Our Friend Desmond Green

Desmond Green
by Andy Skadberg

Dear friends. Let me tell you a little about Desmond. Since I was introduced to him through my dear friend Yvette Dubel over 4 1/2 years ago I have never heard a single negative statement from him. I have not once heard him complain about a person, place or thing. I never heard him gripe about his living situation. I have not read a negative word that has been written or spoken about an institution or anything. Never. And I mean NEVER!

How can this be? Who is this man? The beautiful man who incessantly reminds me of the importance of the breath? I don't know how many times we have talked on Skype, he calls me like a dutiful friend, day after day. How has God blessed me with such a beautiful, powerful, patient friend as this. Day after day Desmond calls me to remind me to look at the beauty of my life, to notice the flowers, to taste the nectar of making love to a woman, to recognize the Glory of God, the One Infinite Creator.

Patiently, persistently, doggedly Desmond has been reminding of the truths that he has discovered in his full life. I think he is about 75 now. He began his life with a simple knowing, I guess, of God's love. A clarity of the abundance and richness of the glory of this world and other worlds - almost as if through the eyes and heart of a child. He credits it to loving parents, which I know helps. But Desmond just knows something that we need to know. His wife told me the name Desmond means "dweller in two worlds".

He spent many years researching psychology with some of the greatest names in the field. He specialized in child psychology. I don't know a lot more about him. He doesn't talk much about himself. I don't think he has any problems because I have never heard him speak about one - not ever.

It is clear to me he knows his mission. Of any single person in this world, Desmond knows his mission. That is to bring to the world, during this incredible time of transformation, the importance of us to know our breath. Through this knowing, and experience we will find ourselves on a red carpet. A red carpet to where? To ourselves. To our heart. To the love of God.

Some years ago, after many, many life experiences, I referred to myself as the "experience miester". This is because I have had a lot. The nature of my being, who I am, is to not let things rest. I have to investigate. I need to turn each rock over. I need to look behind the story. I am always compelled to get to the bottom of the story.

So, some 4 years ago I began to study, and look, and investigate this thing that Desmond has been constantly talking about, The Breath. And what did I find. Consistently, in every place that I have looked. In every spiritual book. In each place, where, after all of the words, and ideas, and concepts, and possibilities of something to think about, or dialog about, or pontificate upon about life as a human being has been put forward - the breath is always the grounding point. I found so much evidence that I was able to write a book with some of the more important places that I have found references. And since putting that book together I have another dozen references, or so. And these are not little, these are important like, Jesus "breathing" on the disciples when he commissioned them. And the citings have continued on.

Some time in 2008 I must have invoked, without really knowing, Jesus's prayer from the Sermon on the Mount "Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it will be opened unto you". So I have sought, and read, and researched, and watched thousands of hours of videos on YouTube, and other informational sources looking to the answers to the big questions of life. I won't get into that here. But my point is to say, I have discovered many of the answers. Of course this always leads to more questions. But I have learned how God made something so perfect and extensive as the universe and our existence. I will write something about what I have found at a later date. But here, what I want to report, is that Desmond knows. He knows. He is aware, somehow, without conducting all of the analysis, without searching high and low, that it all comes down to our breath.

Desmond has written many books. His book of aphorisms are amazing. They are each fountains of wisdom. Short, quippy, witty statements, each if pondered upon for a day, a week, or even a year contain deep and simple wisdom that would transform how you see the world, the universe, your life. Desmond's heart and mind shares freely and openly.

And, in concert with his lovely wife Dawn, who has written her own books, have created a beautiful palette of colors to enlighten and colorize what many have come to see as a drab world. Dawn's book "The Mouse and the Magician" is a beautiful tale of the power of the mind. How perspective changes everything. What seems to be a children's story contains deep lessons for us as we have imprisoned ourselves, like the mouse, in a cage in our own mind.

