When time stops, eternity begins
Can you tell when something is so important that you want to make sure you don’t let any part of it slip through your fingers? Can you allow yourself to be free enough to completely embrace a moment without being either shy, anxious, self-conscious, stressed, overcompensating, thinking ahead or back instead of appreciating every little detail of what surrounds you and also what’s happening inside you at that very moment?
Lately, I’ve been able to really enjoy spending time with Alex, Jeff, Sef, Ben, Moose, Big Byrd and Stephanie. First, Alex invited us to be all together for a meal that we would all prepare together and then spend the rest of the evening talking, sharing and laughing. In addition to this we were also discussing about the upcoming album, marking the songs on a chalk board, making decisions about the whole project and how we want to live what’s left of the recording process. I think we could all grasp the seriousness of everything we were discussing and working on, conscious that each minute was crafting something we wanted to be a part of our legacy. At one point I was overwhelmed as I realized we were seeing on this chalk board the album in its primary form, all there, yet just taking its time to grow, to be strong and to pump up the excitement of the whole family to see it come into existence and scream to the whole world! But I think what really is the most important in what we do during these dinners is what we can’t write on a board, what we can’t plan… The most important is that we deeply desire to be companions, to gather and get to stay close to one another, to get to know each of the individuals for who they are and for no other reason than that we love each other and we want to be always living our lives together.
And it extends to all of us living together as a family, one we chose, one we fight for, one we discover as we also discover ourselves. Last weekend we celebrated father’s day with a nice BBQ in our “forest” (lol… I love to see our backyard filled with about 10 trees as a forest…makes it sound magical and romantic!)… now don’t start rumors as none of us have kids…lol but even if most of us can’t say we have a significant father figure really present in our life, we still believe we can acknowledge the value of men who are standing strong without being proudly flawless, taking responsibilities even when it’s scary or painful, caring about others trusting about their own needs, stepping into their role and their destiny with courage and determination…
However, sometimes these same amazing men and women that are with me, they actually don’t feel so amazing… they might feel empty, or sad, or not so confident… For sure at times, the same courageous heroes will look behind their back doubting they still have a cape to fly out of what’s dragging them down… And when that time comes, then we will remember the good times we had but mainly we will live truly that proximity we cultivated with meatballs, baseball games and vinyls… that same intimacy that made us laugh and share, will allow us to cry together, to allow one of us to be lifted up by all the others, to unify and join our forces to overcome anything that could come our way. As we are together, we are invincible. Together as One. Giants.
Whether we live something fun or sad, scary or victorious, exciting or challenging, we find the true life in it if we can live it close to someone. For you it might be a parent, a friend, a sister, a brother, a relative, for me it’s all of you in so many different ways… and I feel I’m so blessed! I feel I can stop time, nothing being more important than what we live, nothing compares to the love that hovers in the room…and from that love, glimpses of eternity can emerge and blind us with its creative power, its healing power, its purifying power…
I love you and we do receive your love daily as a powerful gift. A dear brother sent me last week a message saying how a video we made a couple years back touched him… I remember that video was filmed as we were in a very dark period of time, feeling attacked from all sides and we decided to answer with the only power we knew was true: love. I think this video will always be actual and relevant. May you capture its message and make it yours!
-Miss Isabel
Comments (7)
Elizabeth
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hi dearest Isabel and YFE!!!
I remember the time when this video was made, and the love and compassion you expressed so beautifully before the camera in that moment has only increased and deepened through the trials you have faced. As Chris said in her comment here, love truly is the most powerful force in this universe, even though as humans, the love that flows from us is always flawed in some way – but that reality must never stop us from trying to push past our own limitations. We don’t have to do that alone of course. Love is not only the most powerful force in the universe – It is the force that imbues everything we see and everything we cannot see with Life – no wonder we find our hearts and souls so desperately longing to give and receive it – it is part of us!
I have heard many of you say that you do not have a significant father figure really present in your lives, and the same was true for me up until a few years ago. My father was a very kind but distant person, so involved in his work that he had little time or energy for his family, and I can honestly say that for most of my life, I really did not know him. I would have had trouble having a 15 minute conversation with him, but that really wasn’t a problem because we were never alone for that long – for 50 years or so…. Do you know what changed that? What restored my father to me and me to him? YFE!! As Alex mentioned in his “Ceremony and Jubilation” essay, for some YFE is an “uplifting family and an upper room” – that has been true for me from the beginning of my interactions with you and it is through that avenue that my father and I at last found something we could share and found each other. Our relationship continues to grow in precious and amazing ways and I will truly be forever grateful to YFE for this gift (and for so much else as well).
