The Fires of Southern California

Update: October 23, 2007, 5:04 PM The evacuation order has been cleared for all of Carlsbad. The office will re-open tomorrow at 8:00 AM Pacific pending there are no further order changes. I'm grateful that my team and myself are all safe, and we're keeping those still under evacuation in our thoughts and prayers. Update: October 23, 2007, 10:05 AM For those of you in the areas affected by the fire, here are the best resources we've found for staying up-to-date without all the hype: KPBS Evacuation and Burn Area Map KPBS Real-Time Updates October 22, 2007 4:45 PM Friends, At the time of writing, my home and office have been evacuated due to the fires raging in the San Diego area, and the James Ray International office will be closed until it's deemed safe to return by the authorities. The website will continue operate, and I'll post updates there as they are needed. These are the worst fires in California history, and San Diego County's been declared in a state of emergency. Regardless of where you reside right now, I encourage you to take heart and realize that pain is a signal to grow instead of suffer. Yes, difficulties will come in life... And don't get me wrong, the thought of boxing up a few valuables from my home is as unattractive to me as it is to anyone. Regardless, it's in the times of apparent challenge that we test who we really are. The Law of Attraction, which is so popular right now, states that you'll attract who and what you are into your life. This doesn't mean that we should blame ourselves for the fires raging like so many in the media have misinterpreted. Rather everything is your responsibility and nothing is your fault. Please read that again. If you dissect the word (response-ability), you find it really means "the ability to respond." How we choose our responses is what we'll continue to attract, create and become. To think that your life will be challenge free is illusion. Challenges are the way we test how much we have or have not developed our ability to respond. I encourage you to take heart. Realize that in every challenge there is a gift. That's why in the esoteric traditions the Philosopher's Stone (another term for enlightenment) is always found in a pile of dung. Likewise, in Buddhism the thousand-petal lotus of enlightenment always grows from the muck and mire. Is there a metaphor here? Yes, there obviously is. The Christian prophet stated to, "Judge not by appearances." I encourage you in all situations in life to not to see them as a blessing or a curse. Rather, see them as an opportunity to test your level of ability to respond. To go "three for three." Think, feel and act in accordance with what you choose versus appearances. Ask the questions: "What does this teach me about me? What can I learn about me and the world from this situation? How can I use this situation to grow and become more?" Maybe it causes you to take and inventory of what's truly important in your life... Maybe it connects you more deeply with your family... It could cause you to open your heart and realize the power of helping your neighbor... Or maybe it allows you to notice how your response is more empowered than in past situations... When you find the goodness and gifts in all life's situations, even the most difficult, the universe guarantees more goodness and gifts. In the meantime, in case you're wondering, we're all in good hands and spirits here at James Ray International and we're available for service in our community. For more information on how you can help those affected by the fires, please visit the San Diego Red Cross website. To your continued harmony and fulfillment, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International