October 26, 2008
Dear Friends,
At the end of last week’s message, I mentioned the power of love . . . but it was in a somewhat limited context. My focus was only on the ripple effect that love creates, and how a little loving kindness can go a long, long way.
For example, when you treat people with understanding and compassion, they feel loved and uplifted. Because of that, they are much more likely to treat others in their path with the same caring attitude. And those people, in turn, are likely to pass the love along once again. For all you know, one simple act of loving kindness on your part may end up transforming a life or healing a situation halfway around the world!
As great as that power is, though, it still has its limits. What I just described was a power confined by the laws of cause and effect—of action and reaction. The true power of love goes way beyond the laws that govern this world. It is a power that exists beyond this physical plane we live in . . . a power that works its magic totally unrestricted by the confines of either time or space. It is this power that is responsible for the experiences in our lives that we consider to be truly miraculous.
It is the kind of power that choreographs incredible synchronistic encounters between individuals who have similar desires of the heart, but need each other in order to manifest their dreams.
An architect with a critically ill child, for example, may one day feel divinely inspired to design a hospital wing for children with similar health challenges. At the very same instant, thousands of miles away, a wealthy benefactor may become inspired to finance just such a project. Before these two people meet—or even know of each other—they both “decide” to vacation in New York City, where they just “happen” to encounter each other at a coffee shop. And . . . well . . . you can fill in the rest.
That, to me, is the real power of love. It is a power that sets the whole flow in motion, initiating a complex series of events that weave together in a way that no one would ever have imagined possible.
It is a power that simultaneously inspires minds, ignites hearts, and orchestrates harmonious outcomes of incredible beauty.
That is authentic power—a power that goes far beyond the ripple effect, but still starts in exactly the same way . . . with one, single, loving intention.
Here’s to the power of love . . . rippling . . . tripling . . . and manifesting miracles in an instant.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
The Ripple Effect And The Flow
October 19, 2008
Dear Friends,
Lately I have met a few people who have the mistaken impression that if you truly master the art of living life in the divine flow, you will never again run into any obstacles in life. I wish!
It’s true, that when you consistently practice the principles involved with living life in the divine flow, the number of obstacles you encounter in life will diminish dramatically . . . for a couple of reasons:
First, by following divine guidance you will be directed around some obstacles before you even encounter them. But more importantly, by making decisions that are divinely directed, you will not be manufacturing obstacles for yourself . . . which is what people often do. Through our unguided choices and misguided actions, we frequently make life harder for ourselves than it has to be. In short, we inadvertently create our own hurdles, and they are needless ones.
Even if you do, though, manage to stay in a fairly constant state of divine attunement—consistently recognizing and cooperating with the divine flow in your life—it is likely that you will still encounter plenty of unexpected challenges along the way. Why? Because of something commonly called The Ripple Effect.
In ways we can’t even begin to conceive of, we are all interrelated and interconnected. When even one of us does not follow divine guidance, and, instead, makes a choice out of ego—out of fear or frustration, judgment or jealousy—that decision creates a ripple that goes out and eventually affects everyone around it.
Without even getting metaphysical here, it is easy to see how one person’s behavior can directly affect the way that others react to him or her . . . and their reactions, in turn, affect those around them, and so on.
On a small scale, it’s like the old story about a boss who unjustly criticizes one of his employees; the misjudged employee then goes home and unfairly criticizes his wife; and the upset wife then kicks the dog when it gets in her way.
On a larger scale, it’s like the time in 2001 that a man directed his followers to hijack some American Airlines planes and fly them into the Twin Towers; after that, American Airlines decided not to advertise for a year; their advertising agency then had to cut its budget; and people had to be laid off. I was one of those people.
It’s a simple case of cause and effect. And the economic crisis we are experiencing today is no exception. We are all feeling the effect of that ripple.
So, does living life in the divine flow mean that you will never encounter another obstacle or challenge in your life? Not at all. But the point I want to leave you with today is this: Living life in the divine flow is not about avoidance. It’s about responsiveness.
What’s important is not so much what happens in our lives, but how we respond to that. And when we respond with love—with understanding and compassion, and with an expectation of good—then we create a new ripple effect that is even more powerful than the original one, and much more positive.
