Chet & Ron’s Thoughts on Hurricane Katrina and the events occurring in its aftermath…

First, our sincerest, heartfelt condolences and love go out to our graduates, their loved ones and all, who have experienced losses (of fellow loved ones and property) as well as injury (physical, emotional and spiritual), as result of the hurricane and the events occurring in its aftermath.  We have been moved by the extreme toll that has been taken on the residents of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama along with those who care about them over the recent days.  We care deeply and send loving and healing energy out to all.

We are extremely heartened and proud of the immediately dynamic, courageous and generous response of so many of our graduates.  We have heard of the committed actions taken by so many, who have been willing to jump in the middle of what has evidently been a vacuum of effective national leadership.   The actions taken by members of our community have been numerous, and we applaud all of you, who have stepped up in the face of the devastating events of the last week.  It is an honor to be associated with you.  At the end of this communication, we will list mechanisms of support that our grads have made known to us.

Over the last week, we have had to the opportunity to have several discussions in which it has been challenging for many to make sense of all that has occurred, from the hurricane itself, to the sorely delayed response by federal, state and municipal agencies, to the apparently selective distribution of resources based race and class, to the senseless criminal and violent actions taken by individuals in the affected areas.  It seemed to many that the “the worst” was being brought out in the face of this crisis.   The scope of devastation and the disappointing response has been so massive that it has been challenging to make sense of what has transpired and to remain empowered in the face of it all.

A perfectly understandable question to pose at this time is, “Why?”  Why would such events be allowed to occur?  Why would The Divine, All That Is, God/Goddess, The Universe allow for such “natural” disasters?  Why would loved ones in the prime of their lives (or not) be taken in such a sudden and gruesome manner?  Why would such pain and suffering be allowed?  How could there be such a passive, inept, calloused, uncaring response in the richest nation of the world, in a nation that has been preparing for another catastrophic event for at least four years?  The Why question, the struggle to make sense of all of this is absolutely understandable. 

We don’t mean to suggest that there are any easy answers or any perspective that will uniformly work for all of us to subscribe to.  Still, we would like to share some of our thoughts in recent days.

As a Possibility, and from the Responsible perspective, we know (at least conceptually) that the events of recent days are, at face value, like all other events.  They are neutral events.  We have learned to practice looking at events as neutral, allowing us to respond (i.e. be responsible), rather than react (i.e. be a victim).  We now recognize that with any event, we have the choice to filter it through our historical beliefs, judgments, assessments, right-wrongs, good-bads, and should-shouldn’ts.  We would, in turn, resist that event, which would lead to our automatic reactions, some subset of “The Grungies”.  Of course, we would have our Payoffs for doing so.  We could be justifiably outraged, have a sense of superiority, and garner sympathy and approval, among other payoffs.  On the other hand, we also have the choice to filter the neutral event through our Vision (i.e. what it is that we are committed to creating), leading to a surrender/acceptance of the event.  From there, we would be freed up to tap into our creativity, and the payoff would be our growth.  We have studied this, and even practiced it for some number of weeks, months, or even years.  However, it is in these times, when our consternation, anger, sadness, or other emotions are palpable, when it may not be comfortable, that the practice is particularly called for.   Based on results, many of you have realized that our committed actions at this time are far more valuable that our opinions or momentary feelings.  And, how much more creative and effective could we be if we saw what’s occurring as neutral?

