Deadly Comparisons

Many modern offices are comprised of large rooms divided into cubicles employing partition walls. Typically these walls of partition are head high and unlike permanent walls are easily moved. When we are frightened and feeling lost it is if a wall of impenetrable stone has risen between us and God. In truth the “wall” is nothing more than the flimsiest of partitions constructed of fear and false belief. It appears solid and robust at first blush, but just as the partition walls found in an office, with the right tools and a little effort is easily removed. The tools: Prayer and meditation. The effort: Being of service to others.

Prayer is pretty straight forward; meditation however seems shrouded in mystery and skewed expectation. If you aren’t meditating regularly, start. Keep it simple, begin by finding someplace where you can be undisturbed for fifteen minutes, if your living situation makes this difficult, take a walk. Yes, you can meditate while walking. Whether sitting (no need to fold yourself into a pretzel unless your into that sort of thing) or walking, be comfortable. Sit in a comfortable position or walk at a pace that does not affect your breathing. Now, think about nothing but spiritual principles and truth, as you understand them at this point in your development, or if you prefer read a paragraph or two from a spiritual book or teaching and then contemplate on it. When your mind wanders, and it will, gently bring it back to the task at hand. Do not under any pretext speak to yourself negatively or condescendingly. Meditate daily, No excuses. If you are persistent, soon meditation will become such an integral part of living that when you find yourself caught in a situation where meditation is not practical (happens occasionally) you will miss it. Congratulations, you are now officially a meditator and yes, it really is that simple. There are many forms and styles of meditation, do not at this point go out and buy books on meditation or search the internet. Keep it simple, when it is time to investigate other forms, you will know. Most importantly do not concern yourself with becoming “better” at meditation, just do it.

Service work can take any number of forms. It can be as simple as dropping a coin in the random parking meter about to expire (I know, in some places this is illegal but a little civil disobedience is good for the soul) or even just picking up a piece of trash off the street or sidewalk and disposing of it, to volunteering time and resources. The key here is just as with meditation is consistency. A kindly act once in awhile won’t fit the bill.

You may have sensed a theme here. To remove the illusionary partition wall that fear and false belief raises between us and serenity, we stop thinking about the trouble and think about God and spirituality instead, backing it up with unselfish, constructive action. Do not allow yourself to fall into the trap of thinking you need to do any of this perfectly or that anyone does, the deadly trap of comparing our insides to others outsides. 

 

AA, ACIM, Alanon, Bible, Einstein, NOTW, Power of Intention, Zen,  

I Don't Know

We have all had “miracles” happen in our lives. That time we needed money and the phone rang or a letter arrived and source was provided. We were thinking about someone and again the phone rang and it was either them or someone who knew of them, bringing unprompted news or we turned a corner and there they were. We find ourselves facing a difficulty and it either fades away or turns into something positive.

Are these occurrences “an answer to a prayer” or simply “coincidence?” It matters little, for Coincidence is just God working anonymously. Perhaps the most difficult part of this is why sometimes it happens and other times not. Those times when the person remained an enigma or that which we deemed needed did not appear, a prayer seemingly unheard or worse ignored. In looking back on my life, inventorying the past with raised consciousness, many of the things I thought I needed in the moment turned out to be the last thing I needed, had I received them, my spiritual development would have been delayed or even derailed. As our consciousness rises, our spiritual vision corrects and clears. However even with corrected vision, some questions are beyond our limited sight, remaining unfathomable, at this time. Why does one child miraculously recover from a serious illness and another succumb? Or someone who worked hard all their lives, played by all of society’s rules only to find all they worked for gone through no fault of their own. I don’t know. Perhaps when this flesh fails and we are launched into eternity the answers will become known.

In Faith and Truth, God only brings good, He does not, cannot bring suffering or strife for God and Good are synonymous. Today my spiritual vision is longer and clearer than yesterday, if you prayed and meditated today so is yours. We see the world through a new pair of glasses, our understanding broadened, our empathy revealed, the path illuminated a little more. Even so, I still have no good answers in the moment for those experiencing seemingly inexplicable calamity, only a shoulder, a quiet ear and a silent prayer. Since flesh is ephemeral, perhaps that is the answer after all.


