Be at peace with yourself and fulfill your mission, knowing that your stay here is temporary, and that you are doing something here to fulfill your spiritual purpose.”

George Anderson

We each have a reason and purpose to be here on this earth. Have you discovered your purpose/mission in life? What do we stand for? I believe we are each on a spiritual path, discovering and opening up to the Divine within.

Let me tell you about a friend of mine who continually opened and developed her spirituality. Her name is Diane Michele. I met Diane many years ago and we found that we thought about life and spiritually in the same way. Diane has been an awesome writer/columnist for phenomeNEWS for over four years. I recall when Diane first began to write. She called me to say she liked the article I’d written in the current issue of phenomeNEWS. I commented to her that she could write too. She replied, “No, I can’t, I can speak, teach classes and do lectures but I don’t think I can write.” Our conversation went on for quite awhile and I continued to encourage her about writing. She and I were talking about all kinds of spiritual things and were both high on life. Our enthusiasm bounced off of each other. You could say we were on a spiritual high. Before we hung up she asked if she could email me something if she decided to write. “Of course,” I said. The next day Diane called me and she was so excited. She told me that I had inspired her to write and that she was up until after midnight on her computer and that she had emailed something to me. So I went to the computer and read what she had written. It was incredible. It was titled “Forgiveness – A Tool For Healing.” I was so excited and happy for Diane. She squealed with delight at the accomplishment of this, her first article. It was really good, so personal and informative. I’d like to share a part of it... “So often in my prayers and meditation, I would ask my higher power to explain someone’s reactions so I could understand them, me (us) better. I can’t tell you how many times I would utter in despair or disgust, I don’t get it, I just don’t get it, how can they behave this way? Don’t they know the hurt they are causing? I can’t believe it. I have asked for years to understand this better and slowly, over time and a commitment to heal my inner wounds, I have come to walk the path of forgiveness.” This ended up as Diane’s first article in phenomeNEWS in October 2000. She has been writing ever since. Diane and I have frequently stayed connected thru phone and email. Once we talked about our pets. I told her about my little lovebird, Ralph. I told her how handsome he is with his peach-colored face, and his blue, turquoise and green feathers. She told me about her macaw, Yoda. She often called him Big Bird. She told me about his beautiful blue, yellow, turquoise and black feathers. She sent me a couple of his feathers. She was so excited to share part of Yoda with me. I’ve placed them on my sacred altar. This reminds me of Diane’s loving, caring ways.

Just over a year ago my younger sister Dannie died tragically. Diane was so comforting to me. She told me that she would keep me in her heart and I would be in her prayers. Then she said she would continually have her arms around me and surround me with her love and comfort. Those of you who know Diane know her to be very real and sincere. I felt the presence of her arms, like angel wings, enfolding and comforting me at a time when I was so fragile.

Diane’s mail and email stood out. She loved bright, happy colors and would use colorful stickers, glitter, flowers, balloons, stars and moons as a way of expressing her love into everything she touched. She was so bubbly and happy and had a positive outlook in life. Diane always dressed flamboyantly and wore happy, colorful, flowing clothes. Her favorite color was purple. Life was always a celebration for Diane.

Diane would proclaim that each one of us was “a magnificent child of the Universe.” She asked the readers of the column to write that phrase down, place it everywhere and say it everyday. She stated that we were created by complete love and that is what we are – complete, whole, healthy, abundant and magnificent. Diane always exuded joyful love. We talked many times about death and dying. She believed that my sister Dannie’s spirit was around me as I would tell her about my dreams. She believed the spirit comes back to comfort and reassure those who are on earth. When we talked on the phone or computer she would address me as “Goddess Shanti” (shanti means divine peace) and I would address her as Goddess Diane. The term Goddess seemed to make me feel like we were both Goddesses.

Diane once said, “I sincerely believe we don’t die one minute before we are supposed to and don’t stay one second after we are supposed to go.” She believed that the love and the spirit live on eternally.

Diane died tragically on April 24, 2005.

One week before Diane left this earth, she told me of the wonderful time she had on a recent cruise with her 15-year-old son Christopher. She adored him and wanted to make sure the two of them had quality time together. Diane also told me that she wanted to compile all of her articles from phenomeNEWS into a book. She said that some of her friends have been asking her to do it. Before we hung up, Diane said, “We’ll have to do lunch again.”

Diane lived her life with a purpose and shared what and who she was with others. It’s easy to see why she was loved by everyone she encountered, in person or through her articles.

I had asked for Divine Guidance from God, to be shown a “sign” as I was preparing to write this article. I let that thought go and knew that when the timing was right, my sign would appear. Sunday afternoon I decided to go to the drugstore near my house. Upon approaching the end of my street, I noticed a huge bouquet of balloons in a multitude of colors, tied with long ribbons streaming down. They floated slowly across the sky, almost like they were beckoning me to notice them. As I turned the corner, I slowed down to observe them and be in the moment. Had I left any sooner or later I would have missed them. When I returned back home I was putting the key in my door and the thought popped in my head that this was a sign from Diane, those colorful balloons showing up in the sky to convey the message to me to celebrate life.

Diane may be gone but the beauty of who she was and what she believed in will outlast her earthly presence.

She truly is an angel of light...

Namasté.

Gerri Magee is director of advertising and public relations and assistant to the editor of phenomeNEWS. She continues to share her thoughts “On The Path” in this column. You can write her at gerri@phenomenews.com.