An Easter Message

[Guest guest]

Raise YOURSELF from the Dead this Easter!

 

From the Night Lotus Productions April Newsletter: http://www.nightlotus.com

 

Studying spirituality is not meant to be like the Olympics, where you get to

appreciate

someone's great skill without having to give even the slightest thought to

perfecting your

own twirls and endurance abilities.   It shouldn't be that we see spiritual

attainments in

great souls and only think, " Oh look, that spiritual man has imbibed the

teachings and

light of the Lord so beautifully, " or, " That sage has uplifted herself through

meditation and

other practices. " " Look at that priest who shows love so purely; "   " Look at

those yogis who

have attained such a vibrant equanimity; "   " Did you hear what a wise talk that

knowledgeable minister gave? " and, of course, " How amazing it was that Jesus

rose from

the dead on that Easter day two-thousand or so years ago. "  

 

Well, what about you?   What about your great sage, your great light, knowledge

and love?  

Are you alive or are you dead?   Do you feel the vital force moving through your

life, your

actions, and your thoughts?   Do you spend time in solitude, connecting with the

deep

universal essence that flows through the blood of every living and so-called

non-living

thing?   Have you touched your own soul?   Have you read the story of your life

from the

perspective of your Higher Self?   Have you found blessings within yourself,

wisdom within

yourself, and love within yourself?  

 

I think that given the circumstances of today's world, Jesus himself would like

nothing

better than to see people using this holiday - not just to honor his greatness

or to buy a

basket of Cadbury crème filled chocolate eggs - but rather to uplift ourselves

using his

teachings and example as a guide.   I think he would likely ask us to let go of

our

differences and " club " mentalities, especially since Jesus probably wouldn't

have fit into

very many of today's Christian clubs.  

 

Perhaps he would say to people of all religious traditions, " Stop burning

yourselves

because someone has mocked your concept of God, and also stop mocking other

people's

concepts of God.   Stop the madness of today's fighting and small-mindedness,

and, at

least for this one day of Easter, in honor of my rising up from the dead, spend

some time

in contemplation, prayer, and inspired thoughts and actions.   Raise yourself

and the

whole world up into a higher, richer, greater, and more peaceful, joyful, and

kind life.  

The Kingdom of God is at hand, but there are also many other realms at hand.  

Choose

wisely and act carefully.   I came so that you could have life more abundantly -

receive

what I've given into the depths of your own life. Don't just wear the WWJD

T-shirt, but

really strive to discern and do what I would do.   Don't just praise and honor

me, but

become praiseworthy and honorable yourself.   I've shown you the way; I am the

way.   You

too are a child of God.   Follow my example and words, and raise yourself up

into greater

life.   Don't just use my phrases to hit other people's beliefs over the head.  

When I say

that I am the way, I am speaking to my disciples and all who will listen,

saying, hear what

I've told you, read my words, contemplate my actions, and then bring those words

and

actions into your own life.   The I Am, which also lives inside of you, is the

way.   As our

heavenly Father said to brother Moses, 'I AM THAT I AM.' "

 

Whether or not Jesus would speak those exact words to us this Easter, why not

take it

upon ourselves to raise ourselves up, individually and all together?   Have you

ever seen

those email campaigns that exhort us all to stop using gas for one day,

supposedly to

sock it to the gas companies (oh yes, that's worked well   Well, let's band

together and

sock it to the lower nature of humanity by spending this whole Easter Sunday

visioning the

kind of world we wish we had, and being the kind of people we wish we could be.

  Lets

look at the world with a higher vision for just one day.   Let's spend this

entire Easter

Sunday seeking ways to give more of ourselves to the world and to ourselves.  

For this

one day, let's read, hear, and watch the day's news stories with fresh eyes of

acceptance,

compassion, and love.  

 

Can we possibly make it through an entire day thinking only positive and

optimistic

thoughts?   Let's find out!   Let's spend this Easter Sunday increasing our own

inner light.  

It is in our hands to do. There is so much more life available than what you and

I settle for

every day.   Let's do it this Easter - let's rise up together into a better life

and a happier

world.  

 

 

 

Author Sharon Janis is the owner of Night Lotus Productions, which brings light

to the

world through creative works, including videos, writing, graphics, music,

photography and

a popular award-winning website of free multimedia spiritual resources at

http://

www.nightlotus.com.   For the past year and a half, Janis has attended services

at a

different church, meeting, or temple (all traditions) every Sunday.