GETTING BACK YOUR GRACE: CONNECTING TO YOUR ORIGINAL WHOLENESS DESPITE ACTS OF TERRORISM

You are already whole. The physical you, manifesting now, is a smaller but still beautiful version of your entire self. Whether you are thriving or struggling, remember: what you see is just one piece of the whole you.
No matter your situation, only a part of your spirit is present here. Your essence, or higher self, never incarnates but watches over your experiencing self and remains whole, no matter what happens. 

You might wonder how wholeness is possible in a world filled with suffering and atrocity. How can we consider ourselves whole in the face of personal and collective pain? How can anyone believe that wholeness or grace can persist even amid evil and suffering?

Let’s take a moment to reflect on the human spirit, which remains resilient and indomitable even in the face of unbearable circumstances. History provides numerous examples of such courage and resilience, including figures such as Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Mother Teresa. These individuals did not succumb to despair; instead, they held firmly to their beliefs and pursued the truth, despite facing overwhelming opposition and suffering.

How did they do this? What kept them going?

They believed in a cause greater than themselves, took action to change conditions, and remembered their original purpose, even if only as a deep compulsion for truth.

How do you keep going if it’s just you?

You cannot take on every cause. Follow your own guidance and stay on your path by living your unique soul purpose—your dharma. You aren’t expected to work alone. Seek organizations working for causes you care about, and find your mission mates there.

How do I discover my dharma?

What do you love? What do you care about? Look there for your dharma. Use your gifts for the benefit of everyone. You received these to help you fulfill your dharma. What calls you to bear witness or speak truth? There lies your dharma.

To strategize social justice work, regularly meet with a supportive community to uplift one another as channels for mutual support and grace. You can’t face evil alone; grace supports your spiritual immune system and acts through you when you respect your sacred mission.

It’s all an illusion anyway.

Since we are already whole, is it correct to conclude that the horrors of the world are an illusion? Some new age schools of thinking answer, “It’s all an illusion, anyway; everything is perfect as it is.” This prompts a difficult transition from personal and spiritual wholeness to confronting real suffering.

Tell that to the Syrians who are being turned out of their homes and massacred.
Tell that to the victims of Sandy Hook.
Tell that to the 27 million women and children who endure bestial treatment in the enforced slavery of sex trafficking.
Tell that to the victims of the Holocaust.
Tell that to the Vietnamese who were decimated by the murderous ideology of “Kill Anything that Moves.”
Tell that to the women of India, who have been raped and murdered, many generations over.
Tell that to the Native Americans.
Tell that to the Native Americans who walked the Trail of Tears.
Tell that to the slaves of African ancestry.
Tell that to the undocumented workers.
Tell that to women who have been subjected throughout history to violence against their gender.

It’s a worthless debate. This question becomes even more apparent when we consider what happens to our understanding of wholeness when we are the ones experiencing great suffering. Here, the philosophical notion of illusion clashes with lived human pain.

How can you be whole and maimed at the same time?

Your ultimate self is always whole. The part of you in this world may be wounded. Connect with your Spirit Body to heal your Physical, Emotional, and Mental Bodies. Remember your promise and why you came here. What contribution are you withholding by forgetting your courage?

You can use the tools that will bring heaven to your aid. You are already holding them. What are these tools?

Grace. Prayer. Community. Friendship. Self-reflection. Self-care. Connect with your heart. Remember. Bend, don’t break. Stay strong. With abundant energy, it’s easier to face adversity.

Grace encourages us to live boldly, even in the face of fear. Will Grace shield you? Not from every challenge, but enough to guide you toward your soul’s intentions. The field of Grace is always present and active in the world. You are still here, aren’t you?

What if you’re too depressed to take further action? What if you’ve given up in overwhelm? How do you transform your condition?

At this point, the fundamental question shifts from personal pain to a broader consideration: how do we transform the darkness in the world?

Refuse to surrender to the belief that darkness is more powerful than light.
Refuse to surrender because you do not accept that darkness, no matter how powerful, how painful, or how savage, is the ultimate reality.
Refuse to believe that you have nothing of value to contribute.
Bear witness to your own suffering.
Continue to act on what you believe is the greater truth.
Connect to the eternal flame of the peace within, the peace that passes all understanding.
Stick to your dharma.

Know that your spirit has what it takes to be in this world. You would not have been put here otherwise. 

Choose actions that serve humanity, as this aligns with your higher self. Setting intentions and following through allow you to realize your full potential. Develop your gifts to the fullest extent and utilize them for a meaningful contribution. You have the capacity to fulfill your purpose.