Diversity Rules Magazine

Diversity Rules Magazine Keep Up Now by Terry Ludwig Terry's brother Rob died of AIDS in 2004 and leſt her his writings of which Keep Up Now is the result. Terry can be reached at keepup- now@gmail.com. subjects we tend to skirt around. Assuming, perhaps, if we think about it, we'll beckon its arrival. Eventually, however, we all face it. How often do you think about death? Most of us try not to. It's one of those You might be surprised to learn that you think about death on a daily basis; it consumes your every thought. The thought of death manifests as sadness, anger, faithlessness, loss and many other fearful imaginings. Death is your most contemplated thought, and your greatest fear. Why are you so afraid to face death? You're born into this world, you experience life and eventually, your body dies. It's a verity of this existence. You talk about and celebrate birth, chat and rejoice life, but when it comes to death; you shudder. This world is laden with fleeting occurrences; death, however, is sure. For this reason, it has become a trusted idol; even worshiped. However, you dread it because you've forgot- ten what you are. You've become so attached to your worldly possessions you dread the thought they'll be ripped from you, along with your ability to enjoy them, when your body ceases to exist. The problem is, you've identified your Self with your body, when in fact, you are SO MUCH MORE. In simple terms, you've lost faith in what you are. You don't believe in your magnifi- cence or your eternal nature. You've been conditioned, your whole life, to see yourself as a body. You've built your entire existence around it. Because you've confused your Self with your body, you also believe you can die. You are so much greater than you realize. "... Our deepest fear is that we are powerful be- yond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabu- lous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. … And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." – Marianne Williamson Death is total. Either you die, or you are an eternal being. In truth, you have not left your Source. You have simply forgotten what you are. Separate bodies exist only in this dream we are having -- this hallucination we call life. The forms death takes are illusions of fear. Only your belief in death makes it so for you. How many times have you told yourself to be positive and think good thoughts? The con- cept works temporarily, but eventually those fearful thoughts start creeping back in. That's death knocking on your door. You're afraid to confront it; so you ignore it, hoping it will go away. Only when you face your fear of death, and see it as the illusion it is, will it disappear. Your mind is consumed with thoughts of death. It's no wonder you're not hav- ing an amazing experience be- ing human. How are you going to have a fabulous life when you are spending most of it thinking about death? When you em- brace your glory and realize the body is simply your operating system, you'll start taking plea- sure in the journey. "Let your mind be of spirit and your body be still. You'll see in each other we are all the same. We've all much to offer each other in turn. Together we join to share life known as man. And love hath no bind on itself with each other, except that which has placed false on his brother." – Rob Ludwig Embrace your greatness! Look past the illu- sion of fear and death and see the existence beyond. Once your fear of death is gone, there is nothing left to fear. It takes just a little willing- ness to walk past fear. You don't need to experience the death of the body to experience bliss; you just need to re- member what you are; Love, eternal. Keep up Now with the stream of higher con- sciousness and stay connected to the Source. Three

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