One Of The Keys To The Kingdom

The true key to freedom is forgiveness. The reason for this is simple: “You do this, not for the other person’s sake, but for your own sake.” Can you think of a single spiritual teacher that has not made this point? Without forgiveness no real spiritual progress can ever be made. When we fail to embrace forgiveness we lock ourselves into a circular route that inevitably leads back to the same difficulties clothed in different garb, again and again. Applying the same solutions, we reap the same results,  Living on the Spiritual Basis requires forgiving not only in word and in our actions, but in our heart, breaking the cycle, but how?

When we hold onto an old hurt, justifying the feeling for any reason, we chose to stand outside the sunlight of the Spirit, placing ourselves in the shadow of resentment and fear. By embracing justified anger our thinking becomes stale, stagnant and unhealthy, by throwing open our heart to forgiveness we are rejuvenated. The course here is clear; when these negative thoughts appear in our consciousness we immediately treat them with a prayer asking to be shown if there is anything we can do to be of service to the person we are seeking to forgive. By becoming willing to be of service to those who offended sets us free. To be very clear, God will never place us in a position to be harmed if we are about His business, so forgive free of  the fear of being harmed further. By taking the contrary action to what the World and our carnal mind would have us do, we raise our consciousness and stand in the sunlight of the Spirit, clean, rejuvenated and free, the Law of Forgiveness fulfilled.

Seven Year Olds and Serenity

“Life is like playing a violin concerto naked, and learning to play as you go along.” Some time ago I attended a “concert” by second graders, fully clothed. They were less than perfect in their performance but performed exactly as second graders should. Had they been High School students their instructor’s competence would need to be questioned and rightfully so. We would never expect a group of seven year olds to perform at the level of students more than twice their age. The point being we always demonstrate where we are. Spiritually where are you? What principles do you practice, since whether you are aware of them or not, we all practice principles.

Having placed our feet on the path, choosing to Live on the Spiritual Basis, we embarked on the examined life. Our actions demonstrating who we really are, what we really believe. Do we practice the principles of turning to God in all things or revel in morbid reflection and negativity when fear based thoughts float up into our consciousness? For even if new to the path, our schooling, the notes from our violin can be sweet, clothed in serenity when we Practice the Presence of God, rejecting the negative and embracing our all knowing, all loving Father.

Law of Subconscious Activity

Though many remain in denial of this truth, there are rules, or laws if you prefer, that govern our thinking, applying equally to everyone at all times. They are impersonal, always in force and cannot be appealed. Being impersonal “This law is true for both good and bad ideas. This law, when used negatively, brings sickness, trouble, and failure; and when used positively, brings healing, freedom, and success. We give the orders-the subconscious does the work.”
We cannot, do not control the thoughts that enter our consciousness. We do control what path to follow when we become aware of a thought. When a negative or fearful thought floats up from our subconscious how we respond to it determines our future. We must train ourselves when confronted with these discordant thoughts to turn immediately to thoughts of God; His Love, His Power and His Guidance. In so doing the Law of Subconscious Activity works for us, not against.

Practical demonstrations always carry more weight than mere words. Begin by observing the faces of the people in your life. What do you see in the countenance of those who engage in gossip, hurtful or negative words and action? Compare them with those who are consistently kind, supportive and positive. The truth of this lesson will be as plain as the look on your face.

Mental Muscle

“We have ceased fighting everything and everyone, we have to” unlike physical exercise, where working harder typically produces greater results, the converse is true mentally. The reason for this is that God does the work, not our mental “muscle.” No amount of will power has ever added a single ounce of lasting spiritual weight to anyone. We don’t “work” on our problems or difficulties for we have turned our will and our lives completely over to the care of God. Having chosen to live on the Spiritual Basis we know today that God is the doer. Not us. So we pray when prayer is indicated, meditate regularly and serve where and when possible. We turn to Him who has all knowledge and power when filled with fear and doubt and demonstrate in faith, we relax for “all mental working should be relaxed, gentle, and unhurried for effort defeats itself.”

Outlining

Difficult problems (fear) seem to have a life of their own. Hard as we try, we work through them but the next thing we know they are back in the forefront of our consciousness, dominating our thoughts. One of the most insidious ways this happens is through outlining. The world teaches that we should think things through, weigh pros and cons, talk it out, but just as “the grouch and the brainstorm are the dubious luxury of normal men” so is outlining. It starts out innocently enough but in short order we begin outlining how a situation or trouble should work out, in essence telling the universe how to solve our problems, assuage our fears, on our terms of course. It doesn’t work, does it. It only succeeds in building up expectations and as a wise man said “the level of our serenity is directly proportional to our expectations of others.”

Living on the Spiritual Basis our expectations are placed in God’s hands, the burden on His shoulders, so when you find yourself outlining, stop as soon as you become aware and thank God for knowing Him better. Quiet the mind by repeating some simple set prayers: “Be still and know that I am God”, “There is no power greater than God” or simply “God is with me.”

When I ran the world I outlined constantly, for it needed my help. Living on the new basis, I leave the running of the world, and my life, in God’s hands for He does a much better job of it than I ever did, for today I know in my heart of hearts that “God is with me.”

Watched Pots, Oranges and Bike Riding

Has someone said to you or have you ever said “don’t think like that?” Not possible is it. It is one of those silly things we say to one another without having thought it through. Like “a watched pot never boils”, yes it does, every single time, eventually, and without the origin understood for context it is just nonsense. As soon as we are told not to think about something the first thing we do is think about it. No? OK, don’t think about oranges.... How did you do? We are powerless over the thoughts that float through our minds eye; however we choose the action upon becoming aware of these thoughts. Oranges are not much of a problem, but there exists in all of us a voice of discord and negativity embedded in the subconscious that is constantly looking for a reason to be upset or outraged. The origin of the voice is secondary, the action we choose to take paramount. Having embarked on Living on the Spiritual Basis the action is to turn from the lower to the higher by way of prayer and meditation.

If a negative thought is persistent engage in some distracting activity such as a phone call to a friend inquiring about them (do not speak of the negative thought), an engrossing book, exercise, meeting with like minded people over coffee, etc. If possible find a way to be of service. Nothing relieves us of the bondage of self, and all negative thinking binds us in self, as intensive work with others. The key is to substitute positive thinking and action for the negative thoughts. Simple but not easy, when we begin this way of living it will feel clunky and somewhat uncomfortable, but just like learning to ride a bike, as long as we are diligent and consistent, in time it will become second nature.

Live And Let Live

A centipede was quite happy,
Until a frog in fun
Said, “Pray, which leg comes after which?”
This raised her mind to such a pitch,
She lay distracted in the ditch,
Considering how to run.