But Desmond's most important book is The Practice. It is short, easy to read, and apparently simple. It is simple, but in profoundly deep and spiritual ways. Contained with those few words are the essence of what a human-being needs to put a solid foundation down in their life. To have something they can depend upon. To make a life, to re-create a life - or to discover their life. And then from their "the sky is the limit" as they say. And so much more than that.

I am like a butterfly. I have been pulled away to many experiences, many people have left my life - some through my choosing, some not. But somewhere in my heart, my intuition, something has told me to "stick with Desmond". So here I am. Telling you about my beautiful, loving friend. The only friend I have who calls me every day. And what does he say? I never know, for sure. But I do know the theme. He might begin with something to the effect "Andy, I had an epiphany, a knowing that has come into my being." And then he shares with me about the precious gift he has found, and knows is contained within the breath.

"And God breathed life into man" we have been told. And all the sacred texts, when you get to the crux of the matter will re-mind you of the breath. It will be the thing you are told to do when you do Yoga, or acting, or music, or mediation. Anytime you want to discover the source of your life, when you are needing to get grounded, you will receive guidance to relax and pay attention to your breath.

I can go on and on about what I have discovered in my spiritual research, which inadvertently always leads back to references to the breath. It always seems to be the bottom line. How did Desmond know this without doing all of this research? I asked him once "He just said he just somehow knew, at least in this incarnation".

So, today I invite you to join Desmond and I. Desmond, I can tell, as my friend - is LIVING LOVE! His words, actions and deeds are of God and the angels. I have never met another being like Desmond. And he is everyone's friend. He is patiently waiting, teaching and Sharing. Inviting us to the home he has always been. Spend some time to read his words contained in The Practice. On the surface they seem so simple. But embedded in them are great spiritual TRUTHS. The words can reach anyone, which is what we have to do now.

If you, like I, are working to save the world, then we have to be able to reach every heart and mind. Our words and concepts must be simple. They must sink into the mind of even the most wretched, the most pained, or the richest. And they must lead to action. That action, simply, is to begin to appreciate their breath. To notice, and play with the idea that the breath is our living, pulsating, gift from God that gives all life, life. That truly the Spirit that has manifested and created and sustains this incredibly diverse, extensive and beautiful creation - does so with the movement of the breath. The "Yin and Yang" the "In and Out" movement of invisible force that allows us to do all of this stuff in this world, and in all other realms - at least as Desmond knows.

Please join me in our journey to Share this Love with everyone. It is already here. Help us Share it with others. To remind them. To help them get in touch with their own life force and be grateful for it. To learn a basic, non-dogmatic, set of skills to empower them to begin to make the life of their dreams. And together we will learn that we have great power to make that world a reality, and much, much sooner, than later.

Thank you Desmond for Your Love and Patience. And thank you for being my friend. God Bless You.

It's All Around

A friend posted a nice sentiment at Facebook, which inspired my response.

"Remember every day to do things that make your soul chuckle in JOY. Listen to the song of the wind in the trees. Hold a cat to your face. Listen to children laughing. Enjoy a beautiful sunset. Hold hands with a LOVED ONE. Dance to great music. Sing in the shower. Feel gods hand in the wind caressing your cheek. Feel gratitude for all the miracles of LIFE you experience every moment of NOW"~Bent Kim Lundberg

My response - Its all around, love abounds, astounds, rebounds and will always carry us away on gossamer wings if we allow. Joy presses, caresses, addresses and redresses if we simply observe that which motivates, captivates and exhilarates. Love, the Breath, Life invites us to play, to remember how we once enjoyed, as children, All That Is without all the measuring, worrying and judging. Just play along, and soon all hearts will be rejoicing in ONE LOVE. Thank You, Bent for constantly re-minding us to simply enjoy the sensual, loving feast that abounds all experience, if, we are giving a little attention. Peace, Love and Abundance.

