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SHERRY'S JOURNAL
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Ray Bennett, musician and artist, has been sharing his life with me for the past 27 years.
Without his cooperation and generosity of spirit I would not have been able to publish ~HOW TO BE PERFECT~ or perhaps even write it.
Thanks Ray!
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Welcome!
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- I would also like to acknowledge the influence of these writers:
- The anonymous author of THE IMPERSONAL LIFE and THE WAY OUT
- Ruby Nelson for THE DOOR OF EVERYTHING, the most thrilling 180 pages I've ever read
- Deepak Chopra for embodying the link between science and spirituality and for his many books including --
- QUANTUM HEALING
- AGELESS BODY, TIMELESS MIND
- UNCONDITIONAL LIFE
- PERFECT HEALTH
- THE SEVEN SPIRITUAL LAWS OF SUCCESS
- HOW TO KNOW GOD
- Neale Donald Walsch for his audacity and for CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD
- Helen Schucman for believing there must be a better way and for - A COURSE IN MIRACLES
- Michael Talbot for THE HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE
- Valerie Hunt for INFINITE MIND
If you haven't yet read ~HOW TO BE PERFECT~ you may be surprised by the intimacy of some of the material you find here. As a former psychotherapist, I believe understanding begins with complete honesty.
The words written in italics are my own thoughts. Those in standard type are not 'thoughts'. They're from that knowing voice of Infinite Wisdom that we all share in the silence within.
I look forward to sharing my journal online as time permits. I hope you'll visit often...
November, 2007
News
It's been a very long time since I've written in "Sherry's Journal". I've been busy! The past year has been amazing.
Ray and I moved to Las Vegas, bought new cars and a townhouse, and are pursuing our dreams!
I'll write more about it in the coming months, but for now, here's a link to an article I wrote just before Christmas last year when it all began. It's called, "Have You Been Naughty, Or Nice?"
I hope you enjoy it and find it inspiring for the coming holidays and throughout the year.
Cheers,
Sherry
October, 2004
The Election
I spoke to my ex-husband last night and a pleasant conversation turned unpleasant when I asked him about the upcoming election. Though he's liberal in many respects, I was surprised to hear my ex condemn both candidates, but mostly Kerry. He repeated many of the misleading or inaccurate criticisms offered by Republicans, including the charge that Kerry called ALL Vietnam veterans war criminals, when, in fact, he blamed their leaders and a dishonest administration. I'm not sure these discussions do any good, but discussing our mistakes and misconceptions is an important step in correcting them, isn't it?
Yes. But discuss the issues, not just the candidates. The issues are the key to your errors, not the candidates.
I see. So the problem is that the Vietnam War has never been sorted out and the lesson learned?
That's right. And until lessons are learned, they arise again to be resolved -- and again -- and again.
Might as well learn our lessons then!
That's right.
And what is the lesson of Vietnam, and now Iraq?
Tend to your own business, and know what your business is. You must be willing to let individuals, as well as nations, make their own choices.
But when brutal dictators are slaughtering their own people, or threatening other nations, something must be done!
Yes, but no ONE nation has the right to act alone in such a case. You must believe in democracy and rely on everyone's united good will. And even when such abuses occur, or are being threatened, you must use all your moral strength and power of influence to bring about a change of course. Military action is always a failure to do these things. Military action always postpones the change of heart that is required for true change to occur. It is no solution at all, and it's use is a testament to your lack of will to stand together and use your strength of conviction and influence as a united world.
But nations still have a conflict between self-interest and this 'united will'.
No. That belief is the result of a failure to understand that your united will is the very essence of self-interest. Nothing of value is ever accomplished alone. A true diplomat knows this and can persuasively convince others of its truth. It requires nuance, sensitivity and understanding, and once articulated, cannot be denied. It will be seen as the only real solution to conflict.
So where do we begin with the current situation in Iraq?
If you truly want peace and prosperity, choose a leader who knows this truth and will make the case to the world. If you believe war can give you what you want, choose a leader who will show you the effects that approach will bring -- escalating violence and continued conflict.
Must we endure another four years of escalating violence and continued conflict before we learn our lesson?
This is the question the American people are about to answer......
