Christian Life coaching transforms your life for renewed life purpose, life balance, and peace in the midst of major life change including a new job, a promotion, a divorce, an illness, widowhood, retirement, career issues, family, a new baby, aging parent and other challenges.

Reflections

Choosing to Love and to be Loved

"He (Jesus) answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind': and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

-- Luke 10:27

On a recent group singles walk, someone said that he believed that each person's thoughts, whatever they are, will come true after they die. He added, "If you think heaven is green cheese, so it will be. If you think it is virgins and dancing, that's what you will find. Our thoughts create our reality."

I reflected on my fellow walker's perspective and see its merit, in part. I agree our thoughts create our reality; at least, here on earth. Heaven knows, my mixed up thoughts have at times created an unpleasant reality for my family and friends. And, at other times, my thoughts have opened up new life vistas in powerful, positive ways. My thinking, which translates for me into how I hold something in my heart, has made a great difference in my life experience. Oddly enough, how I hold something in my heart affects my reality, regardless of the final outcome. Let me explain.

While visiting a dear friend in Minneapolis last month, I dreamt I entered a department store with my twenty-year old daughter, and saw my former husband (her former stepdad) holding hands with his new wife. In the dream, I asked my daughter to hold my hand, for comfort. It wasn't easy seeing them. Yet, their holding hands meant they were still happy after several years of marriage. I told my daughter my feelings: gladness for them.

My post-dream view: I sought the comfort of my daughter's love, and my heart was open. Their happiness did not steal mine. I feel joy in my new life. I wish them joy, too. Only God could put that thought in my heart. I asked Him to heal my broken heart, and my new perspective comes from His granting my request.

In Luke 10:27, Jesus calls us to love God whole heartedly and to love other people as we love ourselves. My interpretation of these two 'greatest commandments': Jesus is telling me that what I love and value most highly lives in me today and will remain in me for eternity. What's different from my fellow walker's point of view? I know that my partnership with God inspires me to grow beyond my own limited thoughts - in a close friendship with Jesus, whose compassionate loves heals me.

Yes, my thoughts create my reality. To be able to love God and others, I ask Jesus to shape my thoughts as He lives in me.

Wishing you deep peace in His Love,

Karen Sweet, PCC
Professional Certified Coach
Summer 2008