    Never argue with anyone about God. Speak quietly about your belief and let it go. No one is ever moved far spiritually by words alone. We convince others when we walk the way we talk and let our actions speak in a way words never can. “There is a place for analysis, but it is apt to be quite fatal in prayer and meditation. Do not dissect the love of God, but feel it. Do not dissect divine intelligence, but realize it. Do not wonder how God can possibly solve this problem, but just watch Him do it in His own way-and He will if you give Him a chance." Emmet Fox. The principle of attraction not promotion is one that we must live by once we have begun to live on the new basis, the Spiritual Basis.

Ladders, Leaping and Camels

“There is only one way to make spiritual progress…prayer” Fox. So the question is not what to do but how to do it. “If your intuitive nature is well developed, you will seldom need to use formal statements at all. This is excellent-for who will trouble to climb a ladder when he is strong enough to leap over the wall?” Fox. Living on the Spiritual Basis a constant conscious contact with God is the goal. However, few of us always feel the connection. Remember the camel's nose? Our connection typically dims when we fail to see the camel’s nose (fear) slip under the tent flap (our consciousness) until it is too late. Since a camel has no reverse, once its head is in, it is coming in all the way.

So if you find yourself staring a camel in the eye, dragging out the ladder and relying on well used structured prayers are a life saver. The Lord’s Prayer, the powerful “Be still and know that I am God”, the Serenity prayer quickly come to mind. The one thing I would suggest, that always works, is keep it simple. God already knows what is in our heart and exactly what we need before we need it, so simple heart filled prayers have great power. “He constantly uses the old affirmations (prayers), but he stuffs them with fresh feeling every time.” Remember, God is always present for it is His nature. When we lose sight of Him it is because we closed our eyes, prayer restores our sight and soon we are leaping again.

Working Out

The start of every year brings an influx of people to gyms and health clubs. Having resolved to lose weight and get into shape, some for the first time; many repeat offenders, their desire is genuine, but what usually happens? After a few weeks (sometimes a very few) “stuff” begins to interfere. Work ramps up. The kids start or resume an extra curricular activity that involves travel time and scheduling. The spouse who was supportive in the beginning becomes less so, especially if there are any hints dropped about it becoming a family affair. I’m sure you can add to the list. So with no real thought we give ourselves license to miss a session or two. The idea of everyone else eating pizza while we try to choke down one more Lean Cuisine becomes intolerable. Remember when you said, out loud, they tasted good? Soon the only remnants of the gym are the clothes in the back of the closet and that automatic deduction from the checking account every month.

Because modes of thinking are contagious we allow the same things to happen in our spiritual life. We read a book or hear a speaker which energizes us and we vow to follow a new path. What happens? Gym Think. After a time the old manner and habits of living reassert themselves and we drift back into old familiar ways of thinking. Then a new book or teacher catches our attention and the cycle begins again.

There is a fundamental difference however between physical and spiritual exercise. The day will come for all, when this physical shell will fail, regardless of how many hours we spend working out and/or eating right. Remember Jim Fixx? But our essential nature, call it soul, cosmic conscious, feldercarb or whatever term appeals to you, is eternal. So decide today to place your feet on the path and let no future vicissitude shake your resolve and when Gym Think creeps in, and it happens to everyone, reject it by turning to God for strength and guidance. Just for today demonstrate prayer and meditation in your life, as if your life depended on it, for in truth it does. A twenty minute walk and a good multivitamin is OK to.

The Nature Of God

The Lord’s Prayer establishes the essential nature of God, that He is in truth our Father in the deepest, most profound respect. One of the promises realized by Living on the Spiritual Basis is “We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace.” True peace of soul brings healing, true place and opens us to understanding and learning utterly beyond what would normally be possible. Even if we are weak, fearful, depressed, or believe these tidings could never come true for us, God will do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Though trembling, our job is to stay in the action of prayer and meditation and to seek the face of our Father, relying on Him who has all knowledge and power. Simple, but not easy. To know that we are safe and protected, possibly as the very foundation of our world is shaking, is a tall order and is only possible with other worldly help and direction, for in truth, Living on the Spiritual Basis we are no longer of this world, we are in it, to grow and serve our Father and our fellows, one day at a time.

Concerning Fear, a Suggestion

The term “reborn” has been employed poorly if not down right incorrectly so often that its true spiritual meaning has become obscured. Living on the Spiritual Basis we now see that all external happenings are but passing shadows of no permanent importance. We have come to hold in our heart of hearts that to dwell in the Presence of Divine light and knowledge as the only true escape from our “enemies” (negative thinking/morbid reflection) and “foes” (fear and doubt of every stripe). When our consciousness rises to this level, we carry the message of His love and guidance into all our affairs, responding to all seeming trouble with “my heart shall not fear, thy will be done” and we are free, We are reborn in Spirit. With this spiritual key in hand, understanding who our true foes and enemies are, now would be an appropriate time to visit the 27th Psalm, just a suggestion.

The Truth About Fear

 “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” When FDR said this in his first inaugural address America was in the grip of the great depression and great clouds of dust howled over the central plains displacing millions. What FDR knew is that fear is paralyzing. Whether you agree with the political course FDR set this country on is immaterial, the critical point is that as a leader he understood the power of fear. Living on the Spiritual Basis we confront fear where it lives, in our consciousness. Fear brings darkness to our thoughts, an actual feeling of constriction in the chest, as if life is being squeezed from us, the sense of impending doom attempting to overpower. Fear is a liar. To be crystal clear: everyone dies of something; the flesh we inhabit will one day fail. Money comes and money goes. Jobs end and begin. We may fall out of love or someone we love may fall out of love with us. Accidents happen. The choice is ours as to how we handle the inevitable lows in life. Do we cower in fear, paralyzed in inaction or step out in faith, demonstrating reliance on a power greater than ourselves?

Freedom comes when we turn in all things to Him who has all knowledge and power, who brings the light banishing the darkness of fear, providing the keys to the kingdom, replacing the dread surrounding our heart with the surety of salvation, enabling us to meet perceived calamity with poise and serenity, putting the truth to fears lie. How is this accomplished? By choosing consistent prayer, meditation and service work in the face of the stultifying fear. Our greatest gift is free will; out of free will we choose to create. Whether it is a new recipe, scientific theorem, musical composition, play or novel, we make the choice to create, each day we choosing which path we walk, darkness or light, bondage in self or salvation. The choice is always ours.

Tithe With Joy

Looked at a dollar bill lately? Go get one, I’ll wait…now, look on the reverse, it states: “In God We Trust.” The question is, do we? When we tithe out of fear or from a grudging sense of obligation, we miss the point of the tithe. We are better off building on our understanding of Spiritual Truth than to give in this way. The core lesson of tithing is to affirm through demonstration that we not only intellectually grasp the concept of true source, but also hold it in our heart. When tithing thank God for knowing Him better, certain in the knowledge that we are all connected in Spirit, always reaping as we sow, so plant with joy.

