What We Know To Be True
by Brad Lundy & Jan Deremo Lundy
Originally published in Healing Garden Journal, February of 2002

It has been one year since we launched this monthly column, Enlightened Loving. It has been a joyous experience for both of us. In putting our thoughts on paper and sharing them with our loyal Healing Garden readers, we have grown in spirit and stature as individuals and as a couple. We hope the same is true for you.

This one year “anniversary” is something we would like to celebrate with you this month by reflecting back on what we have learned. What came to us in the meditation we do together before we begin to write was “What do you know to be true...about life, about Love, about our divine connection?” We were guided to reflect upon the bigger Truths that emerged—truths that withstand time and new experiences. And so, we offer you a review of the Truths, intentions and actions that we perceive to be vitally important on this eternal journey of Enlightened Living and Loving .

Cultivate your relationship with your Self
This is the launching pad for Enlightened Living and Loving . We must ask, “How am I with my Self? Do I like myself? Am I happy?” The Truth is that if we are not happy intrinsically with ourselves, we will never be happy with anyone or anything else, because everything is an extension of us. It is essential to spend time with yourself, explore your barriers and masks. Clear the clutter of self and embark on the inner journey!

Know yourself as the divine spirit you are
Are you aware that you are a divine spirit or do believe you are an ego or both? We believe that our ego is a masterful tool (a God given gift) that can help us become aware of and tap into our Divine Self. By becoming consciously aware of our ego and how it operates in the physical world, we open ourselves to the highest version of us that we can be. This is not to perfect our selves to be the best ego we can be, but to rise above our worldly programming and remember our divine source. Exploring our ego can deliver us to the shores of compassion and loving kindness for ourselves and others. Unexplored, our ego becomes our way of living rather than through our Godself. The choice is ours.

Go with your passion and flow with it
It is important to continually ask ourselves, “What do I want? What serves my spirit? How am I living and where does my passion lie?” If we are unclear about who we are and what we want, we will manifest more of mass consciousness—negativity, poor self esteem, anger, and so on. Connecting with your innermost (God given) desires to live in the flow of passion will help you move toward manifesting your dreams. How do you determine what you want? Pay attention to your deepest yearnings—the stirrings of your soul. Ask, “What pleases my core?”

Go within yourself to seek the answers
How do you find the answers to your burning questions? Who do you listen to? Parents, friends, co-workers? It is true that advice can be found in sources outside of yourself, but the wisest counselor lies within. Our deepest wisdom originates from the divine conduit of which we are a part. Going within, through meditation or prayer, serves as the vehicle for tapping into this eternal source of inspiration, guidance and comfort. Often we negate ourselves, feeling that someone or something outside of ourselves can surely guide us down the right road. Nothing could be further from the truth. Because we are of Spirit, Its wisdom is accessible to us because on the deepest level of awareness it is our (God’s) own wisdom.

Honor and live your Truth
By getting in touch with who we really are, a natural outpouring of energy will come through us to live this Truth day in and day out. We are not spiritual travelers in certain situations—while in “sacred” places or in church/temple or involved in particular situations with specific people. We best honor ourselves by being the Truth of who we are in each and every aspect of our lives. This means being authentic in our intentions, thoughts and deeds with everyone and everything. Our spiritual lives are not out there somewhere, but in every breath we take, every step we make. Our spiritual lives are not separate from ourselves; they are ourselves.

There is nothing to journey toward
Often we see ourselves as incomplete, tragically flawed, and in need of redemption—or at least major work. We can strive to perfect our ego or settle into the inherent perfection of our lives. Every aspect of ourselves resides within only to be illuminated—there is nothing “wrong” with us. The purpose of life is not to move towards perfection (being the best human we can be), but to recognize our innate goodness, worth and ability to live in sacredness in each and every moment. As someone once said, “Life is not a dress rehearsal.” If we could recognize that Godself within us, constantly present, we would see the perfection of our day to day lives. All we need do is Be It.

The lessons of life always bring gifts
Every scenario in life, whether it be brilliant or dark, will bring us to the next greatest version of ourselves. No matter how challenging life may seem, it is through these challenges that we will discover who we really are. Divine energies are always guiding us (though we may not be aware of it) in the direction of our highest selves. Whatever doorway we walk through, though it might seem that we have chosen the “wrong” door or path, is perfect for us and our growth. There are no detours, only gifts. Behind every door is an endowment, a remembering of ancient wisdom or recognition of our divine selves, just waiting for us to welcome it in. There are no wrong turns, only forward movement to greater understanding of All That Is.

Love prevails; Love always wins
There is a grand scheme to things, the divine will at work in the world—through you, me and every action that is manifested. Our human understanding cannot possibly grasp the enormity of the divine plan and so trust is in order. If Love is the source, the origin of this schema, then Love will always prevail. What comes from Love will outsource itself in Love as well. Though it may not appear to our human senses that good (Love) will triumph, there is no other possible outcome. Spirit does not work to diminish or defeat us; Spirit naturally desires and flows toward our enhancement, because we are from It. Like a parent does for its child, the divine desires only the best for us in all situations. Love is the answer and the outcome—always.

Live in the joy
Knowing what we know, believing these Truths as they are, how can we live anything but truly joyful lives? When we tap into the divine awareness of these Truths, joy can be ours, no matter how our “human” lives seem to be unfolding. It is all in divine order. If we can surrender our attachments to the outer picture and tap into its Love origins, this is what Spirit desires for us. Joy can and should be ours; it is our birthright as the divine creatures we are.

With great love and blessings,
Brad and Jan