In fact, there is no ripple in this world that is more powerful than the one created by a simple act of loving kindness. And when enough people choose to come from love instead of fear, the whole world can transform for the better in a heartbeat.
I could go and on about the miraculous effect of love, but I don’t need to. As “the flow” would have it, right after I was inspired to write this message, I received an email from one of my readers containing a link to a video that is titled . . . yes, you guessed it . . . The Ripple Effect.
I invite you to watch that video now as a fitting and uplifting end to my message for today. You will find it at the bottom of a webpage for the Humanity Healing Network. Just click on this link: http://humanityhealing.net/RippleEffect.htm
Blessings!
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
Lately I have met a few people who have the mistaken impression that if you truly master the art of living life in the divine flow, you will never again run into any obstacles in life. I wish!
It’s true, that when you consistently practice the principles involved with living life in the divine flow, the number of obstacles you encounter in life will diminish dramatically . . . for a couple of reasons:
First, by following divine guidance you will be directed around some obstacles before you even encounter them. But more importantly, by making decisions that are divinely directed, you will not be manufacturing obstacles for yourself . . . which is what people often do. Through our unguided choices and misguided actions, we frequently make life harder for ourselves than it has to be. In short, we inadvertently create our own hurdles, and they are needless ones.
Even if you do, though, manage to stay in a fairly constant state of divine attunement—consistently recognizing and cooperating with the divine flow in your life—it is likely that you will still encounter plenty of unexpected challenges along the way. Why? Because of something commonly called The Ripple Effect.
In ways we can’t even begin to conceive of, we are all interrelated and interconnected. When even one of us does not follow divine guidance, and, instead, makes a choice out of ego—out of fear or frustration, judgment or jealousy—that decision creates a ripple that goes out and eventually affects everyone around it.
Without even getting metaphysical here, it is easy to see how one person’s behavior can directly affect the way that others react to him or her . . . and their reactions, in turn, affect those around them, and so on.
On a small scale, it’s like the old story about a boss who unjustly criticizes one of his employees; the misjudged employee then goes home and unfairly criticizes his wife; and the upset wife then kicks the dog when it gets in her way.
On a larger scale, it’s like the time in 2001 that a man directed his followers to hijack some American Airlines planes and fly them into the Twin Towers; after that, American Airlines decided not to advertise for a year; their advertising agency then had to cut its budget; and people had to be laid off. I was one of those people.
It’s a simple case of cause and effect. And the economic crisis we are experiencing today is no exception. We are all feeling the effect of that ripple.
So, does living life in the divine flow mean that you will never encounter another obstacle or challenge in your life? Not at all. But the point I want to leave you with today is this: Living life in the divine flow is not about avoidance. It’s about responsiveness.
What’s important is not so much what happens in our lives, but how we respond to that. And when we respond with love—with understanding and compassion, and with an expectation of good—then we create a new ripple effect that is even more powerful than the original one, and much more positive.
In fact, there is no ripple in this world that is more powerful than the one created by a simple act of loving kindness. And when enough people choose to come from love instead of fear, the whole world can transform for the better in a heartbeat.
I could go and on about the miraculous effect of love, but I don’t need to. As “the flow” would have it, right after I was inspired to write this message, I received an email from one of my readers containing a link to a video that is titled . . . yes, you guessed it . . . The Ripple Effect.
I invite you to watch that video now as a fitting and uplifting end to my message for today. You will find it at the bottom of a webpage for the Humanity Healing Network. Just click on this link: http://humanityhealing.net/RippleEffect.htm
Blessings!
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Saturday, October 11, 2008
What Is Your Source?
October 12, 2008
Dear Friends,
As I occasionally mention in these weekly messages, I teach what I need to learn. That means that I have become pretty good at living life in the divine flow, but I am not perfect at it. There are still times when I fall into fear, and thus restrict my ability to tune into divine guidance. I don’t stay in that fearful state for long, but I am certainly not immune to it.
With the dramatic downturn in the U.S. economy—and in the economy of the world in general—it is quite a challenge for me to maintain any kind of positive outlook right now . . . and I’m sure that it’s a bit of a challenge for you, too.
