Today, January 20, 2009 is the one year anniversary of our dear friend Jim Sorenson’s passing. Jim was a dear friend to so many of us that participated in the Center for Awakening meditations, kirtans, channeling, retreats and spiritual ceremonies and events.

Jim was also the greatest financial supporter for the Center for Awakening events and charitable projects since 2000. As a board member for the Center for Awakening for five years, Jim inspired and supported charitable projects such as Project Peace in Paradise in Costa Rica, Teeming with Teen Moms Project, Helping the Homeless Project, The Kanosh Indian Project, bringing clothing to the homeless, supporting homeless shelters during the holidays, medical assistance programs for the elderly, and many more.

With Jim’s generosity and inspiration the Center for Awakening was able to support many other non profits such as Project Perfect World, YWCA, Adopt a Native American Elders Program, ACCION, and so many others.

Jim inspired spiritual retreats, ceremonies and celebrations for Center for Awakening for many years.  He wrote and provided books for our organization, he wrote and recorded music for our meditations, he purchased drums for our drum circles, a harmonium for our kirtans, a stereo for our celebrations, and provided a space in his home for our events, ceremonies and services for five years and too many more things to mention here.

Jim gave his love and compassion generously and unconditionally to not only myself but to all those who attended Center for Awakening spiritual events. Jim was constant in his support of the Center for Awakening and our oneness vision. Jim helped create to the Center for Awakening’s mission statement below in 2001.

Center for Awakening Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Center for Awakening that all beings awaken to their Divine Self and recognize the Divine nature within all beings.  That our lives become an expression of the Divine Love and Light that is our true nature and that we walk the earth in a state of Divine love, grace and oneness with all life, deeply present to our Divine nature and fulfilling our highest spiritual path and purpose. We recognize that all beings are equal creations of Divine spiritual essence and the kingdom of heaven and our Home with God is within the sacred silent center of our Divine Self and is always present and available unconditionally to all beings in every present moment. There is nothing outside ourselves that is required for us to be Home with God now or ever. We are One, We are One with God, We are Love, only Love Exists.

Of all the generosity, contribution and support that Jim provided the Center for Awakening over the years, his greatest contribution was the inspiration of his life. Jim showed us all what it is to be an extraordinary human being living an extraordinary life. He showed us that a single human being in one lifetime can transform the world in powerful and positive ways. Jim taught us that our lives do matter and that we too can make a positive and powerful difference and a powerful impact in the world. Jim’s life not only transformed our organization, he transformed thousands of organizations and millions of peoples lives.

If you ever have the thought that your life can’t make a difference, that you are not important, or that your life doesn’t matter, or that you are not capable of transforming the world then THINK OF JIM!

Jim stepped into his life as a young man with little financial means the condition dyslexia and little education, however he had a wealth of spiritual gifts.  Jim had a heart of gold, a deep compassion for people, a positive attitude, strong faith in God, a tenacious personality, and a smile that lit up the heavens. Along with these great character traits, he had three driving forces in his life, three mottos he lived by.

“Making a Difference”

“Finding a Better Way”

“The Best is Yet to Come”

So if you ever doubt that you can make a difference ask yourself these questions. If a poor boy who grew up in a humble shack, who often went to bed hungry and was told he was retarded can grow up to revolutionize the medical industry saving and transforming millions of lives with his medical inventions can’t I too make a difference? If this young boy of humble beginnings can grow up to bring thousands of families and many cultures together with his genealogy project and his desire for world peace and one planetary family can’t I too make a difference? If this boy who started with no money end up providing jobs and opportunities for thousands of individuals and families over his lifetime, can’t I too make a difference? If this boy who grew up poorer than any one of us could become one of the greatest most generous, wealthiest philanthropists in the world, can’t I too make a difference?

The powerful and positive impact that Jim’s life has made in each of our individual lives, the Center for Awakening and the entire planet will reverberate throughout the world for centuries to come. That is what one man, one life can create. Jim’s message to you today is that YOU TOO can equally transform and impact the world for good with your unique and special gifts in a unique and special way that ONLY YOU can do. That is how important you are and your life is to the world. YOU TOO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

I am sure all of your lives have been touched and transformed by Jim’s life either directly or indirectly. Maybe through the many Center for Awakening spiritual events and charitable projects that Jim promoted and supported. Maybe through his genealogy project, real estate projects or his medical inventions; have you had your heart monitored, used a collapsible IV bag, had blood drawn, used a disposable face mask etc.?   If you have been touched by the life of Jim Sorenson then on this anniversary of his passing the only thing that Jim would ask as a token of your gratitude and to honor his memory would be to make your life make a difference, find the better way and know in your heart that the “Best is Yet to Come”.

In deepest gratitude and love to a man and a life that will never be forgotten, Bonnie and the entire Center for Awakening organization, We love you Jim!