Even, as I type that, I can hear my own mind say, “Hey, these events, this week, have really been outrageous, putrid, absolutely dastardly!  Neutral – that’s a nice idea.  But, let’s Get Real!”  Well, then, let’s take it to another level.  Before we said to look at this situation as a possibility from a responsible perspective.  To come to grips with all that has occurred this week may require looking at it as a Possibility from a Spiritual perspective.  To understand how these things could be allowed may require looking at the deeper mystery of the universe and the meaning of life. (With appreciation for wisdoms shared by Neale Donald Walsch, Lazaris, Marianne Williamson, and Deepak Chopra, among others, we proceed.)  Could it be that The Universe shows its goodness by not only creating what we consider perfection?  Could it be that The Universe demonstrates its love by allowing us to demonstrate ours?   The question of Why has an implication that The Universe chooses these events.  Consider that The Universe simply allows/observes their occurrence because to interrupt them would be to thwart our will, would rob us of our opportunity.  What opportunity, the will to do what?  The will to demonstrate our love, the opportunity to decide who we choose to be in the face of these events.  Consider that every moment is an opportunity to demonstrate the next greatest version of the grandest vision we have ever had for ourselves.  Every moment, be it routine or seminal, is an opportunity to demonstrate the next greatest version of the grandest vision we have ever had for ourselves.

In the 21^st century, we are living in times when current events are seemingly unprecedented – 9/11, Iraq/Afghanistan, the ravages of AIDS go unchecked, the December 2004 tsunami, and now Hurricane Katrina.  If these events are unprecedented, would it also be so that the opportunity to "decide who we are" is also unprecedented?   Consider that the question truly facing us in these times is, “Given what is occurring, who do I choose to be?”  And given that most of us subscribe to the perspective that Love is the only thing real, and that everything else is made up, another version of that same question is, “What would Love do now?”  With love, focused on our being-ness, what is the next greatest version of the grandest vision we have ever had for ourselves.  And, given the grand nature of this opportunity to demonstrate our love, could the events that we are now facing be looked upon as "a gift".  Yes, A Gift.  Maybe, that is why the current state of time is known as “the present”.

So, rather than focusing on condemning anything that has occurred as bad, let’s examine what about this have I judged bad, and what, if anything, do I wish to do to change it.  What part of my Self do I wish to experience in the face of this calamity?   What aspect of being do I choose to call forth?  Aren’t these the questions you would be asking if you saw that life exists as a tool of your creation, and all of its events merely present themselves as opportunities for you to decide, and be, Who You Are?

It would be wise to take caution in judging an event as a calamity (or even joyous) until you witness, or better yet decide, how it is used.  Is it really a calamity if you choose to be the Light in the Darkness (without judging the darkness)?  Is an event a tragedy if you decide to have it re-mind you who you really are, even as you seek to change the outcome of the event?   The greatest trials present the opportunity for your greatest triumph, and for you to experience who you want to be.  Our opportunity is to be an agent for change, not because something is wrong but because that something no longer is an accurate representation of Who You Are.  Our willingness to be responsible for everything allows our individual and collective consciousness to unleash unparalleled creative energy.

Some, with whom we have spoken this week, described this week as being like Hell.  I suggest that Hell is knowing Who and What You Are and failing to take the steps necessary to experience it.  Hell is playing small and being less.  In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many experienced overwhelm (also known as under-commitment) and a sense of helplessness (also known as being less or Hell).  The experience of Hell calls for you to remember who you are.  Some felt pulled apart by this crisis.  That was an opportunity for them to Re-Member who they are. 

Indeed, there may be no easy answer for why all that has occurred has unfolded.  Yet, for all us, those geographically in the center of the affected area and for those us of outside, if we choose, there is an opportunity…

q       To decide who I am going to be;

q       To decide what love would do now;

q       To manifest the next greatest version of the grandest vision I have ever had for myself;

q       To re-member who I am;

q       To take committed action in alignment with all of the above.

To our graduates, we pose three questions for consideration:

q       What if the head of FEMA had done Taking Flight?

q       What if the Executive Producer of CNN had taken Freedom?

q       What if the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security had taken The Flow?

All blessings and healings to the those in the ravaged areas of the gulf coast, to the neighboring states being called on for first lines of
support, to the loved ones around the country and the world, to this nation, to this planet, to our universe.

With love and peace,

Chet Raymond and Ron Davis,

Ascend Spiritual Flight Academy

http://www.ascendsfacademy.com

Planet Earth

Click here for information on how you can directly assist those affected by Hurricane Katrina.