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 writ- ings of which Keep Up Now is the result. Terry can be reached at keep- upnow@gmai l .com. Check out Terry's web- site at: www.terrylud- wig.net to find out how to manifest happiness and abundance. Our voyage to self realization involves discovering who we are, largely by deducting who and what we are not. In search of truth, the journey carves a winding path in and out of numerous realizations; each experience brings us closer to discovering the truth about ourselves. Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast as a post tropical super storm. Sandy had already claimed at least 67 lives in the Caribbean, including 51 in Haiti before killing at least eleven people in the United States; flooding streets, ripping apart buildings, and flooding substations in lower Manhattan creating widespread power outages. For those who were in the path, their lives have been changed for- ever and this new journey is just begin- ning. Those who weren't are in dis- belief at the sights on the news and so- cial media and have been affected by the unimagi- nable. The storm was blamed for more than 2.8 million power outages across the Northeast. The National Grid, which provides power to millions of customers, said 60 million people could be affected before it's over. TM We discover service is our greatest gift, to others and to ourselves. We gain knowledge that all of our experiences and our relationships serve as our guide. None are random. Each possesses a key to an integral part of us than cannot be unlocked until the experience has come to fruition and the lesson acknowledged. Each interaction plays a vital role in developing a sense of who we are, regardless of the devastation or insignificance of the encounter. Ultimately, we gain knowledge of Love; an emotion, a power, a creative force we cannot begin to put into words. We learn the ultimate lesson of having love; it cannot be obtained until we learn how to give it to others, as a true extension of our Self, not as a means to an end. It may appear there would be easier ways to learn than this and less conflict if we retreat to a quiet place of safety, high on a hill, and wait there until the truth is gently received. However, the path to understanding cannot be undertaken alone. It must be taken together, with our brothers, and some- times, we must be knocked to the ground in order to let go of the things we hold on so tightly to; the material things we hold sacred, before we can un- derstand the truth of our greatest joy. "With each step we take we draw closer or further from ourselves. We are all witness to aspects of our own individual evolution in this life. the more attached to this physical place we remain the less likely we are Still, to be conscious of that growth. There are those who for whatever reason seem to stagnate in this realm. For them, what they see is all there is; their life's measure, material possession. Ironically, even this accumulation has potential spiritual value. The key to unlocking its' treasure is in giving it away." — Rob Ludwig Physical catastrophe has, once again, made us ques- tion our mortality and our life's purpose. It's mo- ments like these where life's greatest lessons are thrust upon us. We learn the importance of being nonjudgmental, particularly of ourselves. We learn how to forgive, and once again, the lesson; we cannot begin to for- give others until we learn how to truly forgive and love ourselves. There are days we look upon all we must accom- plish and become overwhelmed. But the gift is in the journey and the journey begins again, with each choice we make in each moment we're presented. Ultimately, we comprehend our purpose; to Love and help each other. With this understanding, the burden will lift and a new realization will dawn. It is in service and Love to our brothers and sisters we find true meaning and love in this illusory world. Did I say illusory world? Yes, that too. Our final lesson; we are eternal beings of pure Love and light experiencing duality in an illusory world we have dreamt into being. In the end, there is no end, only more Love. Choose Love and create happiness. Keep up Now with the stream of higher conscious- ness and stay connected to the Source. Three

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