Let Your Presence Be Your Present

by Stephanie F. Earls

Dear Friends,

The sky this week has been heavenly.  I know that sounds cliche, but many of us have noticed it...a glorious sunset on Monday night, a divine solstice and eclipse on Tuesday, a full moon with magnificent halos including a rainbow hued halo with clouds that formed a divine eye above us on Tuesday night. The last few nights a continued vibrant moon, and sparkling stars in the deep and rich midnight blue. There have been cloud patterns that resemble remnants of giant shooting stars as if they were our collective wishes made and held sweetly in the winter sky. Last night, on Christmas Eve I went out to shut a light off in my car and saw a streaming, gleaming, shooting star that lit up the sky from nearly overhead all the way down to the horizon. It took its time making its way so I got a long, calm look at it as I stood in awe on this cold December night.

I know holidays are not always happy or hopeful. There are times when they are downright dark and sad. But despite where you are in your life right now, I have a feeling if you have noticed the sky at all you might have some sense, whether you celebrate a holiday or not, that this has been a holy week. We are being shined down on. Our place in space is at a point where the sky has opened this week and showed us some miraculous sights. And on the chance that you have not noticed then maybe it is the reason you've heard the talk about it on the news or are reading my accounts or heard your friend mention something about it. It has been a heavenly show that we all have a ticket to see, it has given us something to share with each other which we all have access to.

It is as if the universe is saying, it is a time to share, maybe about the sights in the sky or maybe about what is in your heart. For those who feel in the dark, lean on a friend.  You will be giving them a gift. For those feeling relief, share your light and you will receive. However you feel right now, let your presence be your present.

One of the most beautiful messages of being (adapted from the Course in Miracles) is that to give and to receive are one in truth. So if you need to lean, lean. Open, receive the love around you. Receiving someone's gift, whether it be a hug or an ear or a plate of cookies, you are giving that person your presence and letting them share with you. If you feel relief or have extra to give, remember that as you give you too, receive the gift of the one who opens their heart and hands to what you are sharing.  Just as the full moon receives the sun's light and reflects it to us, sharing is the most precious circle of all. It unites us, it unites our ability to give and to receive if we are willing, like a little full moon light in our heart.

If you are in the dark this year, I wish you peace. If you are not feeling lifted, keep the faith, the night is always darkest just before the light. To those who have seen me through my darkness, I love you. The gratitude in my heart defies words.  If you feel the light, may your joy expand and stay rich with you so that you can share and help someone through their dark. Either way remember, we've all been in both places. We are all in this together. As we share, we renew and carry each other.  We move toward wholeness. We let our presence be our present.

Wishing you the peace and love that December brings.

Love, steph