SPIRITUAL BOOT CAMP 2.0

LESSON # 11

I write this lesson to each of you with no assurance if you will read or respond to it. Over the last weeks you have all disappeared. I do not know why or even exactly when. I cannot say if it was my inability to inspire or stimulate you or if your lives have become so full that you cannot participate in this thing we call boot camp. I stopped speculating. It does me no good and there could be a thousand reasons.

I did ask myself this question: What is the lesson in this for me?

I have found a few meaningful answers. I will share them here in hopes that writing this will help me integrate them. I cannot say what it will mean to you.

My lessons so far.

1- Be careful about expectations of others. Sometimes I expect too much from others and I run the risk of being painfully disappointed. My expectations are sometimes based more on what I hope for than on what the individual agrees to or is capable of. I must learn to be more aware of the other and make a clear distinction between what I hope for and what they are able or willing to do.

My vision for others and who and what they could be is often great. I am inspired by their potential (as I see it). But sometimes the other cannot live into or up to my vision for their lives. It requires too much sacrifice or growth or intensity or commitment. They resist my support and stop short of the goal I have assigned them. I used to react strongly to this resistance. I would get angry or hurt and occasionally judgmental. Recently, in the past 10 years, I have learned to temper my reactions with compassion and a clearer awareness that my vision for another person is simply that - my vision, not theirs.

I did think, however, that I was aware of the intentions of the members of this boot camp. I thought that each of you was committed to the process and that I could count on you to participate fully. I was totally wrong about that. (Please be aware that I am not judging you here. I am reflecting on my own lessons in this.)

I am not usually so wrong or out of touch in my perception of others. It is my profession to pay close attention and my interpretations are often right on and even insightful. Not in this case. I am humbled by that fact. I did not see this train coming. It did not run over me and I am not damaged by it but still I missed the whistle and the rumble that should have preceded it. The lesson in this, I think, is that I need to stop more often and take a deeper look at what others want and need.

2- Do not take the behavior of others personally. It may well be that most or all of you have very good reasons for dropping out of this boot camp, none of which have anything to do with me. Simply accepting that and then letting go and getting on with my work life would be a great step in my personal growth. You have your reasons and you are allowed your reasons and they do not have to be any of my business. As the Mafia loves to say, “It is just business.” Done deal. Excellent lesson.

3- Go with the energy. There is an old saying in Gestalt therapy about working in groups, “Go with the energy.” This is obvious and excellent advice but sometimes I go for something because I want it and forget to pay attention to the fact that the others have little energy for it. Failure always follows when I do this.

There is clearly no energy for advanced spiritual growth in a boot camp internet setting among the individuals I know right now. I would be wise to heed this message and go with the strong energy for weight loss and related inner growth. If I do this as a matter of fact with no emotion attached, I will free myself to make better business decisions that are more profitable and satisfying.

So far, this is what I have learned form this experience. If any of you read this and want to share with me on any level about anything I have said, I will welcome the conversation. If not, then continue to be with God. And be blessed.

I will write the last lesson next week and close out this boot camp in peace.

God bless each of you.

Dr A

Doc "You Quoted"

(but still I missed the whistle and the rumble that should have preceded it.)

Doc when you wrote that it broke my heart....I know
how much you want it for everybody ....its not for the
money but to bring people closer to the source and to
each other to our open minds and hearts and im sorry and sad
that your brillance is coming to a rest but most of
all im sad that after you there is no place for us to go
for an "Ace" teacher like you and im proud that I know this and
I thank you for the short time I had been in this camp..


Joan.......

Hi Matthew,

Thanks for posting your comments regarding this boot camp. I tried my hardest to continue, but with little or no feedback for a week at a time it was impossible for me to continue. I felt as if I was out in the desert. And, if I was going to be alone I was not going to post anymore. I'm sorry you feel "There is clearly no energy for advanced spiritual growth in a boot camp internet setting among the individuals I know right now." I so wanted to have this work, and I am sorry if I disappointed you. Maybe your expectations were too high, I don't know. I do know that I worked very hard at this.

Much love,
Dolores

Dolores, you definitely did not disappoint me. You above all gave your all.

God bless you for it.

peace. matthew

Reply with quote
Post
Hi All,

I just finished reading the newest book about Mother Teresa. It's called "Mother Teresa - Come Be My Light." I wanted to share this experience with as many people as I could and the first group I thought of was this group of my friends from SBC1 & 2. I miss you all very much and hope to hear from you all soon.

The experiences which Mother Teresa went through took my breath away. At times I experienced God with her and found myself full of his wondrous love. And at other times I could feel the aridity she experienced - the feeling of abandonment which permeated her life. And yet through it all, until the day of her death, she never stopped believing and doing what God called her to do. She said that after her "calling" had come to fruition and she founded the Missionaries of Charity, she felt that God had left her. She said that she could no longer feel the love of God nor could she experience the love around her. But, she never stopped - she never stopped living as though she felt and had it all.

I share this with you because I have been there and I remember that many of you have been there and shared it with us in this group. There is hope, there is light, there is love and it is proven by this little lady who loved so much. My life is changed, I hope that yours can be changed as well. Oh, dear God to just have half the love that Mother Teresa had for you and my life will be complete.

God bless you all!
Dolores

Curry may we cross roads again and God bless
you too on your Journey

A poem just for you


What really Matters by Joan

Embrace the Past my friend
compassion has Roads with
.......no end
Forget the dreams of what
....could have been
you fought hard and
sometimes win

embrace the future
...and let
remnants of past
dreams behind
Reach for the divine
destiny God had
....in mind

burn the bridge
....and release
.....the past
Who you are now is the
shadow you cast
For in tomorrow will today's
heartache find its cure?
Beloved's promise thats
....for sure

Dont regret dreams
..that died
only the image
...is what
...shatters
shared your peanut
butter and jelly sandwich
with me is all that
....matters...

Joan



Last edited by tracey on Sat Oct 20, 2007 2:30 pm; edited 1 time in total

Good Morning Joan.

Thanks for the reply and especially for the poem. You have such a way with words-God has blessed you with a great gift.

God bless,
Dolores

Delores,
thank you for sharing that. I needed to hear those words now. I am the wanderer and the lover of leaving that Rumi speaks of.
I have broken my vow at least a thousand times, and will break it 10,000 more in my life, I'm sure.

But come, and yet again, come.

You and JT and the others have blessed my life so richly. May God continue to bless your journey and may you live each day fully.

Much love to you all,
Andrea

My Friends, please pray for me.
Love,
Dolores

Dolores Whats up may I ask?? is it spiritual issues or
something more serious??
I'll pray for you anyway if you cant speak of it but
if you can im interested and here for you...


(((((Hugs)))))
Joan

Delores,
I echo Joan's concern. Share as much or as little as you want. Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.

(((HUGS)))
Andrea

Thanks ladies. I'm just going thru a rough patch and could use some extra prayer. I just need all the prayers I can get. And I thank you both for being there for me. I really appreciate you both. God bless you both.

Love,
Dolores

Curry the most strong sufficent Lady I know
I believe you can overcome anything and I know
with lots of faith you will...

"When we get tangled up in our problems just stay
still and God will untangle them"...

((((Hugs))))
Joan