Holes of Imperfection

The art of being yourself at your best is the art of unfolding your personality into the person you want to be ... Be gentle with your-
self, learn to love yourself, to forgive yourself, for only as we have
the right attitude toward ourselves can we have the right attitude towards others. ~  Wilfred A. Peterson (1900-1995)


There is a childhood picture of a little girl dressed in a fancy dress, lace cuffed anklets and dressy shoes.  Her hair has bows holding back the curls and her smile stretches from ear to ear.  While staring at the picture of this radiant child, I try to capture her essence, as the seemingly innocent face looking back at me is my own. 

This snapshot reflects everything that I have forgotten.  There is no evidence of self-consciousness or sense of being ashamed.  There is no fear in the eyes surveying what will happen next.  I sadly realize that the snapshot is simply a form of wallpaper stretched over the holes of my imperfection.

There is another picture of a young bride being escorted down the church aisle by her father.  She pauses right before she takes that walk, that split second when all present in the church turns to look at the amazing bride.  I easily recall all of those eyes staring at me, and I realized this was the only time I had ever had everyone's absolute attention.  The gown I was wearing  was just a thicker layer of wallpaper stretching over more holes of imperfection.

Holes of imperfection left unattended become crevices and in time deep wells or serious pitfalls.  These holes surround us in total darkness so it is impossible to see our true selves let alone the beauty in others.

When lost completely to darkness, one eventually notices a small dot of light stirring small strands of hope.  With effort, these strands grow thicker and desire begins braiding a rope.
It is never an easy climb, but along the way we gather tools to carefully scrape off the dirt from our body, mind and soul, and to begin filling the holes of imperfection with healing light.

Standing in the light, perceptions become more accurate and insightful.   Living in the light offers transformation allowing appreciation for our own unique presence which ultimately leads to loving our very self.  The world then with all of its inhabitants looks like a much more friendly place.  It is then, and only then that love abounds!



  

Abundance in Many Forms

Your most precious, valued possessions and your greatest powers are invisible and intangible. No one can take them. You, and you alone, can give them. You will receive abundance for your giving. ~ W. Clement Stone


A very dear friend of mine was sharing an experience she had in a foreign country with a woman selling her own hand made jewelry.  There was a particular necklace my friend was interested in, but the price was more than my friend could afford.  The woman lowered the price and although the jewelry was well worth it, my friend still could not afford it.  Eventually the two women came to an agreed amount, and continued their conversation.  The woman shared information with my friend about the history of the small town, pointing out significant landmarks, and the decline of their culture.  My friend learned of current raids, rape, and growing fear in the small town. 

When my friend moved along in her journey, she shared the story with fellow travelers and then again back home in the United States.  The skilled jewelry maker was not able to receive the full monetary amount for her work, but through her gift of story telling, she shared her life and culture in an unforgettable way.  In place of money, the woman was now the recipient of numerous prayers for protection, prosperity, and safety.  Daily blessings which are priceless are being sent back to the visited country.

We all need to be mindful of the value of our gifts and talents.  We can assist others in a very satisfying way by giving of our selves without being driven by thoughts of financial return.  We all need to be compensated for our work, but we may end up richer by receiving abundance in one of its many other forms after we have generously given of ourselves.