Waves Summer 2004 Newsletter

May, 2004

W.A.V.E.S. Newsletter

Summer Edition

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Easter – A Season of Renewal

by John Garcia

During this and every Easter season I believe it is good to remind ourselves that we are in a season of renewal. It is a time to look at things in our lives that may need changing or renewing. Sometimes the change or renewal may be in personal traits such as patience and forgiveness, or it may be in situations where we are unhappy such as a career or relationship. Sometimes we desire change and renewal but the fear of the unknown may hold us back. I think it is good to remember the following quote from pages 78-79 of The Ripple Effect:

"We live and thrive by doing things, by testing our limits, by opening ourselves up to new experiences and challenges, by seeking joy and even happiness as we step out—not in fear or anxiety, but in faith. Faith opens us to new and sometimes wonderfully crazy ideas. Why? Because in faith, we believe that God—in his strength and good grace—will show us when we go too far, and that if we get hurt, he will help us to learn from the experience."

If we desire renewal we must be willing to open ourselves to the unknown and to the associated risks of change, having faith that God will always do what is best for us if we open our hearts to Him and ask that His will be done in our lives. He will even jump start us at times when we are unwilling to try new things. When we are stuck in familiar yet unfulfilling circumstances, it is sometimes more comfortable to not change than to try something new.

God will even use what seem like negative experiences to get us to finally have the courage to explore new opportunities. Just think back to times in your life when negative experiences motivated positive changes in your life. Maybe a health problem gave you the inspiration to start eating better and exercising. Some of you may have been in a career that became so unbearable that you had no choice but to research other jobs, or you may have been so unhappy in a relationship that you had to face issues and resolve them. You may have made changes to make the job or relationship better or ended up happier in a new job or in a new relationship. Either way, the negative circumstances forced you to discover ways to make your situation better.

It is also important to remember that God is always sending us blessings in disguise. Many of you may have read the story that went around the Internet a few years ago about the man who is stranded on a desert island and has built a hut to provide shelter for himself and his few belongings. After much hard work building the hut it is struck by lighting and burns to the ground. The man is distraught and doesn’t understand how God could let this happen to him after all he has been through. Soon after the hut burns down a boat arrives and rescues the man from the island. When the man asks how anyone knew he was on the island, the rescuer responds that he saw the smoke from his fire. All of us have had experiences that caused us pain but in the long run may have ended up being blessings in disguise that made us happier.

When we look at personal traits that may need renewal during this Easter season, I think all of us can consider renewing our capacity to forgive. For me, forgiveness is one of the toughest and most challenging things that God asks me to do, but I know it is necessary. If we are able to forgive, we are becoming more Christ-like. Jesus was incredibly forgiving, and if you saw Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of the Christ, you know that it powerfully portrays this forgiveness. Whether you liked the movie or not, agreed with or disagreed with its violent nature, it is successful in showing the amazing ability of Jesus to forgive and love his enemies. In order to forgive others, you must also be able to forgive yourself as quoted on page 116 of Embraced by the Light:

“Forgiveness of self is where all forgiveness starts. If I am unable to forgive myself, it is impossible for me to truly forgive others. And I must forgive others. What I give out is what I receive. If I want forgiveness, I have to give forgiveness.”

Forgiving ourselves can be very challenging, but if we remember that God always forgives us, then it is a little easier for us to do the same.

One thing you may want to do this Easter season is to try reconciling and renewing a broken relationship with a relative or friend who is or was special to you. It may involve forgiving someone you have not been able to forgive for a long time, and it may also involve letting go of your pride and ego. Even if you are not successful at renewing your relationship, at least you will have made an effort and will have pleased God with your humility. If you do not have any broken relationships to heal, you may wish to try emailing or calling a friend or relative you have not spoken to in a long time. It may make that person’s day and lift his or her spirit simply because you thought of him or her, and it may lift your spirit as well.

Another thing you may try during this season is going out of your way to serve others. It can be as simple as giving your neighbor’s kid a ride to school or baseball practice or offering to help out a family member with a household chore. Maybe you could surprise an elderly person with a gift basket of food or offer to take someone who can’t drive to the grocery store. Research a local charity and see if their volunteer work is something you might enjoy. Whenever we are helping someone, even in a small and sometimes seemingly insignificant way, our lights are shining brightly and we are living examples of God’s love.

Keep in mind that it is also important take care of yourself both physically and spiritually. If you have been too busy to exercise or do the things you enjoy in life, try setting aside some time each day or week to take care of yourself. It may be time to get back to the gym, to start going to church again, to set aside time each day to pray, or just to remind yourself to slow down a little and relax. Consider taking up a new hobby or think about going on that vacation you have always wanted to take. Make it a priority to take care of the body God gave you, to converse with Him, and to enjoy this beautiful planet He created for us.

Lastly, during this time of renewal try letting go of things in your past that may be keeping you from enjoying your life in the present. Whether it is fear, guilt, anger, hurt, jealousy, or anything else negative, simply hand it over to God so that He can help you heal. You are going to have difficulty enjoying your life and being content if you are holding onto negativity from the past. Instead, try focusing on your blessings and showing gratitude for them, and God will bless you over and over abundantly. Thank Him every day for the special people he has blessed your life with. God wants you to be happy, and Easter is a good time to renew yourself and your relationships, including your relationship with Him. Give it a try and you will be taking a step toward living the happy and fulfilling life that God meant for you to live.