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.

We Must Judge

Judging is a concept greatly misunderstood. We not only should judge the behavior of others but Living on the Spiritual Basis makes it a requirement. The difficulty arises when we confuse righteous judgment with condemnation. We condemn the act, not the actor.

When we condemn an individual it places us in a position to be harmed, for we have assumed a morally elevated position, better than, which of course is false. No one is above or below any other in the sight of God. Though our paths may be very different, our challenges and lessons in life diverse, no one is beyond grace or forgiveness in Spirit if they truly mean business and desire change. This does not mean crimes and transgressions are forgotten or ignored, for a price must be paid, we must be willing to pay any price for salvation, for freedom from the bondage of self.

Righteous judgment requires seeing the individual and their actions in the light of the Spiritual Awakening we have experienced, realizing for them, through prayer and meditation, the Presence of Divine Knowledge and Guidance in their lives. To be crystal clear: Righteous judgment comes from the heart and is always given with the hope and desire the transgressor will embrace the path of enlightenment but does not mean they are excused from or immune to the consequences of their actions. We all reap as we sow and unfortunately some will never seek enlightenment, choosing fear over freedom. However we are mistaken if we condemn them or wish (or worse desire) harm to anyone. Hate does not cease with hate. Anger is never assuaged with more anger. Condemnation never builds character or leads to freedom.

Judge righteously and the whole world improves, condemn and we all suffer for we are connected in Spirit, all children of the Divine Presence.

 

Its Natural

As we progress on the path of awakening, Living on the Spiritual Basis, we become more sensitive to the world and our fellows and as such, the adversary fear and his children depression and morbid reflection, seemingly grow stronger, more insistent. This is natural for many things which escaped our notice before we begin to see since we are now operating at increased levels of awareness. Nothing has really changed however for fear, negative thinking and reflection can only gain purchase if we fail to affirm God’s love and guidance in our life by means of consistent prayer, meditation and service, the very activities that raised our consciousness in the first place! So take heart, though the world and its mostly self-inflicted suffering touches us deeply and profoundly, the surety of our role as instruments of His will is evident, our awakening manifest.

So we stay the course, asking God what we can do each day for the man or woman who still suffers, remembering always that we are the instrument of His will and like any musical instrument nothing happens until the master begins to play. Strive to be the best instrument possible, though we may be terribly flawed, perhaps wracked with guilt and fear, when we allow ourselves to be placed in His hands the notes are miraculous, moving Heaven itself and we are free.

Fool's Gold and 6 Pack Abs

Rarely does a week pass without some new self help book/seminar that will solve all our problems, the diet to end all diets, miracle food/supplement, piece of revolutionary exercise equipment that will provide the perfect body IN ONLY 20 MINUTES 3 TIMES A WEEK! appears. Admit it; just like me, you have been tempted. But will drinking some berry juice really change my life or a three-day seminar addressing all of life’s questions the answer and who wouldn’t want a flat sexy tummy or buns of steel, IN ONLY 20 MINUTES! Like a wise man once said: if it sounds too good to be true, it is.

Salesmen and marketing executives peddle fool’s gold to separate us from our money, that's their job but unlike banking on that unrealistic shortcut to six-pack abs, Living on the Spiritual Basis provides a pearl beyond price for it is the shortest road to the peace and sense of true freedom each of us crave deep down. “Simple but not easy, a price has to be paid.” That price is the surrender of self and our focus on selfish things. When we shift our focus to the sense of the Presence of God within, where true gold is found, we begin to experience the Truth of Being, finding our true place in the fabric of the miraculous. Perhaps I am too cynical and ultimate awakening or abs of steel are just a credit card and a phone call away, operators are standing by, but as the old prospector remarked to the greenhorn about fool’s gold: “When you think you have found gold you probably have not; but when you do find it, you will know it for certain.”

Leading From The Front

Walking the way we talk. “I would love to listen to your words but your actions speak so loudly I cannot hear you.” The concept of a track record is lost on many folks. The people around us judge us by our actions; our intentions, though perhaps noble, are meaningless if not followed up by the indicated action. How many times did it take for your child to tell you they would clean their room or some other chore beneath their status, which they then immediately blew off, before you wised up to their true intention? Not many I would guess. Often I have had someone come to me for advice, agree that it was the correct action to take and then proceed to launch in exactly the wrong direction. I often wonder why they bother, but hold to the fact that asking means they wish to follow a different path, even though in their heart they have already decided on what they are going to do, the consequences denied or ignored. When my son was a child I asked him why he agreed to clean up his room, then blow it off, knowing full well that a reckoning would come when he didn’t. The response was “I planned on doing it.” When asked when that was exactly a blank look was followed with “I don’t know.” A parents joy comes in knowing that one day our child will be on the other side of that exchange. It cannot be said enough; if you wish to be respected, be respectful, if you desire love in your life, be loving, honesty comes from being honest and so on. The aspects of living we desire in our lives will only materialize once we begin treating those about us in the manner we wish to be treated in, we teach by example and true leaders lead from the front.

Poking Tigers in the Eye

In the second act of my life I made my living swinging a hammer. The man who sponsored me to become a contractor taught “When the workday is over stop working.” Seemed pretty simple if not downright painfully obvious then. Kinda like never poke a tiger in the eye with your finger. In time, however, I began to understand what he was really talking about. Working in construction there is always some little task that needs doing. I learned, through painful experience, that once I stopped working for the day, having removed my tool belt and bags, not to put them back on. On more than one occasion, unfortunately, I spied a crooked nail, loose board or some other small task that could have easily waited until the next day, choosing to address it before going home. Right after the hammer slipped and smacked me on the shin or I hit the nail and heard the unmistakable sound of water rushing from a pierced pipe or missed the nail on the wall but hit the one on my thumb instead, I would then remember, belatedly, what he had said. But most importantly I became aware that most days long after I had physically left the job site I was still there in my mind, needlessly rehashing the days events or worrying about things that where God’s business, not mine. Emmet Fox refers to this as “taking the train” mentally. Living on the Spiritual Basis leads to effective mental activity and relaxation. As Dr Fox teaches, “don’t take the train mentally-let the engine (God) take it.” So “when the workday is over stop working” oh, and never poke a tiger in the eye with your finger.

