As You Are

"As you were" is a military command issued at the end of an exercise or drill. It means to return to your previous position. In life we perform drills and exercises that pump, prompt, push, pull and shape us into new beings. At the end, we are never "as we were," but have been given the opportunity to embrace and be "as we are." The command is a call from Spirit urging us to take a step forward and upward.

A recent encounter with an old friend helped me see how much I've grown. We met in elementary school and remained classmates and close friends through college. I used to visit her home often. She was the youngest child and only girl of three. Her brothers were much older and they showered her with love and protection. There were two working parents and a home that was well-kept and beautifully decorated. Visiting her home was like stepping into a family TV show. There was always a hot meal on the stove prepared by her mother. Her wardrobe was updated frequently and we'd play in her new clothes in the privacy of her own room. My senses were stimulated by the diverse experience of being in a different environment. Mine was a family of five in a loving single parent home. There was little privacy and the hot meal on the stove was likely to be of my own making. New clothes were not purchased to stay in fashion, they were bought or handed down as a necessity.

When we saw one another we squealed and hugged. Soon after there was an uncomfortable pause in our conversation. We parted politely without exchanging contact information or false promises about getting together.

This encounter was a blessed update on how much I've grown. When we are young, we are presented with people to help us grow into the beings we are meant to be. I was surrounded by incredible young girls who grew into phenomenal women. These are my lifelong friends, my spiritual sisters. Occasionally, people are peppered through my existence as mere vessels of enlightenment; to teach me something about myself. That was the role of this individual.  As youths, I was the butt of her many ugly jokes and rude comments. As young adults, she entertained parties of people by rehashing embarrassing stories about my past. When I spoke to her about this behavior and the pain it caused me, she laughed and said it was "all in fun." She persisted and I stopped spending time with her. There was no argument or confrontation. I simply made a choice and followed through. I defied the external command, "as you were," and stepped into the warm, welcoming glow of "as you are."

Life is a journey, not a destination. Every moment is filled with lessons, insights and opportunities to lighten our soul. Each second we are granted is an opportunity to discover and fulfill our life's purpose; to be dynamically as we are in defiance of the external prompt to remain "as you were."