Inner Safari Center
... here to be Truly helpful
Articles
A Tree of Life There has always been a majestic avocado tree standing next to my parents' house, bearing the most flavorful fruit. On a recent visit, as I admired its presence, I saw it as more than just a tree—it was a symbol of life itself. It gives abundantly, offering its fruit, shade, and beauty without discrimination or expectation of gratitude. It stands in quiet generosity, judging no one. This tree also took me back to my childhood. Our home is situated near a small road, and I vividly remember village women, my neighbors, walking to the nearby Catholic church on Sundays. They would sing joyfully in unison, their voices carrying a song in our mother tongue, which, when translated, meant: "Like a tree planted by the riverside, I cannot be moved." Their laughter would ring out spontaneously, filling the air with life, undeterred by the fact that many of them walked barefoot. Reflecting on this, I asked myself: Am I as grounded and unwavering as that tree next to our house? Am I like the tree planted by the river, steadfast even in the face of life's minor irritations—an unkind word, a frustrating encounter, or an insane act like the one Nairobians witnessed when the city council dumped garbage outside KPLC offices ? I had been working on maintaining my inner peace, believing that I had grown beyond being easily unsettled. But then, life tested me. + One early morning, my phone rang persistently, waking me from my sleep. Annoyed, I hesitated before answering. The voice on the other end was a relative—my uncle Tim—calling to inform me about the declining health of Uncle Cyrus. He explained that, as the eldest daughter in the family living in Nairobi, it was my responsibility to take action. Frustration surged within me. Uncle Cyrus had always been a complex figure—a familiar face in city center, yet someone who had in his later years distanced himself from village life.The last time he went to his village was in the late nineties during the burial of my maternal grandmother , his step mother , whom he dearly loved. Several years ago, when some concerned acquaintance of mine urged us to help him return to the village, he adamantly refused, choosing instead to remain in the city. Now, as his health deteriorated, I questioned why I should step in. Why wasn’t his immediate family handling this? Why not sell some of his assets to provide for his care? The questions weighed on me, filling my mind with resentment—much like the dumped garbage in Nairobi, left to pile up due to unresolved disputes. For two days, I carried this burden, my thoughts clouded with judgment. But then, on the third day, a cousin called with unexpected news. A group of friends—people who had quietly been looking after Uncle Cyrus for years—had already arranged for his care. They would cover all his expenses, but they sought our approval to move him to a hospital near his birthplace, where family could visit more easily. That was all they needed from us. Hearing this, I was humbled. In an instant, I recognized how my mind had been trapped in unnecessary resistance. Instead of embracing peace and compassion, I had allowed myself to be consumed by unloving thoughts of judgements.. I had forgotten what I claimed to practice: the pursuit of inner peace above all else. This experience left me reflecting deeply—why do we resist doing what we know will bring us peace? What does the Prince of Peace teach in A Course in Miracles? Perhaps, like the tree that gives unconditionally, the path to true peace lies in letting go of judgment and simply choosing to give.. Let us Choose peace as our goal and let us remember always that God goes with us wherever we go and during the moments when we feel we have failed , let us be gentle to ourselves as well. Our elder Brother , Jesus , is holding out his hand to each and every one of us who has CHOSEN the way of peace and joy . The Holy Spirit takes you gently by the hand and retraces with you your mad journey outside yourself, leading you back gently to the truth and safety within." (T-18.I.8:3) Love you , Lydiah.
Navigating Life's Challenges Through a Spiritual Lens For many Kenyans, January is often seen as a challenging month. Following the festive December holiday season, it is marked by significant financial obligations, including hefty school fees and the ongoing responsibilities tied to the ever-increasing cost of living. We continue to face this trend in 2025, and in addition, Kenya’s healthcare system—despite efforts to improve it—still leaves much to be desired. Citizens grapple with inadequate services and frustration over the government’s inability to fully meet the people's needs. These are undeniably difficult realities. Many Kenyans feel we are not headed in the right direction, given the recent events in the country—such as Gen Z demonstrations, abductions, killings, impeachments, and other perceived societal ills. At Inner Safari Center, we acknowledge these struggles. And yet, we believe that within every challenge lies an opportunity for spiritual growth and transformation. Many spiritual paths and teachings explore the idea that the world we perceive is a projection of our thoughts, beliefs, and actions. Advaita Vedanta, a branch of Hindu philosophy, teaches that our perception of the world is shaped by ignorance, and that liberation comes through self-realization. In Buddhism, the mind plays a central role in shaping reality. While Christianity—and many of us Kenyans are Christians—doesn't explicitly describe the world we see as a 'projection,' Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." This emphasizes that our thoughts and beliefs shape how we perceive and interact with the world. In Luke 17:21, we read that the Kingdom of God is within us. This statement suggests that divine truth and reality originate from within. Recognizing the Kingdom requires looking inward, not just observing outward appearances. This isn't about denying the reality of what's happening in the physical world, but rather understanding that our inner spiritual state influences how the world