Rev. Nancy Ballinger has lived in Morro Bay with her husband Ron Schow since 1993. As an educator and Marriage, Family and Child Therapist she taught internationally for 10 yrs. with Quest International, consulted with alcohol treatment programs, served as Children's Bereavement Counselor for Hospice of SLO and had a private practice until 2000.
In 1996 Nancy entered an interfaith seminary, and in 2000, graduated and was ordained. Since her ordination, ministry has been her full time work - offering counseling, classes, worship services, retreats, meditation, weddings, memorials, and more.
As the Spiritual Director and founding minister of AWAKENING Interfaith Spiritual Community in Morro Bay, she brings a rich background in Eastern and Western spirituality and philosophy, and an inspiring message of living an authentic life to one's fullest potential.
|
Finding the Sacred in Everyday Life
Nancy Ballinger
"There is a Light that shines
beyond all things on earth,
beyond us all
beyond the heavens
beyond the highest
the very highest heavens.
This is the Light that shines in our heart."
From the Chandogya-Upanishad
It was an incredibly dark night (even by Saskatchewan standards) when I stepped out of the safety of the well-lit room filled with soft voices. As I prepared myself to begin the arduous trek through the maze of dense forest, someone touched my arm and asked, "May I help you find your way tonight?"
I had arrived at the retreat center in the early evening the day before, eager to begin the three-day workshop I would be teaching to a group of Canadian educators. After settling into my cabin I fell asleep early and slept soundly through the night. When I awoke, I found my way with the light of morning and a detailed map in hand to the main conference room where we would hold our meetings that day.
The workshop had gone well, but now it was 9:30 p.m. and pitch black outside. When Cynthia, the site coordinator made the offer to guide me to my cabin, I immediately accepted, fully knowing I would end up hopelessly lost in the dark of the trees on my own. As Cynthia approached me, her dog, Sunny, was close at her side. This is where Sunny was always to be found because he is her guide dog. Cynthia is blind.
Leaving the conference room, Cynthia and I linked arms as we set off on the winding and narrow tree-lined path to my cabin. Sunny flanked her left, and I was on her right, as we struck out on our adventure like the Tin man, Scarecrow, and Lion on the yellow brick road! Our adventure took a quick turn, however, when after just a few yards, Cynthia asked if I had my flashlight turned on. I of course did, to help me see where my next step would land. She respectfully asked me to turn it off, as it made our guide dog's job more difficult. Abandoning my flashlight I felt a moment of panic. I realized that I was giving up complete control at that point and was going to have to surrender life and limb to these two beautiful souls.
Since they had traveled these paths many times in the dark, Sunny and Cynthia flew, turning right here, left there. I moved in closer as we silently, followed those black corridors, so that we became one unit, moving through the darkness. The irony did not escape me. I thought to myself, "We have here, quite literally, the blind leading the blind."
That night Cynthia and Sunny taught me about trusting, and about faith in something beyond what I could see and control. My ego and mind wanted to use the flashlight and feel in charge, yet, my faith in Sunny allowed me to find my way to my cabin safely and with joy. After our first "faith journey," I came to look forward to the adventure of traveling the labyrinth through the trees each evening with my new friends. There was an amazing freedom in not feeling the need to be in charge. It spilled over into the rest of my week too - helping me to be more creative in facilitating the workshops. I was more allowing and less needing to control the direction discussions might take. My new friend and teacher, Cynthia, had showed me the way to see with the heart, in surrender and trust.
I had fear of being lost in the dark of the forest when I thought I was on my own, and the opportunity to be lead by a vision greater than my fear. Sunny, like the light of pure consciousness within each of us, knew the way.
Our heart always knows the way of truth, beauty, and wholeness. But we have to surrender to this inner knowing, which means dropping from our head to our heart to find the light.
This month we celebrate the darkest time of the year at the Winter Solstice. Just like the ancients, we often find ourselves fearful of the dark and lacking confidence in the light's return. In the beginning of time people learned the cycle of the seasons. They crafted simple, brilliant ways to follow the course of the sun and lived their lives in harmony with its movement across the sky.
How like our forefathers and mothers we are. We have ever-growing knowledge about the heavens. Daily new planets and suns are discovered in the universe. Yet we have so little knowledge about ourselves – about who we are, where we came from, and where we are going.
The Chandogya Upanishad quoted above dates back to the Iron Age (900-700 B.C.E). Its theme of the light within us has been repeated by all spiritual traditions throughout time and portrayed in their winter celebrations of light. At this time of year we join with others observing Bodi Day, Chanukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa, as well as the Winter Solstice, by inviting the Source of love and light to brighten the light that shines in our hearts. Like the solar powered lamps in our front yard, we shine our light according to the amount of light we bring in. Each small light contributes to brightening an area, until the darkness is filled with light.
When my kids were little we sang:
"This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine!
Let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine!
I offer you love and many blessings this holiday season. May you know and dwell in the light that shines in your heart and let it be the gift you bring wherever you go and give to everyone you meet. Let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine!
All warmly welcome!
Holiday Interfaith Celebration Dec. 20 10:00 a.m.
Stay and join us for a Vegetarian Potluck at 11:00.
For more information visit our website.
Rufous Hummingbird image on banner by Mike Baird. |
