The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/23825
Keep Up Now! Seeing the light “Who would walk first to the light? This would serve as lessons in letting go. We lose nothing more than the fear of unknown in that walk to the light. Though it’s taken alone, it differs only in form from this life that we know. For the walk we continue through life and be- yond; we take side by side one another with GOD. ~ and so it continues the Love we have known.” – Rob Ludwig Have you listened to people recount near-death experiences and walking into the light? It’s described as beautiful, peace- ful, a sensation of absolute Love. What is this light? Where does it come from? Where does it lead? Are you frightened to know the answer? I’ve been asking these questions my whole life. Ask and you shall receive. Be forewarned _ you don’t always get the answers in the form you expect. Ask for the truth and you receive a very messy life. You get drama, chaos, disas- ter, pain and suffering … and a little “One thing remained the same; I was at peace.” bit of love to keep you in the game. You see, these are all the necessary tools for spiritual growth. Just when you’re dragged to the bottom, you get a glimpse of truth. My glimpse came in the form of light episodes. At first, I noticed white light encircling people’s heads. Then one day, while running, I observed the light outlining trees. Soon, I could see it was surrounding everything! During my “light episodes,” one thing remained the same; I was at peace. There were no thoughts of fear cluttering my mind. I didn’t conjure these episodes, they simply presented themselves. As you journey the path of enlightenment, light episodes are a common phenomenon. You start resonating with the frequency of light, which is what you are. You are energy, love, light. The entire world we subsist in is made up of light blinking at different frequencies, giving shape and form to everything we see, touch and experience. You don’t have to physically “die” to walk in the light, how- ever, you do have to give up almost every thought you ever had about what is real and what is an illusion. Now I’ve got your ego’s attention. Light is synonymous with Love. Ego is synony- mous with fear. Fear and Love cannot coexist. Be only Love. “Keep up Now! with the stream of higher consciousness and stay connected to the Source.” _Terry Ludwig Terry Ludwig’s brother, Rob, passed away in 2004 after bat- tling AIDS. Before he passed, he shared his message. “Keep Up Now!” is the result of that communication. She can be reached at keepupnow@gmail.com. Jan. 27, 2011 O-Town Scene 27 David Martin A married man and father ‘comes out’ “Coming out” is life changing at any age. This epiphany as a 58-year-old man was devastating, turning my world upside down. My loved ones said they had always known and still loved me. My self-outing necessitates a new venue of our interrelationships. Self-acceptance comes with strings _ no change in me was expected or accepted. I wondered as time passed, “Was it worth it?” After the dust settled, I faced the choice to either remain with my family, subdued, living half truths, not truly at peace or fully embrace my gifted sexuality, live separately, still loving my family, free to be who I was created to be? It was an agonizing inner debate. I knew life as it was, with half-hearted ac- ceptance of my wife, could not continue. In my heart I knew we both were living a pain-filled life. Despite her attestation that she had al- ways known of my orientation but found me a loving, faithful spouse and father, it was clear that my spoken “outing” to her was a rejection of our married life. The price for inner peace and truth took a heavy toll. My first day alone after nearly 40 years of married life arrived. There was no loneliness or sorrow, only peace and re- lief. The past years of quarrels, the pain of exclusion, even hatred by my son, had lost their sting. My decision was made. I recalled the words of my oldest daugh- ter when I in- formed her of my sexuality, weeping in her embrace, fearing the loss of her love: “Dad, I’ve known since I was eight years old. You are my dad. You love me. I love you. Nothing will ever stop me from loving you.” Unconditional love echoed the heart- felt feelings of my family, which they could not utter because of their pain. My daughter has never abandoned me, and has been truthful even when I found it “There was no loneliness or sorrow, only peace and relief.” hard to accept. With the new dawn came the hope of full self-acceptance. I am who I am meant to be _ free at last. I still love my wife and children even if it is not reciprocated by all of them. It is my choice to love. Loving people sometimes requires being separated so that healing can begin and new relation- ships can be forged. One day, I hope to be friends with all my family as a husband and as a father. Until then I live as my creator ordained. David Martin has been married for 37 years and lives separately from his wife. He is the father of five adopted children. He’s practiced as a solo internist physi- cian for 32 years in Central New York. He was educated at Fordham University and Upstate Medical University. He attends All Saints Church in Syracuse, and hosts parish for the Catholic LGBT community. the Diversity Scene Jan. 27-Feb. 2