A Spiritual Facelift

What we concentrate on manifests in our lives. When we concentrate on fear, loss, anger, resentment, worry, envy or any of the whole host of negative thinking that morbid reflection engenders, our physical appearance alters. Worry lines on the face, bags under the eyes from lack of or restless sleep, twisted visage from a sour stomach, tight jaw from focusing in our minds eye on the seeming unfairness of the world, well you get the picture. When you look in the mirror what do you see? Anything less than the radiance that emanates from a soul at peace demonstrates that we have strayed from the Spiritual Basis. Take heart, the good news is when we see it in our face or feel it in our heart we have a clear set of directions on what to do next. We gently turn to God in prayer and thank Him for knowing Him better, asking to be shown the way of patience, tolerance, kindliness and love in all areas of life but particularly in the area that is causing us concern. Ask to be shown what action (patience probably the hardest) should be taken and finish with a statement of willingness to be of service in any capacity that He would have you be. Close with “Thy will be done”, this is only a suggestion, change or alter the prayer as it best fits you. The key is in the recognition and speed in which we turn to God and choose to trust in infinite wisdom and love instead of our finite selves. As we embrace this way of living, we become more aware of the pain in the faces of those around us. When we see others in pain, we quietly pray for them as we would for ourselves for in so doing not only do they receive a spiritual face-lift; the whole world is uplifted as well. All humankind will be raised to the Heavens if each of us adds our inch.

Stinking Thinking and Camels

If a camel sticks its nose under your tent flap you must strike its nose immediately since a camel has no reverse. If it gets its head in, it is coming in all the way and quite frankly, camels stink. Such is also the case with our consciousness as negative thinking and morbid reflection (stinking thinking if you will) try to wheedle their way in. Though Living on the Spiritual Basis raises our consciousness, we must stay vigilant for those metaphorical camel noses, but no one catches every one. They will sneak in from time to time disguised as something else since morbid reflection and negative thinking wear a variety of masks. What truly matters is what we do when they reveal themselves. So when you discover a camel in your tent consider the following: “When trouble comes, cheerfully capitalize it as an opportunity to demonstrate God’s omnipotence.” We do this by directed prayer and meditation, bathing the trouble in Divine Light and Presence, turning the camel out quickly and peacefully.

Shhhh…Just between you, me and the fence post I still don’t have the cheerfully part down pat yet, but by Living on the Spiritual Basis we do become well practiced in camel eviction procedures.

Speeding and the Law Of Limitation

Most understand secular law, break one and get caught; there is a price to pay. Whether it is traffic, criminal, business, tax etc a secular price will be exacted if we transgress and get “caught.” There is a higher set of laws however were a price is always exacted, they are Cosmic Laws. And unlike man’s laws they are enforced impersonally, rich or poor, personal beliefs, status or skin color of no regard. Additionally unlike secular law they cannot be appealed to or superseded by judicial fiat. Think Law of Gravity. No one in his or her right mind would step off a ledge and expect to float to the ground. Yet many do exactly that with the Law of Limitation! And unlike gravity we place it on ourselves! Every time we think “I’m too old/young to…” “I’ll never be any good or successful at…” “I love doing ____ but I could never make a living at it” “What would my friends/spouse/children/family think if I…” “I know God loves me and wants me to prosper, but…” we invoke the Law of Limitation.

The good news is unlike gravity, since we invoke the law ourselves; we can repeal it as well. How? By stepping out in faith. Our heart is constantly speaking to us, that still quiet voice the voice of God Himself. Divine Life wants each and every one of us to be Happy, Joyous and Free, so when we resist giving in to self-centered fear by trusting the Miraculous, demonstrating faith, we avoid invoking the Law of Limitation.

God and Felix The Cat

Living in California one of the joys of life is driving down Pacific Coast Highway watching pelicans dive for dinner and dolphins surf for enjoyment. Often when I look out over the Pacific I am struck by its abundance and diversity, its scale and depth beyond my limited comprehension.

Yet Divine abundance dwarfs all oceans combined in size and scope. The only limits to our inheritance, God’s abundance, are the arbitrary limits we impose out of false belief and fear. We set the limit of our capacity to receive. We choose the size of vessel that holds His abundance in our lives, be it a thimble or Felix The Cat's bottomless bag. When we embrace the Spiritual Basis of Living our capacity increases in direct proportion to the trust and reliance we place in God and reject the false belief (fear) the secular world imposes that we live in a finite world of dwindling supply, limited abundance. There is only one source of everything, God, and His promise is that of limitless supply and endless abundance, not only in the Spiritual realm but the physical as well.

Living In The Past

“Live in today, and do not allow yourself to live in the past under any pretense. Living in the past means thinking about the past, rehearsing past events, especially if you do this with feeling…Train yourself to be a man or women who lives one day at a time. You’ll be surprised how rapidly conditions will change for the better when you approach this ideal.” Emmet Fox.

One of the truths of Living on the Spiritual Basis is the only time we can be present for God, the only time we can stand in the presence of God, the only time that we can demonstrate God’s love and guidance in our lives, is in the present moment. We may have a long history of Him demonstrating in our life, but our “forgetter” discounts it. Fear would have us believe that even though God was there in the past He won’t be there tomorrow.

NEVER LOOK BACK. Looking back generally begins innocently but invariably leads to morbid reflection. Think on how easy it is to dredge up memories of those times when we acted something less than spiritually or when we were hurt in some way. Yet it takes effort to bring to the forefront of memory those times when we acted in Spirit or life went our way. When the Great Carpenter taught, “let the dead bury the dead” he admonished us to leave the past in the past. We are forgiven as soon as we ask, the matter settled, yet so often we drag a past transgression into the present to cast it’s ashes about because even though God has forgiven us, we have not forgiven ourselves. Only by living in today and keeping our eyes fixed on the road ahead, regardless of how frightening it may seem, refusing to look back, can we demonstrate God’s love and power in our life, demonstrating acceptance of God‘s forgiveness, turning away from the adversary, fear.

What, Me Worry?

Remember Alfred E. Newman of Mad magazine fame? His gap toothed grin gracing the cover with the caption “What, me worry?” Alfred may be oblivious, but like most when I hear the news I think about those suffering and wonder what more can I do beyond prayer and perhaps a little cash? My children are all adults but I still worry about them. When one of the cats strolls outside I worry about them (don’t start, I have I tried to keep them in but they are all strays who adopted us and when they want to go out THEY WANT TO GO OUT). In low moments I worry that somehow I have strayed down the wrong path and won’t find my way back.

Today when worry creeps into my thoughts I turn to God as close to immediately as I can. When the World worries me I remember “The Captain is on the Bridge.” My children, gifts from God, so when I fear for them I ask God to do for them what they cannot do for themselves and to give me the strength to do what He would have me do in their lives, and not meddle. I don’t care what anyone says, letting your children make their own mistakes so they can grow just as we had to requires a lot of prayer. Cats? Well if you have cats you understand and if you are a dog person you aren’t supposed to get it and that’s not a bad thing. It’s not that you care any less for your dog but cats just assume you understand about their divinity. And when I begin to worry I have stumbled and lost my way I am reminded of His promise:

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.” 