 ACIM, Zen, Wayne Dyer, The Secret, Road Less Traveled, a new pair of glasses,

Gremlins

We all know someone, might even be someone we see in the mirror daily, who has a shelf full of self help/spiritual books. Now, they probably have all been read, once, after which they took their place of pride in the collection. Being a spiritual guru, enlightened being, Zen master, world class pistol shot and just a peach of a guy, I will now impart to you one of the great grand secrets of the universe. Gremlins. Pick up any one of the books that touched you in the past, open it at random and start reading. Read a page or two. Go ahead, I’ll wait………………Pretty amazing huh. How could you have missed that the first time? Yup, gremlins. When we are not looking they move the words around to reflect our ever increasing level of spiritual understanding. The lesson is simple, stop looking for answers, you already have them. Study what you already know, what has touched you for it touched you for a reason. Study that which has sung to you in the past and you will be amazed that no matter how many times you have read it, those darn gremlins have got in there and with your expanded insight deeper meaning has surfaced. This isn’t to say that nothing new can come along, but first we set our foundation deep by focusing on basic truths, revisiting the roots of our belief regularly, observing how the gremlins have brought new luster to that which we thought we knew and understood. Aren’t secrets cool. Gremlins, who knew?

The Sky Is Falling, The Sky Is Falling (again)!

         We are constantly bombarded with messages of doom and gloom. Right now a program is running on at least one if not multiple cable channels dealing with the demise of mankind at the hands of: super volcanoes, global warming, nuclear winter, asteroid or comet strikes, EMP blasts, any of a variety of pathogens from plague to flu (naturally occurring or man-made), the Earth’s magnetic field flipping, galactic alignment, etc and of course the Mack daddy of all doom and gloomers: Nostradamus.

       If you knew for certain that any of these calamities were about to happen, would it fundamentally change your way of living? If we answer yes, then we have missed the point of Living on the Spiritual Basis. To be clear: of course jobs and other secular pursuits would fall to irrelevance and our focus would naturally turn to the people and things that truly matter if the end of days were nigh, but what of our behavior, the way we live? Years ago a clean and sober friend commented in the most casual of ways that if something like this happened they would get a hold of the best booze and drugs they could lay their hands on and party like it was the end of the world, since it was. This attitude misses one of the central points of spiritual living, that everyone has an expiration date, one day we will all transcend this flesh and somersault into eternity, the only difference here knowing the time, nothing else fundamentally changed.

     So the question then is: do we walk the way we talk? If we would cast aside the path we are on if circumstances changed, then we are not truly Living on the Spiritual Basis. In fact living by secular thinking while paying lip service to spiritual based living. So the good news is that if we would change our behavior if we knew our expiration date, we now know there is work to do, so we get down to causes and conditions, with God’s help, and embrace Living on the Spiritual Basis in truth, stepping on to the road of happy destiny, leaving all other paths behind. Oh, and remember 12/21/2012 when the Mayans supposedly predicted the end of the world or the catastrophe foretold for midnight 12/31/1999? Y2K? So, the next time one of those "SKY IS FALLING" programs airs, turn the channel.

OH CHRIST!

Christ. Other than God, is there any word that evokes more passion in believers and non-believers alike? The spiritual concept of “Seeing the Christ in others” has nothing to do with religion, and everything to do with our divine connection one to another. It is the practical application of Living on the Spiritual Basis, meaning that with raised consciousness we now recognize the spark of the divine in all, regardless of their demonstrations or lack of understanding of spiritual truth. By seeing all in truth; spiritual entities experiencing the human condition-not human beings in search of the divine, we salute them in silent prayer and contemplation, standing ready to be of assistance, if asked. But we never answer the unasked question for true growth must begin within the questioner, but when/if asked, we never shrink at our responsibility for in this way we not only see the Christ in others but demonstrate the Christ within, the true path out of all difficulty, the road of happy destiny.

Wings Of Destiny

         “The truth will set you free.”  Ever watch a bird floating on a current of air or with practiced grace winging its way with no regard to speed limits, stop lights or any other man-made impediment to travel, and thought how wonderful it would be to fly. How much more interesting the world becomes when we achieve a little height in our point of view, all the ground level restrictions gone, what was out of sight comes into view as we soar above it. We soar spiritually when we embrace the Great Reality, that we are the children of God, in fact and deed, limited only by fear. To soar we seek God first, saluting the divine in all our brothers and sisters, seeking to express our innate divinity, quietly, in all our affairs. As we Live on the Spiritual Basis day by day, our point of view changes, what was once hidden comes into view, becoming more distinct as our vision sharpens, though we are soaring ever higher. So we place our trust in God, claim our wings and soar the heights of happy destiny.

