Falling Upward

The fear of falling is an inborn fear most everyone experiences. There is also another kind of "fear of falling" that does not involve risk for the body; it is the fear of falling into uncertainty. We cling to the known, believing it to be our “safe haven,” avoiding the ledge at the chasm of the unknown. In its most demanding manifestation, this fear can keep us in unpleasant and sometimes downright awful circumstances. Fears eclipse rationality and can become a prison with invisible bars that hold us back from the life that is waiting beyond the edge of certainty.

As we begin to realize that our next growth step lies beyond the land of certainty, a certain resolve, a deeper vein of courage surfaces to help us navigate our way to the edge. So equipped, we summon the mettle to take the risk that we might fall upward – which is to be the hero in our own life journey, who, by risking the end of a known reality, realizes the unbounded life that holds both peril and promise. Clearly, the great compensation when we lose a familiar identity is that it drives us deeper to where we can discover the true self beneath the roles and labels that masquerade as us. This is spiritual gold, the boon of letting go of who we thought we were to find the true essence of our Being in God.

Rev. Larry is an ordained Unity minister, blog writer, and spiritual coach, who has served as senior minister at four Unity communities in California. He currently serves as the Minister of Record at Unity in the Olympics in Port Angeles, WA.  Inspired by life lessons and timeless wisdom, Larry shares messages rooted in universal truths; blending compassion, honesty, and humor in which others can hear their own heart’s song.  He is committed to a path of authentic growth and to creating environments where people can heal and grow, as well as find joy and meaning. As a spiritual director and author, he teaches, learns, and shares with passion and clarity using timeless truth principles as expressed and revealed from the crucible of his own life experiences.  Larry currently resides in Poulsbo where he and his life partner, Denese, recently moved to be close to family, most particularly grandchildren. 

Bonnie and Dennis have been making music together for the last 30+ years. Dennis is a professional musician who has traveled all across the United States and parts of Asia performing with nationally known children’s artists. He’s been in numerous bands playing all kinds of music from Bluegrass to Classic Rock and beyond. Bonnie has sung with many of those same bands, church choirs, and a trio of female vocalists back in California. Her trio, Girls Night Out, specializes in three-part harmonies and performs both originals and covers. The O’Hanlons make their home in Gig Harbor and perform regularly for festivals, church services, and home concerts.