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Today, it occurs to me that perhaps I have been “resting “a bit too much from writing for Garden Spices. You see, words have become challenging for me during the past year.
May I please explain? Several years ago, I was diagnosed with “Early Macular Degeneration .”Now, as 2022 ends, the progression has changed my life. It has been a year since I drove a car due to my left eye's distorted visual field. It no longer feels safe behind the wheel. Also, reading and writing are beyond challenging some days. Though my brain does its best to piece words together so I may read the necessary items, it often just doesn’t accurately decipher them. To support this special edition of Garden Spices dedicated to Susan Peters, I am offering my first submission in many months:
A new year is one of my favorite seasons. Finally, the slate for the passing year is erased, and I’m ready for a do-over. My favorite ritual with the dawning of a new year is known as The Burning Bowl. Essentially it offers the opportunity to view and then release the things you no longer need in your life from the previous year. First, things are written down and dropped into the flaming fire to be burned away forever. After that, a blank page awaits the opportunity to assess the coming year and write the intentions for change that might make life more meaningful and fulfilling.
At the beginning of 2019, I listened to a talk by Neal Donald Walsch. It focused on the behaviors that he considered highly evolved. Who among us does not want to be a more highly evolved being? It was great timing! Burning Bowl was coming up. So I decided to look at my own life and behaviors and then determine how I might demonstrate more evolved behaviors.
As the ritual proceeded, I developed my own version of more evolved behaviors that I set as my intentions for the new year. Honestly, I had actually forgotten about that exercise until yesterday, 12/28/2022. So imagine my surprise when an envelope came in the mail addressed to me by me! It seems that my 2019 intentions had been tucked away in a drawer. Then, last week the envelope was discovered by an unknown person who mailed it to me.
Today, as a new year is about to begin, I am contemplating how those forgotten intentions might still come to pass. In the interest of refreshing them and sharing them, I list a condensed version here:
I intend to be kinder and more compassionate.
I intend to be fully present with whomever I engage.
I speak only after considering how I may be supportive and loving.
I see Christ’s Light in every person I meet – no exceptions!
I daily ask Spirit to be fully present in me and to speak through me.
I keep myself available to serve a Higher Will.
I now submit that these ideals are doable in 2023. Yet, doable only through Divine Grace which I now acknowledge my willingness to surrender to… It’s gonna’ be a GREAT YEAR!
Wanda Gail Campbell, Ph.D.
Photograph by Carol Zukosky
Wanda has served thirty-plus years as a healthcare professional. Currently, she serves as a Minister of Peace ordained by The Beloved Community. In July 2007 she completed her Ph.D. in Philosophy focused on Intercultural Peacemaking. For her own spiritual nourishment, she enjoys reading both contemporary and ancient spiritual writings.
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