Trail Blazing - a Prayer

This body, this flesh is not who I am. I know this now without a doubt. This mystery is far to grand, so immersive to be the shallow model that has been presented so conveniently through science and religion. What a humorous thing to observe. The descriptions of everything in words, theories, ideas which represent only one tiny part of even a moment in this grand experience called life. I am not afraid anymore. Now, as I become conscious of the various aspects of truth, of course not even a sliver, but something nonetheless, I can see, feel, sense and know the beauty and simplicity. All is based on love. And anything is possible. There is only One thing here, but its potential and expressions are infinite. As my awareness expands, simply, it seems, by my willingness and open-ness, I feel as though an aspect of myself has blazed a trail before me, establishing, preparing the adventures I have experienced.

How could my thoughts entertain the vastness of possibilities, the extent of the cosmos, but then be denied access even in this human form? The limitations have all been set down by a very limited view of life. And this is not the truth - unless I decide it is. I don't. My curiosity, my hunger to experience love and living in the full spectrum, the full cycle of being urges me to invite greater and greater possibilities. God, Source, One, Love - Thank You!

In some strange, mysterious, magical way I know you know what is going to happen next and yet it is not preordained. The experience is mine alone to create - in process. And as I do your essence, your love, your Being goes with me and captures and transmits the experience throughout. Please guide me, strengthen me to be consistent and responsible to Love as I know in the deepest part of my being that this is the most beneficial process for me. And yet I do not want to limit, constrain or choke the experience by my preconceived ideas, beliefs or prejudices. Empower me to contribute in the purest and most beneficial way.

Strengthen and support me to be courageous, bold and creative. To confront and resist conformity as it appears to be the thing stifling life the most in this "reality". Help me be the harbinger, the trailblazer, the demonstrator of the glory and opportunity that you have given all who exist in this form we call human-being. I yearn, intend to know universal, cosmic consciousness in this form, if that is what I am to be. I seek to show others the realization of our capacities and potentials in this form. And yet I detach from the process. I am loving the best I know how. I am being the best I know how. And I am grateful for the incredible capacities you have endowed to me. To see so clearly. To experience so fully. To look back and see with wonder this life. And then to go forward each day with wonder and gratitude. Oh my God! How do you do this? How did you make this? How can you hold all together in perfection? - And know all of it. When will I join you?

Please let me show others the way. I know we came here to be happy, to have fun, to love, to experience the vastness of the cacophony of sense experience. The pleasures. The intensities. To dream big dreams and make them. And to live through the whole process as complete expression of your love. Breathe life into me, Love. Breathe me. Breathe through me. Have me as a channel, a messenger, a light bearer - for the Grand enlightening, the conversion to the Truth experience of Love. With all of my Being, all of my power, all of my humility I say this prayer now. And I Thank You for granting and fulfilling this request in the exact manner that aligns with perfect Love. Thank You! So Be It! So It Is. All That Is!

You Should Be Happy

March 25, 2010
For my wife - Martha Elizabeth Varon

If you once could feel the joy you bring
The caress of your lips, your touch
The strength you encourage
The peace that you share
Courage, Patience
The sparkle of your eyes
The invitation of your smile
The challenge of your love
Life is experience
Rich, endured, witnessed
But soul growth is the goal
The destination
Your love embodies, represents
Invites
Divine expression
An opportunity
To enjoy the nectar, the bliss
A snowflake came to me
A crystal
A treasure
A spectacle of the nature of the cosmic dance
God shared life with me
The greatest treasure
The meaning, the substance, the purpose
Was only realized
When I found you
You came to me as a feather in the wind
A whisper of the One
A challenge, an invitation, a beckoning
For me to live, really live
And that snowflake
That was once in the ocean
And then traveled on gossamer wings
Is the deepest expression, creation, demonstration
Of my love for you
It came from my heart
And danced in my blood
To flow through my being
And into my eye
That experience connected right to my heart
The indescribable feeling
of joy
of life
of happiness
and gratitude
for you being in my life
I love you dear Martha