Heraclitus lived in Ephesus, around 500B.C.E. In addition to other ideas, he wrote about the Divine Harmony which contains all opposites and paradox. He wrote, "Opposition brings discord. Out of discord comes the fairest harmony. It is by disease that health is pleasant, by evil that good is pleasant, by hunger satiety, by weariness rest. Men would not have known the name of justice if these things had not occurred."

Often it is through the experience of illness that we come to appreciate our bodies. Many times a bout with serious illness calls us to consider the choices we have made and to evaluate the ways in which we spend our time. We find that adversity brings forward inner strength and values we may not have realized were so important to us--without the blessing of the adversary. When we realize we are uneasy, we are called to consider what makes us uneasy. In the introspection, we may find a belief that serves us no longer, or we may find a value we desire to live by more consciously. These events bring our previous choices forward, giving us the freedom to choose again.

Because the material world is fluid instead of solid, forms change. They change by the influence of our ideas, insights and beliefs. When we begin to see the opportunity within the opposition, we can welcome the disagreement without hostility. It gives us time to clarify and learn about ourselves and about life. This also allows us to forgive the person or events which play the part of adversary and to see them each as a teacher.

To practice this type of love is to change our world view from one of discord and victimhood, to one of love. What if each event is brought forward by love? What if the Universe is one of Love and Harmony? What if a Law of Attraction is working as what we call serendipity and synchronicity? And what if all of this is part of how the unconditional love of the Divine--which I call Grace--works within our lives?

We are constantly being given the opportunity to evaluate, the freedom to choose new and the ability to create.

Heraclitus continued: "The hidden harmony is better than the obvious. People do not understand how that which is at variance with itself agrees with itself...Listening not to me, but to the Logos [the creative, intuitive, inner voice known as the word], it is wise to acknowledge that all things are one...Wisdom is to know the intelligence by which all things are steered through all things. God is day and night, winter and summer, war and peace, satiety and want...All things come in their due season. Even sleepers are workers and collaborators in what goes on in the universe."

As we enter this time of Spring and new life, may we come to a deeper realization of the Love of God for each of us and all of Its creation. May we all practice forgiveness and consciously choose to live life abundantly, enjoying every moment, even the ones that we judge to be adversity.

From my heart to yours, Rev. Kris