God’s Dictionary: Belonging

By on March 4, 2009 in Peace, Relationships, Spirituality

Belonging

be- = be    +      langian = along with  

          Belonging is one half of the quintessential human dilemma. The other half is individuation. Much of our lives, we swing back and forth between these two extremes of survival needs. Interestingly, the roots of the word along tell us something about belonging. They mean both from and against. We want it, and are conflicted about it at the same time. Sound familiar? I played it out in high school classically. I wanted to act, and in the first show of our season, I was cast in a great role. There was no part for me in the second show of the semester so they asked me to do costumes. I did them, but with little grace. The pendulum of wanting to belong had swung the other way. I wanted instead to individuate and be a star again. 

          The Anglo-Saxon roots imply an appropriate relationship to belonging.  They mean to be along with, not to belong to. Here is how we belong. First, we belong with God, then we belong with ourselves, then we belong with others.  When belonging comes with to, it borders on possession, and thereby annihilation.  When we belong with, we are whole unto ourselves and we offer that wholeness for the good of all. Ask:  How can I belong with others today?

Infinition:

          I no longer belong to anyone or anything. Instead, I belong with the family of God here on earth. We are all individuals, whole and complete in ourselves, and we bless each other with our wholeness.

 

reprinted from God’s Dictionary (Tarcher/Putnam 2002)

Visit Dr. Susan Corso’s blog God’s Dictionary, inspired by the book

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Dr. Susan Corso is a spiritual author, speaker, and counselor. An omnifaith minister and the author of God’s Dictionary (Tarcher/Putnam 2002) and The Peace Diet, she has had a spiritual counseling practice for more than 25 years. She has been an intuitive since childhood. 
 
Susan’s blogosphere writing may be found at Seeds for Sanctuary, Ode Magazine and The Huffington Post, and Beliefnet. Her website is SusanCorso.com 
 
One of her favorite occupations is writing spiritual fiction. She is the author of The Healing Mysteries of Mex Stone under the pseudonym Shulamith Burton. The audiobook of the first in the series, Oklahoma! Hex, came out in September 2008.
 
Susan is the founder of Sanctuary and ten-year author/publisher of a free e-newsletter, Seeds. As a professor at the accredited College of Divine Metaphysics, she teaches and ordains ministers.
 
Susan has been published in magazines, online magazines and newsletters including Business Ethics, Beliefnet.com, Ode Magazine, Science of Mind, Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, New York House, Q-Spirit, Self, and Winning Ways. She is the author of several tape series. Susan also writes for the theatre: The God Show, I Would Never, Fight or Flight, and PeaceWomen. 
 
For many years, Susan was an organizational consultant and motivational speaker guiding nuclear scientists as well as entrepreneurs into their life purposes. Some of her former clients include Westinghouse Hanford Company, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Gila River Casinos, and the American Nuclear Society, among many others.

Today she functions as Chief Spiritual Officer for corporations. She lives in one-sixth of a Victorian house outside of Boston, with her beloved spouse, director/actress/teacher Sheriden Thomas, and the spirit of her familiar cat, Charles of the Ritz. 
 
Her mission in life is peace. 

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3 Responses to God’s Dictionary: Belonging

  1. Mary Lynn March 4, 2009 at 3:34 pm #

    Blessings Dr. Susan Corso! This is very thought provoking. I never thought of the words in that sense, and it truly answered a question that was not sitting easily on my heart. Thank you!

    Marylynn

  2. peacecorso March 5, 2009 at 1:46 pm #

    Marylynn,

    Thank you for receiving and thank you for growing! I am so grateful that I was able to help guide you towards your "ah-ha!" Blessed be to you! You can find more divine definitions at my God's Dictionary blog :) http://godsdictionary.susancorso.com/

    Dr. Susan Corso
    http://www.susancorso.com http://www.susancorso.com/seedsforsanctuary

    "You must do the things you think you cannot do."

    -Eleanor Roosevelt

  3. Mary Lynn March 5, 2009 at 1:51 pm #

    Blessings to you Dr.Susan Corso!

    This came at a time I was reevaluating my family ties,, and you have helped me tremendously! Blessings to the wonder of your spirit and the sharing you give us from your heart.. I am truly blessed..

    Marylynn