Day 17 - The Gift of YOU

The gift of who we are needs to shine through.  ​

The Gift

Not in a million years would I have imagined that Loretta and I would be in the middle of the Amazon jungle leading a song as part of a cultural exchange with the Achuar people. Fortunately, our traveling companions had our backs--literally. They sat behind us and sang along... and even participated in the accompanying hand motions.

The song was about opening our hearts wide and choosing life.

The whole situation was humbling for sure.

Why were we doing this? We were advised to not bring material gifts for the people as their culture is not materially oriented. We were encouraged to offer ourselves and our songs as the gift. We did not share a common language, but somehow we were able to connect. It took me awhile to understand this:

We were the gift.

To truly do this work at this moment in history, we not only need to see differently, we need to BE different. The gift we are needs to shine through.

A resource that I have found particularly valuable in this work is Will Keepin's Principles of Spiritual Leadership. 

The first of these principles is to work from love--to be FOR what we want rather than AGAINST what we don't want. The Dalai Lama says, "A positive future can never emerge from the mind of anger and despair."

Yesterday's action was to unplug and connect with yourself. Why does this matter?
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Intentionally taking action from the heart may be one of the most important steps we can take to reverse global warming, regardless of which "solution" we choose to work on. Our heart is what draws others to our work.

TODAY'S ACTION:
1. Read Will Keepin's Principles of Spiritual Leadership  

2. Which of these principles of spiritual leadership most speaks to you at this time?

Over the next few days, I'll share a couple of these principles that I find personally helpful in this work of reversing global warming.

To being wholehearted,

Denise