People Only See What They Want To See

All too often we hide our heads in the sand acting as if that's all we know when in reality, we've know that isn't true.  People only see what they want to see and if they don't want to see it, it remains hidden from view.  To think that all other people do this is like thinking you can jump up and touch a cloud high in the sky.

I'm reading about how the wife of the suspected bombing terrorist was so shocked to learn that her husband was involved in this.  While I'm sure she was shocked and had no clue, it wasn't because they didn't know.  It was more likely that she just didn't want to see this.  After all, her friends are saying that the guy was not the nicest guy to be around or live with.  Again, we only see what we want to see.

In my house growing up, all kinds of abuse was taking place while most of the family didn't know it was happening to each other.  It was far easier to just go around and live like everything was so great and everyone was happy and there was nothing wrong.  It was easier to just not talk about it, mainly because of the fear of repercussion, but it didn't mean it was not going on.

Years after I was gone from this situation, I learned of another family member who went through stuff I was not aware of until they told me.  They were angry at me for not protecting them and stopping it, but I was just a kid for one and at the time, I was in college not realizing what was happening at home.  In my mind, I had hoped and convinced myself that it had stopped.  Boy, had I fooled myself into only seeing what I wanted to see.

Did Sandusky's Wife Know?

How much do members of an immediate family know about child abuse taking place under the same roof?  This is a very good question.  Now that Sandusky has been found guilty on 45 of 48 counts of child abuse and molestation, people are beginning to wonder how much his wife, Dottie Sandusky knew.  Some people feel she should have known what was going on and is trying to hide what happened, but I'm not sure I would agree with that analysis.

Please don't get me wrong as I'm not endorsing or supporting Dottie Sandusky in any way.  I'm sure there had to be signs that something was up, but of course all of us only see what we want to see.  If we don't want to see something, we put blinders on and act as if never happened.  Does that excuse this behavior?  Absolutely NOT in my mind.  Does everyone put blinders on?  Absolutely, yes they do!

In my own house growing up, I still question to this day what my mom knew about what was going on in the bedrooms or the barn or the vehicles or the semi-truck.  I remember at one point she was trying to hug me and I was so startled that I immediately pulled back.  It surprised her and myself.  Of course, no one thought any further about it.  I remember one time when one of my abusers was having a session with me and as we heard my mom come up the stairs, he demanded that we get dressed quickly.  When she walked in the room, I was zipping up my pants and buckling my belt.  It would have been hard for her NOT to see what was going on, but in my house you just went on as if all this was normal.  There were other things that would indicate something was going on, but it would take much more time than I have here to write it on this blog.

When We Open Our Eyes

When we open our eyes, we begin to see.  It is then that we find awareness which gives us the choice to grow and evolve or remain where we are.

- Don Shetterly

White Light, Healing And Truth

Often, I'm around people who speak of the "white light" and it gets applied to everything from healing, forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, fear, protection, life's difficulties and situations and probably more things than I can even list here. While all of this is well and good, I have my doubts as to a majority of these people who speak about the "white light" really and truly know what it is all about. They say they do and they claim they do but there is evidence to the contrary.

In fact, I would offer up that most people really don't experience the white light around them. They visualize it and believe it is there but they truly don't see it. I'm sure that some reading this will vehemently disagree with me but I believe, the following statement applies, to thine own self be true. Many people who so quickly talk about the white light, do so in a way that seems to be more of a crutch than a personal relationship.

When I was in the hospital in 1991 for paralysis, I was undergoing tests that took me to the point of exiting this world. While I cannot remember and recount all that happened, I know without a shadow of a doubt that I saw the "white light" that so many see when they are slipping away into the next world.

It took me many years later to realize what I had seen and witnessed because I had no idea that an experience like this could even be real. When I made the connection one day in a healing session (without the therapist even realizing to this day that I had made that connection), the puzzle pieces began to fall in place.

The "white light" that I saw, experienced, felt and became part of , is so much different than that which I hear people talk about. People talk about it as if it is something they have personally witnessed and yet, what they talk about does not add up in my mind to what I have seen. I'm not going to go into details in this post because I don't want my experiences to be regurgitated facts for others to display at will. Maybe in the future I will speak more about this but for now, I'm not ready to do that.

I personally feel people need to be very careful in what they describe and share as fact, if they have not had the actual experience. I see people in churches do this all the time, and the new age, enlightened people do this as well. It is easy to tell others something that we seem to know and believe but if were not careful, we soon find out were all headed over the cliff and there is nothing but a drop off below us.

At times, I listen to people describe some of the things like the "white light" and I think, wow, they know a lot. As I dissect what they are saying, questions start to arise in my mind. The one thing I have learned in life is that you do not have something to share because you heard it from someone else that passed it down from some long line of people. The truth that you have to share is because of your eyes being opened and your direct experiences to that piece of truth.

Of course, it is important to note as well that if we believe something, than it is true in our world. However, if we teach this to others, is it really true for their world? Or are we forcing it to be truth for someone else?



Blog Post & Images (c) 4/9/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com

How Do You Recognize A Miracle

When I think of miracles, my mind fixates on Moses parting the red sea or someone dying of cancer who is suddenly healed. It is something grandiose that happens. A miracle is something that is so extraordinary that you can see it with no effort.

Miracles in my mind are more biblical and often for other people. They usually come to special people whose life is exemplary for others to follow. I am not certain miracles happen like they did in historic times. It seems that they are reserved for more rare occasions.

Of course, my theory may hold as much water as a fish net. In many ways, I may be limiting myself just because my concept of miracles is so limited. What if I truly do not understand what a miracle is? Would it not stand to reason that without being able to fully understand miracles that it would be next to impossible to see them?

A miracle may actually be something that happens more frequently then I realize. Miracles may be happening all around me. There is a good chance that miracles are not reserved for biblical, historic moments. I am beginning to wonder if I have overlooked many miracles in my own life. Just because my mind is not prepared for receiving them, does not mean that they are not taking place. As I write this, I realize just how little I truly know about miracles.

So, maybe my first step is to begin understanding what miracles are and how they show up. I may need to shed some of my own beliefs in order to discover how to recognize and see miracles. It may be beneficial for me, if I allow my mind to open up to miracles. Realizing I am worthy and a being of love and light might just begin to open my eyes. The point of discovery has begun. It is time to open my eyes, my heart and my mind.

(Above Picture taken at Disney World, FL - (c) 06/22/10)

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