Living the Legacy - Devotion June 29

I was in California last week, remembering Michael, celebrating his life, missing him and sharing love for him with all the people who were there.  We cried and laughed, shared stories, visited the places he loved and imagined him being there with us.  We played his music non-stop and spent every waking moment thinking and talking about him.  We made multiple visits to Neverland and Forest Lawn.  It was beautiful, magical, incredible.  I loved being able to really express my devotion to Michael with others who feel the same.
As the time came closer to when we would have to return to our regular lives, I desperately wanted to do something to show my dedication to Michael.  I wanted to give something back for all he has brought to my life.  Nothing seemed to be enough.  At one point we even discussed throwing ourselves off the top of Holly Terrace to demonstrate our undying love.  We sat in the shade on the edge of the road across from the building just before it was time to leave.  It seemed almost impossible to drive away from this beautiful place and leave Michael behind.

We sat in silence, lost in our thoughts.  It was totally quiet, peaceful, serene.  A hawk appeared above us, wings outstretched, gliding in a huge circle over our heads, at one point coming so low, we could see each individual feather outlined.  He then circled in a figure eight over Holly Terrace.  We continued to watch him, time standing still, as he effortlessly glided and spiralled above us, never once flapping his wings, until he disappeared behind one of the majestic trees on the hill.  The only word for it was, perfection.

It was time to go, and we knew the majestic hawk was a message from Michael, to tell us that he is always with us and all is well.   Although we will continue to visit him at Forest Lawn every year, we realize he can not be contained.  He is free, perfect, effortless and continuing to inspire and delight us with his creativity and endless love.   No need to jump off a building for him, He only asks that we be what he would have us be - our true selves.  When we do this, we are like the hawk, in joy, living life to the fullest.
We left Forest Lawn without tears, still in awe, and headed for the airport to drop off our rented car and check in for our flight home.  While waiting in line, we saw a big sign on the wall which read -  Dreams of Soaring, beside it were two hawks, wings outstretched in a blue sky.
A lady sitting at the gate waiting for the plane mentioned that she like Siren's jacket.  I spoke up and told her "It's a Michael Jackson jacket"    When we came through Canada customs a few hours later, the agent asked why we had been in L.A.  Siren answered, "We were there for Michael Jackson's memorial."   Without effort, we had chosen a way to honor Michael and live his legacy, by joyfully bringing him into people's awareness.  We can dedicate our lives to him by keeping him reverently in our hearts and taking every opportunity to share his divinity with those who may be ready to hear.

Speaking My Truth

On May 8, Mother's day, I had the opportunity to be the speaker at the Sunday Service at my church.  This was a first for me, having never spoken in front of an audience of any kind before.  Interestingly, I was not at all nervous, and it went very well.  My topic was my own life journey, and how I have been affected by Michael Jackson.  Of course, this is a subject I am very passionate about, and I let the people who were there, see the real me.  I opened my heart to them.

Afterward, everyone was very kind, telling me that I had done well.  No one, however, mentioned anything about the message I was trying to convey, the message of Michael's legacy of love.  I was a bit disappointed about this, until I realized that the real purpose of my talk had nothing to do with what others may or may not have gotten from it.  It was about me, and my commitment to Michael.  On the day after my talk, I was overwhelmed with feelings of love.  It seemed as though, having publicly declared my devotion to Michael, I had "chosen" him, just as he had chosen me two years ago, when I had been struck by his love in July of 2009.

I was in a grocery store, on that Monday, May 9 and I kept seeing Michael in front of me.  He was wearing a long white robe, made of a fabric I have never seen before.  It was very white, very soft, and flowing, with wide sleeves.   He was thanking me for having the courage to follow my heart by speaking the day before.  It was not for himself he was thanking me, but for my own growth and becoming more my true self.   He took my hands, and knelt down in front of me, honoring me and saying Namaste.  Something happened to my eyes, and I could not see the products on the shelves of the store, my heart was pounding, and I felt waves of love flowing from my feet up to my head.  My eyes could focus again in a couple of minutes, and I went about my errands in a daze.  All day long, whenever I thought of Michael I could see him in front of me again, bowing, holding my hands, and saying Namaste.   I was very uncomfortable with this, saying "Michael, please stop.  You are the one who has done so much for me.  It is I who should be thanking you, I can't handle all this love!"  I felt him laughing at me, because I so often ask for him to give me a sign that he is here, and whatever sign I get, I always want more.  This time, he was giving me more, and more, and more, filling me up to overflowing.  

Since then, I have noticed a change in myself.  I feel more sure than ever about my love for Michael and my determination to say yes to my heart and do whatever I am here to do, for him and for the world.  I have new self-confidence that I am fine just as I am, and that I am loved, no matter what.   A few days ago, over a month since my talk, I listened to the CD of it for the first time.  I have never liked the sound of my own voice, which is why I avoided listening to it earlier, but I was amazed to find that I LIKED my voice, and I liked what I said.  I am so happy that I did not say no to the opportunity to speak my truth when I felt Michael nudging me to take this leap.  It truly has been another life changing event in my journey with Michael.

