One of the challenges of your adventure on earth is to rise above dead systems: wars, religions, nations, destructions, refusing to be a part of them and instead expressing the higher self.

In his little book Messiah’s Handbook, Richard Bach writes some very interesting thoughts. The one above makes me think of what I say is a challenge. Certainly war and hate are great challenges; I see the results of distorted beliefs and I wonder why so much destruction? I see religions painting themselves the color of a belief and I wonder why. I know we are all different, but do we need to destroy each other for the sake of justice? Is it the challenge of life to be right using dead systems or is it the challenge of realizing that there are other systems that are full of life and I exist in more than one system at a time?

Richard uses the term higher self to express another system, another consciousness that is within me. My outer ego shows only one of the many consciousnesses that make up what I call my self. The external dead systems that I believe in keep me separate from these other aspects of myself and I try to find peace in this human system of separation and fear. I search through the history of nations and religions and try to find answers, but I find what I put there because of my own beliefs of truth. My story repeats itself creating suffering as a response to happiness. I don’t have to suffer unless I choose that option. I can change my thoughts and change my challenge.

“A cloud doesn’t know why it’s moving in such a direction and at such speed. It feels an impulse… This is the place to go now.

But the sky knows the reasons and patterns behind the clouds, and you will too when you rise high enough to see beyond the horizons.”

Once again Bach explains the challenge that lies ahead. If I reconnect with my inner self and allow it to guide me, I begin to live in another system. My inner ego is the sky and my outer ego is a cloud. My sky knows what my cloud does; in fact, it creates the patterns and shape of my cloud. By accepting myself as the sky and the cloud, I change my challenges. I live in the system of love, not death. I become the horizon and meet another aspect of my consciousness in physical form. This system is full of questions, but it is also full of answers; The answers I seek and never seem to find.

Living in this system I am united in consciousness with all nations, all religions and war is called acceptance of diversity. I express myself in sync with all forms of life and I do so with gratitude. The energy of the universe compels me to approach my challenges as lessons, so that I can grow and expand into a greater version of this connected system of love.

I am a brightly feathered bird of freedom soaring through the clouds and becoming one with the sky and living a connected conscious existence that loves the self I call. I am a bird in the system called paradise where there is always room for more consciousness.