Author: admin

Upon hearing bad news, or being unfairly criticized, or being told something we did not want to hear, we all have reacted in a way that was less than ideal. This makes sense because when our emotions are triggered, they tend to take center stage, inhibiting our ability to pause before we speak. We may feel compelled to release the tension by expressing ourselves in some way, whether it’s yelling back at the person yelling at us or rushing to deliver words of comfort to a friend in trouble. However, remembering to pause and take a breath before reacting can shift the energy of the outcome. Our initial response is not always what’s best for us or for the other people involved. There is much to be said for teaching ourselves to pause, take deep breaths, and then respond to the shocks and insults that come our way. When we react to childish rage with childish rage we escalate the negativity in a situation, further ensnaring us in an unfavorable dynamic. Similarly, when we react thoughtlessly or defensively, we often end up regretting our words or actions. Ultimately, we can save ourselves a lot of pain if we just learn to take a deep breath and really tune in to ourselves and the other person before we respond. However, this doesn’t mean we don’t say anything, because in some cases, that may be the best option. Some situations do require a fairly immediate response, but just a moment of grounding ourselves before we do so can help enormously. So, the next time you find yourself wanting to react, remember to pause, and in that pause, take a deep breath. Rather than just going with the first thing that pops into your head, feel your feet planted on the floor, and listen for a response to arise within you. You may find that in that moment, there is the potential to move beyond reaction and into the more subtle and creative realm of response, where something new can happen.

Heart to Heart,
Rev. Addae

We live in a very appearance-oriented, externally focused world; consequently, it makes sense that most of us place a lot of value on how our lives look, sometimes to the detriment of noticing how our lives really feel. It’s easy to get caught up in examining our actions instead of really deeply examining ourselves. This can be deceiving because while our actions may be very spiritual, we meditate, take care of ourselves and others, yet, we may not be delving into the issues below the surface. It’s as if we’ve washed and polished our car without taking the time to check under the hood. We may appear to be in great shape, but if we aren’t engaging in the deep, inner work of self-examination, the chances are good that we are not deeply aware of the real substance of our lives. When we get too caught up in what we are doing and lose track of our core, we sometimes begin to feel dissociated, as if we are not grounded and fully awake. This is a sure sign that it’s time to engage in the hard work of heart work, going deep within to rediscover the foundation of our lives. Without the substance that comes from looking deeply at ourselves, and working through the difficult things we find, our spiritual lives can begin to feel hollow or shallow, as if there’s nothing at the center holding it all together. The peace that comes with meditation and spiritual practice is an essential part of our development, but it serves us best in conjunction with the less settling, more difficult work of probing below the surface to see what needs to be healed or released. Then our actions are more than just an attempt to keep everything looking nice and pretty, because the energy of a life in transformation becomes expressions of courage and faith.

Moreover, our own inner work inspires those around us. 

Heart to Heart,
Rev. Addae                                                                 

As we come to the close of another year, it’s only natural to look back over the past twelve months. The year has been filled with many joys, careers have opened, some travels to places both near and far, and some challenges with losses of loved ones, employment and health issues, and for many, disappointments in the political outcome of an election. But things are what they are, and just as we know death to be part of life, sorrow is also a companion to joy. However, we live in a culture that has not traditionally supported a connection to our physical, emotional and spiritual wellness, so there is a tendency to hide or avoid feelings within our community of faith. But as the connection between mind, body and spirit, and the effects on our physical health becomes clearer, awareness of the importance of exploring and sharing our feelings has grown. It takes great courage to cope with emotions during sorrowful periods in our lives. No matter how scary it seems, avoiding the pain of our feelings is damaging to mind, body and spirit. We each respond to sadness in our own way. Some of us will express it through tears, and others in a quiet turning inward. Either way is ok but remember that you are not alone on this journey. When given an opportunity to aid someone in need, most people are eager to do whatever they can to be of service. Moreover, those of us who have chosen to make healing the world a vocation are grateful for any occasion to send light and love to people in our immediate spheres of influence and beyond. I am always available to help in any way that I can.

Heart to Heart
Rev. Addae

Nature has a natural rhythm that provides cues for season’s changes. Such as when flowers bloom, and when it’s time for red and brown leaves to fall from trees. Or when the Monarch Butterflies make their annual return to Mexico for the winter. The rhythm also orchestrates when day turns to night, just as our own inner rhythm is attuned to this universal sense of timing. Guided by the rising and setting of the sun, changes in temperature, and our internal rhythm, we know when it is time to sleep, eat, or be active. Our minds and spirits are free to focus on other pursuits, but our breath and heartbeat are always there to remind us of life’s pulsing rhythm moving within and around us. If we move to this rhythm, we should be able to recognize when it is time to cease working and when to rest. Unfortunately, many of us push our bodies to work beyond their natural rhythms, diminishing our ability to renew and recharge. This moves us into a feeling much like jet lag letting us know that we’ve overridden our own natural rhythm. When we feel the frantic call of all we want to accomplish, impelling us to move faster than is natural for us, we may want to breathe deeply and look at nature moving to its own organic timing. With birds and butterflies flying south, leaves shedding, or snow falling, a walk in nature can also let us re-align to her organic rhythm, while allowing us to move back and retune with our own. When we move to our natural rhythm, we can achieve all we need to do with less effort. We may even notice that our soul moves to its own internal, natural rhythm especially when it comes to our personal evolution. Comparing ourselves to others is unnecessary. Our best guide is to move to our own internal timing, while keeping time with the rhythm of nature.

From my Heart to Yours,
Rev. Addae