What Is the State of Your Union?
by Anita Skocz
2-15-13

The State of the Union Address was on Tuesday night, and during the coverage that evening, the president touched us all by recognizing those individuals and areas of our country visited by the horrors of gun violence. Those that were intimately effected by the marriage of a gun with a confused, or mentally ill mind were numbed by their loss. But, they are ready to let go of the heaviness of their grief, in order to fuel themselves with the energy to take actions for finding solutions to these senseless shootings.

Again, the courageous Congress woman, Gabby Giffords, stood strong with those whose lives were altered for ever. Unlike a video game, there is NO reset button. A violent choice made and acted upon, can not be reversed. Any act of violence sends out a ripple of pain that effects too many to count.

Last year Gabby Giffords stood alone, but Tuesday she was joined by those who had loved ones assaulted unexpectedly by firearms. Each one hoping to change existing laws, and breath life into new laws that would begin to lessen the sorrow of these senseless acts. They came to urge congress and all of us, that the time was now. As I listened to the President, and as I looked at the endless determination on the faces of those wanting some sort of movement on gun control, I silenced my mind and let my soul dictate my response. The soul speaks the language of the Divine within us. I was told to pause ~ really pause, and respond as a compassionate member of this national community.

Our minds may say that the task is too huge to accomplish at this time, but our soul says ~ if not now ~ when? If as a nation we react to the “fear pushers,” and focus our collective energies on fear, we will be imprisoned and paralyzed by the alarming scenarios they have painted. We will be unable to be part of the solution, when we give credence to those speaking from fear to promote fear. But, in a country with the motto “In God We Trust,” we should unite around those empowering words, and act from our God center, our souls, where fear has no claim. With love, pour water over the fires of fear and violence, and with passion walk toward change.

When Gabby Giffords entered the room, there was no denying she was the perfect lead advocate for this great challenge. Her resolve and deep understanding due to her encounter with a bullet, gave hope to all working for true results. The state of her union with her Divine self showed in her smile. It had an added glow of confidence and strength, which told me she had that intimate and unforgettable experience with the Divine deep within.

When in the midst of a physical, mental or spiritual trauma, there’s a gentle voice that calls one inward. It invites one to spend quiet time in order to connect with IT. It is a time to surrender to the peace, and feel and know the oneness. Each breath taken, while in communion with this Spark, fans it into a blazing flame. In this sacred moment one is introduced to the Higher Power that dwells within, the silent partner, whose presence never leaves us alone.

As I looked at Gabby and all those families that suffered from tremendous loss I knew they sat at God’s campfire. Their faces showed no fear, and each one seemed enlivened by the knowing that their future journey would be supported by the grace of this God Presence. The state of their “union” with this Divine Spark was indeed strong. As they work toward sensible gun legislation, each one knows they do so as an emissary of this Light.

We do not have to have a trauma to connect and unify with the Divine within. The Presence waits with open arms; we need only to surrender to the Light. The human spirit draws from this flame daily. Making a conscious effort each day to travel within, and spend time in the splendor, strengthens the relationship. There is no need to be in fear, or doubt, or worry, when we sit at God’s campfire the Light dispels all darkness.

As our country is divided on so many issues, it is a time to strengthen that union. To pause and enter the silence brings us to a space where reverence, understanding, wisdom, and love move us to action. We are more apt to resolve conflicts coming from our true essence. We need to ask ourselves how we can be active participants in this blessed country. Instead of pointing fingers, we need to ask ourselves ~ “What is the state of my “union?” Now may be the time to accept the invitation inward on a daily basis. And, from our true essence, which is pure love ~ act instead of react.