Transparency alert. I am a Baha’i. That is my core. I am working on it. And in these days, I can do and be nothing less. There are no easy answers; only great questions and ponderings.

In BE, at Home, last week, I shared that “I am seeing this (personal isolation and lock down) as an opportunity to go inward”. I would suggest that this past week has seen a duality, inward and outward. Since that time of my last post here, I have posted on LinkedIn, thoughts on:

I have been going online (Facebook) with “socials” with friends who just show up. That, in part, satiates the massive extrovert in me. Prayerful moments and down time satiate the massive introvert in me.

Yes, I am a man of both. Bottom line is I am going inward and outward. I have always been an “and” person… the cake and the eating it. 🙂

That being said, this day, and amidst teaching online, grading, writing and doing nothing, something is missing. A wall has been hit. I can feel it. Palpably so. Maybe it simply needs a strategic drive with my music, insular and independent. Quite possibly. But, it also is speaking to me of something else. My restless spirit, my Soul, is whispering in a scream, and I need to listen. Now. Today.

Soul Sis Stuff

My “soul sis” posted this the other day, and I found it both challenging and freeing somehow.

It speaks to me of going within in order to strengthen without.

It speaks to me that the ultimate battle is within.

The eye of the tornado. Amanda sings of it.

Then, my soul sis posted this.

She has a way of doing that. 🙂

“As ye have faith, so shall your powers and blessings be.”

This is the balance.

Faith grounds itself in the eye of the tornado. Faith does not require preconditions. It is why it is Faith.

It is not blind. It sees beyond. Beyond this matrix.

It sees, with an inner eye.

The Inner Eye

I am pondering these words, this day…

Man has two powers, and his development two aspects. One power is connected with the material world and by it he is capable of material advancement. The other power is spiritual and through its development his inner, potential nature is awakened. These powers are like two wings. Both must be developed, for flight is impossible with one wing. — Abdu’l-Bahá

and…

Man has also spiritual powers: imagination, which conceives things; thought, which reflects upon realities; comprehension, which comprehends realities, memory, which retains whatever man imagines, thinks, and comprehends. The intermediary between the five outward powers and the inward powers, is the sense which they possess in common, that is to say, the sense which acts between the outer and inner powers, conveys to the inward powers whatever the outer powers discern. It is termed the common faculty, because it communicates between the outward and inward powers, and thus is common to the outward and inward powers. For instance, sight is one of the outer powers; it sees and perceives this flower, and conveys this perception to the inner power — the common faculty — which transmits this perception to the power of imagination, which in its turn conceives and forms this image and transmits it to the power of thought; the power of thought reflects, and having grasped the reality, conveys it to the power of comprehension; the comprehension, when it has comprehended it, delivers the image of the object perceived to the memory, and the memory keeps it in its repository. The outward powers are five: the power of sight, of hearing, of taste, of smell, and of feeling. The inner powers are also five: the common faculty, and the powers of imagination, thought, comprehension, and memory. — Abdu’l-Bahá

and

…it is my hope that thine inner eye may be opened wide, so that unto thee the very core of the divine mysteries may be disclosed. — Abdu’l-Bahá

THE ROAD AHEAD

It is my hope too. I may take that drive.

Nay, I will.

My spirit is calling.

That is one immediate road. But amidst hitting this wall, I am understanding the need to see through it… and in so doing, smash it. I cannot as yet; see through it, that is. We live in a world with much uncertainty. We always have. These days, it is compounded by a truly global nature. My Faith tells me we are going to be OK. Humanity will be OK. There may be work to do. Indeed, there will be. But maybe just maybe, the first and decisive battle is within. To be of joy and service to the world… to live these words of readiness (above) amidst the days in which we live.

Today, I am hitting a wall. Today, I explore the power to dream… of a sound mind… and heart. This wall will be beaten down.

Real. Raw. Reflective. Relentless.

Peace, passion and prosperity…

Barry Lewis Green

aka The Unity Guy

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Barry Lewis Green moves the needle on character leadership and unity building with joyful ferocity and thoughtful zeal.  Barry helps leaders forge strong, united cultures at school, work, business and community.  Joe Calloway says, “I had the distinct pleasure of being in an audience in Montreal with Barry Lewis Green on the stage. Quite simply, Barry absolutely captivated us with his talent, his message, and his heart.  The feeling of unity that Barry created in the room that day was extraordinary.”  With 39 years in education and leadership training and development … and work in the private, public and community sectors across Canada… and as a speaker, educator, master facilitator, coach, writer, singer, dancer, and cartoonist, Barry stokes the fire on together strong.