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Being
a resilient person makes life easy. Living consciously from
moment to moment I am happy and peaceful. The art of living in the now
eludes humankind. Man-kind burdens itself with the past and the future
without taking into account what is being done right now, this present
moment, the only time there is.
Being
resilient I flow with the world about me and while I do not make waves,
I only accept in my personal experience that which is what I call noble
and good. All may undergo a struggle over what is happening to them. I
choose to live from my peaceful center and see the world in the light of
my peaceful center. This takes onepointed awareness and control of me to
such a degree I appear cold and unfeeling to the world about me.
However, if I feel the world thinks this, it is only because I think
this. All by my choice.
I live the
easy life by minding my own business, by living from my divine center,
seeing the globe and its inhabitants a magnificent reflection of whom
and what I am.
I met Ralph
who looked prosperous and self-confident. He held himself with such
magnificence that I knew he was a most amazing man.
Upon asking
him where he lived he told me the location in a poorer part of San
Diego. I evidenced instant surprise. Then he said I should come with him
to see his home. We arrived far from the suburbs and mansions to stand
before his very old house in a poorly maintained neighborhood.
"I love my
home," he said with pride. "I have 12 children. Each help me keep our
yard green with a beautiful well manicured lawn and garden. Every few
years I paint my house and give it the perfect touch. We wash the
windows regularly and keep the yard clean of trash, contrary to the
neighborhood around us. What others do is their business, what I do is
my business, and I like order and cleanliness."
He related
that he and his wife Eugenia have a contented marriage. "We love each
other just the way we are." His wife came to the front door as she saw
us standing on the porch. She was dressed in a comfortable but stylish
dress, well tended, though obviously she had it for some time. "Well
love," she cooed to her husband, "who do we have here?"
Her husband
introduced me and we sat on their pleasant front porch for a cup of
coffee.
I asked
Eugenia, "How do you make ends meet with 12 children?" She smiled, "We
have chosen to live harmoniously with what we have. Ralph’s wage easily
covers all of our expenses. We live frugally but with lots of love."
This was
amazing and I asked Eugenia how she could stretch their budget, whatever
it was, to manage their home, their family, its education, and most of
all eating.
"Oh," she
said, "eating is one of the easier things. True 12 mouths require quite
a volume of food but naturally we are not gluttons when it comes to
eating. I have studied nutrition and know what is necessary for my
children at their various stages of growth and provide for them the
perfect amount of food in the perfect portions and teach them to
chew each mouthful 20 times. The kids often laugh at me saying, ‘Mom,
how can I chew my milk?’ I reply, ‘Savor it sweetheart, know that every
drop is succulent and delicious to the degree it delights your taste
buds.’ There is no argument; we have raised them on this philosophy, on
this type of a diet and with lots of love."
Then the
balanced mother added, "They do not get a lot of food to
pig-out-on, but they get enough to build strong bones and healthy
bodies-laced with love everlasting."
I questioned
Eugenia and Ralph, "How in the world do you find time to share your
philosophy of life with 12 children?"
"Our meal
times are sacred. We discuss harmonious and beneficial things. There is
never an argument or disagreement at the table. We discuss the happy and
joyous things of life and live in the now with every topic that comes
up. From the little to the big, the happy opinion of each child is
sincerely respected. Teaching respect and harmony at the table in this
way, each find it the most natural thing in the world and our table time
is a happy time," Ralph stated simply without feeling the need to insist
that what he was saying was true. "Every evening at mealtime we give
each child five minutes to tell what happy thing happened
to them that day.
"Once a week,
after the dishes are finished, we gather in the living room, all sitting
on the floor, to discuss the affairs of the family. If there are any
general needs of family members to be observed in a positive manner-as a
family- we handle it together with love and respect for the solution.
Amazingly there are no problems, sometimes a misunderstanding with a
neighbor child, but these are quickly put to rest with seeing the world
through our pure eyes. All of a sudden the condition disappears with
love."