So I guess Alfred had it right all along. Nuff said.

God And Small Things

Sometime ago during a genial conversation on spiritual principles the comment was made “I don’t trouble God with the little things, he’s much too busy.” This was said in all earnestness but little understanding of what Living on the Spiritual Basis entails. There are no “small” things to God. Everything interests God. Everything. Nothing in our lives is beneath His concern or healing. Tennyson wrote, “He is closer than hands and feet, closer than breath” which is most close indeed and Fox “God is always present; always ready to heal, to comfort, to inspire.” No barriers or arbitrary lines in the sand exist dealing with God’s level of involvement or commitment in our life. He is within, right here, right now, seeking expression in every area of our lives, from the maximal to the minimal, big deals and little deals, if we are willing to step out in faith and trust. Arguably the most powerful prayer in the Bible is “Be still, and know that I am God” the knowing within, available 24/7. So we don’t concern ourselves with trying to sort out what is appropriate for God’s attention, instead we place everything in His hands, trusting in the infinite rather than the finite for solution and resolution.

Taking A Trip, Not Taking A Trip

When we travel down the road of negativity we invariably arrive at morbid reflection. Morbid reflection then opens the door to indignation, self-righteousness, fear, hateful and/or angry words and thoughts, invariably leaving us holding a cup of spiritual distress for we always reap as we sow. Few situations in life are ever strictly black and white. When we condemn others we attempt, but fail, to overwrite the truth that there is a little bit of good in the worst of us and a little bit of bad in the best, no one is without sin, none of us live life error free. Remember “Living life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning to play the instrument as we go along” naked, so cut them and yourself a little slack.

So when you find yourself in morbid reflection-ville, and we all do from time to time, gently turn around in prayer and head back out of town by recognizing the Presence of God where the disharmony, negativity resides; asking in meditation to be shown the way of patience, tolerance, kindliness and love, saluting the Divine Spark that resides within every one of our Father’s children.

It would be easy to end here, but an additional point needs to be made. We can and in truth must salute the Divine within all, but this does not mean we must continue to associate with or place ourselves in a position to be harmed by someone who wishes us ill. Our heartfelt hope and desire is that all will grow spiritually, embracing the path of peace and comprehending serenity, unfortunately not everyone will and for them as for us to change and grow, the desire must come from within. So release them with love and remember the old Scottish (James Kelly) proverb: “He that deceives me once; shame fall him; if he deceives me twice, shame fall me.” So trust in God, but cut the cards.

Not My Hat

We have all done it and regretted it afterwards. We are either drawn into or feel the need to volunteer our help or opinion in someone else’s situation. It may be a simple neighbor dispute, child rearing issues, a family squabble or the worst possible case, a crisis of romance. What generally happens? The party we were attempting to “help” uses our support to bolster their position, but then they reconcile, and that well intended shoulder provided to that friend or loved one comes back to haunt us, our words of  “comfort” often putting us on the outs with both parties!

“Do not wear another man’s hat” was salient advice given early in the last century. Simply, we do not engage in gossip, seemingly well-intended little character assassinations or take sides when family, romance or the heart is involved. When we do we don the “other man’s hat” and pay accordingly. Our course is simple but not easy, in prayer we invoke love for all involved, leaving their judgment to a Power Greater than Ourselves, seeking only to be of service without being negative, keeping our opinions close to the vest, between ourselves and God. This will take time and practice to become a working part of the mind but it is the path that leads to serenity and we will avoid those hard looks and cold shoulders over the holiday dinner table or backyard fence.

Recipe For Success

Recipes are typically associated with cooking. However virtually everything in life has a “recipe.” Plastics are very different in their compositions; concrete and mortar have many specific “recipes” for different applications. The paper used in envelopes is a different recipe than printer paper or fine stationary. No cook, builder or manufacturer would leave out an ingredient or add something destructive and expect the final product to embody the qualities or flavor they were striving for, yet is that not exactly what many do spiritually? Remember reaping and sowing?

To restate the classic teaching: If we wish to be loved, first we must demonstrate love. If we desire respect, first we must be respectful. If we wish to be known as honorable, we must treat all with honor, regardless of station or how disagreeable they may be. 

Living on the new basis, the Spiritual Basis, love and anger do not mix, sarcasm, mockery and disdain are not found in the same bowl with respect, and honor and gossip are never found together.

So, just for today, bless and say a prayer for that inconsiderate driver crossing your path, return a smile when greeted with a grimace. Refuse to engage in gossip, regardless of how juicy it may be. Give a dollar and a smile to someone needy, without comment, except God bless. In short treat everyone in the same manner you wish to be treated in, saluting the Divine in all, regardless of station, economic status or whether you like or agree with them. Employ this recipe and you cannot fail to succeed spiritually.

Wheel Of Time

A necessary part of intelligence is the study of history. Studying history enables us to observe today’s events and relate to them in their proper perspective and provides the opportunity to choose a different path. Everything that is happening today has happened before; and will happen again if nothing changes. The wheel of time is constantly turning; good times turn bad, bad times good. Wars start, wars end, trouble comes, and trouble goes.

When we view our lives and the world through spiritual lenses our perspective and understanding of truth alters, for now we see that no situation, whether good or ill lasts forever. Living on the Spiritual Basis we now understand that this flesh we travel in is finite, its time on the wheel clearly marked by creation and dissolution, but the spark of the Divine, the "I AM" which is each of us, does not merely travel on the wheel, but is immanent, part of the wheel. When we exert our intelligence to practice the Presence of God in every facet of our lives not only does our life improve but all humanity. The wheel will only follow a different path when we finally and forever truly put into practice the words on the back of every American dollar bill: “In God We Trust” “so let it begin with me.”

An avalanche can begin with the smallest of pebbles; never underestimate your importance to and in  the Universe, for you are a child of the Miraculous, God’s love incarnate.

“There is no try”

Try to lose weight. Try to get in shape. Try to quit smoking. Trying to get organized. Trying to be on time. Trying isn’t it. We have all done it. We look in the mirror and decide that’s it, we are going to make some changes. Things go well for a time, then we begin to backslide. We rationalize it with we are too tired, we had a hard day or it’s Friday and we deserve a break. Kinda like the alcoholic rewarding themselves with a drink because they had been sober for a week or two. That kind of thinking is crazy in light of what happens next for the alcoholic, yet to some lesser degree we have all done it. Most of us have or have had a piece of exercise equipment/workout DVD/book that is either gathering dust or moved on via a garage sale or charitable donation. Yet when that TV ad starts blaring about some new wonder exercise device/DVD/workout regimen promising impossible results from just 20 minutes 3 times a week we perk up.