Borrowed God

As a younger man I wore the coat of the agnostic. Having heard so many say that God was love but if you broke a certain rule you would suffer for all eternity, that the Devil battles with God and actually wins from time to time, never made any sense to me. I had always believed that there was “something”, some power or intelligence, but the idea of a punishing, score keeping, testing God that could lose battles just did not pass muster. As life progressed, the one thing I did right was keep an open mind, continuing to seek and learn. I studied and investigated everything from Catholicism to Islam, Dianetics to the Rosicrucian’s, learning much but never convinced. Finally I found myself in a position where I had to face the proposition of God not from some intellectual hilltop but from the depths of depression and pain. Nothing sharpens the mind, cutting away the superfluous like pain, for in the dark night of the soul esoteric knowledge and philosophical debating points lose all significance. Lost in pain and doubt I reached out and my plea was answered, lacking all ambiguity and I was convinced.

Though we are all connected in Spirit, each of us walks our own path, daily choosing pain or peace. Our path of awakening following the decisions and choices each make, for pain is the only instrument sharp enough to cut away the excess of self.  Today I know in my heart of hearts that God desires all His children to be happy, joyous and free and that He will guide us through the process of enlightenment, as long as we remain open minded and willing. Forgiveness in Spirit our birth right.

If you are struggling with the concept of a punishing score keeping God, please borrow mine. When I make a mistake, a daily occurrence, He directs me and shows me the correct action to take if I but ask. The price:  pray regularly, meditate daily and treat all in the manner you wish to be treated in. Please no pushing; there is plenty of Him to go around.

Max Planck and a Hundred Forms Of Fear

Everything is connected. The belief that a problem or difficulty exists in one place and must be brought to God’s attention is false. God is either everything or else He is nothing. Nothing exists in the physical world or our consciousness that God is not aware of, for He exists everywhere, in everything at all times. 

Consider: Nobel Prize winner Max Planck in a 1944 speech on the nature of matter stated in part, “All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force which brings the particle of an atom to vibration and holds this most minute solar system of the atom together. We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. This mind is the matrix of all matter.” By the turn of this century quantum physics had verified that which Max Plank could only postulate. Since this is the bedrock of all creation, is this “matrix of all matter” the mind of God since it comprises everything we see, touch and feel? Beats me but it does make for a wonderful meditation. What I do know though, through practical application, is once we employ the presence of Divine healing where our difficulties truly lie (our consciousness); improvement follows. God was never absent or unaware; our perception was skewed by fear. In truth we do not/cannot seek a Power Greater Than Ourselves without; we must seek within, for it has always been there, veiled by a hundred forms of fear.

I Have A Right To Be Angry!

Justified anger and righteous indignation. When angry, outraged, indignant, upset or offended, who pays the price? We do. Sure, we may vent at the source of our displeasure, but our face becomes red, our heart beats faster, our blood pressure rises, our serenity is lost, our peace of mind replaced with turmoil. Even if we get the chance to give them “a piece of our mind” what was actually accomplished? Then there are those occasions when the object of our ire is beyond our reach, speeding away down the road, on the other side of the TV screen or radio speaker or try as we might we just cannot get through the maze of voice mailboxes to get to a real person and ranting e-mails are wholly unsatisfying. There are few laws that are truly immutable, here is one: we reap as we sow.

Immutable: adj

Unchanging or unchangeable: not changing or not able to be changed (Encarta)

We cannot get angry enough to instill peace, in ourselves or anyone else. No one has ever been moved for long in a positive way when anger is the sole motivation. No world leader has ever changed their mind because we yelled at the TV.

Does this mean we should go through life with a Mona Lisa smile cemented on our face, never taking a stand or pointing out mistakes, having no opinion on anything, floating along on some form of spiritual (or actual) Valium? Of course not, Living on the Spiritual Basis is not about disconnecting from life, floating above it all, but connecting in new and profound ways, for we are living on a new basis, the basis of trusting and relying on God.

