Clinging To The Rocks

The Best of Jamie's Column: Clinging To The Rocks

Several years ago, I found myself on a rainy night in Mentone, Alabama with a group of spiritual seekers who
had come from all over the country. Each one of us was excited about the agreement and commitment we
had made to come to this little town on Look Out Mountain to study with Master Prosperity Teacher, Edwene
Gaines and her then husband, Bert Carson.

I knew Spirit was leading me to a new experience which somehow would change my life. I was always
amazed at the power and wisdom with which Edwene spoke. She would come alive before my eyes and my
heart would open, filling me with such energy and an intense longing to do more and be more in my own
life.

Here I was, far from my usual surroundings and comforts of home and friends with a group of strangers who
seemingly all had heard the gently nudging and calling of Spirit to come to this wonderful, magical place in
the mountains of Alabama. Each longing to be filled with a new sense of spiritual power and radical renewal.

Edwene Gaines is a woman short in stature, but oh, so mighty in your presence, a presence which towers far
above her human form. Her opening affirmation in each of her seminars is "I AM A WOMAN OF POWER!" I
remember the first time I heard her use that statement, I recall rolling my eyes and thinking to myself, "Who
does she think she is?" By the end of that first session, I knew she was not kidding. She left me hungry for
more, she ignited something within me that had been sleeping, that slumbering something that wanted to
spread its wings and soar.

She and Bert created a space that helped make us feel empowered and worthy of standing up and claiming
our spiritual birthright. It was a week of intense training and growth for all of us. There were moments of
laughter and moments of tearful release, as we would work on letting go of painful beliefs about ourselves
and even others. I watched my classmates struggle with their own healing as I did the same. It was something
awesome to behold as each of us began to let go of the cumbersome baggage we had carried for so long.
Somehow, the presence of God felt so much closer there on that mountain. Was it that God had come closer
or was it that we had moved closer to God? I made new friends, extraordinary people that I love and think of
to this day on a regular basis. We created a bond in that group, of this, I am sure. Though some of us have
lost contact with one another the bond that was formed among us, is one that lives on. We are all connected
with one another through our experience of that special time, the joy and pain shared through that
remarkable chapter which is now etched in time.

I am very honored to have lived that Chapter; I am so blessed by having been led to open my heart, to allow
it to bloom into something that chiseled away at the pain and sorrows of my soul. I have learned that if I will
allow Spirit to do what needs to be done, I will find fewer struggles along the river of life. I have found when I
trust more and worry less, it all works out just fine. Sometimes the river seems rough and turbulent and I fight
to keep my foothold so I will not drown. I fight the flow; I fight the direction in which the river must rush forth.
It is not personal when the water gushes in the direction of bigger things, or the sea. It has a set destination
and it does what it must do to get to where it must be. It is when we can relax and let go of the struggle,
when the water rises and knocks us down, it is then we need to just flow with the stream, then the river and
on to the ocean of bigger and better things.

There have been many times I was bruised by the rocks in my river of life. Often times I would stop flowing
and grab on to a rock and stay put waiting for a safer current or someone with a life raft to come rescue me.
Funny, how I can now see that those times of clinging to the rock was when life seemed stuck or slow to
move. I was so busy hanging on to my rock, the place I felt most safe, that life, the river, was passing me by.
Sometimes we do need to stop for a rest and cling to a place of safety here and there to heal and rejuvenate
our spirit, to catch or second wind and prepare to get on with the rest of our journey.

Edwene Gaines has taught me, life is best when we are willing to step out and live it. It is okay to be afraid at
times, it is okay to be a little shaky about stepping out into unfamiliar territory. If in your life there is a feeling
of being stuck, a feeling that life is passing you by, let go of the rock you have been clinging to and trust in
the flow of the river. The river is wise, the river is guided by the all knowing presence of the universe and
when you are willing to simply let go and flow with the cool healing water of it's current, you will be guided
to that place which beckons to you now. When I find myself clinging to my ole' familiar rock in the rushing
turbulent waters, I hear Edwene in my heart affirming her affirmation. It is then that I cry out "I AM A MAN OF
POWER!" In trust, I release my hold on the rock and the river gently cradles me as it moves me to my next
destination and I am safe. Affirm to yourself daily: " TODAY I RELEASE MYSELF FROM THE ROCK I HAVE HELD
ON TO FOR SO LONG. TODAY I FLOW WITH THE RIVER OF LIFE TO ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT AWAIT ME
NOW."

Until next month, be good to yourself, be good to others and keep spreading "The Light!"

Jamie Sanders is an ordained New Thought minister ordained through The Barbara King School of Ministry in
Atlanta, Georgia and The World Federation of Unity Churches. He has been the producer and host of his own
weekly television program, "Positive Living" and is an active speaker, workshop facilitator and performer for
Unity Churches, retreats and other New Thought organizations. He is a featured columnist for "The Light",
"Kaleidoscope" and "Alternatives" magazine and is District President for The International New Thought
Alliance. He currently resides in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

For more Information on available dates for speaking or for correspondence you can email him at
Jamie1118@aol.com or visit his official web site and join his online mailing list at www.jamiesanders.com.