5 Months (Don’t Believe It!)

Brunch is Served

(friendly readers: you may have read an earlier version of this blog; I decided it had an undertone of victimhood and sneaky ego - besides not being very good. I believe this new, shorter and more enlightened version will uplift and inspire you!)

Abide.

This is what the circling osprey cried out to me, juking and diving for fish over Echo Lake. This is what the injured dragonfly said to me as I swam out and rescued him on to a mossy log. 

This is what I received in deep meditation . . . pondering on the gentle but insistent learning curve I was navigating while volunteering at The Healing Oasis in British Columbia.

I marvel at the wonders and grace notes of this singular experience. A parade of goats saunters through the woods, chased by dachsunds. The sweat of a lakeside sauna is cooled by a splash into the lake. A butterfly navigates on to a flower next to a large, brown jackrabbit.

Can you hear the Universe singing?

I am here for Healing. I was surprised and delighted when Dave, the owner, offered me a chance to continue my professional work for the Healing Oasis (I was an enrollment coach), but now as a volunteer for six whole weeks, while also receiving the cutting edge natural, non-toxic treatments they provide. 

Dave is a super-healing-warrior dude. As a mission driven entrepreneur, he created this place after his father died through medical mishap during Covid. A passionate leader and a firebrand of cancer research and natural healing knowledge, he partnered with “the best cancer doctor in Canada” and created a natural treatment center in the stunning Okanagan mountains near Lumby. 

I am also here to Serve, and to cultivate a greater expression of leadership in my personal and professional life through my volunteer work. This has been my ongoing mission during the last year, once I clearly saw room for improvement in this area. What was unique about this arrangement with The Healing Oasis is that it would allow me to work with a team, something I haven’t done on a regular basis in a long while. 

Over the last three weeks, this experience was both exhilarating, and occasionally humbling. I made some judgment errors, but also enjoyed the experience of meeting many different people and providing as powerful an expression of loving service as I could muster. Working in the kitchen with a patient, kind but exacting chef was incredibly fun, and as you can see from the picture above, the results were awesome. 

However, I dropped the leadership ball in several ways. I arrived somewhat fearful. Would I fit in? Would this arrangement benefit me and them? Moving to a foreign country for six weeks was a leap of faith, and my original attitude was “I better make this work or I’ll be booted off the island”. 

Dave, by contrast, as you would expect from a maverick entrepreneur, was in his element, strong and forceful, but also a man with both deep faith and a huge heart. His presentation to the guests here on pancreatic enzymes was passionate and insightful, and I began this new protocol with incredible optimism and excitement. 

Strong & passionate beats uncertain & fearful every time in the leadership game. I took note of this. 

The deeper issue was also my chronic stress-provoking “please daddy” emotional patterns; having to be the “good boy” in life, especially with people in authority. This usually backfires, because there is selfishness behind it. The traumas I experienced when younger created this pattern - I believe it is a foundational element in both the origin of my disease, and my healing - and, it takes work to shift out of.

I did experience a real boost of confidence, when I had an opportunity to lead my own coaching workshop. Guiding the healing guests through the 10 factors of Radical Remission was truly my sweet spot, the work I love, and the healing guests who participated created an incredible group dynamic. I couldn’t have been happier with how this turned out. I also coached and trained folks on the oxygen exercise machine. 

Is this the new Marvel Villain . . .or a friendly coach ready to show you the benefits of oxygen?

Every Saturday night, we got together for Praise & Prayer, listening to Christian songs and singing along with them. As a yogi and follower of Paramahansa Yogananda, I rejoice in Christ and all true paths towards God, so I loved this. I bliss out pretty easily.

Dave asked which songs we each would like to hear, and a man, one with the same diagnosis I had, said “Abide”. 

Abide!

Dave and I had some deep spiritual discussions. He shared with me the following. 

“Here’s two promises from God (and God’s promises can never fail) that I live by even in my darkest times and times of great uncertainty.” 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your steps”

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose””

I am swimming in Echo Lake. Loons warble, the sun sets. My mom, who died of cancer when I was 18, is beside me.

I haven’t seen her in so long. Wild red hair, a white linen embroidered shirt, bell bottom jeans. She wants me to know she sees me in this place, and is watching over me. 

Mom loved lakes, swimming, the forest and the mountains. “I miss you so much, Mom”. I see her, clearer than ever before.

Hi Mom!