Avoid the distraction of being offended. There is always something to be upset or offended by, from the inconsiderate driver/cell phone user to world leaders acting badly, but our peace, serenity, must never be the victim. When we allow the world to get the better of us, we suffer the pain we try to inflict on others. We drink the poison of resentment and discontent, we become upset and irritable, we close ourselves off from the sunlight of the spirit and not only do we suffer, but those closest to us do as well. The next time the thought “I have a right to be angry” crosses your mind ask yourself: Who gave you this right? Bottoms up.

Does God Ever Say No?

When we first experience the gifts from Living on the Spiritual Basis, it is natural to want more. In short order we begin to reach beyond our understanding, seeking in prayer to accomplish things that are contrary to the path. Naturally, the answer to these requests is silence. God never says no, for no does not exist in the vocabulary of the Divine. Many confuse God’s inaction with his passing judgment in the negative, which is not possible. To be clear: the Universe will not grant a request that is not wholly positive to all concerned. The real trouble begins when we, in our limited vision and understanding, try to read the tealeaves, to understand the infinite with our finite vision. The questions that naturally abound here are legion. How could a “loving” God allow: suffering innocents, financial troubles, debilitating illness, and on and on. In the midst of pain and/or loss it is difficult to keep hold of true perspective: that we are in fact eternal beings, this flesh a mere conveyance of our consciousness, that we have always existed and always will, this day a single day in eternity, Our Father, Divine Mind, not limited in vision and understanding as we are.

On a personal note: I am as limited as you, my vision restricted by this flesh like yours. A sick, suffering child or loved one, pain and grief rained down on innocents often seemingly for no reason, leaves me as heart sick as you. But we cannot get sad enough to help the suffering. We cannot get sick enough to help the dying. We cannot get poor enough to help those who lack. We cannot meet hate with hate and hope for peace. What we can, and must do is pray to the best of our current ability and understanding and trust (demonstrated faith) that on the day of our translation from this flesh all mysteries will be revealed.

The path is simple, but not easy. Each day Practice the Presence of God in all your affairs. Pray to be shown the way of patience, tolerance, kindness and love, daily. Pray as well for those suffering, asking in meditation what you can do each day to be of service to and for them, leaving the ultimate outcome to God. In this simple way the universe responds, God’s will realized, true healing manifest. If we can do this, even while trembling, keep an even mind though the Adversary fear claws at us, we touch the heart of faith, walk in grace and are renewed.

Set Aside or Lay Aside Prayer

Consider the passage from the Sermon on the Mount “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). We all have known or know those who are “poor spirited” and blessed usually isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, when really considering this passage for the first time it is difficult not to think of those times when we have felt poor spirited; somewhat perplexing to the notion that if this is “blessed”, is it such a good thing? The “poor in spirit” The Carpenter refers too has nothing to do with being poor spirited. Being poor in spirit means we have let go of our preconceptions and self will. There is a prayer known as the set-aside or lay-aside prayer that speaks to this state of consciousness. There are a number of variations, this is one of the simplest forms: Dear God, please help me to set aside everything I think I know about you and this world, so I may have an open mind and a new experience. Please help me to see your Truth, Amen. Surrendering to win, setting aside our preconceived ideas and sacred cows. If we can achieve this raised state of consciousness,  remaining open minded and willing to learn, to change and honestly address our defects as well as our assets of character in their proper light, we would truly be “poor in spirit” and the kingdom of heaven ours.

Surrendering To Win

Generals draw up battle plans, their theory on how a battle should be fought and won. Politicians have theories on everything, usually with little or no actual experience to balance their opinion. Economists are quick to theorize, usually poorly. Meteorologists and climatologists put forth theories daily, calling them forecasts, and we have all experienced their accuracy. Although we don’t usually think of it in this way, we all have theories about all sorts of things. When we chat about the reasons why something happened, or didn’t, what we think is going to happen or some action to take, we are floating theories. Theories based on experience typically have value, while theories based on no more than wishful thinking are hot air until implemented, the consequences realized, truth demonstrated. Truth is never subjective and often stark in its reality. If the local weather prognosticators get it wrong, the truth is typically no more painful than a ruined picnic or packing an umbrella on a sunny day. Battle plans which go badly can result not only in death but in unintended reshaping of borders. Economists theories should be placed in the newspaper next to horoscopes, unfortunately decisions affecting everyone are based on their theories, were if a horoscope is wrong it won’t possibly put thousands of people out of work or suggest raising taxes. Politicians and the price of demonstration for their theories? Examples can be found daily on the front page of any paper or leading the nightly news.