is experienced. At Inner Safari, we believe that every individual, wherever they are, has a role to play in the grand design of all things. Whatever we feel inspired to do is our right to pursue. However, it's important to check within first and confirm the state of being from which we are acting. Are we coming from fear, greed, unworthiness, love, compassion, or empathy? These motivations, even when our actions seem 'good,' are critical to examine. Only you can truly know. Martin Luther King Jr. put it succinctly: "We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that, we will be able to make this old world a new world. We will be able to make men better. Love is the only way." As Gandhi famously said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Let us remember that we are always perceiving what our minds are creating. We must pause before we cast judgment on our leaders, politicians, perceived enemies, or anyone else. Let us check within ourselves to ensure that we are coming from a place of honesty and love, rather than projecting our worries, fears, traumas, and corrupt thoughts onto the world around us. We can choose to blame, complain, and even harm others because we want things to go our way, but this will not bring the peace, contentment, or happiness we seek. It is time to reset our internal compass from a new perspective—one rooted in right-mindedness and trust that, when we act in alignment with our internal guide, peace and happiness will follow in the long run. At all times, let us remember that we are here to be truly helpful and to share with all of our brothers and sisters across the world our divine oneness and humanity. "I am here only to be truly helpful. I am here to represent Him Who sent me. I do not have to worry about what to say or what to do, because He Who sent me will direct me. I am content to be wherever He wishes, knowing He goes there with me. I will be healed as I let Him teach me to heal." (ACIM T-4.XI.8:2-6) At Inner Safari, we join others around the world who have heard the call to unite in oneness for the healing of our nations and the world. God bless Kenya. God bless Africa. God bless our world. Lydiah
Happy New Year, 2025! Last year was a great year for me. Yes, it was. I am very grateful. I know some of you reading this post may initially think, "Oh, she made a lot of money, her business thrived while most businesses in Kenya struggled amid the high cost of living. After all, she's a student of A Course in Miracles, so it must be the big miracle. She's lucky, unlike many others grappling with the harsh economic reality in the country." How I wish that were the case, worldly speaking. (Lol) But love makes no comparisons. "Gratitude is a lesson hard to learn for those who look upon the world amiss. The most that they can do is see themselves as better off than others. And they try to be content because another seems to suffer more than they." (ACIM, W-195.1:1-3) You do not offer God your gratitude because your brother is more of a slave than you, nor could you sanely be enraged if he seems freer. Love makes no comparisons. (ACIM, W-195.4:1-2) 2024 was a good year for me because, in my 20+ years of studying the Course, it was the first time I was able to study the daily lessons every day and practice with a team of committed students of ACIM. This is not to say that I followed the workbook lessons perfectly. "The Holy Spirit will be glad to take five minutes of each hour from your hands and carry them around this aching world where pain and misery appear to rule." (ACIM, W-97) The above lesson, and many others, suggest hourly practice. Sure enough, I did miss many hourly practices. At first, I was disappointed with myself, justifying why I hadn't been able to "move mountains" and why I was still "not walking on water" after decades of studying miracles. I am grateful that I had, in abundance, the little willingness to continue with the workbook lessons and to join with my new-found miracle friends. Our healing team structure really helped me disrupt my wandering mind. I became more attentive to what was going on within my mind—the continuous flow of thoughts—and I was intentional about choosing from my right mind. I humbly recognized that, in any situation, especially upsetting ones, I did not know what was truly in my best interest. In this world, we are always trying to avoid pain in all its many forms. We do this from a certain state of mind—one of fear and its attributes: envy, jealousy, lack, comparisons, etc.—forgetting that every time we decide from this state of mind, the outcomes will not bring us the sustainable joy we seek throughout our lives. Unfortunately, we keep doing it over and over. Someone once called this insanity: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” We've been conditioned to evaluate the situations we find ourselves in and to judge the outcomes accordingly. I am very grateful because my Creator, the Infinite, Our Father who art in Heaven, Divine Love—in His infinite wisdom—has made it clear to me that His help goes with me wherever I go. I am never alone, and in every situation, all I need to do is ask for His ever-present help before making a decision. This puts Him in charge. "Put yourself not in charge of this, for you cannot distinguish between advance and retreat. Some of your greatest advances you have judged as failures, and some of your deepest retreats you have evaluated as success." (ACIM, T-18.V.1;5-6) This year, I encourage all of us to walk in gratitude. Let us be grateful for everything. Let us be grateful for the laughter in our families and all the ongoing "family drama festivals" that never seem to end. Let us be grateful for our colleagues, friends, enemies, politicians, and everyone else who expertly pushes our buttons. They are all showing us sides of ourselves we are not willing to look at, but these aspects are blocking the extension of love from us. Love is the way we walk in gratitude—without exceptions. Let us be grateful because, in truth, we are separate from no one. We are one with everyone and at one with our Creator. In gratitude, Lydia