ordered lunch with business associates when his pager went off. His first thought was, oh no, what now? He hadn’t been able to sleep much the night before; due to the stress he was experiencing with a major business deal he’d been working on for the past eight months. And after just having moved our family into a new home, one with plenty of room for number four in a long line of brothers expected in mid-July, everything seemed to be riding on the success of this project.

 

When Dave retrieved his page, he was fully expecting it to be business related. Instead, it was a message I had left him earlier in the day, telling him that our doctor wanted me to go over to the hospital that morning for additional tests on the baby, since my regular appointment earlier that morning had shown some concerns. In that message I asked him to arrange to have our eight-year-old son picked up from school, taken to our house to get his baseball gear, and then brought to his championship playoff game that afternoon. I also asked him to make arrangements for our two-year-old son to be picked up from daycare at 6pm. I had tried to reach our oldest son, who still lived at home with us, to have him help out, but hadn’t been able to locate him so far.

 

Expect the Unexpected

Dave was in a state of shock. It was tough enough dealing with the business problems he faced, but there was no comparison to the kind of stress that was beginning to take control of his body in that moment. He immediately called our doctor’s office, but found I had already gone over to the hospital (remember even though this was not that long ago, we didn’t have any cell phones or the immediate access as we do today). He then asked to talk to Maynard, who was our doctor and close friend, since he always had a reassuring way of addressing our concerns. When Maynard came on the line he said, “David, I’m sorry…but this is very serious,” and for the second time that day he immediately felt the color drain rapidly from his face. Our doctor then proceeded to tell my husband that he was concerned for both baby and mother. What? Dave wondered, could he be losing both his wife and son? Daniel had a heartbeat, but that was about all. He was totally lifeless and wouldn’t respond to probing or anything else they had tried. Maynard went on to say that for my safety, this baby would have to be taken out within the next three or four days. He went on to say that Daniel didn’t have much of a chance to live, and if he did, he would most likely be severely handicapped.

 

This was not the sort of reassurance that Dave was accustomed to. After hanging up the phone, he thought about how blessed he’d been to have three healthy boys, born with relatively normal births. The news he had just received was overwhelming. His business associate came over to tell him that his lunch had arrived and that it was getting cold, but he took one look at Dave and knew that he was struggling. My husband assured him that it was not business-related, and he then asked if the baby and I were all right. Dave could hardly breathe, much less speak, but went on to tell him of their situation. Then he felt the immediate need to walk outside for a moment to connect with nature. He walked beyond the parking lot and found some trees to stand under, then completely broke down in tears. It was hard to recall the last time he had cried so passionately. He began praying for strength, and asked for protection to surround both Daniel and I, and sent as much healing love as he possibly could to us both.

 

Testing our Beliefs to the Core

My husband and I have a strong belief that God gives each of us the power to heal. Some may find it hard to believe in this power, and most live unaware of this possibility, but I have found that we receive energy from the trees and natural surroundings, and in turn are able to use this energy to heal. It is a complete giving and taking experience. I have also noticed that the beauty of our natural surroundings grows stronger and intensifies with the more energy you give and receive. It is a positive energy force flowing in a living, healing way, as nature reaches out and supplies us with God-given energy; an energy that is stronger and more powerful than any known drug or man-made substance. I am so thankful that we were aware of this healing power, as our experience with Daniel put our beliefs in healing energies to the highest imaginable test.

 

As the day progressed, it was decided I would be taken by ambulance, from our local hospital to St. John’s Medical Center, since they had more advanced neonatal equipment and the specialists required. Our doctor thought it would be best to have an emergency C-section to get Daniel out right away. The outlook was not good and they had little hope of Daniel making it at all; and as he told Dave earlier, if he did make it he would most likely be severely handicapped.

 

In the meantime, Dave had taken the first flight home from Omaha and arrived at the Los Angeles airport at 5:30pm, right in the heart of rush-hour traffic. During the flight he had received the following inspired message:

 

“Daniel will be born tonight and will amaze everyone. He will grow strong and wise. Cathy will come through this just fine. Keep sending healing and love. Love your wife with all you heart. She is fine and your baby will make it. Keep the faith. He will bring great joy. See the strength in him, as he miraculously grows strong and wise.“

Not knowing how to proceed, he wrestled with the idea of telling the doctors that Daniel could not wait three or four days. He needed to be born tonight. Upon arriving in LA his pager again went off and he retrieved the message that told him that in fact the emergency surgery would take place that evening. Thankfully that was no longer a hurdle. Dave took the coast route and made it to the hospital at 7:20pm, just as I was being rolled into the operating room. After having a few moments to speak with me, the doctors pulled him aside to have a word. The doctors told him that I was just not accepting the severity of the situation; that I just didn’t understand. But in those short moments we had together, Dave could feel my strength and heard my words that everything would be fine. And what Dave said in response to the doctors was, “No, you don’t understand. Everything is going to be fine.” He had grabbed onto my strength and believed in it. Neither of us knew what the future would hold, but Daniel was about to be born and we would have the strength to handle whatever lay ahead for our family.

