Last night before I went to bed, I was sure I knew what I was going to write about today. I had it all planned out. I’m here in New Mexico getting ready for a mind opening expanding conference with Gregg Braden and Bruce Lipton.

Then, when I opened my web browser, I saw the headlines: another mass shooting, this time in my old stomping ground of Southern California. I actually performed in Thousand Oaks once. My first thought went to my friends in L.A. I hoped that none of them were in that bar at that time. Then I stopped myself. “Wait! It’s all of us, not just friends I know. It’s me; it’s you.”  My husband and I did a Spiritual Mind Treatment right then for the victims, the shooter and everyone affected by the experience near and far.

I briefly read the news and there was a statement from one young girl that went something like this, “You never think it’s going to happen to you until it does.” This struck me very deeply, because I still think there is a part of even me that thinks “not me.” I thank this young girl for waking me up to an even deeper level of knowing my unity with everyone.

So what does this mean? How does this help us solve this cycle of violence that we are experiencing? I do not have the total answer to that question, but I do know that I am not going to allow yet another occurrence of violence sway me from my deep conviction that a bigger and more grander present awaits us, if each of us will embrace our true selves. If each of us will begin to live more passionately, lovingly, peacefully, compassionately, and fearlessly, we will win.

We will not win when we put a stop to all of this. We will win now, because we will be living our lives to the fullest and loving others to the fullest and most importantly living love without fear. I refuse to live in fear. I will only life with a sense of safety and peace of mind.

Today’s reading in the Science of Mind was no coincidence. It was a meditation by Ernest Holmes:

” I will fear no evil for thou art we me. I will not be afraid, for the All Good is constantly with me and is always near at hand to guide and comfort. There is no evil in the Truth, and no power of darkness to hinder the Light from shining. I will not be afraid, for there is One within who protects and keeps me from all harm. I fear no evil.”

As I read this, I understand that Ernest was not talking about escaping horrible incidents like the one last night in California or the one in Pittsburgh just last week. It is deeper. He was not talking about some outside Power that protects us. We believe that the Power is within. He was talking about the knowing that evil can not overcome the heart and soul of one who knows that he/she is Eternal Light and Love and is willing to live and spread that Light.

Think of the great prophets, mystics, seers of old and present day. They were the most persecuted and some died tragic deaths. Even though they knew that constant possibility, it did not stop them from spreading their Light.

I know, for myself, that I am willing to walk through this valley of darkness as Light, unafraid of my seemingly uncertain temporal existence here. I know that I am living and breathing eternity, and that I am here on this earth plane for exactly the right time and purpose. I am here now and that is all that matters.  I fear no evil.

Love and Aloha,

Rev. Rita