It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.

We therefore call upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.

We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensible to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.

Affirm the Charter http://charterforcompassion.org/

But they survived, not what could be said about their belief systems. “Our beliefs took a knock, a big knock,” says Jim. “One day we thought all our beliefs about God, life and the world were in order, then they were all turned on their head. Nothing has been the same since.” This was the turning point in their lives as they began to pursue the answers which had been avoiding them until now. And thus began a journey of discovery.

Their discoveries, uncovered independently as they each walked distinct paths, were complimentary and served to bind them together against all odds in spite of the forces threatening to pull them apart. Amazingly, their separate paths were uncovering the same truths and they found themselves agreeing more and more as they learned about God, the universe and consciousness.

The lessons they learned on their journey serve as an inspiration to the reader. You will read how they grew in awareness of who and what they are, how they learned to let go of old ways and paradigms and how to listen to their inner voice for guidance. The reader will benefit from their lessons of overcoming obstacles, daring to experiment with new ideas, realizing their purpose and acting on their new found truth to live the life they desire.

To help tell their story, Jim & Katharina have been inspired to adapt a parable to highlight each chapter. Using a family of geese they intriguingly blend in their life’s experiences into the geese’s life and their pursuit of happiness in learning the V formation and daring to fly south.

Katharina sums it up, “The readers will have fun. It’s inspiring and they will learn something for life. There is hope for anyone. No matter how bad a situation may be there is wonderful hope.”

Wings of Change – Discover a New Formation to Success will inspire you to take a new look at life and dare to be different.

“You’re hopeless!” “You can never do anything right!” “Your brainless!” “You’ll never amount to anything!” “You’re a dead loss!” “No one can trust you to do anything right!” A child who hears these things spoken to it over and over again, being repeatedly demoralized and put down, will believe what is being said and live each day depressed.

If you are a parent and you have been speaking to your child like this, then stop now! You are razing your child, destroying their self-esteem and their future potential.

If someone you know is doing this, encourage them to speak words of encouragement. If a scolding is necessary, or even if a nasty comment slips out, let it rest with that. Do not continue to repeat the phrase. There’s no need to make the wound deeper. If a negative scolding or insult is made make an effort to lift the child up with a word of love and appreciation. Speak as you would like to be spoken to.

And this isn’t only for treatment of children, it’s good for dealing with anyone. By ending every communication with everyone you speak with with a positive word of encouragement or appreciation you are raising their self-worth. Not only will they feel better, in spite of any mistakes made, but you will feel better and they will go on to reflect that good feeling to the next person they meet.

What kind of wave do you want to spread, a wave of despair or a wave of joy?

What is a Relationship?
A relationship is a connection between two human beings, be it a business, family, social or intimate relationship. All relationships comprise of similar characteristics and boundaries. The connection is what determines the kind of relationship and respect for that connection determines its success. Connections are made in business deals, births and marriages, membership or attendance in clubs and organisations and on the emotional and sexual level between two individuals. Problems arise when this connection is not respected and one party’s boundaries are crossed.

The connection is the basis for the relationship. If this can be maintained honestly then the relationship will grow as trust grows. Where there is dishonesty, there is no trust, the connection is broken and the relationship no longer has any grounds for existence. If the relationship is subsequently forced to continue, either because either or both parties do not face the truth of the dishonesty, or because of fear of what others may think, or even because of the fear of not knowing what to do without this relationship, then this relationship becomes a conflict. The relationship has broken down and only conflict can remain when the two insist on playing out a relationship.

What Boundaries are Necessary in a Relationship?
Every individual has his or her private sphere. This is the area where a person is alone with his or her thoughts, their interests and pleasures. A relationship is built on the connection of common interests. No two people are the same, so there is naturally a boundary between the connecting interest and the individual interests. I see three possible scenarios when this boundary is reached:

1. The boundary of individual interests is respected and left alone. There is no attempt to interfere with the other’s personal interests.

2. The boundary is shared for the sake of the other and the interests are enjoyed by both parties.

3. The boundary is ignored and one party attempts to change the other to make them fit more into their realm of interests.

A combination of the first two will lead to a successful relationship. But any attempt at the third brings only disaster to the relationship.

A healthy relationship is always depending on a healthy give and take attitude. Each party seeks the best for the other and never forces anything. Any attempt to control the other immediately breaks the connection forming the relationship. Freedom should be given and each party is free to develop their own interests and personalities.

Why are Relationships Important?
Relationships are important because of our connection with each other. This time I mean another type of connection. All of us are connected on a higher level than is obvious to our physical perceptions. On the understanding that everything is energy, our bodies, the world around us, even our thoughts, and that beyond the physical world which we are familiar with there is another non-physical existence, outside of our perception of time and space. On this other level, we’ll call it energy level or the spiritual level, everything is connected through a field of energy, for all beings are energy. This connection, although not obvious to us here in this life, is still very real in the other realm.

This is why we are drawn to one another (all man-made religious ideas and ideals set aside) because we are a part of one another. There is a sense of completeness when we have a close relationship with another individual, whether this be on a social or intimate basis. Even a successful business partnership can be fulfilling as both parties benefit from the partnership. We are constantly looking for this inner fulfilment. Some try to find satisfaction in religion, enjoy the connections there, but are driven to despair by all the other stuff which make relationships impossible. Others will seek fulfilment in social or cultural groups, finding those who like the same things. But even these relationships are doomed to failure if they are not built on a mutual connection respecting individual boundaries.

Every individual has a purpose. Our relationships work best when this purpose in respected and given freedom to evolve. How far a boundary should be set is up to the mutual agreement of the parties involved. This may be unspoken yet naturally worked out in the love and respect of each other.

Tell me what you think?

Check out my new website at http://www.wingsofchangelife.com

How far should love go? When is loving too much? When is it not justifiable to love more, forgive more?

If someone has harmed you, you have a right to seek justice and see the culprit punished and the wrong righted. But what if you were to forgive the wrongdoer? And what if he does the same again, and again, and again? What if you really do forgive seventy times seven?

Is justice always the best road to take?

Forgiveness releases energy, an energy which goes out to the forgiven and deep into the forgiver. This energy is greater than the energy dissipated by justice and revenge. The energy released by forgiveness is Love. Love is the greatest force in the universe. Nothing can conquer love. Nothing can replace love. Love is over all. Love is beautiful. Love calms. Love inspires. Love forgets harm. Love overcomes evil. Love supersedes justice. Love forgives. Love avoids conflict. Love heals.

What has love done in your life? What peace has been sacrificed when justice has been sought? Can we choose? Dare we choose?

Can you put the change that must be made into one sentence?

I already have several times.
You must stop seeing God as separate from you, and you as separate from each other.”

“The Complete Conversations with God. An uncommen dialogue”, by Neale Donald Walsh, Book 2, ch.13, p.340-341.

The Complete Conversations with God (Boxed Set)

And with this I wish you all a Happy Holiday and a new dream for 2008.