TACKLING THE BUGBEAR

If we have been consistent in applying spiritual principles, should we work harder, redouble our spiritual efforts when faced with a serious problem or difficulty? Isn’t that usually one of the first thoughts to cross our mind in those times? That we will need to work hard on this, that it is going to require extra time, spiritual toil to get to the other side? Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. Trouble does not come with a spiritual difficulty scale. A parking ticket a 2, cancer a 9. A child late for dinner because they did not want to stop playing a 1, a crack pipe found under their socks a 7. What was your first thought in reading “my” scale? Was it not that the scale was wrong? Perhaps cancer a 10, crack pipe a 9 or some such? When applying spiritual principles there is no scale. Man’s solutions and remedies however always fall on a sliding scale, of necessity. You do not treat a broken arm with the same immediacy of action as a heart attack or a child neglecting studies for athletics versus one using drugs. A murder demands immediate attention and resources while the shoplifter can wait. As the Bible suggests, give onto Caesar what is Caesar’s.

Living on the new basis, the basis of trusting and relying on God, we do not ignore the world’s secular answers or remedies, but we do immediately employ spiritual principles as soon as we become aware of the situation. As the old commercial intoned, “We answer to a higher authority” (everyone does actually, some just don‘t realize it, yet). Remembering change is the natural course in all its aspects, quietly and resolutely when faced with trouble we turn to God, just as we have been doing all along, and place the trouble in His hands. Having taken all the action the world requires, having prayed and meditated in due course, we stop. Instead of talking about the trouble with anyone who will listen, second-guessing everyone, including ourselves, we become quiet. The footwork is done, the results left to God. When we feel the urge to “do something” begin to creep back into our consciousness we turn to God in prayer and ask that if there is anything further that needs to be done, that He would have us do, for we are willing.

Living on the Spiritual Basis, we trust infinite Creation, instead of our finite self. Remembering always that “God can and will solve this problem.” There are no small problems or difficulties spiritually, size is non-existent. If it is causing us pain, God is always the answer, not spiritual hard work. Save the hard work for the garden.