February 14, 2003
The 'War On Terrorism': A Perfect War to End All War
As we find ourselves in what has been dubbed a 'war on terrorism', it seems an especially good time to ask this age-old question - Is the world any closer to accepting that there is a better alternative to conflict than war?
It's particularly ironic that this current 'war' has religion at its roots, for nothing has ever offered an alternative to war but the teachings at the heart of all the world's great religions. And it's no accident that this war, with no clearly defined enemy, borders, or causes, also has no clearly defined beginning, or end. It is the ideal war to challenge our most basic beliefs about war. With this 'perfect', endless war comes the creeping, numbing, final realization of war's futility. There can be no declared victor -- ever. This is a war where no one wins, and everyone loses. This new, 'improved' war is a lifestyle, not a solution.
Some may cling to a vague hope that one day the last terrorist will be captured or slain. But the sinking recognition remains, that for every dead terrorist, another one arises to avenge. The anger and hatred at its core is what fuels this conflict, and violence only increases that hatred. It is a never-ending cycle. As children we were taught that fighting solves nothing. Finally, we've succeeded in creating the perfect situation to prove the point - once and for all.
Wise men throughout the ages have told us there is another option, but we've remained 'unbelievers'. For they tell us to do what seems impossible - to love our enemies as ourselves. To know our enemies as we know ourselves. Like every step in human evolution, this is a leap into the unknown that only seems impossible until we choose it, until we 'give it our all'. Peace will be a choice, not a result. Only a commitment to peace and unity will reveal what unity can do.
This is the mistaken arrogance of humanity: believing, in fear, that we know better than the power of love and life itself! Even those who call themselves Christians ignore Jesus, who by all accounts, encouraged us to have faith in this power, and demonstrated what miraculous things it could do. The greatest proponent of non-violence the world has ever known offered to save us time and suffering, but though millions bow down to him, we've refused His gentle, patient, loving way.
When we're finally convinced that war is truly an endless cycle of violence, and that it's not the way we want to live, we'll begin to feel the full impact of Jesus' message reaching out to us across thousands of years, and know that time doesn't matter and all can be forgiven and made new. We'll use the same brilliant ingenuity that made war an art form and apply it to the task of seeing how we can help each other get along. That will be the day we discover that we do love our 'enemies', because they're no longer enemies - they're our brothers and partners in a united desire to help each other stop fighting. Solutions will present themselves, injustices will be resolved, and conflicts will dissolve, step by step. And we'll begin to realize our true glory - that we're better lovers, than fighters!
Love,
Sherry
November 14, 2003
ACTION VS. REACTION
There is much misunderstanding regarding the difference between action and reaction. Action is the carrying out of one's creative will. Reaction is the focus of attention upon what has already been created.
You can react to what you have created, as well as to what others have created, sustaining and upholding it, by focusing upon it.
Violence is no exception. It has been said that there is no greater love than to lay down your life for a brother. The reason this is true is that in order to do it, you must have complete faith in the truth of your being. You must be willing to trust that your physical existence is only a temporal expression of your spiritual being, which is indestructible and eternal. This is the supreme act of love and creation - to accept who you are, an indestructible spiritual being - and your relationship to all others, who are also eternal spiritual beings.
To do another violence in order to preserve your physical existence, or anyone's, is a failure to understand and accept this great truth and to bear witness to it.
Nations go to war in response to this failure of individuals, and they do the best they can do when they uphold the highest ideals of mankind. But this truth is always the responsibility of individuals. Nations are best served when they are led by individuals who are aware of our true spiritual nature, and who lead others to see it too.
This is the message in the story of Abraham who was asked by God to kill his own beloved son, Isaac, to prove his love for God. This story seems cruel and incomprehensible without understanding that God's love for Abraham was leading him to the one Truth that sets us free from all fear. Abraham's love for his son's physical life was keeping him in fear, and keeping him from full acceptance of his son's true indestructible spiritual nature. Until Abraham strengthened his faith in this Truth of Spirit, and was willing to give himself to it completely, he would continue in the grip of fear for his son's life, and be enslaved by it.
The message in Jesus' death comes not from His death, but from His submission. In surrendering to violence, rather than resisting, we are glorified. Our true nature is revealed. These are the lives we remember best - the names we honor and hold most dear. Because they reveal us to ourselves.
