By Monk Rick Sheff
Padre Paul Funfsinn, Spiritual Shepherd of Celebrating Life Ministries (CLM), invited me to lead the monthly CLM free teleservice for February 6th, 2023. After immediately saying yes, it took a nanosecond to know the topic: The Unwanted Harvest Revisited. This is because, as many of you know, six months ago Virginia, the precious being who brought so much love and light to CLM and to the world, died. This has been very much an Unwanted Harvest.
The phrase “Unwanted Harvest” first arose for me as I prepared to serve CLM as one of the presenters for a three part Zoom series in October 2020 entitled Harvest Blessings. Padre assigned me the topic of “The Unexpected Harvest.” As I listened for guidance, there arose two different types of unexpected harvests. First is a “Serendipitous Harvest.” This occurs when an event happens in your life that, if you are open to it, can take your life in a new and surprising direction. For me, this occurred when Virginia entered my life following my divorce. We were very different, and it was not clear how we could fit together. But we both recognized this was a cosmically arranged relationship, and it was up to us to make it work. While it was deeply challenging at times, ultimately we came to appreciate Spirit’s wisdom in bringing us together. And because I said yes to this Serendipitous Harvest, eventually Virginia led this once passionate atheist to God, truly a rich harvest blessing.
Yet there is a second type of Unexpected Harvest: the “Unwanted Harvest.” We have each experienced Unwanted Harvests in our life, such as illness, financial difficulties, broken relationships, death of those we love, and so much more. In fact, our journey on the earth plane is replete with Unwanted Harvests.
The question faced by every one of us is how to be with the Unwanted Harvests that come into our lives.
This question has been the fount from which all spiritual traditions and beliefs have arisen, even atheism, for it is at the core of each individual’s attempt to both live their life and make meaning of it at the same time. When I requested guidance for the two other CLM community members to participate in the February 6th teleservice, I sought individuals who had deeply struggled with Unwanted Harvests in their own lives, those whose paths have been difficult, yet eventually led them to new and wonderful places they could never have arrived without these Unwanted Harvests. I am honored that Reverend Frank Scaletta and Reverend Barb LeTourneau will both be joining me for this teleservice. We will each share our own Unwanted Harvests, our struggles with them, and our path to holding these painful experiences with love, light and yes, eventually gratitude. We hope you will join us on February 6, 2023, at 8 pm ET/7 pm CT/5 pm PT so you, too, can receive healing, blessings and hope for your own path through Unwanted Harvests.