Unexpected Change!

I can't do it without you! And you can't do it without me either. Every single one of us has a very important perspective to share with the world. Like human puzzle pieces designed to fit together in a very specific way. Don't you find it amazing how you tend to attract those who are likeminded, as well as the ones who think completely differently than you, that challenge your boundaries and false belief systems, and stretch you beyond where you could go alone? This is how we surprise and help one another.

I have this little story about a family that I know. The parents of three are Christians and come from a very established family; political and Republican. (Progressive rebels, please save your judgements, for I believe that all of this stuff is just a flip side of the same coin. Democrat and Republican need each other, and we may want to think outside of that box at some point…. but I digress, that's another blog post.) The parents raised them well, with good values and with very truthful hearts. At some point the eldest daughter came out. She loved a woman! Well, what I witnessed was an awesome occurrence.

This mother, who works for a pastor, has such a strong faith and has an equally strong love for her daughter. (As you would imagine all good Christians do!) She was able to be stretched by her own love for her daughter, which may have challenged her faith by rubbing right up against her belief system. I watched curiously as this woman opened herself and unfurled before my very eyes. She even involved herself in the proposal of marriage her daughter was planning. The couple ended up having a very traditional East Coast wedding. The only exception: it was two women pledging their love. What I found fascinating is that there was never a mention of the same-sexness. There were no apologies. Only a celebration of coming together to create a life of joy.

To me, this is the best expression of how we all help one another to grow. Beyond our beliefs of right and wrong. When I look inside my own heart, I know that my compassion was stretched by my relationship with my own father. Yes, he was the one who brought yoga, macrobiotics, meditation, and much more into my life, but he was also the one who hurt me with his anger, his harsh words and verbal abuse, and his lack of care for the family. I have always really loved my father and given him the benefit of the doubt. People make mistakes. Even the harshest most harmful words come from a human being. My father was not careful with me, but his nature challenged my very own. Love? Yes. Always. Forgiveness? Yes. Always. When I am challenged to my core, I am simply challenged to love myself and stand against no others. What comes from this exercise is unexpected change.