We Teach what we believe...

and learn what we do not know. We live what we know and share our lives with others.

A coupla days ago I was on my way home and decided to stop into the National shrine. For those of you who don't know about this place, its Beautiful! Its located in Washington DC and is a collection of shrines to the "Virgin Mother" from all over the world. Yeah,Yeah, I know some of you have a one sided view of the whole virgin mother thing and react strongly to the mention of this icon. However, I have my own view of this that I would like to offer you.

When I think of Mary I think of the single mindedness of a woman's dedication to providing for her loved ones, the way a mother will stop at nothing to see her child succeed, the way a wife will stand by her husband through thick and thin, the way "big momma"/Madea (Mother Dear) Holds the family together. I think about the way this energy will drive someone to reach beyond themselves to serve, save and elevate the family and community. This type of devotion and dedication is what generates change in our homes, our schools, and our communities. Not to mention that each of them looks different! They come from all over the world and the architecture is fabulous.

As I walk through the various shrine rooms and read the prayers of others, I think of all the reverent energy and thought directed toward God. I soak up this connection that is present.

Disclaimer: This is not a subscription to the catholic religion. It is respect for spirit no matter where it is found.

I sit and listen, I walk and think, I kneel and pray. I open to hear the insight of spirit as I release my stresses of the day. And this is what was said.

We teach what we believe and learn what we do not know. We live what we know and share our lives with others.

What does this mean? Depending on how you think about it, and how you emphasize it when you read, it could mean several different things. For me, it reminded me of "The Witch of Portabello" where the main character was instructed to teach and that the teaching did not require and specific/particular content but that the content would come out of the intention to teach. Teaching gives voice to our beliefs, things that have not yet become so much a part of our being that words do not come forth to describe them. Sorta like trying to put your whole life into words. You can't. You have to live it.

In our desire and determination to teach, we realize those things in us that we have not yet come to know. Those points of inconsistency in our practice, the insecurity and unsure points in the positions we've taken become apparent when we decide to teach them. Like they say, " if you want a person to learn something, ask them to teach someone else."

The things we know. We live. For instance, we know that fire burns and therefore do not jump into it, or touch it with out serious provocation or extreme need. We avoid it at all cost. This we live, and our behavior need not be explained. (at least not very often, and then only to those who are recently inhabiting bodies, otherwise its assumed to be an understanding that everyone older than 2 has acquired pretty well)

When we share our lives with young ones, they imitate our understanding of fire. They come to respect it because we do. They learn to light stoves, ovens, fire places, incense, candles, lanterns.... and all with out setting themselves or the house on fire. (again, generally speaking. I'm not referring to accidents or pyromania, or other unusual circumstances.)

All of us have heard the phrase, "don't do as I do, do as I say" and we've also heard, "children learn what they live". I introduce these two phrases to illustrate the fact that the power of our living, and teaching even, is in our own integrity. Only what we live with conviction is truly transferable to another. When we become the concept through our living ( the act of knowing something) can we be that for another and therefore expose them to the process of being (knowing something) anything.

This is why no matter what your parents tell you about sex and alcohol, most people will at least try it once. (usually more than that, and I did say most, not all). I grew up in a place that said we should not have sex or drink alcohol. They didn't tell us what we should do, just that we should wait. They didn't, which was evidenced in the very small age gaps between us and our parents. They forgot we could count! So, as soon as opportunity presented itself, we were off to the races, doing every thing we could figure to do. The abstinence advocates had no real conviction regarding the utility of waiting. I know people with different experiences of course but I'm focused on those who lacked conviction or reason for the waiting.

So what Surama! Whats the point of all this? You might be asking. The point is, each of us has something to teach! Teach it! And you'll know yourself better. The better you KNOW yourself, the more you will transmit through your life. Let your life be an example to back up your lessons, the closer they align the more powerful you will know yourself to be. And within it all remember love. For self, family and community.