To be clear: every diet works, working out and exercise will provide positive changes and giving up smoking or addictive drinking are no brainers, so why do we fail? In my youth I was a smoker. I “quit” many times and started back up just as many. Why, because I was trying to quit. It was not until I stopped trying that I finally put them down decades ago. I am not an ex-smoker; I am a smoker who just doesn’t smoke today. The concept of doing anything “for the rest of my life” is daunting, but I can do anything for twenty-four hours and when I rely on Divine Life for direction and strength I cannot fail, but I must ask.

When we try we are working from without to change the within, when we let go and let God the change comes from within. So if you desire to lose weight, get into shape, stop smoking or change any area of your life, stop trying and let go. Just for today, ask in prayer to be shown the right path and to receive the strength and willingness to follow it. You can slack off or smoke tomorrow, but just for today you are going to Let Go And Let God. For in Truth: The only time we can be present for God, the only time He can be present in our lives, is in this moment, our lives a series of moments connected in purpose.

So stay in the moment, keep your head where your hands are, yours eyes on God and you cannot fail, today. 

PLAYING THE VIOLIN, NAKED

“Living life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning to play the instrument as we go along” naked. No rational person believes they could play a musical instrument perfectly the first time they tried. Yet in our spiritual life we often expect perfection and then become disillusioned when our expectations are not met. The level of our serenity is directly proportional to our expectations of perfection. To be clear: We should expect great, marvelous things to arise in our lives when we Live on the Spiritual Basis, but we must also remember that our lives are works in progress. We seek “spiritual progress, not perfection.”

For my Christian friends this may seem inconsistent with the Great Carpenters teaching, but it is not. The perfection He taught on was the perfection of purpose. Being flawed, we abandon ourselves to Him, seeking guidance and strength in every area of life and living. In this we can achieve perfection, but to think that any of us will stand perfect in every thought, word, deed and action is a recipe for irritability, restlessness and deep discontentment. God is perfect, as is our Divine selfhood; but living, being human is a work in progress and to believe we can do this mistake free is a tragic error.

We only see a great artist’s final product, not their preliminary attempts. How many versions of Beethoven’s masterpieces did he discard before the final renditions we know today? How many canvases did Rembrandt paint over? How many failures did Thomas Edison learn from on the way to his great discoveries? The perfection in their lives, and ours, is in being willing, willing to go on in the face of missteps, fear and doubt, trusting the inner voice.

Living on the Spiritual Basis, we trust infinite God rather than our finite selves. We keep our eyes on God and capitalize those seeming missteps in our spiritual evolution as opportunities to demonstrate His omnipotence and when we err, and we all will, thank Him for knowing Him better and then take whatever action is indicated to address the misstep.  If you don’t know what action to take or path to follow, ask in prayer to be shown and the right answer will come. By acting in this way we own the lesson and possible repetition of the misstep is greatly reduced, achieving perfection of purpose in action.

God and Hot Dogs

The secular world clamors with solutions to all our problems and concerns. Call this number and all your financial difficulties will vanish, take this pill, not the other one, and your problem is solved, there is even a pill to cut down on bathroom trips and it seems that all middle aged men need to take a little something in order to be intimate, if the number and frequency of ads is any indication. Do not misunderstand, all of these things, probably, have their place, it is the order of approach that is at question. When we began living on the Spiritual Basis we altered our approach to life. Today when an issue or problem arises instead of tackling it head on, setting to work on it, seeking solutions and answers on our own or conversely running away or burying our head in the sand, we turn to the Miraculous and seek Divine help and direction first.

We accomplish this by stepping out in faith, realizing the Presence of God as our first step, and then whatever action indicated will be taken surrounded by Gods love. To Live on the Spiritual Basis means we have turned our will and our lives over to the care of God, it doesn’t mean that we withdraw from life or eschew the secular, since the Universe provides answers and solutions in all manner of ways ordinary and extra ordinary alike. Remember, the power we have tapped into is not limited by human perspective and fear; it routinely performs the seemingly impossible, even miraculous if, though perhaps trembling, we stand open and willing. To borrow from an old Hebrew National hotdog commercial: today “We answer to a higher authority” and that authority wants all His children to be at peace; happy, joyous and free.

Spiritual Respiration

In Latin inspiratio means: to breathe in. From this root many words have bloomed, two of which are inspiration and respiration. Physical respiration is the intake and exhaling of air, spiritual respiration is the intake of guidance and knowledge from the Divine, the exhaling new understanding and purpose, inspiration personified.

Our only job in this life is to realize our hearts desire, to express that which each of us has been Divinely gifted with, whatever that talent or ability might be. In realizing our heart’s desire we demonstrate over fear and human limitation. By seeking continued guidance through prayer, meditation and service we keep our feet on the one true path, our unique path, living inspired, truly free.

Selling Cars and God

A while back I had a conversation (berating more accurately) with an “adamant” Christian. You have probably met one, within the first few minutes of conversation they ask if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and if you don’t answer to their satisfaction the sales pitch begins. They state matter-of-factly that if you don’t buy their brand you are doomed for all eternity. In truth, there are thousands of churches based on the Christ teaching and many (if not most) state matter-of-factly that they are the only true path. Fortunately for all there are some things that God is not, and limited or exclusive is on the list.

Having had the occasion of falling into the cross hairs of an aggressive salesman, how did you enjoy the experience? Even if you purchased what they were selling, how did you feel? Would you then go out of your way to continue a relationship with this person? You may have even bought what they were selling just to get away from them. When we hammer someone, even with the truth, the result is usually the opposite of what we wished to achieve.

Having turned my will and life over to the care of God many years ago, I have never seen the “hard sell” approach work in the long run. To be clear: To have a spiritual awakening the desire must come from within. The best sermons are delivered with hands and feet, so we live our lives as a demonstration of the Word. We stand firm in faith and never shrink from flying our flag of belief but we deliver it with a smile and a gentle heart, considering how we would want to be approached if the roles were reversed, leaving the hard sell to used car salesmen.

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.

THE SKY IS FALLING! (Again)

I began paying attention to American politics in 1968 and came of age politically during the election of 1972. In the ensuing years one truth has become abundantly clear: regardless of who wins the other side is always incredulous their candidate/issue lost, claiming all manner of reasons why, adding for effect the dire consequences to come from the electorates poor decision. Living on the Spiritual Basis secular issues and concerns are now in their proper perspective, politicians come and go, those in power today will not be forever, regardless how we may feel about them for there really is nothing new under the sun. To wit:

The Captain Is On The Bridge

“The world is not going to the dogs. The human race is not doomed. Civilization is not going to crash. The captain is on the bridge. Humanity is going through a difficult time, but humanity has gone through difficulties many times before in its long history, and has always come through, strengthened and purified.

