THE COURAGE TO BE YOURSELF
by Dorothy Leon
What made the ancient Greeks such a great civilization? Their mottos: "Know Thyself" and "This above all else, to thine own self be true." It is obvious that we cannot "be true to ourselves, stand firm," or "BE", until we first know ourselves. What are we? Who are we? Why? and How? Age-old questions that have kept us chained to the wheel of re-birth.
What is a sabbatical? Why have disciples for centuries, gone to monasteries? On pilgrimages? Missions? Out into the wilderness to fast and pray? Up to a mountain to seek their vision quest? Why did Jesus say: "A prophet is never known in his own country?" Why is it that even teen-agers have to be free from their parents before they can find themselves?
Because we are placed in categories and held by expectations, that cause us to see ourselves as others see us. Then, rather than to disappoint or hurt them, we play the roll, and soon we are immersed in it.
We begin to accumulate a whole list of terms that epitomize us, such as: astrological sign, occupation, religion, etc. The list grows to include traits, beliefs, political preference, ailments, hobbies, and styles. And when we finally try to break free from these categories, we are hampered by fears, guilts and doubts. Our emotions have clouded our thinking; our intellect blocked our spirit. We have become crystallized by our beliefs and habits. Even the rugged individualist finds himself chained to his attitudes of defiance, fearful of letting go, lest he become one of the "sheep".
What is needed to bring forth an awakening? To remember who we really are. A shock. A change. A cosmic eraser of our role playing. A divine shake-up to jar us out of pigeon-holed functioning. When we are alone, or among strangers, in an unfamiliar surrounding or in an unusual situation, our Real Self, with a capital S, emerges briefly. But, dare we be that Self, that God Self that is free from fear, guilt and doubt, that God Self that knows, sees and loves all life? What will others think? Will they mistake our knowing for arrogance? Our sight for imagination? Our love for emotion?
Suddenly, we realize that it takes courage to be ourselves. Then we begin to ask: "Well, now that I have finally found myself, dare I just BE? Is it really true that service, striving and sacrifice are mere illusions? Won't I be letting someone down? Won't I be disappointing the Hierarchy? Can it really be true that our greatest service is just o BE? Does more light and healing flow when we are joyful and free? Does merging with our God Self uplift and enlighten the world far more than our teachings, counseling’s, healings, and even our decrees? Oh, surely not. How can holding our attention upon the thought 'I Am God' help the Mid-East crisis? Shouldn't I be organizing a prayer group? A decree session?
"This is so new, so different from what I expected! Isn't it just too good to be true? And if finding myself is simply coming to the realization that I Am God expressing through a human body, why did I spend so many years in deep study, going through countless ceremonies and ologies? Why did I depend upon so many crutches and props?
Isn't God Consciousness and Self Realization supposed to be a great flair? An exciting crescendo? An earth-shattering event? Why this calm simplicity of just awakening one morning to the awareness that God and I are One? That I am One with all things? Is it possible that it took me thousands of lifetimes to realize something so simple?"
Then, after the initial surprise wears off, the newly-found Self begins to look out through the human eyes; to commune with the human personality. It remarks: "Let us become more simple; let us remove all props; let us breathe more deeply; let us look more closely at the flowers, the birds, the sky, for they are us. Let us become more silent, let us love others more fully, for they are us. Let us expand to better know ourselves Let us release more, let us make spaces, vacancies for the Holy Spirit to fill. Let us turn off our thinking, hold no opinions, make no judgments; let us just BE!"
Yes, it takes courage to be yourself; your Real Self. The human self flops around like the tail of a lizard after it has been severed. It fears, questions, labels what is happening as a supreme test, and feels picked on at being asked to release even more. It reacts with self-righteousness, feeling it has already given up too such. But gradually, after numerous murmurings and outcries, the "tail" ceases to flop and there is silence, a hush. And then there is joy.
Suddenly, everything becomes humorous; laughter fills the air. All those years of being over-responsible, people-pleasing instead of God pleasing; and servitude, always serving people rather than serving God--how funny! All the hurt feeling, taking things personally, the worries, frustrations, pressures and concerns. How strange that the human self doesn't realize it is merely an observer. That all the world is an illusion. The laughter increases, the joy expands. Shakespeare was right, all the world is a stage and we are but the actors. Oh, how laughable!
Finally, it sinks into our consciousness; it computes. Finally, we realize, yes, I do have the courage to be myself. Then we shout: "I Am! I really Am! And if I Am, then I can just BE! Oh, what a joy!" When we begin to listen for instructions about our "next assignment" that we are expecting, wondering what we are to do with this newly-discovered awareness, this so-called "Self" Realization. So, we listen intently until the small still voice within us says with a chuckle: "Oh, didn't you know, your assignment is to BE!"
So be it and so it is. Let us all BE that which we are: God in Action! With this realization, let us uplift the entire planet!
I have carried this paper on "Daisies" with me since college days, never willing to give it up, but never fully applying it until now:
I'D PICK MORE DAISIES, by Marjorie Sanders
If I had my life to live over, I'd try to make more mistakes next time. I would relax! I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I know of very few things I would take seriously. I would be crazier. I would be less hygienic. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets. I would burn more gasoline. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones. You see, I am one of those people who live prophylactic ally and sensibly and sanely, hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I have had my moments, and if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead each day. I have been one of those people who never go anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle, a rain coat and a parachute. If I had it to do over again, I would go places and do things and travel more than I have.
If I had my life to live over, I would start walking barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would play hokey more. I wouldn't made such good grades, except by accident. I would ride on more merry-go-rounds. I'd pick more daisies!
EPILOGUE: If you hold your nose to the grindstone rough,
and hold it down there long enough,
you'll soon forget there are such things,
as books that babble and birds that sing.
Then these three things will your world compose,
just you, and a stone, and your darned old nose! --anonymous
An interview with Dorothy, about "Is Jehovah an E.T.?" from NewConnexion.net
An article by Dorothy appeared in Oracle2020.com in May 2003.