Love is a force that cannot be controlled, and once you decide in your heart to embrace it, it begins to carry you along in a current that may not take you exactly where you expected (will definitely not actually.. 🙂 ). You will most likely find yourself opening your heart to people you have never been drawn to before, feeling a stirring within for those who have hurt you in the past (even parents perhaps) and perhaps longing to rebuild bridges between hearts that you have burned in pride and righteous anger birthed from wounds – wounds that can come from hatred of yourself for hurting others (one of the most deadly types) as well as hatred of those who have hurt you. It is a risky thing, jumping on this “Love train”, as you all know so well, since long ago you decided to embrace love with all your hearts and minds and souls and bodies..
It has been AMAZING riding alongside you on the “Love train” to this moment – I cannot imagine where the train will take us next, but I am blessed beyond words to be traveling with this family – a “connection” which imbues Life into every relationship and aspect of my existence!
I love you and believe in you ALWAYS!! Praying!! you know it!!
but even if most of us can’t say we have a significant father figure really present in our life, we still believe we can acknowledge the value of men who are standing strong without being proudly flawless, taking responsibilities even when it’s scary or painful, caring about others trusting about their own needs, stepping into their role and their destiny with courage and determination…
For you it might be a parent, a friend, a sister, a brother, a relative, for me it’s all of you in so many different ways… and I feel I’m so blessed! I feel I can stop time, nothing being more important than what we live, nothing compares to the love that hovers in the room…and from that love, glimpses of eternity can emerge and blind us with its creative power, its healing power, its purifying power…
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Heather
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hey Sweet Sis!
I think that is is incredible how far we all have come over these years, and with some things, they do not add to helping us reach our dreams, and need to not “rewind the tape,” of hurtful memories, though the ones that serve to remind us of where we are now, and that we are taking each step towards reaching that dream are good to take a glance at, not continually, as we need to live “in the moment,” and yes we can overcompensate or allow worry to try to shake us unsteadily, though have to stay strong no matter what. I love Alex,xoxoxox,so very much, Miss Isabel, knowing that the road was going to be hard at times, but that each moment is to be treasured, and am very thankful for all my family. I would rather look at the future, to see each day as “one day closer,” than fill my mind with defeating thoughts, we are all winners, and have to see ourselves as being just that, not average or unable, as we are given his anointing to walk the journey that He has set before us. I am not going to give up, but rise from the circumstances that were to keep me from seeing my dream come to pass. It is like having a scrape on the knee, in which we get back up, and keep pressing forward until we make it there!
love from your sister, Heather
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Mary
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Another very heartfelt blog, describing a very beautiful family! It’s very inspiring to see how you’re taking every occasion to celebrate and honour the choices of everyone. Choices to become, to open the way although no one has been showing you how to do it, how to achieve it. I can understand why you’re so proud, why you want to scream it out loud.
Thank you for sharing once more, for giving us the choice to build a dream and vision for our lives.
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Marjo
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Hey Miss Isabel!! 🙂
Here’s my answer to your very first questions : Hopefully, because of the people around me…I can!! Sometimes, I get stuck and trapped into details, which seem so important to me…But the minute I look around and see others dealing with those same “things” with so much simplicity…adding joy an laughter to it…it gives me the courage and power to believe that I can do it too!!! And letting myself get into their good vibes makes everything way more simple and fun! So, thanks to you and all, from near or far…for allowing yourselves to live your lives…with true and honest hearts! That inspires me and blesses me more than anything! Love you all!! 🙂
Marjo
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britt
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I love yfe family so much! 🙂 I really love reading your blogs. WHen you speak of family 🙂 I very happy for you. very happy be part of this amazon family with you all 🙂 i love you guys 🙂
i write small comment before not sure if it went through.
love you and i appciate so much you writing this blog. it very amazon! like always im here reading 🙂 Love you sis!
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Chris
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Oh wow…what a great flash back! I love this video, so simple but right to the point and at the same time…It’s funny but, why do we feel the need to apologize for being ”cheezy” when we talk about love? There’s nothing more powerful in life than love…I am still learning the basics of it every day and I am sure that this is going to last all my life!! Discovering life and discovering freedom as I am building my relationships with love…
The message that you share there is not and will never be outdated…Cause love is a fundamental principle of life!! Thank you for this blog Miss Isabel and for this great video flash back!!
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britt
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Love reading your blog isabel! Love you all so much! love yfe family!
Im shy person i know. but this is not nothing negitive of myself. I Can allow myslef to be free enough to completely embrace a moment even tho i am shy. you say Can you allow yourself to be free enough to completely embrace a moment without being shy. I just feel being shy is no negitive thing. it just what makes you who you are.
I love yfe family so much. always love read your blogs
love you lots
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