jesus christ
Set Your Soul Free With The Power Of Forgiveness
I remember watching The Greatest Story Ever Told with my mum and dad when I was a little girl, way back in 1965. The film is a classic biblical epic that dramatizes the life of Jesus of Nazareth from the Nativity through to the Crucifixion and Resurrection.
For me, the most harrowing scenes were those of Jesus on the cross, praying and asking God to forgive his executioners because “they know not what they do.” As he was mocked and tortured, enduring unimaginable pain, he made this simple, yet extraordinary request.
I remember wondering: how can someone even begin to find forgiveness at such a moment? And why would Jesus want to forgive those cruel torturers at all?
For Jesus, dying was not only about salvation; it was also about demonstrating unconditional love for humanity…even for those who condemned him.
He was embodying the very teaching he had shared so many times: to love one’s enemies. His plea for mercy on behalf of his executioners remains one of the most profound examples of that teaching in action.
In this way, Jesus stands as the ultimate role model for forgiveness, tolerance and unconditional love, even in the darkest hour.
But how can we possibly follow such an example in our everyday lives? And what are the true benefits of doing so?
Why Some Of Us Must Walk Alone To Find Our Tribe
The topic of belonging comes up a lot lately in conversations with close friends, and it is often a concern for my clients when I do readings. A rise in loneliness appears to be a worldwide issue.
A conversation I had with a Spanish family recently was truly food for thought for me. We spoke about the disconnect with people in general, but the family in question strives to maintain family meetings and chats over meals, even though the younger ones spend more and more time on their phones.
One of the younger family members, told me that having a sense of community is part of his family’s religious practice. He makes a conscious effort to be disciplined about phone use when the family comes together. Hopefully, he will educate more of his peers about the importance of being present for in-person connection.
Personally, I have always tended to shy away from group gatherings, but I must say that I have been impressed by the warmth of the locals here in Spain, and their desire to include me in their community.
A few years ago, when my husband died just before Christmas, my Spanish friends in the farming community where I lived at the time told me, in no uncertain terms, that I would be joining them for Christmas and New Year’s family gatherings. I told them I’d prefer to stay home, especially considering the snow the previous Christmas that had confined us to our property for a few days.
How To Have A Peaceful Christmas This Year
A
s magical a time of year as Christmas may be, it can still be somewhat stressful.
Nevertheless, with a little pre-planning, you should be able to get your Xmas off to a good start and enjoy the celebrations to the maximum without experiencing too much stress and drama in the process!
How good is that? Here’s how.
Set Clear Intentions
Let go of the idea that Christmas must be traditional and ‘perfect,’ and that you must make it that way for everybody. Set instead a clear intention for what your ideal Christmas will be.
After that, all you need to do is make plans that go along with your vision. Having established what Christmas really means to you, you can then use it as a guide to prepare your celebrations.
Keep It Simple
Simplicity ensures peace and calm, whereas complexity causes stress and drama. It really is as simple as that! It is imperative that any Christmas plans you make are as simple, straightforward and as streamlined as possible. Doing so should help to create a sense of calm and empowerment, which you will no doubt need to take into the New Year with you.
What It Really Means To Live A Spiritually Aware Life
It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do for a living. It doesn’t matter how much money you make, how popular you are, where you live, or how attractive others find you. None of these things define your true worth, and none of them guarantee the fulfillment of your life purpose and soul plan.
In the end, your spiritual wealth transcends any bank balance. The only bling that really matters is how much your soul shines from within!
Many of the most beautiful, caring, thoughtful, compassionate, and charitable souls walk quietly among us — unrecognized by the world’s superficial standards of success. They may not be rich. They may not be famous. They may not wear designer clothes or have thousands of social media followers. And yet, they truly shine!
What really matters is how you treat others, how you live your life, and how you embody your higher self and the light of of your soul in everyday moments. That is what counts in the eyes of God, Source, Spirit, the Divine. The essence of your spirit, not your resume or your reflection in a mirror, is what will leave your legacy in this lifetime.
The essence of this truth echoes throughout the world’s spiritual traditions, reminding us that attachment to wealth, superficial pleasures and material status can become hindrances to our spiritual journey and soul growth.