It is an absolute truth that killing is never necessary. You are forgiven when you fail to realize this truth, but it is your greatest glory to demonstrate it.
Dear Lord, how do we deal with the armies of tyrants then?
One man at a time.
Really? We allow ourselves to be slaughtered in our thousands, our millions?
The greater the number, the louder the message.
But that seems so tragic. Is there no other way?
There is no way to realize your Godhood, but through exercising complete free will. To attempt to impose your will upon another is only illusion. It can't be done without complicity. When one's physical life is threatened, the only response that demonstrates your free will is to lay down your life in the flesh.
But what about the ones threatening violence? Why shouldn't they be the ones to lay down their lives? I think I answered for myself, didn't I? It has to be freely chosen, not imposed.
That's right. Nothing real can be done to God. Your body may be destroyed, but you cannot be destroyed. And you cannot destroy another. This is the Truth you demonstrate when you submit to violence. You prove that your will is not defeated.
Yeah, but your body sure is!
This is what you must choose to demonstrate - your belief in Truth, or illusion. By submitting your will to protect your body, you demonstrate your belief that this is possible and that your body may be preserved by relinquishing your will. This is never true. Your body may be preserved, but you are duplicitous in attempting to deny your indestructible Spirit. By doing violence to another, the same illusion is demonstrated.
The only way out of illusion is to bear witness to the Truth. Your will cannot be conquered. Until this Truth is lived, you are the living dead. There is no greater moment, no greater experience, no greater glory than to be who you are -- an indestructible spiritual being -- God made flesh.
Don't be ruled by flesh (your body) and the ways of the world. They are only the medium of your expression, an extension of what you are - a glorious, eternal Spirit extending love in all directions.
August 10, 2003
PROSPERITY
Am I still holding back our prosperity with erroneous thoughts?
No. All is well and unfolding as it should to bring you your heart's desire.
Is it already accomplished, as You have told me before?
Yes. You will see it 'in time', however. This is the way of the material world where all is interconnected and working together.
So 'instantaneous' miracles only occur when the necessary elements are all in synchronous agreement?
That's exactly right. All elements involved must be brought together in harmonious union.
Is that why a single person may be healed instantly, but money may take time to exchange hands?
Yes. Healing is a matter of individual consciousness, while transactions between people and involving things and events, take time to transpire harmoniously. Time is the medium of your unified expression. It is all part of the 'stage' you have devised for human experience. Time is perfectly suited to allow this experience to unfold as you command. With persistent intention and enough time, whatever your heart commands will unfold.
May 28, 2003
DIVINE MIND
I've been wondering if my book will be as appealing to those who read Walsch's books. I think Neale's books appeal more to the intellect, and mine is sometimes hard to grasp with the mind.
Yes, Neale's desire is to understand. Yours is to feel. This determines what I can express through each of you.
I want to understand, too!
You have understanding from years of questioning and intellectual effort. When that alone wasn't enough, you asked to feel and to know. That's why I told you to stop thinking.
A thinker needs a context and a thorough, disciplined mind will always create one that allows a framework within which to function for the benefit of its own evolution. The mind represents the world of relativity - of opposition and argument - of conflict and compromise.
Developing acute intellectual skills leads you eventually to the world of peace and unity - where there is no opposition, because it is realized that there can be no opposition where there is compete harmony - even in a world with many parts. Discord is not possible when awareness is complete. This world is realized by feeling, not by thinking.
Harmony is creative. Discord is reactionary. Harmony is original and spontaneous, attentive and responsive. It is not intellectual. Discord is a kind of blindness that results from thinking instead of feeling. Harmony is the creative sphere of divine expression and response, and it is experienced only by feeling. Thinking then serves to record the experience of feeling, adding to the whole of experience even unto infinity - expanding and extending the experience of life forever.
Feeling is your holy estate. Thinking is your servant. As you let go of your thoughts and feel, your world is transformed. Miracles are your means of expression in a physical world only until you no longer need them to comfort and correct a mind that still seeks to control.
Divine mind does not control and has no need to control. It is completely creative - knowing and commanding with harmony and love whatever it desires......
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Love, Sherry
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