Return to Innocence

     To return to innocence is to return to that place where on a deep level you are pure again. It is that place where you are unfettered by guilt, fear, anger and the desire to be in control. It is that wide-eyed open place of a child where each moment is an opportunity to experience something new.  It is a place of no past and no future - just the now.  It is being in the moment, which is recreated in the next moment.

     At birth, we are pure in this way. Then ego begins to develop and the world begins to have its way with us. Other egos start to play a role in what we think, feel, and do. We begin to develop our “World View”. Do this, do not do that; be this don’t be that. Be strong, protected, in control. Be the master of your own destiny. We begin to live this way, but something seems to be missing. We look into the eyes of those around us and we see it missing in them as well. What is it? We grieve our loss and that grief just propels us further away. We find ourselves in a kind of black hole of desperation. We begin searching for that which we have lost.

    When innocence is lost, the sun seems less bright. The stars appear less magical. We perceive that there is danger all around. God seems far away, somewhere out there. We feel that darkness is all around and that light is elusive. Grace is nonexistent. We feel that peace is not obtainable.

    Identifying that these things are missing is the first step in returning to that child like view, that place of wonder, our innocence. Soon see that if we just let ourselves fall into the loving arms of the universe, that which we have been seeking had never really left us.  It has been deep inside us all along. When we stop listening to the “World View” and start listening to the voice of the universe we will find it again.

    Surrender your will to the will of the universe. Turn over control to the divine. Remember that you are not alone; you are part of God and God is part of you. In concert, you can do things greater than you could have ever done on your own.

    When you have done this, you will have returned to your innocence and the sun will be bright again. The stars will touch you with their magic and you will be safe. God will be closer than you ever could have imagined. You will be filled with light. You will feel grace and will be at peace.

    There will still be challenges, but you will perceive them in a new way.  You will see with new eyes and will address your challenges with the full knowledge that they are for the moment and that in the next moment they will be transformed. With each breath you will be reminded how much wonder there is in you, fully human, fully divine.