 

What the doctors did not know was in recent months I’d just read an autobiography by Della Reese. She is the gal who starred in the “Touched By An Angel” television series. All throughout her life, whenever she had faced what looked like an insurmountable situation, she would pause and ask God to take over and to take care of it for her. An act of surrender. This was somewhat of a foreign concept for me, as all of my life I had achieved pretty much whatever I had put my mind to. I had not felt the need to turn anything over for assistance, and been very much self-reliant and capable. But this was bigger than I; this was life or death as the case might be. This was one of the many gifts that my son Daniel had come to deliver. This was an opportunity for me to discover and experience a deep surrender; a surrender into love.

 

The Power of Love and Healing Grace

When they took Daniel out, he was deep purple and lifeless. As five specialist doctors and four nurses struggled for several minutes to bring life into Daniel, I told David to go over and help our little Daniel. He asked the doctors if he could touch him, then reached his hand in and placed it on his tiny leg. He told Daniel to “feel the power of his love, and to feel the power of God’s healing grace” come through his body. At that precise moment, Daniel opened his eyes for the first time, and looked directly into David’s eyes, if only for a moment. He then began to breath and started his life in this world.

 

We know that Daniel couldn’t have survived if it wasn’t for the great work of the highly trained professionals who worked on him. But we also know that the power of God’s healing love, which passed through my husband and into Daniel at that moment, also saved his life. The doctors didn’t give Daniel much of a chance of making it through the night, and if he did there were many possible complications. Our older son, who was in third grade at the time, asked the next day for his class to pray for Daniel. They started that day and prayed for him many times over the course of the next days and weeks. As little Daniel kept defeating the odds that were against him, prayer groups all over the country were praying for him, while the doctors couldn’t explain his miraculous recovery. Day after day there were hurdles to overcome, and day after day we experienced the miracles of Daniel’s birth.

 

One of the nurses who cared for Daniel in the intensive care unit said that in her 27 years in intensive care, she had never seen a baby recover like this. Daniel not only lived, but all body functions began to work normally, one by one. As Daniel was taken off the various life-support systems, he began eating on his own, which the doctors didn’t feel he would ever be able to do. He only got stronger and stronger with each new prayer and each new day.

 

After just two weeks, Daniel was allowed to come home from the hospital, even though they originally thought he would need to be there for at least three months. Daniel defied all odds. He represented what a true “champion” was. He reminds us each and every day what life is truly worth living for. He reminds us of how to be happy.

 

I know, deep down in my heart, that the power of prayer and love that poured out for Daniel literally saved his life. To all those who showed concern and prayed for Daniel, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Having prayer, a part of each and every day of your life truly can, and does, make a difference. Expect miracles and be amazed when they occur. And always remember to surrender into love, as my sweet little Daniel taught me how to do.

 

This is a story of what a true life miracle looks like, and how the power of faith, trust, and surrender can show up in our lives. Daniel Austin came into this world with a bang, and continues to remind us of what is really, and truly important. And that is to… create love, be love, and to share love.

xxoo

Cathy Lynn

 

 

 

 

Release Date:  September 30, 2014 – Judy O’Beirn and friends – Unwavering Strength: a compilation of stories to inspire others to find strength and comfort in the journey’s others have taken through experiences of grief, loss, trauma and heartache.

 

Do you remember your song?

By | spiritual/religious, uncategorized | 296 Comments

Hi all, today I want to share with you this beautiful text I was led to via Chameli of Awakening Woman, which was written by Alan Cohen. It is such a profound reminder for me, to stop and listen, and remember my song. Enjoy!

Love,Cathy Lynn

 

By Alan Cohen

When a woman in a certain African tribe knows she is pregnant, she goes out into the wilderness with a few friends and together they pray and meditate until they hear the song of the child. They recognize that every soul has its own vibration that expresses its unique flavor and purpose. Then the women attune to the song, they sing it out loud.

Then they return to the tribe and teach it to everyone else. When the child is born, the community gathers and sings the child’s song to him or her.

Later, when the child enters education, the village gathers and chants the child’s song. When the child passes through the initiation to adulthood, the people again come together and sing.

At the time of marriage, the person hears his or her song.

