InnerSelf

What is my gift to the Earth?
What can I do to bless someone today?

How have great artists, musicians, poets, artisans, statesmen, scientists, writers produced finished works? First they experienced a moment of vision or inspiration that filled them with inner illumination. They forged that inner "knowing" into tangible works through a mighty thrust of will, determination and physical effort. The process of bringing their inner vision into physical form took dedication, perseverance and minute-to-minute attention to detail.

Every creative venture has its moments when it would be easy to say, "This is too much, it's hopeless." The person with will and determination says, "This is challenging, and I will find a way to make it work." The first person is saying, "I give up;" the second, "I will make it happen." Who do you think is going to win a victory over challenging circumstances?

Think of Noah building the ark. All those years people made fun of him, yet he maintained his communion with his God and kept on building. He had a strong will, determination and a vision to fulfill. A divine mandate from God. What if Noah had sat down and said to himself, "This is impossible. Forget it!" God could not have continued to work through him because he would no longer have been the chalice of vision, determination, effort and will to accomplish God's work.

Throughout the ages, saints, heroes and heroines inspired to follow a higher vision have mobilized the will, determination, and effort to bring that vision to fruition. Think of Joan of Arc, known as the saviouress of France. She had her vision, her "voices" and her dedication to God and country -- the France she loved so dearly. Even as she earnestly pursued her destiny, she was known for her sense of humor and laughter.

Joan gave her life for her country, and she is remembered and honored today for her vision, courage, and fiery determination to fulfill her mission. One young girl who followed God's direction and took action in the present became the impetus to the future of France as a free country.

Great men and women throughout history have followed their inner vision and sense of destiny to produce heroic and memorable deeds that have changed the course of history. Madame Curie, Clara Barton, Albert Einstein, Louis Pasteur, Jonas Salk and scores of others less well known have dedicated their lives to discoveries that have blessed the lives of people everywhere.

Life on planet Earth is transformed moment to moment by the choices we make and the actions we take. Let's ask ourselves, "What is my gift to the earth? What may I do to bless someone today? How can I help make this world a better place?"

This article is excerpted from:

Sacred Psychology of Change
by Marilyn C. Barrick, Ph.D.

Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Summit University Press. ©2000. Tel. 1- 406-848-9500. ww.tsl.org

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About the Author

Marilyn C. Barrick, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and workshop leader, has consulted as a psychological expert to schools, government agencies, professional advisory boards and a variety of mental health facilities. In the 1960s and early '70s, she taught graduate level courses for the Department of Psychology at the University of Colorado and served with Peace Corps as a training development officer and field counselor. She has also been a minister for over twenty-three years in a church that integrates the spiritual teachings of the world's major religions. Combining psychological expertise and in-depth spiritual understanding, she specializes in inner-child work, relationship counseling, dream analysis, Gestalt techniques, spiritual self-help exercises and EMDR trauma release therapy. Dr. Barrick's popular book, Sacred Psychology of Love was the first in her series on spiritual psychology. Sacred Psychology of Change is the second book in the series. (Dr. Barrick's other books.) For additional information, Dr. Barrick invites you to visit her web site at www.spiritualpsychology.com