In Hinduism, for example, the Bhagavad Gita teaches that only those who see the divine in all beings and remain unattached to sense pleasures will find lasting peace. Similarly, in Buddhism, the Dhammapada warns that wealth can ruin the foolish, and the desire for wealth becomes an obstacle to enlightenment. The Buddha taught that spiritual liberation requires renunciation of attachment and the cultivation of inner clarity.
The Spiritual Implications Of The Lazarus Syndrome
Recently, while watching the 2008 film The Lazarus Project, I was reminded of the paranormal phenomenon of near-death experiences (NDEs) and became intrigued by the possibility of someone coming back to life after death.
The plot of the movie is about a man who is given a second chance at life after being executed for a crime. Despite being lethally injected, he somehow wakes up in a psychiatric hospital and must overcome a series of mysterious and mystical challenges to be reunited with his family.
The title, of course, refers to the story in John 11 of a man named Lazarus who was raised from the dead by Jesus after four days. While the plot of the movie does not directly parallel the biblical story, it does draw on the themes of resurrection and second chances.
My newfound curiosity soon led me to discover a documented medical phenomenon known as “Lazarus Syndrome.” Also known as the “Lazarus phenomenon” or “autoresuscitation,” it is a rare medical condition in which a person spontaneously comes back to life after all attempts at resuscitation have failed and the person has been pronounced dead.
The phenomenon was first noted in medical literature in 1982 by Finnish anesthesiologist Dr. Kalevi Linko, who described it as the spontaneous return of circulation after resuscitation efforts have ceased. The term “Lazarus phenomenon” was later popularized by Dr. John Francis Bray in 1993, who used the biblical reference to describe these rare cases of patients who spontaneously return to life.
Start Living Your Best Life, Today!
Many years ago, my work took me to the lavishly decorated penthouse of a client who was a retired physician. I remember being in awe of the magnificent collection of books that lined the walls of his home.
“Your book collection is truly amazing,” I remember saying as I entered his beautiful home.
“Well, I worked very hard all my life, and one of my little pleasures outside of work was to buy all the books I felt inspired to read. Unfortunately, because I was always so busy and worked very long hours, I had put off reading most of them. But I constantly reminded myself that one day, when I retire, I would read all these wonderful books,” he said. “Unfortunately, it is too late for that now.”
It was too late…because he had tragically gone blind from an illness.
I will never forget that heartbreaking moment, standing in that lovely room lined with some of the most wonderful works of literature ever published. To this day, it reminds me of the importance of doing the things that bring us joy while we can.
The moral of the story is that although the blind doctor did wonderful things for his patients and the medical profession, he didn’t take much time for his own joy and fulfillment in the present moment.
This is why we need to live our lives in the now! Too often we put off our passions because we think there’s always time. But living fully in the present allows us to appreciate each moment, which fuels joy and fulfillment.
Reconnecting With Your Inner Light
These days, it’s easy to feel lost, anxious, or just plain drained. We juggle the pressure to succeed, increasing isolation, endless app notifications, and even a creeping sense of loneliness or hopelessness.
It’s no wonder so many of us feel overwhelmed and disconnected from our true selves and the deeper source of wisdom within that illuminates our lives. Instead of feeling alive and vibrant, for many people it’s just a matter of getting through the day.
But here’s the good news: There is a way out of this gray fog, and it doesn’t involve a fancy retreat or running away to join the circus.
It’s about reconnecting with the light within you-the spark of divinity that’s always been there. Once you tap into that, everything changes. You begin to feel grounded, peaceful and purposeful. Life becomes richer, more joyful, and you’ll find yourself smiling a lot more!
The spiritual concept of “light” is central to many Eastern wisdom traditions. In Hinduism, for example, “light” symbolizes divine knowledge, truth, and the divine self (atman). The famous Sanskrit phrase “tamaso mā jyotir gamaya” (lead me from darkness to light) from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad refers to our innate desire for enlightenment and spiritual knowledge.
The concept of enlightenment (bodhi), metaphorically symbolized by light, is also central to Buddhism. In achieving enlightenment, one is said to attain wisdom and freedom from the darkness of ignorance.