Finally, when the soul is about to pass from this world, the family and friends gather at the person’s bed, just as they did at their birth, and they sing the person to the next life. In the African tribe there is one other occasion upon which the villagers sing to the child.

If at any time during his or her life, the person commits a crime or aberrant social act, the individual is called to the center of the village and the people in the community form a circle around them. Then they sing their song to them. The tribe recognizes that the correction for antisocial behavior is not punishment; it is love and the remembrance of identity.

When you recognize your own song, you have no desire or need to do anything that would hurt another.

A friend is someone who knows your song and sings it to you when you have forgotten it. Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made or dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you feel guilty; and your purpose when you are confused.

You may not have grown up in an African tribe that sings your song to you at crucial life transitions, but life is always reminding you when you are in tune with yourself and when you are not.

When you feel good, what you are doing matches your song, and when you feel awful, it doesn’t. In the end, we shall all recognize our song and sing it well. You may feel a little warbly at the moment, but so have all the great singers. Just keep singing and you’ll find your way home.

By Alan Cohen is the author of the best-selling The Dragon Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and the acclaimed Why Your Life Sucks and What You Can Do About It.

 

Jerry Hicks Says Goodbye…

By | life lessons, spiritual/religious | 199 Comments

This is one of the most beautiful and precious viewpoints on life after “death” …and I am honored to share this recent email where Esther Hicks expresses her thoughts about her husband Jerry’s passing on Friday, November 18th:

Dear, dear Friends,

Our sweet Jerry made his transition into Nonphysical last Friday. How sweet the Vortex is feeling to him today!

Jerry said to me when we came together over 30 years ago that given the difference in our ages that it was likely “that I will cut out on you early,” to which I replied, “I don’t mind.” His joy of life and continual new discovery of purpose kept his life feeling fresh and we shared such joyous eagerness for life.

Over the years, Abraham has consistently insisted that there is no death. Again and again they have reminded us that there is only life and more life and more life. It has taken me some time to understand this, and I honestly must say I have not yet fully come to terms with it, but I do believe that in what we are calling Jerry’s death he is discovering the next logical step of life that Abraham has always been talking about. And at times I am catching a glimpse of the bigness of what Jerry is feeling and while I am still pretty mad at him for not sticking around longer to surprise and delight me in all the ways he has been doing throughout our 30 years together I accept fully that the next logical step of joyous life for Jerry was to be found in his re-emergence into Nonphysical.

Since 1985 it has been Jerry and Esther and Abraham and I believe with everything that I am that that has not changed. I know that Jerry will continue to be the third powerful point of the triad of Energy that makes up the Abraham experience and I am certain that his new vantage point will be, as it has always been, of advantage to us all.

I know for sure that Jerry will help me, in time, release my own personal resistance to physical death, because I will not be able to maintain that resistance and also play easily with him. And my desire to continue not only my Abraham experience but also my Jerry experience I am certain he will be the catalyst to help me do what Abraham has been trying to help us all do all along.

Once again, Jerry is out there leading the way for me. But the difference this time is that I must find the way. I am not there yet, but it is my absolute promise to myself that I will find the way, because it is the most natural thing in the world to do and because Jerry has provided for me the reason to do it.

I am eager about what is ahead and while I cannot begin to explain or even imagine the details of how it is all going to play out, I am certain that it will be fun.

I am such a fortunate girl, to have been able to play with Jerry and Abraham and all of you for so many wonderful years and I am so eager to continue doing more of the same for many more years to come. I feel certain right now that not only has nothing gone wrong, but things are going especially right. It will be different, for sure, but it will also be very, very good.

I’m feeling such love for you all, and for Abraham and most of all for Jerry. And as I have said to him a thousand or more times through the years, “Well isn’t life just a kick in the pants?”

Love,
Esther

I am humbled at the strength and clarity of purpose of Esther. She is living life and enjoying the process…thank you Jerry for all the joy you shared with Esther, but also for sharing this love with the world. You are an inspiration to many!!!

Peace be with you…always!

PS – here’s a lovely Appreciation page from their site.

Cathy Lynn

A time to “celebrate” in the resurrection of life!

By | inspired writings, spiritual/religious | 200 Comments

Not that the purpose of this blog is to be preachy or religious in nature…but it begins at a time of the celebration of easter. So that is where this begins…as I ponder the meaning of “resurrection” and how that applies within my own life.

