Building Bridges

By Dr. Anne ©

What a wonderful time of year to think of building bridges across the world. I am held in awe by the responses that come from this journal. People from around the globe are writing and telling me how beneficial this column is to them.

Each one of us can make a difference is the lives of millions of persons. Just allow your imagination stretch to Russia. How would you feel if a story that you shared helped bring peace of mind to a man or woman in Russia? In the following request Sergei is sure that your story can help such a person.

He writes, "Dear Anne, I thought a lot about positive thinking and I think it's possible when people actually feel God is caring for them. We have pretty difficult times in Russia with this idea. Our Russian Orthodox Church prefers the idea that God is PUNISHING people because He loves them. It's pretty hard to think positive in this context. Answered prayers are testimonials that God DOES care about his people. I am sure there are many people who have answered prayers in USA (and around the world). Can they be generous to share this wonderful gift with our people? What about writing testimonies on these issues (answered prayers) and sending them to me? People trust personal testimonies from other people. Audiotapes of these testimonies give real feeling - people speaking to people. So these testimonies need to be taped (He will tape them in Russian). It will have great impact and change our life. I am going to give them to Russian people for listening and discussion."

What about this idea? With best wishes, your Russian friend, Sergei"
Sergey K. Bogolepov sergei@sport.nsu.ru

How many stories do you have to share? Yours may be just the one that saves a life or turns a person from depression to hope. We can write our own "Chicken Soup for Russia". Are you willing? I hope so. Please email Sergei your story of answered prayer. All stories are welcome to hungry listeners, none are too small and none are to long. They are all just right! Share your positive experiences with our Russian friend.

I sent the above to my personal email friends. Here is a response from a friend of mine in NJ an Orthodox priest, Rt. Rev. Taras Chubenko.

"Dear Anne, I read with a great deal of interest the comments made by Sergei regarding the "relationship" with God and the insane perception that God is vengeful and punishes us for what we do! That is probably the most difficult part for me as an Orthodox priest to accept, but I understand the mentality, because just as 'communion is never given without confession' - I can understand the reasoning about the punishing God.

The Bolsheviks helped create the insane notion of continual confession before communion - basically because they were worried about the possibility of a lunatic that may want to 'knock off' the Czar! This way they would get the information from the local priest during confession and eliminate the threat! This insanity has continued to this day.

But all of this other vengeful stuff is a carry over from the 'dark' religious concepts of early Orthodox religious thought. The problem with these poor folks is that they are missing the light! They need to be exposed to the love of God and the forgiveness factor! We punish ourselves. God is an innocent by-stander. HE/SHE does not get involved with our daily affairs! That of course does not preclude our Angels from helping us as we pray, but God? NO WAY!

If I can do something to help bring solace to these folks by writing or taping something I'll do it…. Let me know if in some small way I can be of service.

Thank you for being a caring soul.

Fr. T"

Perhaps this letter helps to explain why the Russian people feel so depressed, even though they have been 'liberated'. They still have no light in their souls. Let's be that candle shining in the darkness. It can light up a whole nation.

What has happened in Russia is called Cultural Hypnotism. It affects not only the people of the country; it affects the people of the world. Allow your mind to peruse all of the memories that have led you to misbelieve or have a misperception, because of your cultural hypnotism. How many opportunities have you missed because you believed you were not allowed, not good enough, not the right ethnic origin, not educated enough, not the right sex, not the right religion, and so on. How many times have you condemned a person, place or thing because of these beliefs? You can change this by forgiving yourself and all others who may have harmed you in any way. Forgiveness is an inside job that only you can do. When you forgive you let in the 'light'. As the song says - "You can see forever on a clear day".

In hypnosis we use regression to get at the past, to forgive the events and those involved in them. Then we bring in the light of love so that the healing of old worn out ideas and beliefs can be gone forever from the souls journey. During this month of February it would be well to examine our hearts and let go of the negative memories and replace them with love. If you need help we have a tape called Inner Journey that will enable you to not only let-go, you'll also receive a gift at the end. Let your winter be gone and prepare the soil of the soul for spring. Use the power of forgiveness to be your bridge to the future.

Namaste my friends.
Dr. Anne
Anne H. Spencer, Ph.D.
4110 Edgeland, Suite 800
Royal Oak, MI 48073-2285
aspencer@infinityinst.com