The Cat Who Barked

A Story of Allowing

There was once a cat who was born different. As a kitten when all the other kittens were pouncing on bugs and chasing pieces of string, this kitten would chase after cars and retrieve sticks that were thrown by his master. He even had a strange staccato sounding meow which at times seemed to sound more like a bark.

The other kittens made fun of the strange, different little kitten until he ran off by himself to cry. The mother and father cats saw the kitten acting more like a dog and would tell him, "You are a cat! Cats do not chase after cars and fetch sticks! We pounce and play with string and meow! Be proud of who you are because you are one of life's noblest creatures--a cat!"

As the kitten grew older, his life was filled with such messages until he decided it was too hard to be different. He was lonely, and he was always being told he wasn't doing things right. He decided then and there that he would try to be the best cat he could possibly be.

He worked day and night on his pouncing skills until he became so good at it the other cats where asking him for advice. When the ball of yarn came out, he was the first cat there, chasing it and batting at it with his paws. He was the life of the party! He even worked to try to draw his staccato meow out into a more cat-like sound. He understood what it took to be a great cat, and he did it proudly.

Or so it seemed. While all the other cats admired him and tried to emulate what he did, the now grown cat grew less and less happy. There were times he saw the puppies playing in the yard--chasing after sticks and cars--and he longed for the days when he used to run freely doing what he enjoyed. This cat's lifestyle did not fit who he was. Pretending to act like one was making him miserable.

Finally, the cat made a decision! "I am not going to pretend anymore," he thought! "I may be a cat, but I was not designed to be a normal cat! I am different, and I do not want to hide who I am any longer!"

From that moment on, the cat did all those things that made him happy. He chased after cars. He fetched sticks for his master. More often than not, he joined the puppies playing in the yard because they did all the things he enjoyed, and they didn't make fun of him the way the other cats did.

Although many of the cats began to make fun of him for following his heart, a few of the cats accepted him for who he was. Some of them liked to do uncat-like things as well. Still others admired his strength for going against the crowd and doing what made him happy.

In time, the cat found he became more and more accepted for who he was. He also discovered that, because he had the courage to face the ridicule, other cats were now less afraid to reveal their true selves. More importantly, the joy the cat found in life was much more profound and rewarding than anything he could imagine. He discovered that it is only in being true to yourself--by allowing yourself to use the gifts and talents you were born with--you are able to fulfil your true calling and be at peace.

The New Mentality

I had an interesting conversation with several Facebook friends who were discussing the planetary ascension process we seem to be going through at the present time--this time of increased problems but also increased understanding. So often in our day to day experience, it is easy to get discouraged about all that is taking place. We see people who ought to "get it" do stupid things which seem to undermine the planetary growth, setting us back hundreds of years (or so it feels).

I just don't see it that way. Sure, there are a great many ignorant people out there. Sure, the great majority of people in the world today are bent on controlling the lives of as many others as humanly possible. The thing is, there are also those of us who are realizing that fighting and control are futile--that the only ends which will come about by all the continuing conflict is our earthly demise. And there are more and more of us every day!

More and more often, another person is converted to the masses who believe struggle for control is not the answer (although if you're looking to see this in politics, forget about it!). The key to our survival lies not in standing up for our beliefs. It lies in allowing others to control their own destinies--to choose the lessons they came here to learn. It is only by allowing all that IS to occur without hindrance that we will be able to rise above the conflict and create a world based on ONE!

This Oneness of heart and of mind and of purpose is the new mentality! The very act of manipulation/control is the block which stands in the way of global peace and harmony! When another is raging for a fight, don't engage him! Love him! When another tells you that you've lost your mind and need to be stopped, love her back! Fighting won't stop the battle. It can, by its very nature, only increase it. Accept and go about with your purpose in life. They will learn their own lessons in their own time.

The impact of your acceptance will be much more powerful than you will ever know! The old saying "Actions speak louder than words" is true. When you are peace and love, others will understand and imitate. It is this mentality that will sway hearts. It is this new mentality that will change the world. 

Allowing What Is

As human beings, we are often under the impression it is our job to change the world. We see someone doing something ineffectively and we become hellbent on helping to resolve the issue. Many of us work effortlessly in the attempt to "fix it". Often we become disappointed or frustrated because our efforts don't seem to yield the results we were looking for. Maybe it isn't a problem with the actions as much as a problem with the thoughts. When we see a problem, we automatically assume something is wrong, but is it really? My current philosophy is to assume all is right with the world--to allow what is to exist in its perfection.

Perfection? Wars, genocide, greed, poverty, betrayal, etc. are perfection? My simple answer is "Yes!" How can I view them as perfect? I don't believe the purpose of life is to stand around worshipping a just, all-powerful (albeit loving) God. (Do you really think God is so into Himself he needs to be constantly worshipped and adored? Not a trait I particularly like in humans!) I believe our goal as humans is to learn and grow. Problems, be they big or small, are the vehicles we use to do this. Think about it. Where has the most growth occurred in your life? Was it when things were sailing smoothly along or when the storms of life threatened to overwhelm you?

Problems exist to enable our development. When we try to fix another's problem ourselves, we are limiting their opportunity for growth. Often, we become frustrated because the Universe knows better and continues the problem until the person it is designed to help learns the lesson. Sometimes, our interference in the process will even prolong the problem because we get in the way of what the other person is trying to learn! (Hence our frustration!)