In truth, the world will take care of it’s self, it always has. Man has been trying to bend it to his will forever with little success. So to be free we focus on the only thing that can truly change the world for the better, our spiritual life, our connection to the miraculous.We accomplish this through regular prayer and meditation, we don’t struggle, we pray "with a feather" and approach meditation with joy and excitement. If we find this a problem, we pray on it! A good beginning meditation is contemplating patience, tolerance, kindliness and love in our life and towards the whole planet. If we are concerned about praying in the right way we ask to be shown, in prayer, how to pray correctly, we Keep It Simple. We read every day for a few minutes any book that raises our consciousness and we stop theorizing about truth and practice it, remembering to be as gentle with ourselves as we are with a newborn, surrendering those battle plans, for we have ceased fighting everyone and everything, we have to.

IN BUT NOT OF

            Reborn is the only term that accurately states the truth of Living on the Spiritual Basis. Day by day, step by step as we develop spiritually the old “man” dies and the new emerges. As with all births there is pain and discomfort along the way, quickly forgotten as the fresh new face emerges into the light of our consciousness. For those blessed with children there is probably no more peaceful or powerful moment in our lives than when we first held our newborn child. This same peace is visited upon us as our awareness and conscious contact with Source builds and grows, as we move from being in the world to being of the world, moving from the finite to the infinite, becoming a light of awareness and serenity, a beacon of hope. Is there any greater miracle?

Our Perfection Realized

        Ever bowl a perfect game? Pitch a perfect game? Have 13 tricks no trump in Bridge? How about 21 in blackjack? A spade Royal Flush? When we start cataloging “perfection” it is a pretty short list all things considered, but what of spiritual perfection? Many religions hang their collective spiritual hats on an imperfect dogma of perfection; that we are imperfect at birth and though we should strive for perfection we will always fall short, requiring leadership and earthly direction from others for our ultimate salvation. To be clear: Religion and religious teaching and guidance have been indispensable in mankind’s climb up the ladder of Spiritual consciousness, but just as the student who must eventually graduate and take their place in the world, building on what they have learned by turning knowledge into demonstration, so must each of us in our relationship with Our Father.

      Just as families have difficulties from time to time, usually rooted in misunderstanding, intercession of a professional can be helpful to work through an issue, to provide fresh perspective. In the final analysis however the real work takes place between the family members, the professional merely an aid. Just as in the secular, spiritually we make use of what religion and spiritual teachers provide and are quick to see where they are right, but we must never lose sight of the true nature of our relationship with the Divine and the ultimate responsibility in raising our consciousness lies with each of us.

      By a wholehearted reliance on A Power Greater Than Ourselves, though none of us will ever be perfect in faith for fear is a powerful foe and the true adversary, perfection comes into view. As our awareness grows, coupled with demonstration, our willingness to pray demonstrates the perfection in seeking, so by consistently relying on the infinite rather than the finite through prayer, our individual consciousness rises, as does all of mankind’s, for everything and everyone are connected in Spirit.  So once again, in ultimate truth, Let there be peace and let it begin with me.

Spiritual Lip Service

       What do you believe? We believe in all sorts of things. Conspiracy theories of all kinds abound, aliens in the White House, Elvis sightings, remember, though no one admits to reading them, tabloids sell millions of copies every week. The more curious beliefs aside, many worship at the alter of sports teams, politicians/political causes or even the environment, their ardor equal too and often exceeding that of the most devout church goers. I wish to make no value judgment on anyone’s secular beliefs, only that we have a capacity for passionate belief and commitment to an unlimited number of things. The question then is a matter of priority. I always find it curious when approached by a new student to metaphysics whom has spent untold hours in discussion/debate on a sport or team, politics or some cause but has had only a passing interest in the state of their soul or spiritual matters in general.

