March 31

FAITH MONTH: DAY 31: “Faith is not clinging to a rock. Faith is learning to swim.” – Alan Watts

Most of us can remember learning to swim. It is a challenge to let go of the edge of the pool, or the rock if you are in the ocean.

And we had some faith that the person telling us to let go was going to save us from certain death in the water when we did not even know yet how to float. I remember those moments, along with learning to dive and learning to go off the high dive. My fear was great, but I trusted…somehow.

We all have those moments in our lives. Learning to drive is another example. We have to do the thing(s) that seem terrifying to gain access to the things we really want to do.

Step 3 is no different. I remember not believing I could really abstain from drugs and alcohol. Terrifying prospect. What if I failed miserably? So many did and still do. Yikes! I could not imagine (and still cannot) the horror of this beautiful promise called recovery and the tremendous shame and terror of not getting it for myself. Ugh!

And the faith that has kept me clean and sober since that time. I have never yet had a relapse. Still could, but I haven’t. Nor have I failed at swimming or driving, or so many things that seemed impossible when I first encountered them. So many, many firsts.

And faith is all about just jumping in and seeing what happens. Another favorite quote of mine is about sailing, which is a huge passion for me…that we cannot learn to do that if we are not willing to let go of sight of the shore. You bet!

Today I have faith that the world is being changed in some significant ways, and we, as people are as well. I love that! I see so many lovely changes already in place. Along with a great deal of insecurity in things we believed in, we are being asked to let go of the world we knew and embrace one of substantial difference. Some of our long held values may be at risk here, but I see the great ones being brought into clearer focus…family, health, ecology, simpler ways of being in the moment and LIFE itself having a new focal intensity. Yeah, these are going to be some powerful experiences and times for so many of us. We will all have a new frame of reference for many of the things that we held in our hands and forgot to treasure. May we all learn the dynamic and powerful lessons we are being given by an abundant, generous and loving Universe.