Call for Love Devotion June 15

     There is nothing you can hold against reality.  All that must be forgiven are the illusions you have held against your brothers.  Their reality has no past, and only illusions can be forgiven.  God holds nothing against anyone for He is incapable of illusions of any kind.  Release your brothers from the slavery of their illusions by forgiving them for the illusions you perceive in them.  Thus will you learn that you have been forgiven, for it is you who offer them illusions.  In the holy instant this is done for you in time, to bring you the true condition of Heaven.

A Course in Miracles  Chapter 16, Section VII, Paragraph 9

When you read this paragraph, you may be thinking "What the hell is this talking about?", but if you read it slowly and let the words soak into you, you may feel the peace and truth that emanate from these words.  To me, it is saying that there is nothing to forgive, because we are all as God created us, perfect.  He sees us as we truly are, but we see each other through the veil of our illusions.  If we trust that God is right, and we are all, at our core, divine sparks of infinite love, it will be easier to look past the illusions of this world to forgive our brothers (and sisters) and ourselves.

Call for Love Devotion June 8

     Once there was a little boy who loved to dance and sing.  He danced before he could walk and he sang before he could talk.   The music he heard in his head and all around him was so beautiful, it flowed right out of him and into the world.

    The little boy lived with his parents and eight brothers and sisters in a small house.  The father worked hard at a steel mill every day and, on most evenings, the family gathered in the living room to sing together.  The parents were happy to have their children home, where they knew they were safe.  

     One day, the father was late coming home.   When he arrived, he was holding a shiny new guitar.  The children were excited, but their mother knew the family needed many other things, much more than they needed a guitar.   She also knew that her husband had a dream.  His dream was that, through music, their children would have a chance at a better life, one that might otherwise not be possible for them.

       The boys in the family began to practice together every day.  The father was very strict and expected a lot from his sons.  The little boy danced and sang right along with his older brothers.   With his beautiful voice, he soon became the lead singer of the group.  The little house was bursting with music.  

        When the father knew they were ready, he entered his sons in a talent contest – they won.  Over time, they won more contests, and were soon playing at parties and nightclubs almost every night.

       Someone from a record company saw the boys perform and asked them to make a record.  This was the chance the father had been waiting for.  Before long, the family moved to California and the group began to enjoy the success their father had imagined.

       The little boy was totally comfortable and confident while performing and seemed much older than his ten years.  When he sang and danced, he put everything he had into every song.   He sometimes felt as if he had become the music.  By the time he was twelve years old, he and his brothers had recorded four hit records.

       Although he loved performing, the little boy often wished he could be a kid like any other.  He saw children playing in the park across the street from where he went to rehearse after his lessons each day.  He could not join them because his job was to record music.  This made him feel sad.  Even though he was now well known as a child singer, he was lonely.  

         The boy knew in his heart that his talents were a gift of nature, meant for him to share with the world.   He thought, by doing his best at expressing his gifts, he could help others to find theirs.  He began to branch away from the family group to write and sing his own songs.  He was a perfectionist and, when his music was recorded the way he heard it in his head, the results were amazing.  His songs became the biggest hits ever, and he became the biggest star ever.

         Being famous meant he could not be like other people.  Simple things, such as shopping or going to a movie, were no longer easy.   Fans were always crowding around to touch him, talk to him and ask for his autograph.  Although he was happy with the success of his music, being a shy person, the boy now spent much of his time with windows separating him from the rest of the world.

          People loved the boy for his music, but he also wanted to be loved for the person he was inside.  He found it was children he could trust to always be natural and honest.  They liked him for himself and were not impressed by fame.  They just wanted to have fun, and so did he.

          The boy had spent his childhood in an adult world.   When he grew up, he never stopped enjoying childlike things like a good water balloon fight, climbing trees and watching cartoons.

            He bought a ranch and filled it with everything he had not been able to enjoy in his childhood.  There was an amusement park, video arcade, zoo, theatre and a candy and ice cream shop.  He invited sick and underprivileged children to his ranch to enjoy a day of fun.  Because of his own lack of a normal childhood, he felt the pain of all children who were not able to enjoy theirs.  He visited hospitals and orphanages all over the world and gave millions of dollars to charity, to help children.

           His fans appreciated his gentle, loving and humble nature, as much as his amazing talent.  They showed him never ending loyalty and support over a lifetime of entertaining.  The boy expressed his love for his fans by doing his best for them, musically and creatively.  With each new project he challenged himself to create what had never been done before.  His example inspired people to try to be the best they could be, at whatever they loved to do.

             The boy had become a man and was proud of his work.  He had three children of his own and was devoted to being a good father to them.  He taught them they could do anything in life, if they wanted it enough and were willing to work hard.  He made sure they had every chance to enjoy their childhood and, he told them every day how much he loved them.

             The boy had done what he had always been inspired to do. 

       Sing, dance, and make a difference. 

       The music, the memories and the message,

       will live on in love,

                        ever after

Call for Love Devotion June 1

I am so grateful

to all of you

for loving me

the real me

   

I am so grateful

that you chose to look past

the judgements of society

to see the truth of who I am

   

I am so grateful

that the messages I left behind

hidden in plain sight

are being understood

and shared

   

I am so grateful

for every prayer

every thought of love

and action taken

in my name

   

You are my heros

my inspiration

my friends

   

I bow before you

in eternal love and gratitude

Namaste