Members and guests we are in the throes of a fiscal crisis that is challenging our collective intellect and personal resolve. And as of last week it is even challenging our wallets. While we work through the policy decisions we were elected to make, I would make this request of every senator and staff member: At the end of the day we all represent California. And while we might differ on the approach, none of what we do should be taken personally. I believe we all truly love California and want to see it prosper; we just have dissimilar ways of getting there.
Motivational speaker Dr. Dwayne Dyer raised this idea when he said:
Consider those whom you call your enemies and figure out what they should call you.
You cannot choose sides in a round world. You are either in it, a part of it, or you are off. When you have enemies you are a part of the very things you accuse them of. An enemy opposes your interests or position. An enemy is hostile, unkind or unfriendly. And what are you doing while all of this is going on? If you consider them your enemy how can they approach you to get things clear? You are in the middle of what stands between you and your enemy. It is not what they have done or said, can do or might do. It is YOU. It is your thoughts, your judgments, your fear, your condemnation, and if you did not feel guilty you could not attack those you call your enemy. You believe the enemy is wrong, not to be trusted, unworthy of love; you prepare yourself for the defense, projecting onto the enemy the very things you do yourself. When you have an enemy, look at your own hatred, understanding how the hostility disturbs you and ask yourself: Do I really want to attack the very thing I fear?
In the book of New Testament, book of Mark, Jesus was talking to the disciples when John said to him: "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us."
But Jesus said, "Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name and be able to soon afterward speak evil of me."
For he who is not against us is for us.
I pray today that as we deliberate we remember we are not against one another, that we all love California and truly want to see it prosper. There are no enemies here, only servants trying to serve.
May this be God`s will.-AMEN.