Do not worry yourself about the universe collapsing. It is not going to collapse, and anyway that question is none of your business. The captain is on the bridge. If the survival of humanity depended upon you or me, it would be a poor lookout for the Great Enterprise, would it not?

The captain is on the bridge. God is still in business. All that you have to do is to realize the Presence of God where trouble seems to be, to do your nearest duty to the very best of your ability; and to keep an even mind until the storm is over.” 

Emmet Fox wrote the above during the great depression as war clouds were gathering over Europe and America was gripped in the greatest ecological disaster in this country’s history as dust storms displaced millions from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, all happening in the 1930’s! God has always been and will always be; our job to keep an even mind and Spiritual perspective, understanding there will always be someone reminding us the sky is falling, again.

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 my life progressed, the one thing I did right was keep an open mind, continued 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 when I had to face the proposition of God not from an 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, I was convinced.

Though we are all connected in Spirit, each of us walks our own path. Our path of awakening dependent on the decisions based in self each of us 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, that He will guide us through the process of enlightenment and we are forgiven in spirit as soon as we earnestly ask.

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 only price is that I pray regularly, meditate daily, treat all in the manner I wish to be treated in, leaving the results to Him who has all knowledge and power. Please no pushing; there is plenty of Him to go around.

PARALYSIS THROUGH ANALYSIS

A centipede was quite happy,
Until a frog in fun
Said, “Pray, which leg comes after which?”
This raised her mind to such a pitch,
She lay distracted in the ditch,
Considering how to run.

    Never argue with anyone about God. Speak quietly about your belief and let it go. No one is ever moved far spiritually by words alone. We convince others when we walk the way we talk and let our actions speak in a way words never can. “There is a place for analysis, but it is apt to be quite fatal in prayer and meditation. Do not dissect the love of God, but feel it. Do not dissect divine intelligence, but realize it. Do not wonder how God can possibly solve this problem, but just watch Him do it in His own way-and He will if you give Him a chance." Emmet Fox. The principle of attraction not promotion is one that we must live by once we have begun to live on the new basis, the Spiritual Basis.

Smiler and Smiley

Who have you smiled at today? In the last few decades a number of studies have shown even a forced smile has positive affects not only the smiler but on the smiley as well. When we smile or receive a smile our stress level drops, endorphins are released and we feel better, our spirits lifted. So, go share a smile with someone who needs one (and who doesn’t) and you will both reap the benefits.

The Presence

When we find ourselves drifting out of the present moment, by either dwelling on the past or projecting into the future we must be wary, for the spiritually deadly trap of morbid reflection lurks here. When thinking about the past what usually surfaces, the overwhelming number of times when things went well, when we did the right thing or those times when we were less than our best or were treated badly? When considering the future, is it along the lines of things will be great, seeing ourselves walking hand and hand with the Spirit of the Universe or something darker? Living on the Spiritual Basis our focus has been altered, instead of seeing only the carnal, the finite, our vision is lengthened and broadened and we have begun to comprehend the infinite.

Fear is a powerful adversary, forever trying to steer us from the light and morbid reflection is one of its favorite tools. The past is an asset when used as a tool to teach those who seek answers from us, of what life was like before and after choosing to Live on the Spiritual Basis. The future a promise, chapters unwritten, our lives the paper, the ink our faith, the pen in our hand guided by a Power Greater Than Ourselves. He does not dictate the script, for of all creation we alone have free will, but He will be our partner in the story of our lives if we remain open and willing.

The only time we can stand in the presence of God, the only time we can be present for God, the only time God can act in our lives is in the present moment. Living on the Spiritual Basis we now have a history of God’s love and direction in our lives, the past an asset, the future a promise, today the gift.                                

The Consecrated Life, Simply

When we turned our will and life over to the care of God, we chose the consecrated life. Our job now is to see the Presence of God everywhere, in everything and everyone and to express our understanding of spiritual principles to the best of our current ability, for we are forever growing and learning, and to practice those principles in every aspect of our life. Simple but not easy, a price has to be paid and that price is the surrender of self. It is a simple equation; the more time we spend thinking about ourselves, the less comfortable we become, opening the door to restlessness, irritability and discontentment. Conversely, the more time we spend focusing on the Presence of God, practicing the principles we have come to believe the more comfortable, at peace we become. Living a consecrated life is the true path of serenity.

Our Wolves

Conditions in our life are the result of the crops (thoughts) we tend in our consciousness. If we nurture thoughts of pain, lack, unhappiness, negativity of any stripe, then we will grow more. Being a spiritual law, happily the converse is true as well; if we plant peace, joy, love and belief in abundance then these will be our harvest.

If we desire happiness, we cannot walk around with a long face complaining, thinking and speaking negatively. When we engage in morbid reflection our thoughts work to convince us that sickness, trouble and failure are unavoidable. To be clear: We do not control the thoughts that float up into our consciousness; thought control is not about banning a thought, which is impossible, but taking right action when we become aware. Negative thinking is cunning, a wolf masquerading as a lamb, so just as the shepherd tending their flock; as soon as we become aware of the wolf, spiritually corrosive negative reflection and thinking, we take action.

Our course is clear, remembering that prayer is always the answer we place our trust in God and stay out of the results business. God does not punish with one hand and love with the other; He is always working in the positive for His children, His promises, our spiritual inheritance at hand, if we are willing and stand vigilant over the crops we tend in our consciousness.
   

Pickax or Feather?

Since childhood we have heard that hard work equals success. Yet I think we can all point to someone, perhaps that someone gazes back from your mirror, whom have worked long and very hard yet have little to show for it. I will leave the secular discussion for another day, spiritually hard work and struggling to succeed in prayer in meditation are impediments to growth. Successful prayer and meditation, which leads to successful demonstration, is quiet and gentle. To quote Emmet Fox, “Pray with a feather- not a pickax.” Though we may be filled with fear and trepidation, always pray in the manner you would like to be treated in, gently with kindness, patience, tolerance and love.

Being Real

“Cheap optimism is never spiritual.” Never be satisfied or resign yourself to live with anything less than the full expression of God’s love in your life. When we practice the Presence of God everywhere in our lives, remarkable things happen, regardless of the secular condition of the world. Never settle for any condition in your life that expresses lack or limitation. Divine Life wants all to be happy, joyous and free, so be honest about your circumstances, the change comes when we wholeheartedly, without reservation, believe that God not only will but wants to provide for our needs.

In Whose Hands Are Your Fears?

