Embracing Uncharted Waters

In the currents of life, we often find ourselves yearning for a compass, a guiding light to steer us through the unknown waters that stretch ahead. My recent spiritual travels have urged me to pay attention to the voice within, whispering a message of courage, strength, and boldness. The journey of the soul is one that leads us to discover the hidden paths… the deserted trails that navigate us to what I am calling "the realm of the extraordinary." This voyage we are on is not about conforming to the masses; rather, it's about carving our own unique course.

I remember the moment I fully realized that I had discovered one of those trails and that "the realm of the extraordinary" was a very real experience. I was on a rooftop... in a penthouse suite... and I discovered an energetic connection that felt like "home sweet home." That moment connected me to an awareness of higher consciousness that I did not know existed. I never felt closer to God. It’s a path one truly wants to stay on once felt in their own soul, and it left me deep in thought about the meaning of our lives.

In my quest to understand our place in this vast universe, I’m reminded of one of the many Friday night tales I listened to as a child shared by the Rabbi at our weekly services. The story was that of Joshua… a story I later studied deeper upon my baptism and chaplaincy, and shelved it during my deeper spiritual journey. No longer shackled by dogma or bound by tradition, I extract a slightly different perspective on this story - one that doesn't hinge upon religious dogmas, but rather on the inward spirituality that beautifully saturates my existence.

Similar to the meaning I extracted from the tale of Joshua, I hear a voice calling to me: "Be strong, be bold, and courageous!" This isn't just an ancient echo of a memorable story from a religious institution; it's the heartbeat of a message that resonates with the rhythm of all our lives today.

Courage is like discovering a hidden sanctuary within ourselves, a secret reservoir of strength. In this place, we experience a unique perspective that no ordinary eye can see. Read that sentence again. This is where our unique beauty lies. While our path might not perfectly align with an eagle's view, it remains OUR own unique journey – a journey that matters. This realization echoes throughout history, reminiscent of the words spoken to Joshua, transcending time and circumstances. "No one will be able to defeat you for the rest of your life! Just as I was with Moses, I will stand by you, never failing you, nor abandoning you."

Wow! Talk about the feeling of home. With that realization of support, all roads lead to higher consciousness. All roads lead to love.

Imagine those words as an affirmation vibrating consistently within us, igniting a fire of empowerment that refuses to be extinguished. It's not just an agreement with the divine, but a call to embrace our very own unique narrative... that light within each of us that gifts the world with your own mark, your own vision, and fully expressed passion. And here is a crucial point I think I am just currently learning: We are not asked to emulate those who came before us, but to channel the spirit that enabled them to overcome. The stories of past, and even the present, are designed to spiritually support us in overcoming whatever internal battle we are facing. Joshua, in his moment of transition, was trusted with a torch of leadership. He was fully and divinely supported. It's a torch passed down through the ages, lighting the way for a new generation of trailblazers.

I can’t help but relate to that in a way that lights me up and feels transformative. Once you see something, you can’t unsee it… you can only evolve.?

The temptation to be trapped by the past, to mourn what was and what could have been, is familiar to us all. Yet, it is within this crucible of change, that we forge the future. The mantle of leadership may carry the weight of expectation, but it's a weight we can bear. It is a weight that I will bear no matter how it shows up. The fear of failure, like a shadow, tries to cloak our aspirations, but it's in these very moments that we must lean into the power within us… a power that never falters. Again: “I will never abandon you…”?

We are not replicas of our predecessors; we are the architects of our destiny. Like Joshua, we bear the mark of those who have come before us, but we are not bound by their paths. Insecurity may knock, but we need not answer. We can be curious and cordial, but we need not welcome it in permanently. Let the echoes of doubt be overshadowed by a new decree: “Be strong and courageous! Keep the faith!” Our problems may differ, but the source of our strength remains unwavering. It is in us all. And that is not a religious statement whatsoever.

In the silence of?my own secret places, I am working on unwrapping the courage to tread where no one else has tread. The vision I have for our planet is no light undertaking. I continue to work diligently on unraveling my authentic self to embark on this uncharted path… a path that no doubts resonates with the pulse of the divine. My first book in the Beautiful Souls series, "The Becoming," due to be released on September 23rd, captures that message metaphorically and perhaps quite literally from the opening prologue. It’s not a biblical story but it surely is a journey of discovery, a search for spirituality, and an exploration of truth. Just as Joshua was told, "For I am your God, and I will be with you wherever you go," I too continue to find assurance that the universe's constellations are aligned in my favor… and for that my gratitude is endless.?

So, if you made it through this far, for what will probably be my only religiously referred preaching ever, let us embrace this journey of the soul, not as followers of a script, or some very old books (no offense meant) but as authors of our own narrative. Let us seek the courage that flows through our veins, invigorated by those stories of old. Let us step onto the path not travelled, for it's in the stride of the few that the world is, and will be, transformed. May our souls resonate with the rhythm of a destiny that echoes across time, knowing that we are not alone. For as we travel through life's uncharted territories, we are accompanied by the unwavering presence of a universe and Source that loves each one of us dearly.