The Gift of Acceptance

I mentioned the song The Gift of Acceptance in yesterday’s blog, When in Doubt, Pray it Out.  It has crossed my mind multiple times throughout this year.  I finally understood why this week.  I first heard the song earlier this year when I became more vigilant in my spiritual walk.  It really resonated with me, and the mantra that I picked up from my ashram visit earlier this year – “Truth is one, paths are many.”  In fact, I even had a draft blog written about the song that I was going to share a few months ago but, for some reason, I had a feeling it wasn’t time. 

I genuinely believed I was more tolerant and open-minded than I have ever been in my life – especially since I was reading more than I ever have about different faiths and spiritual walks. I saw clearly the truth that was woven through them all, and thought I was accepting of all of them.  That is, until I recently caught myself in judgement of others.  It happened when I felt like I was being judged by some friends for my transition toward spirituality.  What I realized was that I was actually judging them.  I was feeling like I was right about my beliefs, and that they had been misguided.  I was doing the very thing I didn’t want done to me – judging.  Somehow my old mantra, “Truth is one, paths are many,” shifted to “I’m right, you’re wrong.” 

How could I expect for my spiritual walk to be accepted when I wasn’t accepting of the walk of others?  How could I expect to constantly experience oneness, when I was holding onto the idea of separation?  I ran across the following quote when I was on my personal retreat back in January at Sri Swami Satchidananda’s ashram, Yogaville.  It’s particularly relevant for this post.

“So, let us resolve not to fight in the name of religion. When the understanding comes that essentially we are one appearing as many, then all the other problems—physical and material—will be solved. Until then, they will never be solved because the basic cause for all the world’s problems is the lack of understanding of this spiritual unity. Wherever you go say, ‘We look different, but we are all one in Spirit. Hello, brother; hello sister.’ No religion is superior and no religion is inferior…We should learn to live together and work toward one goal: to share and care, love and give.” ~Sri Swami Satchidananda

So, today, I’m sharing the lyrics of the song here.  Click here to listen to it as you read the lyrics (If you right click on the link, you can open it in a new tab and keep this page open) .  If this isn’t Living in the Light, I don’t know what is :-).  I am incredibly grateful for this refresher lesson in acceptance, and pray that it helps others who have also found themselves judging the spiritual walk of others.

“Would you rather be right or happy?”  ~A Course in Miracles

The Gift of Acceptance – by India Arie and Idan Raichel

About the Author: Kandace Jones

I used to live life shackled by fear, doubt, and worry. I put on a happy face while navigating my day-to-day duties, but I was emotionally drained, stressed, and unhappy. When I hit rock bottom, and was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, I was determined to live life differently. I knew there had to be another way. Out of that determination, and guidance from Spirit, the "Living in the Light" blog was born. It documents my spiritual journey out of the darkness and into the Light. After nine months of publicly sharing my journey, and consciously releasing my attachment to the ego, I experienced a powerful spiritual awakening. I went from living in fear, doubt, worry, and stress to complete inner peace. My greatest passion has become assisting others on their own journey to inner peace. My spiritual memoir, From Stress to Peace: An Intimate Journal on the Journey from Living in Darkness to Living in the Light, is available now on Amazon and BN.com. Click the tabs at the top of the page to learn more about the From Stress to Peace 21-Day Challenge, Living in the Light Retreats, 1:1 sessions, and the Living in the Light Community - all of which are designed to support your journey to inner peace. I appreciate you taking the time to visit the blog and look forward to supporting you in any way I can!