     When the time comes, and it comes for all since our time in this flesh is finite, where will we stand? Will a life dedicated to secular pursuits and interests be of much assistance when faced with the ultimate and eternal? Is there really anything more important than our connection with God, Our Father or defining the spiritual parameters by which we live?

     Please, do not misunderstand; be passionate, root for your team, campaign for your beliefs and stand for the issues that move you, but we must not neglect taking stock, an honest inventory of our life to ascertain where we really stand spiritually.

     For those who belong to an organized Religion, our inventory is just as significant. Do we really believe what is being taught or are we paying it lip service with little passion, attending out of rote rather than deeply held conviction? How involved are we, for we reap as we sow. Are we committed to the beliefs our church espouses, the religion we choose, since we always demonstrate belief and commitment by our actions.

    No one can take stock for us, so begin today to honestly inventory your beliefs, for spiritual honesty is a requisite if we are to find our true voice and place, to know peace and to comprehend serenity. What could possibly be of greater importance?

Blessed

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (Matthew 5:1-12 KJV)

Blessed. All are equal in God’s eyes, what determines our demonstration is practicing the within, without. To believe in the word but fail to live by the word leads to suffering. When I fail to stand for what’s in my heart, the truth as I understand it, I am always reminded later by spiritual discomfort. It typically happens when I am afraid I am going to offend someone or I don’t want to come across as some kind of “Holy Roller.” This discomfort is always self inflicted, God doesn’t do it. So, just for today, by His love and guidance, I will stand for the truth. And those times when I have feet of clay, His love, guidance and unconditional forgiveness will set my feet back on the path, removing my pain, for we are all truly blessed.

Given, Freely

One of the ways we demonstrate our spiritual fitness is by how much we give, freely, not only in riches but most importantly of ourselves. Consider for a moment the disheveled fellow with the cardboard sign seeking money for “food.” True, he may in fact not use the money for food as we would define it, but does that mean his need is any less real? A dollar, wrapped in silent prayer, saluting the Divine within, provides more relief, opens more pathways of heart, than can be experienced with human eyes.

All reap as they sow; by giving with joy, never out of grudging obligation or with strings attached for that defeats divine purpose; serenity and peace with intention are the harvest. In hard economic times perhaps monetary tithing is not possible, but everyone has something to give. If you have little money, ask in prayer to be shown how to best be of service, tithing the gift of your time and/or expertise to those who need your gift. We are greater and more valuable than our fear driven carnal mind often allows or accepts, remember, you are a child of the Divine, directly connected in truth to Our Father.

So whether our pocket book is thin or not, a genuine smile accompanied by eye contact and a kind word to those suffering, acknowledging them, is a tithe that multiplies itself in ever widening circles, helping to release them, and ourselves, from the bondage of self, a simple confirmation of our relationship with the Miraculous.

Imperfect Speech

Often we fail to measure the words we use or consider their ultimate impact. You have probably experienced the sick feeling when words have slipped past your lips that you would give anything to have back; unfortunately we cannot un-ring a bell. Conversely there are the times when we have failed to speak up and then rehearse when alone what should have been said, extending the discomfort of our inaction.

Words carry impact, reverberating with life far beyond the moment of their utterance. Resents have been born, birthed with no ill intent, from seemingly casual remarks. Fortunately the converse is true as well, our words spreading out to provide hope and solace far beyond our limited understanding.

Having chosen to live on a new basis, the Spiritual Basis, we speak from the heart, delivering the truth to the best of our current understanding, with the lightness of a feather. Our goal to always be of service, to stand for truth, to help and never harm, realizing we all fall far short of perfection is speech.

NO MIDDLE GROUND

God is not just truthful or brings truth but is Absolute Truth itself. Once we begin living on the Spiritual Basis, God translates from the relative to the Absolute, He is either everything or else He is nothing, there remains no middle ground. The coffee shop chats and debates engaged in before opening our heart to Him lose all significance for now we know, we are either all in or all out. Having made the decision to turn our will and lives over to the care and direction of God, fear is supplanted by trust and faith. In the light of Absolute Truth we pause when doubtful “…and ask for the right thought or action. We constantly remind ourselves we are no longer running the show, humbly saying to ourselves many times each day Thy will be done.” To know the truth about any condition heals it, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32).