So how can we feel secure in such uncertain times? I, for one, make a conscious effort to remember the following: The true origin of my prosperity is not the income I receive from my work. It is not the money I have in the bank. And it is certainly not the investments I have in the stock market. I remember that the ultimate origin of my prosperity is that Infinite Field of Supply that some call Source, and others (including me) call God.
I do believe that we live in an infinitely abundant universe—a universe that is continually responding to our needs through an unlimited number of channels. And those channels are not limited to the financial avenues we are used to.
I’ll never forget a time when I needed an additional $2,500 to pay some unexpected bills. One day, my car was slightly damaged in a shower of cement fragments that fell off an office building that I was parked next to. The damage was very minor—just a few nicks and dings here and there. But because the damage was spread across several panels of the car, the cost of repairs was much more than one would expect. The owner of the building, though, was happy to write me a check for that expense . . . a check that I used to pay my bills instead of repair the car—a check for exactly $2,500.
It was that experience, and many others just as amazing, that have repeatedly confirmed for me how incredibly inventive our universe is, and how the divine flow can guide us to our good in totally unexpected ways.
In these challenging days, I invite you to regain your sense of peace by letting go of your need to figure everything out by yourself. In your daily time of prayer and meditation, include a moment to affirm the true source of your financial blessings, and open yourself up to divine direction.
Remember that as a beloved child of God you have a divine right to an abundant life. Remember that abundance is not always about money. And remember that the Mind of the Divine can prosper you in ways that you simply can’t predict . . . or even imagine.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
As I occasionally mention in these weekly messages, I teach what I need to learn. That means that I have become pretty good at living life in the divine flow, but I am not perfect at it. There are still times when I fall into fear, and thus restrict my ability to tune into divine guidance. I don’t stay in that fearful state for long, but I am certainly not immune to it.
With the dramatic downturn in the U.S. economy—and in the economy of the world in general—it is quite a challenge for me to maintain any kind of positive outlook right now . . . and I’m sure that it’s a bit of a challenge for you, too.
So how can we feel secure in such uncertain times? I, for one, make a conscious effort to remember the following: The true origin of my prosperity is not the income I receive from my work. It is not the money I have in the bank. And it is certainly not the investments I have in the stock market. I remember that the ultimate origin of my prosperity is that Infinite Field of Supply that some call Source, and others (including me) call God.
I do believe that we live in an infinitely abundant universe—a universe that is continually responding to our needs through an unlimited number of channels. And those channels are not limited to the financial avenues we are used to.
I’ll never forget a time when I needed an additional $2,500 to pay some unexpected bills. One day, my car was slightly damaged in a shower of cement fragments that fell off an office building that I was parked next to. The damage was very minor—just a few nicks and dings here and there. But because the damage was spread across several panels of the car, the cost of repairs was much more than one would expect. The owner of the building, though, was happy to write me a check for that expense . . . a check that I used to pay my bills instead of repair the car—a check for exactly $2,500.
It was that experience, and many others just as amazing, that have repeatedly confirmed for me how incredibly inventive our universe is, and how the divine flow can guide us to our good in totally unexpected ways.
In these challenging days, I invite you to regain your sense of peace by letting go of your need to figure everything out by yourself. In your daily time of prayer and meditation, include a moment to affirm the true source of your financial blessings, and open yourself up to divine direction.
Remember that as a beloved child of God you have a divine right to an abundant life. Remember that abundance is not always about money. And remember that the Mind of the Divine can prosper you in ways that you simply can’t predict . . . or even imagine.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Constant Surrender
October 5, 2008
Dear Friends,
A short time ago, a dear friend of mine named Judi experienced one of those days when “everything that can go wrong, did go wrong.” Judi was in charge of a Potluck Lunch to be held at her church—an event that was usually attended by about 70 people. That day, the electricity went out, so any food that required heating had to be eaten cold . . . or not served at all. It was a particularly hot, humid afternoon, and without electricity there was no air conditioning. And when they tried to open the windows for some relief, only one would budge, so they couldn’t even catch a breeze. Then, to make matters worse, the toilets overflowed.
