Deep Within

Written by Michael Maitre

I remember that cold night. The temperature was -33 degrees and the bitterness of the cold was so piercing that it felt like small razor blades were slicing large slits into my cheeks. I didn't say much on that ride to the airport. I gazed out the van window looking down at the ground intensely as if all the answers to life's impossible questions were written on it. I was on my way to move with everything I had to a new land. This was a time to start new;meet new people, start a new job, and forget about all the misery I had endured for the past few years. As I looked down at the ticket I realized that although the ticket stated the destination I had no clue where I was going. It was then it dawned on me. Running from your problems physically only leaves you alone and with more problems to run from.

My time in the new land was bittersweet. Upon arriving I realized that I was on my own. Free to grow as a person. Free to make every kind of mistake one can think of without any one there to criticize me for it. I quickly indulged in what I like to call a mentally and spiritually abusive relationship. I made friends quick or at least relationships that I thought were friendships. There I was, in a land far from home, a fun loving-highly animated clinical analyst by day and a depressed-self pitying lost soul by night. It was with this experience I began to witness the unfolding of my spiritual understanding of the world around me. One night while crying in the shower (which I did often) I came to a stunning realization...

When an object breaks it is forcibly separated into two or more pieces. My life situation has caused my consciousness to be fragmented, scattered, and at some moments absent. Consequently it was through this process of which I reached an incredible epiphany….Nothing in life is worth more attention than the muscles of your soul. Each being that God has created has Love and can tap into that Love. Far too long I have been longing to Fall in Love with illusions not realizing the significance of the spirit that dwells in me. My Love is here and now. Life is here and now. My future cannot be if it wasn’t for now. My past does not exist if it isn’t for now. This moment is the definition of my existence. When I Inspire, uplift, defend, and uphold others in the name of Love I am fulfilling my life’s purpose; for I am Love and Love dwells in me.

Trying to maneuver your way through hard times seems like such a drag doesn’t it? It feels as if its never going to end, as if its going to drag on forever; a never ending roller-coaster. How frustrating! How miserable! How dreadful!

Though the hard times seem as though they are simply never ending, I’m always grateful for the silver lining in the dark cloud. For me that is the peace I feel within. This peace pushes me past the clouds and into the sun. It gives me great relief, I may not know for certain how long this endless war will last but I’m refreshed inside in knowing that somehow I’m going to make it past the present moment of perceptions of doubt.

Where do I get this peace you ask?

I believe I have this peace because the spirit of God created it. I remember as a child going to a village in Haiti and telling the people there that I was going to meet their needs. I remember promising them that I was going to come back with all of the gifts and necessities they wanted and needed. At that moment, in a time that I had very little, I knew that was going to make a difference. It was the inner peace that told me that some way, some how it was going to work out. Many times this voice can be faint but if you stop and take time to listen it becomes very loud and clear. Beyond all the noise of your mind, there stands a voice of peace centered in the core of your soul.

I remember thinking of this many years later and remembering the spirit of God is fueling my soul. I remember envisioning the spirit placing blessings into my pockets so that I might go and bless others with it. I now understand that this was my first encounter with the spirit of truth. In this encounter I remember feeling as if I would never have to wonder about peace again.

Years later I go back to that encounter and recollect all of the insight that was given to me. I thank God for that gift of peace today. When life seems like a roller-coaster, when tough times are fully present, I return to the voice of peace within and know that in the song of life the voice of peace is in perfect pitch and harmony with the universe.

Love Herlay and Michael

You are the art of nature created to be marveled at. Nature is the tool that created you. Within this tool we call nature we see ourselves. This nature we are choosing to call the image of the universe.

The image of the universe is the image of God. In the universe we see the fields of light. When everything is seen at a molecular level it is seen as light. If this is true, we human beings are also light at a molecular level. This light is called the Christ of God, or the seed of God.

The seed of God or the Christ is who our authentic nature is made of. This Christ is also the light I’m referring to. This light resides within the human soul, some even say that this light is the human soul. When you recognize this light within you, you realize that truth that is within you. You understand that your nature is transparent, it is made up of an image, this image the bible states is the image and likeness of God. The image and likeness of God is the same image that resides within you. This is also the image that we move and have our being within.

You are a work of art. The art that is within this light is love. This love is the same love that came forth within the time of the earth creation. This art was what we saw when we opened our eyes as children. As children we saw everything in amazement and wonder. As children we saw everything as beautiful. This beauty is the same we have forgotten about as adults. This beauty reminds of it self but we still seem to get detracted by the affairs of life. Not the affairs of life are not important; the light, the love, the image of Christ are also within the affairs but we still do not remember that the purpose of these affairs is to draw closer to the light, the love and the Christ that within, so that we might recognize our authentic self and become one with it, once again.

We are here to remind each other of this art. This is our purpose, to bring about art with true authenticity captured in love.

With love,

Herlay Maitre