Do you pray expecting to receive or with trepidation? When we pray with doubt, believing secretly in our heart of hearts that God is too busy, we are insignificant or since our hands are not perfectly clean our prayers will not be answered, then we are praying with two minds, wanting our prayer answered but not believing it will be. Is it then any surprise we fail to demonstrate?

No one among us is perfect, yet none of us are insignificant to God, remember, time is a human construct that has no bearing on God, He is never too busy for His children. We live in a state of grace, His love unconditional, we place conditions on His love and availability out of fear. Please do not misunderstand; fear is a powerful, relentless, pitiless foe. Consider: We are bombarded in a never-ending cacophony of doom and gloom. Economic disaster looms, sickness and disease ever lurking, wars and rumors of war abound, global climactic failure imminent, the end is nigh unless we act or even if we do! Is it really any wonder that fear is so hard to displace?

Understand, this planet has been hit many times in its history with all manner of space debris, altering our home drastically, that 99% of the species that once lived have gone extinct; volcanoes have and will again erupt and explode. There will be earthquakes, economies have and will go up and down and you will die of something. Is worrying about these things going to change anything, improve our lives? No, our course is to take whatever precautions are warranted, act and live responsibly and leave the results to God.  Remember the serenity prayer? God’ grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Keep in mind, we live in eternity NOW, the flesh, even the stars finite, our consciousness, our soul, eternal.  Passing conditions are just that, passing. It is vital that we turn our consciousness, gently through prayer and meditation, away from the negative and to God’s love and guidance. In so doing, not only does our life improve, but the whole world as well, volcanoes, recessions/depressions, war, comet/asteroid strikes, extinctions, pandemics and global climatic changes placed in their proper perspective.

 So pray expecting God to act, for nothing so moves the universe as a heartfelt prayer, and place all your fears, great and small, in His hands.

When---

When there is nowhere left to turn, turn around, for God is always there.

When in the grip of fear, pray lightly, with a feathers touch.

When facing calamity, meet it with serenity, the serenity found only in His presence.

When in doubt, stop and ask for the right thought or action, in prayer of course.

When the solution feels out of reach, reach out in prayer and meditation.

When feeling put upon, put your hand out to those in need.

And

When all else fails, place the failure in His hands and watch a miracle unfold.

Does God Play Favorites?

Though an agnostic with an “attitude”well into my 30’s, I had always been a seeker, often looking in the wrong places however. One of the questions that always troubled me was the idea that God would suspend the laws He created to assist one but not another, that some form of pecking order or secret hierarchy existed.

“God is a God of love and rules by principle.” Because of His nature He cannot break divine law. “He cannot bring disease, or suffering, or lack.” Yet the world is seemingly buried in sickness, pain and shortage. How can this be? We are either all equally loved or none are since no one of us has a choice in birth or initial circumstances. God is and must be consistent. If not, then we would not live in a universe but a chaos. Would any loving Father throw one child to the wolves so another may prosper?

No one amongst us can live in another's skin; walk the steps on their path of enlightenment. Though we all travel together, are connected in Spirit, our path is as unique as our fingerprints. Our lessons of enlightenment take many forms, remember the only instrument sharp enough to cut away the excess of self, is pain.

God does not, cannot play favorites. God wants each of us to be happy, joyous and free, He demonstrates His love through us, for us but He will not intercede if it stunts or hampers our spiritual awakening. The flesh is finite, our Spirit eternal. Seeing the world with a new pair of glasses it becomes abundantly clear that God can do anything but only within divine law and principle and that is a good thing.

Saint Peter's Tears

We lay  “claim” to things everyday, usually without a thought. Whenever we start a statement with “My”, we claim ownership. Having thought on this over the years, I think I am finally getting it. Although I may have a headache or a flair up of arthritis, do I really want to “own” them? No. I want them to go away. Nevertheless, when I refer to them as “My” I assert ownership. Today instead of commenting on or talking about the negative things in “My” life I take whatever secular action is indicated, aspirin, heating pad, ice pack etc followed by a short prayer thanking God for knowing Him better. Today I claim all the gifts and blessings that God has not only for me but for you as well, that all I desire in “My” life comes to you as well. Years ago I came upon this piece on blessings:

A man found himself standing at the gates leading to heaven. He was upset and relieved at the same time. Upset that he passed but relieved that he was standing at heaven’s gate. Saint Peter greeted him and motioned for him to come forward. As he walked through the gates, he was struck speechless by the beauty and peace that greeted him. Saint Peter ushered him around showing him the wonders of heaven. Finally, they came upon a rather plain building, its plainness a stark contrast against the beauty of all the others. Turning to Saint Peter he asked, “What is that building?” Saint Peter replied, “All of Heaven is open to you but I strongly suggest that you leave that structure alone.” The man nodded, for who would question a Saint? Well of course, he could not get that one building out of his mind and after a time asked, “You said all of Heaven is open to me so if I wished to visit any building I can?” With a look of resignation, Saint Peter nodded for he knew what building the man was thinking of. As they walked, Saint Peter waited for the statement that always followed. Soon the man turned to him and said, “I would like to go back to the plain building.” With sadness and a pass of his hand Saint Peter deposited them on the doorstep of the building. “I would urge you again not to go in.” The man nodded but he would not be swayed. As the doors opened, the man was greeted with the sight of row upon row of shelves on which rested exquisite boxes each inscribed with a name. He turned to Saint Peter and asked if there was a box with his name on it. Saint Peter replied yes but again suggested they leave the building. Undeterred the man ran down the aisles until he found the box with his name on it. As he took it down from the shelf, there were tears in Saint Peter’s eyes, undeterred he removed the lid. As he looked in the box his heart fell for the box contained all the blessings that God had gifted him that had been left unclaimed. He then knew and they wept together.
 
 Claim all of God’s blessings for you today and if you don‘t know what they are, ask and He will show you.

Beyond The Clouds

Everyday somewhere a plane departs in the rain. The aircraft pulls away from the gate and takes its place in line for lift off. Soon the engines spool up, the brakes released the craft quickly gains speed, the passengers pushed back in their seats by the acceleration. The nose lifts and the cabin window is obscured in driving rain, then everything turns white as the plane enters the clouds. A few seconds pass and it happens, bright sunshine bursts into the cabin, momentarily blinding in its intensity. The rain, darkness and shadows replaced with brilliance. In truth the sunshine was always there, it was merely obscured for a time.

When we find ourselves in the midst of difficulty, though we may be standing in the shadow of difficulty, the sunshine of God’s love never ceases, the clouds merely an illusion created by fear. By raising our consciousness through prayer and meditation we demonstrate over fear, for in truth, regardless of conditions on the ground the sun is always shining behind the clouds.