- About This Post: Some people turn a blog into a book. We’re turning a book into a blog. The journey from “I do” to “I don’t” is complicated. 16 years ago Ray said “I don’t” and we found ourselves at the crossroad asking, “What now?” Here you’ll find pieces of that journey, shared in a “then and now” fashion, taken from my journal at that time. (Which has been published into a book.) I’m matching posting days with journal entry days (sort of a time-fusion) and focusing on what I hope will offer food for thought in your own life. Whether you do, don’t or might – Ray and I welcome you and hope you’ll come back.
ON ANGEL’S WINGS
Spirit Dialog & Journal, March 4, 1994 • “The pain is intense. I keep trying to remind myself that this is pain for what may come, not pain for this very second. This very second, Ray is in bed. Moments before, I lay in his arms. Awake. Trying to keep my mind from racing to the time when he will not be here.”
2010: I had no sooner finished writing those words when, to my surprise, I found myself scribing these!
“Let go. Let go. Trust God. That’s all you truly have, Bernadette … if you are to live through this pain, you must use every tool you have ever learned to stay in the moment. … We know you wanted to dump your feelings on paper here, but nothing new would have been written this morning. More important than your knowing the connection, is your accepting the connection with us. We are here.”
We are here?
“Trust your Father. Give Ray to Him. Give yourself to Him. You could go no further this way, singularly nor as a couple. Drastic measures are necessary because your aspirations are high. Let go and this will greatly accelerate the lesson.”
Lesson?
“Perhaps she [the other woman] is someone you love dearly who would offer this gift, this challenge for you and Ray to know your true Selves. So think on that.”
Think on that? OUCH!
We are here? Surrender. A NOW decision.
Lesson? Trust. A NOW decision.
Think on that? Reframe. A NOW decision.
None of which I could do at that time. But it was GOD (Good Orderly Direction) and more than a few of His Angels that guided me to where Ray and I are today.
LISTEN. Do you hear the flutter of Angels’ wings?
What does it take to capture your attention? Where are you with surrender? Trust? Reframing? Feel free to share your thoughts.
- About These Posts: Here’s the thing. I’ve been thinking about doing this – merging the nine months recorded in Bernadette’s Pages with the present on our blog – but still can’t figure out how to format it in a neat and tidy way. So, it’s probably going to be raw and choppy in places. (I’ll throw in some quotes and bullets to guide you along. If I lose you somewhere, let me know. I’ll come back to get you.)
- If you landed in the middle of this series: Click here to start at the beginning!
Ray and I are celebrating our 35th anniversary this year. This blog and our Facebook Fan Page are two ways that we can share the “HOW” of it. Please join us in spreading the word.
You CAN get here from there!
Click here to read more on Reframing.
Excerpts ©2006 from Bernadette’s Pages: An Intimate Crossroad
Tags: relationships
Okay. I know a lot of folks who read this blog … but who say they are shy about commenting … especially being the first! I’m breaking the ice. If you all knew each other the way I know you … you wouldn’t be shy at all! And to those who are “new” to this blog … WELCOME! You are not here by accident!
Hi Bernadette ~ Again, as I read, it puts me right on the verge of tears,…the only thing that keeps me from not going there is knowing how the story continues (I don’t want to say how the story ends ’cause it’s still going on : )).
The thing that came to me about “merging” is – what if you take sentences or sections of what you’re sharing and reflect on what you feel as you read those entries from 16 yrs. ago and then do a “now moment” saying how/what you feel in this moment. To me, that’s what could separate everything you’re sharing from a lot of what’s available to read, etc. It’s easy to find books, internet material, etc..that provide tools and inspirational quotes. What I don’t think is so easy to find is someone that’s willing to open their heart soooo wide, allow themselves to be vulnerable and share feelings so openly. For me, it always has to go back to feelings…<3 <3 <3
Thanks for the feedback, Michele! If I understand what you are saying I see that I kinda went there with the next post. (Answered Prayer?) I added a bit about time-traveling at the bottom and that was fun. I’ll keep trying to move in that direction … but that Bernadette in ‘94 was a writing fiend! I’m huffing and puffing to keep up!
I agree with Michele.
All of the “self-help” books out there are wonderful. I’m not knocking them. I know, truly, they were written with the best of intentions.
But sometimes we feel “lost” reading those books ~ kind of like “Okay, I know what the author is saying, but…..”
“Bernadette’s Pages” is the only book I know ( okay, so maybe it wasn’t originally written as a “self help” book for others ) that really lets the reader FEEL what is going on.
The difference is that when we feel, we emote.
When we emote, we create.
When we emote with the intention of healing ….
well, it’s POWERFUL !
The raw “open-ness and vulnerability” that Michele is talking about is what makes this book so different, SO POWERFUL !
It is definitely a JOURNEY that the reader takes with the writer.
Its a “PUT YOUR SEAT-BELTS ON” kind of book!!!!
Then, now, 16 years ago, or in this moment – ( heck ! Time doesn’t really exist anyway) – I have taken the journey ( still do sometimes ) of reading this book, feeling the rawness, seeing myself and my world so differently … in essence – emoting – healing – ending up with gratitude instead of pain.
( what I would do to be in the advertising business! The world so needs a different lens like this one )
I am so grateful that excerpts from the book are now being shared in this venue, in this format.
AND THE GIFT GOES ON !!!
Sandra ~ I don’t know what you actually do (when you say “what I would do to be in the advertising business); but, whether you’re getting paid (or not) – that was one very powerful revue/ad for the book. Maybe you’re being called to move in that direction??
Yes, tools are good..especially if it’s something concrete (a tool like “Let Go & Let God” is a little more difficult – as is “surrender”); but, often they seem to lack passion and be more “matter-of-fact”. Finding people who are willing to share their stories – accepting everything as being in Divine Order, no matter what the circumstances are and trusting…as you give thanks for whatever this situation or challenge is knowing that in the process that growth comes …well, I don’t think that comes along very often.
I believe that it’s also a reminder that the “soul-mate” that we often are looking for or attracted to isn’t necessarily the person we get along best with, have the most in common or want to spend every moment with. It’s the person that challenges us to be the highest expression of who we were created to be and supports our soul’s growth.
PS~ Bernadette – I don’t think you’ve heard my song “Faith, Hope & Trust”, but, I realized as I was practicing it for tomorrow that it reminded me of your journey. I think you can view it here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT_zI1m0LSo
otherwise, just go to youtube and put in the title : )
Thank You so much, Michele, for sharing this link on our blog! (It works perfectly.) Your words speak beautifully to the process that Ray and I went through. Faith Hope and Trust … THEN AND NOW! Keep sharing your light and singing your songs!