Surely your
children need attention to their individual needs. Where do your find
time to be with them and share with them your love and understanding?
"Simple,"
smiled Ralph, "we take whatever time is necessary when it is necessary
to be with and work with each child."
Wow! I
exclaim.
"Truly, my
family is my life even while I say I am the central figure in my world.
I believe the divine in me and that is where I give my great respect and
honor. I believe in this same divine within Eugenia and each of the
children individually. Whenever I question anything, I listen within for
the answer and I am experienced in hearing it and following it."
"Ralph’s work
requires his attention from 8 to 5 for five days of the week. Every
evening as the children prepare for bed, he and I take 10 minutes with
each child alone to discuss the needs of their day. I know, that is 120
minutes, two full hours to spend with our children in intensive sharing.
If they need more time we give it, but we all are practiced in being
able to take the important things and think through them in the ten
minutes planned. Our children are important to us," she said.
Paul asked,
"Dad, what is wrong with me?"
"Wrong, why,
what makes you think there is something wrong?"
"Well, Dad,
this morning when I woke up I had this thing sticking out of my penis
and I didn’t know what it was."
"Well, let
see now, you are 13 Paul that means your body is developing its manhood
and your sperm is checking out to see if all is in order and-all is in
order. This is the way your body prepares you for being a father and
having children when you get married."
"Wow, Dad, I
am preparing to be a father," Paul chuckled.
Marvin had a
different question, "Dad, look here, what does this mean, all this
hair?"
"Ah so,
Marvin, you are maturing beautifully. The pubic hairs indicate you are
becoming a man, you are getting mature. What a privilege you have."
"Gee thanks
dad, that makes me feel a lot more comfortable."
Marlis had
tears in her eyes when she asked her mom, "Mom, you told me menstruation
was happening and it was okay, but why is it so messy?"
"Sweetheart
as we talked about it before, you are preparing for womanhood and one
day being a mother. As you take care of yourself lovingly and carefully
now, when it comes time for you to have children they will be born with
the ease of popcorn and healthy in every way."
"Thanks mom,
it helps to know that, but it is still such a bother."
Ellen was
crying a river. She looked at her mom and dad and said, "No one can ever
help me!"
Ralph took
Ellen in his arms and said, "Love, your mother and I are always here
whenever you need us. What is the problem?"
With
difficulty the river of pity slowed a bit and Ellen confided that her
friend was interested in another girl.
"Do you have
the right to have another boyfriend if you want?" She nodded.
"Do you have
the right to have a new very ‘bestest’ girlfriend?" She nodded.
"Does Jimmy
have the right to have new friends too?" She nodded.
"Here is what
you can say to Jimmy!"
The next day
in school Ellen went to Jimmy and said, "Jimmy, you and I have been a
couple for two years. I understand you are seeing Patricia. She is a
very lucky girl. You are a very wonderful boy. Thank you for being my
boyfriend, see ya!"
Ralph and
Eugenia sleepily went to their room. As they slid under the covers,
Eugenia asked Ralph, "How was your day, any problems?"
"No, nothing
that turning to the divine in me couldn’t solve. It always works so
well."
"I know why I
married you, you are the greatest, Ralph, you are so balanced and so
loving."
"How about
you, my love, any rumbles in your world?"
"No, just the
usual one of making our budget stretch to feed the brood."
"Studies done
on mice show those fed a normal diet lived a normal lifetime while those
fed a near-starvation-diet live five to 12 lifetimes longer in healthy
fulfilled bodies. Perhaps there is something to that. We are doing so
well with our children and ourselves. If we would make sure that the
‘portions’ we serve to each is just a little smaller, they would live
longer and healthier lives too. Just a thought!"
"Okay,
sweetheart, we have done it so long, we can prove it even better for
everyone as I keep up my budgeting. It is nice to depend on ourselves."
-Dr Herbert L Beierle |