This hit me square in the eyes mid-day last friday (and good friday at that)…pretty much out of the blue I was overcome with emotion and a state of sadness that was certainly unexpected. My husband, Dave asked me why I was so sad…and I began to think about just that. After letting it sit for the rest of the day, it wasn’t until the next morning when i had some quiet time, that I began to journal…and here is what came out of that…

 

4/23/11 inspired writing:

Good Friday was yesterday and it was an unusual experience for me personally…it began with a great breakfast with two friends (one new and one old) where the sharing and synergy between the three of us was off the charts amazing…I so look forward to seeing what greatness comes out of this new found triangle of talents :-) …as is said, where two or more are gathered!

From there I went down to pick up Dave from the airport after an east coast outing to visit with some of his ballplayers. During a re-cap of some of his developments from the trip, it became apparent that something else was coming into play for me…I became irritable and just plain sad…and then it hit me what day it was and what time of day it was…tears came up and I began sharing some of my innermost feelings with Dave and how I was feeling…I asked him to write on it (which basically means an “inspired writing” process for us where we take the time to get in touch with divine and inner guidance) and…what came through was a message for me to not return to the pain but to spend time and thoroughly enjoy my family now in the present…

As is usually the case, I was not even aware of this thing I might be doing (isn’t it funny how an outside perspective can instantly cut to the chase and show you something that is not so obvious to ourselves?).

So this got me thinking…am I seeking to relive the pain and anguish of the events of Good Friday? Or am I simply honoring or remembering what occurred? How do you stay in touch with the past without being re-immersed into that experience? I am tempted to watch the DVD “Passion of the Christ” because it was such a profound experience in the past for me (so much so that after watching it for the first time in the movie theaters, I found myself unable to even talk to my husband about it afterwards and even had to wait until the next morning – it was just too painful and the raw feelings of emotions could not yet be expressed)…but then I teeter to the other side where I am being told I should stay and that is in the present here and now with the love of my family.

As I write these words emotions and tears rise to the surface and I wonder what is really going on here…the past holds truths and wisdom upon which to build a greater future, but how do you do that and visit with the past without being held prisoner with it now while trying to attempt living a full and meaningful like in the present? There seems to be a delicate balance between knowing your past and moving through it and creating a better future. I always say that my core purpose is to “remember who you are…and why you are here” and by allowing myself to do just that…to remember who I am, I find that much of that is hidden and actually lies in the past waiting to be revealed. And by going through the process of remembering…and getting random glimpses of past events from lifetimes ago and history past…pieces of the puzzle begin to connect and a bigger picture begins to take shape and form.

So, I ask again…how do I stay in touch with the past without being held prisoner to the pain? It is meaningless and unproductive to do so? Or perhaps there is some aspect of that pain that can be liberating and productive – they say the truth shall set you free, but I can’t help to think that finding that,  or in some cases “reliving” the truth can be painful and very sad at times…is this wrong? Is this counter-productive in living life to its fullest in the present?

[With so many questions floating around in my head, I turned inward to quiet my mind and did my own “inspired writing process” to seek answers. This is what came to me after doing just that:]

Yes my child you are loved…most deeply and profoundly…it is okay to now allow that love to crumble the walls you have constructed to protect your wounded heart. It is okay to allow it (your heart) to feel…feel the pain and feel the love that is available at every moment and in every instance. Let the remaining blocks and mortar to fall away and crumble in a heap at the foot of your cross. No longer should you attempt to move forward without the tremendous weight and burden of those bricks and stones step forward in the light and love and  pure essence of who you really are and that which you are meant to be…a life fully realized and experienced in truth and transparency standing naked in the center of my love to guide you forward…with no pain or sorrow to hold you back or bind you…break free from the straps you have wrapped so skillfully around that which you are trying to protect…and protect from what? A life of love that you are here to experience? A life filled with purpose you are meant to live? It is okay to revisit the past and to feel the emotions that come with that experience naturally and organically, just be mindful to stay in touch with the love of the present and with gratitude and great reverence for all life in this moment, which is naturally the present moment – a life full of grace. These are the moments to thank God you are alive J  I love you dearly with all of my heart and essence and in “every” moment of every existence across the universes and in all constructions of time and space – always and in all ways!

 

So there you have it…my inner most thoughts and feelings! Part of me is reluctant to share this and part of me knows that it is time…

You see it is not all about me…it is about us. The community we build around us and the relationships we build in trust and transparency. I invite you into this community and would really like to know what you think…I’d like to engage in an open conversation and see what comes out of it! You may think I’m nuts or am perhaps “off my rocker,” but I am going to put “my love my life” out there and invite you to do the same!

Please leave a comment and tell me what you think…

Gratefully yours,

Cathy Lynn

 

 

 

 

ps. i did end up watching “Passion of the Christ” the day after easter…but i will save those insights for another day s this post is already long enough  :-)