After noticing how smoothly and calmly Judi continually adjusted to the ever-worsening situation, a woman came up to her and said, “Wow, Judi, you sure know how to go with the flow!” When Judi got home that evening, she immediately called me to express her appreciation for “teaching her how to go with the flow.” As we spoke, though, it occurred to me that her gratitude was perhaps unnecessary.
Even without the benefit of my lessons, there is a very good possibility that Judi would have been in the flow anyway. How so? Simply because it is easier to be in the flow when things really get out of hand than it is when things are just slightly unmanageable. It is when things are obviously out of control that we give up the idea that we can control what is going on, and we tend to surrender.
It is in that state of surrender that we become genuinely open to whatever is required of us in that moment. We stop resisting what is, and we stop trying to force things to go the way we “think” they should go. Instead, we desire only to know the next right step that will be in the best interests of all. And it is in that state of genuine receptivity that we begin hear and heed the still, small voice of spirit that is always there to guide us.
The real challenge—which is what I am building up to—is relinquishing personal control when the situation does seem controllable. You see, living life in the divine flow requires you to constantly stay in “surrender mode”—no matter how easy it would be for you to manipulate a situation to your liking.
That doesn’t mean that you never take any action at all. It just means that before you take any action, you get quiet, go within, and try to get in touch with the wisdom of your spirit. You may get the guidance that you should refrain from taking any action at that moment. Or, you might be inspired to take some kind of action that you have never taken before. The key is to avoid jumping to conclusions, assuming that you know best, and acting hastily.
Remember that living life in the divine flow is about being willing to seek divine direction in every situation—even the situations that look like you can easily and instantly handle them on your own. That kind of mindfulness will require a conscious effort on your part, true . . . and it may require a fair amount of humility, too . . . but the outcome will be well worth it.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
Dear Friends,
A short time ago, a dear friend of mine named Judi experienced one of those days when “everything that can go wrong, did go wrong.” Judi was in charge of a Potluck Lunch to be held at her church—an event that was usually attended by about 70 people. That day, the electricity went out, so any food that required heating had to be eaten cold . . . or not served at all. It was a particularly hot, humid afternoon, and without electricity there was no air conditioning. And when they tried to open the windows for some relief, only one would budge, so they couldn’t even catch a breeze. Then, to make matters worse, the toilets overflowed.
After noticing how smoothly and calmly Judi continually adjusted to the ever-worsening situation, a woman came up to her and said, “Wow, Judi, you sure know how to go with the flow!” When Judi got home that evening, she immediately called me to express her appreciation for “teaching her how to go with the flow.” As we spoke, though, it occurred to me that her gratitude was perhaps unnecessary.
Even without the benefit of my lessons, there is a very good possibility that Judi would have been in the flow anyway. How so? Simply because it is easier to be in the flow when things really get out of hand than it is when things are just slightly unmanageable. It is when things are obviously out of control that we give up the idea that we can control what is going on, and we tend to surrender.
It is in that state of surrender that we become genuinely open to whatever is required of us in that moment. We stop resisting what is, and we stop trying to force things to go the way we “think” they should go. Instead, we desire only to know the next right step that will be in the best interests of all. And it is in that state of genuine receptivity that we begin hear and heed the still, small voice of spirit that is always there to guide us.
The real challenge—which is what I am building up to—is relinquishing personal control when the situation does seem controllable. You see, living life in the divine flow requires you to constantly stay in “surrender mode”—no matter how easy it would be for you to manipulate a situation to your liking.
That doesn’t mean that you never take any action at all. It just means that before you take any action, you get quiet, go within, and try to get in touch with the wisdom of your spirit. You may get the guidance that you should refrain from taking any action at that moment. Or, you might be inspired to take some kind of action that you have never taken before. The key is to avoid jumping to conclusions, assuming that you know best, and acting hastily.
Remember that living life in the divine flow is about being willing to seek divine direction in every situation—even the situations that look like you can easily and instantly handle them on your own. That kind of mindfulness will require a conscious effort on your part, true . . . and it may require a fair amount of humility, too . . . but the outcome will be well worth it.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
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