During a High School 10 year class reunion, I shared with a good friend I was taking course work to become a Unity Licensed Teacher and loved it. I’m sure my enthusiasm for the program of Universal beliefs, laws and practices came through as I talked about them.

Then my friend said something both puzzling and piercing: “It’s a cop-out.” I responded, “No it’s not.” We talked some more and got distracted with the ongoing reunion event. 

Undeniably, my high school friend stirred something in me. At the very least I took the idea into my moments of contemplation and inner quiet times. What resulted from the statement he offered me? It blessed me. I used the statement as a sign to hold up so I would not avoid the things calling me to face and walk through. I kept another phrase uppermost in my heart — ‘thou shall not avoid what needs to be faced;’ ‘Face everything.’

Indeed, those things we want to avoid the most are the areas of our work, pointing to what we sincerely need to look at and face. For example, letting our feelings be heard; our ideas surface, listening to our inner heart and mind. What is our inner self relating to us? Let our interior voice be heard. Also, what are the responses and reactions of others toward us relating to us? And, how can we use feedback and inner wisdom for good?

Further, as I continued in my spiritual studies and living, I came to realize a positive, uplifting program is vital in expressing a whole and well life. A program offering to challenge us in the very areas we need to give attention to, offering a road map to heal, recover and raise into the light of understanding those disturbing and wholesome things within and without. 

Certainly, twelve-step groups, spiritual and religious talks, classes, our occupations, our relationships, friendships, seminars, education, retreats, group counseling, coaching, marriage and our own individual programs offer us insight and ideas to live by in creating a well-balanced and peace-filled life.  

Yes, my dear friend at our first class reunion gave me a lasting gift in responding with his little yet mighty phrase, “It’s a cop-out.”

When things stir us, there usually is good reason. When we mull the provoking things over in our mind, heart and still times, we receive inner knowledge, intuitions and confirmation in what to tweak, balance and center on in our day to day living. 

Truly, ‘face everything’ is a mighty phrase to live by. (Not to be over-whelmed, we set our individual pace of introspection.) In that way, we live life not dodging our earthly experiences, but witnessing how we lift our expression and purpose by moving through life’s challenges and glories wide awake and advancing our soul as we journey through life.