POLARITY

The Fifth Commandment: Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you (Exodus 20:12). If we were raised in a loving, respectful, two parent home this commandment is pretty straightforward on the surface. What about those who were not? Does God expect us to honor an abusive or absent/missing parent? Yes, since they are children of God just as we are, but that does not mean we have to invite them into our lives. Living on the Spiritual Basis, we recognize their shortcomings, defects of character, and release them with love. Do not misunderstand: releasing someone with love does not wipe the slate clean, absolving them. If they have committed a criminal act, the proper authorities should be notified. If they were emotionally abusive and show no interest in changing, releasing them with love does not mean we place ourselves in a position to continue to be harmed or worse allow the grandparent to visit their abuse on the grandchild. Additionally an absent parent who suddenly appears and wishes to become a part of your life; their only passport being the contribution of sperm or 9 months in their womb, must be weighed accurately in spiritual light, since our first inclination is to allow them access in a way that we would never grant anyone else we have just met, so go slowly.

To be clear since emotions run very high on these issues: Exercising forgiveness and releasing with love does not mean that we forget and blindly place others or ourselves in a position to be harmed. Loving all spiritually; in Source, does not mean we have to like them or sit across the table on Thanksgiving. Release all with love, visualize God’s love and guidance towards them in prayer and meditation but never lose sight of the truth that the leopard, no matter how much we may wish it, rarely changes its spots. “Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.”

Living on the Spiritual Basis this commandment takes on a deeper meaning as well. Perhaps the greatest teacher of all cleared up any ambiguity about our relationship with the divine, that of literally being parent to child when he delivered the Sermon on the Mount. We are all children of God, and by honoring Him, placing our will and life in His hands, do we find true peace, freedom and long life in the spirit as we walk the road of Happy Destiny, eyes wide open.