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A
few years back I gave a "Father's Day" message in a church in
West Los Angeles and after I finished speaking a minister came up to me
and said that his relationship with his father was nothing like the
"Leave It To Beaver" characterization that I had had with my
father. He said what I had said just did not ring as true for him
as his relationship with his father was one of abuse and negativity.
I explained to him that what we remember from the past is a choice and
that we can choose to bring to our mind past experiences that negate our
Good, that rekindle negative emotions within our mind ... or we can
choose past experiences that affirm the Good-ness and Joy of Life.
In my talk, I chose to affirm the Good that I experienced with my father
rather than speak to the negative, although at this time in my life I
realize that what "seemed" to be negative, was in fact ...
Good.
All things work to the Good for those who
love the Good and the following piece of history illustrates this point:
“He spent some days in prayer, and
then went bravely to see his father. He was now so thin and ill-clad
that boys in the streets pelted him and called him mad. The exasperated
Bernadone beat Francis, fettered his feet, and locked him up. A little
later his mother set him free and Francis returned to St. Damian's. His
father pursued him there and angrily declared that he must either return
home or renounce his share in his inheritance-and pay the purchase price
of the horse and the goods he had taken as well. Francis made no
objection to being disinherited, but protested that the other money now
belonged to God and the poor. Bernadone had him summoned for trial
before Guido, the bishop of Assisi, who heard the story and told the
young man to restore the money and trust in God. "He does not
wish," the bishop said, "to have His church profit by goods
which may have been unjustly acquired." Francis not only gave back
the money but went even further. "My clothing is also his," he
said, and stripped off his garments. "Hither to I have called Peter
Bernadone father.... From now on I say only, 'Our Father, who art in
Heaven.’" Bernadone left the court in sorrow and rage, while the
bishop covered the young man with his own cloak until a gardener's smock
was brought. Francis marked a cross on the shoulder of the garment with
chalk, and put it on."
- from the life story of Saint
Francis Of Assisi
Although
this "moment" in the life of St. Francis seems very negative,
it is good. I believe that his father was in fact the impetus for
St. Francis to move into his life's purpose. And for many of us
who have experienced conflict with our fathers, we can reflect back on
these experiences and realize that they were indeed very important to
our development and growth as individuals. Having fathers that
support us wholeheartedly in our life choices is a good thing ... but
having opposition from our fathers can sometimes make us stronger and
more determined. It gives us the conviction to move through
whatever we must move through in order to realize our goals.
Spirit within us is "liberty" ... and
this means that we must be free to express whatever it is that we are to
express in our lives. We inherit this "independent
spirit" from our Source, or as St. Francis stated, "Our
Father, who art in Heaven." This "Heaven" being the
freedom to choose to be, to have, and to live according to our own
personal highest ideals that we have discovered within ourselves.
Metaphysically we know that this "Father" resides in our
consciousness ... it is our "Provider" ... bringing into our
experience that which we are convinced is ours to experience.
We can know that St. Francis was compelled by
something greater than himself to endure what he did in order to pursue
his purpose. This Power responds to our "recognition" of
Its' Power and Presence in our lives. It is personal to us even
though Its Presence is infinite. Father's Day offers us the
perfect opportunity to begin a daily practice of "recognizing the
Father within" ... and in so doing, God moves with us through our
every life experience. Judge Troward explained so clearly that the
Spirit is within us all, but it is up to us to "stir up the Spirit
within." And as we do, we affirm our true relationship to
Life Itself.
AND
SO IT IS!
Keep
the faith!
Rev.
Dr. Henry Lee Bates
Visit Rev. Bates BLOG: Living
the Science of Mind
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