False Evidence

F – false
E – evidence
A – appearing
R – real



It’s startling to think of how much fear is the basis for everything in this world. I mean think about it. We have fear of intimacy, fear of terrorism, fear of success, fear of failure. The driver with road rage is either afraid he won’t make his appointment on time or he’s afraid of looking weak. The murderer kills because he’s afraid of what will come out if the victim lives or he’s afraid of looking weak. The ironic thing is that fear is the very thing that makes us weak. A woman throws herself at every man she can because she’s afraid she isn’t attractive or afraid she has nothing of value to offer. We live and die, make huge life decisions derived from a bottom line of fear.

So I looked up the word FEAR for a solid definition. Webster’s New World dictionary says the following:

1. a feeling of anxiety and agitation cause by the presence or nearness of danger, evil, pain, etc. 2. respectful dread, awe; reverence. 3. a feeling of uneasiness or apprehension; concern.

It’s interesting to think on these things from a detached point of view. When I think back on my younger years and realize how many mistakes I made based solely on the idea of fear it becomes abundantly clear to me. I didn’t have children because I was afraid on very many levels for very many reasons. I married because I was afraid I wasn’t worthy of better. Oh sure, I loved the guy but my choice to marry, if I’m being honest with myself, wasn’t for love…it was for fear of losing.

Now I’ve learned that life isn’t something to be afraid of if you’re telling the truth and walking your talk. It’s okay to be late for an appointment. It’s okay to be weak. It’s okay to live and die fearlessly. In fact, if we live as though there were nothing to be afraid of then we are living fully and willfully. How cool is that idea? How cool it is to know that no matter what questions we ask or how many times we ask them we don’t have to be afraid…as long as the questions are coming from a place of honesty and truth. No hidden agenda. No secret identity. We can be who we are.

Can you imagine how wonderful it would be if people could simply relax, let themselves live without concentrating so much on what might or might not be? Letting go of all the anxiety is so empowering. I’ve seen it for myself in my own day to day living. Who cares if I’m attractive enough? If someone doesn’t like the way I look they don’t have to hang around me. Who cares if my house is the cleanest? In a hundred years who will be around to talk about it? So what if I don’t win a singing competition? There will be someone who wants to hear my song, even if it’s just the trees and dogs and birds and lizards.

This is one of the big things I’ve learned over the last two years. I’m not here to agree with you. I’m not afraid if we disagree. I’m not here for my reputation or yours. I’m here to tell my truth. I’m here to walk my talk. I’m here to teach. I’m here to learn. Where ever that leads me I will not be afraid. False evidence will never appear real to me. It’s all a part of the journey and even death doesn’t scare me. This is what makes me free.

Try it. I bet you like it.

Impact - part 2

My Relatives Say: “We are all related. We are related. All my relations.”

The impact of these words is more than phenomenal. From the trees to the soil beneath our feet, from the eagle to the mouse, from man and woman to child, we are a part of each other, connected in ways we can’t possibly begin to comprehend. Every single molecule that courses through our bodies out into the atmosphere through the sky right on up to the moon and stars connects us, weaves us together like a spiders web. And like a spiders web it is strong but tenuous; able to withstand up to a hundred times its own weight but easily torn apart when a single thread becomes weak.

My Relatives Say: “If we see as a mouse we live as a mouse.”

Mouse cannot fathom what is beyond his whiskers. The only world he knows is what lies immediately ahead and surrounding him. It is hawk and eagle who can fly the highest and can fully see the ramifications of our relation. If everything in the universe is connected like a web then the impact of what we do to ourselves we do to everyone and everything. What we do to our relatives we do to ourselves. If we poison we will be poisoned. If we kill we will be killed. If we love we will be loved.

My Relatives Say: “Honor all of Creation and you will Honor Creator.”

For a long time now I’ve wondered why people say and do the things they do. I’ve wondered why humanity cannot see how much we have in common with each other, how much we have in common with rabbit, snake, mouse, dragonfly, bear, wolf, rock, sand, wind, rain, and all the other things of this world we call insect, predator, or annoying. And really we’re not all that different from each other. We all want to be understood and accepted. These ideas impact me on so many levels.

I do not worship the moon or even the earth. I do not pray to many gods. I give thanks for and honor every speck of this world we live in. I realize that to walk in balance with all I live with in this world then surely Great Mystery is also honored. And that is why I want to walk gently upon the shores, treasure the gifts offered in the smallest ways, hear the spirit of Great Mystery in the wind and rain, and smile whenever I see a rainbow.

Tomorrow I will go to powwow for the first time in over two years. I look forward to seeing relatives I have not seen for so long. I will leave the past behind me, forgive the mistakes made by everyone, including myself, and move into the life I want to live. And when I dance in the circle I will honor the healing that will be taking place. There may be moments when I will see as a mouse but I know there will be many more moments when I will see as eagle. I will be thankful for all my relatives through laughter and tears. Once again, I will be connected and know my ancestors are smiling. It is the purest joy anyone can ever hope to experience.

We are all related. We are related. All my relations. Can you feel the impact?