For example, look at the issue of codependency and the alcoholic. The alcoholic comes home drunk, gets sick all over themselves and passes out on the floor. If another is codependent, he/she will clean up the mess and put the drunk to bed. The alcoholic will wake up in the morning and not realize anything bad has happened. Consequently, he will go out again and repeat the negative behavior. It is only when the other person allows the alcoholic to wake up dirty and on the floor that the alcoholic begins to become aware of the problem and will work to change it.

People need to fix their own problems. If they ask for your help, help them if you feel so led! Otherwise, focus on your own life purpose and do those things you feel are your calling. Acknowledge that problems are there and they exist for our growth. When we allow all that is to exist--including those things we judge to be "bad"--we allow others to have the growth experiences they came to earth to achieve. When we allow what is, we acknowledge that everything is as it should be. Everything is already in its perfection. Be happy in the knowledge the Universe has everything well in hand.


  

The Art of Allowing

I've always thought of myself as a fairly talented person. I write a bit better than average, I possess a flair for teaching and presenting, and I've received my fair share of praise for the occasional solos I sing. I've also managed to single-handedly raise three children, two of whom are special needs, while working fulltime. These are all things I've wanted to do, yet I still find myself wanting to do more--especially now that I am looking at the reality of an empty nest in just a few short years. It's been a challenge for me to decide on what to do during the next phase of my life. I want so much to make a difference--to find my true calling.  I've struggled with this puzzle for the past several years and have only recently come to a very startling conclusion. My confusion over my next purpose stems directly from the fact I have talent I have not fully accepted or allowed, but which will be critical in this new phase.

From the time I was a small child, I have always been very sensitive to others. I know what to say when someone needs encouragement, and I understand how to cheer them up when they are down. In my younger days, I played the role of defender of the underdog when I saw another child being unfairly picked on. I do this because I can feel others' pain and will do everything in my power to help change it. There are even times when these feelings are so strong I know what people are thinking. I may not always say what I know, but not a lot gets past my notice. This gift has also gotten me into trouble at times.

While I understand I can do all this, my acceptance of it has been limited by my religious upbringing. In some circles, I would be called clairsentient or an empath. From my Christian background, I could only accept that I was occasionally "under the influence of the Holy Spirit". (Just to clarify something, I do believe psychic ability stems from the ability to connect with the Divine and that all people have the ability to connect.) Any other explanation was taboo. Consequently, the ability to feel things beyond myself was not a particularly desirable trait and it did not fit into my well-ordered, mainstream life.

I did try to address this in my earlier years. I got a degree in psychology thinking I would become a counselor to help people with their problems. Then I found my rewarding role as parent, which side-tracked me a bit. When I went to re-evaluate getting a counseling degree later, I realized I did not like traditional therapy because of its drawn out process and questionable results.

The past few months, I have worked on strengthening this talent by intentionally giving "readings" to friends and others who want some intuitive guidance. I have been somewhat startled on occasion by what I have picked up, and I have gotten some very positive feedback. This, coupled with some intuitive advice I have received from others who are sensitive, has made it clear I am to use this gift in the future to help others.

I'm still not certain exactly what I am supposed to do with it, nor am I certain it will be part of my professional career. I just know that it is important to my purpose and that accepting it as part of myself is key to its development and eventual use.

So yes, I'm psychic, clairsentient, empathic, Spirit-filled or whatever you want to call it. You can negate it, deny it or push it (or me) away, or you can accept it and allow it to help you on your journey. Whatever you decide is quite okay. You have your own journey, as I have mine. My job now is to embrace my gift so I can use it to complete my purpose. I will resist no longer. Once again, I am discovering how allowing all that is can clear the way for more blessings to flow.

 

The Perfection of Allowing

My heart is breaking for a friend in distress. A terrible custody battle has been raging over her young granddaughter and it is not looking good for her daughter. Part of the problem stems from her daughter's troubled past. Although the daughter has been away from her former lifestyle for years the custody battle has dredged it all up, and the child's father is extremely good at keeping up appearances. They face the very real possibility that they could lose custody to a father who wants the child mainly so he doesn't have to pay child support. We have all prayed for a positive outcome, and are saddened by the thought the daughter may lose custody.

Still, as I look at the situation, there are a few things I know. The first is that our perceptions are not necessarily reality. Our experiences are colored by what we have been taught by society and what we have gleaned from our own personal experiences. This coloring may taint the way we see the truth. There are also probably elements we can't even see because our experiences and societal lessons have not taught us to look for them. I know we may not be looking at the situation the same way God looks at the situation.

Another thing I know is the more I fight against the inevitable the more the inevitable fights back. Fighting only brings more problems, never solutions. Occasionally we may be able to run away from our problems, but in the long run they tend to catch up with us again (sometimes in a slightly different form but always the same essential problem). It is only when I give up what I want and "surrender" to the inevitable that God enables me to resolve the issue.

I don't have all the answers, but I know God has a plan. There is obviously something about this situation we are missing. Maybe the granddaughter has been sent to help her father change in some way, and having custody of her will help achieve this goal. Maybe it is something else, but I know in the very depths of my soul things happen for a reason. When we have the courage to accept the plan, things fall into place. Chaos becomes order. Struggle becomes peace. When we allow things to be, we unblock the barriers which limit our growth. We allow ourselves, and others, to be perfected.