THE CONSECRATED LIFE

If we have turned our will and life over to the care of God, then we have chosen the consecrated life. Our only job is to see the Presence of God everywhere, in everything and everyone and to express our understanding of spiritual principles to the best of your ability, however limited that may be at this time, 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 know to be true, leaving the results to God, the more comfortable, at peace, we become, living the consecrated life. Simple, but not easy.

TAIL WAGS DOG

The conditions in our life are the result of the crops (thoughts) we plant in our consciousness, how well they were tended and honestly appraising their value. We must be willing to cast aside that which is unhealthy, regardless of how attractive it may appear, realizing that our actions matter, carry direct consequence.

If we wish to be happy, we cannot walk around with a long face complaining, thinking and talking about trouble, whether it is the worlds or ours. When we choose to embrace morbid reflection, we dwell on what exists only to convince us that sickness, trouble and failure are unavoidable. We cannot control the thoughts that float through our mind; thought control is not about banning a thought, which is impossible, but taking right action when they surface. What we do control is the action we take as soon as we become aware of our negative thinking, for it can be cunning, a wolf masquerading as a lamb. Remembering that prayer is always the answer, if we believe that outer conditions have more power than prayer, then we place effect ahead of cause. If you find yourself putting your belief in the effects of negative thinking (believing the problem insurmountable) rather than addressing the cause with gentle and consistent prayer, then “tail wags dog.” Living on the Spiritual Basis, we place our trust in God, take the indicated action and stay out of the results business. Either God wants us to be happy, joyous and free or He does not. There is no middle ground. God is either everything or else He is nothing, what is our choice to be? God does not punish with one hand and love with the other, his dog’s tail wagging with anticipation of good tidings, if we are willing.

PRAYING WITH A FEATHER

All our lives we have had hammered into our consciousness the belief that hard work equals success. Yet, even on the secular level I think we can all point to someone, perhaps that someone gazes back from your mirror, who have worked 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, that which demonstrates, is quiet and gentle. As Emmet Fox writes “Pray with a feather- not a pickax.” Though we may be filled with fear and trepidation, pray in the manner you would like to be treated in, gently with kindness, patience, tolerance and love.

SHACK OR PALACE?

“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. 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.

AN EXPERIMENT

The experiment is simple: Pick one thing in your life you wish to change. In meditation, see it passing physically from your hands to God’s. In prayer, claim that divine Power is now healing the condition, completely and forever. Close with a prayer of thanks for knowing Him better. Repeat daily until the condition improves. See, simple. Now the hard part.

Prayer and meditation bring about real change and growth in our lives, affecting the world as well. The belief that we need to accept with resignation any negative condition in our lives as God’s will is not only false but a sin. The experiment is to bathe any negative condition in your life in the light of God’s love and knowledge. How? In specific prayer and meditation.

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 too insignificant or since our hands are not perfectly clean our prayers will not be answered, then we are praying with two minds, wanting the prayer answered but not believing it will be. How is it then any surprise when we fail to demonstrate?

None of us are perfect, no one is insignificant, and time is a human construct that has no bearing on God. We live in a state of grace, undeserved, because we are loved unconditionally. We place conditions on His love because of our fear. Please do not misunderstand, fear is a powerful foe, our only real bulwark to it being God. Consider: The daily news is a never-ending cacophony of doom and gloom. Economic disaster looms, wars and rumors of war abound, global climactic failure imminent, the end is nigh unless we act. If you are not a student of history, become one. Nothing in the news today is new. In my lifetime, this is the fourth or is it the fifth time the stock market has had a major hiccup, always to recover. The third major correction in the housing market. On any given day there are dozens of wars/conflicts going on, most of which we never hear of because they do not interest the media. In the late 70’s the great climatic fear was the coming ice age and if we didn‘t act immediately most of mankind would be dead from starvation by the end of the century (2000). Someone is always screaming the sky is falling for one reason or another (usually to sell something or push an agenda). Does worrying or talking incessantly about these things improve our lives? Understand, this planet, our home, has been hit many times in its history with all manner of space debris, altering the world drastically. Massive volcanoes have and will again explode, just exactly, what is worrying about it going to change? 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.

So the way out is to pray and meditate on God’s love. Bathe all inharmony in Truth and claim that divine Power is healing the condition. Then give thanks because praise and thanksgiving are the most powerful prayers of all. Remember, we live in eternity NOW and passing conditions are just that, passing. It is vital that we guide our thinking, gently, 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, comet/asteroid strikes, pandemics and global warming/cooling be damned.

WHEN-

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

When in the grips of fear, pray with a feather.

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.

HOW MUCH CAN GOD DO?

Though I had been an agnostic with an attitude into my 30’s, I had always been a seeker, often looking in the wrong places however. I looked at the world with secular glasses, attempting to comprehend eternity. One of the questions that 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, a hierarchy existed never held water for me. We are either all equally loved or none are since none of us have a choice in birth or initial circumstance. God is and must be consistent. If not, then we would not live in a universe but a chaos. No loving Father would throw one child to the wolves so another may prosper.

“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.” God does not, cannot play favorites. Today, it is clear that God wants each of us to be happy, joyous and free, that He demonstrates His love through us, for us.

Does God bring miracles? Yes, everyday but He does not break Divine Law in so doing or sacrifice one for the benefit of another. The world may seem to demonstrate that this is false but this view is only had through secular glasses. The truth of God’s love is available to all who are willing to step out in faith, have let go of sacred cows born of fear and donned a new pair of glasses. With corrected vision, it becomes abundantly clear that God can do anything within divine law and principle.

STAKE YOUR CLAIM

We stake our 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 read a little teaching about blessings that went something like this:

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 that stood out in stark contrast against the beauty of the others. He turned to Saint Peter and 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 resided beautiful boxes with a persons name on them. 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. He couldn’t stop now though and removed the lid. As he looked in the box his heart fell for in the box were 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.

THE SUNSHINE OF GOD’S LOVE

Ever board an airplane on a cloudy day? Remember how cool it was as you rose through the clouds, everything blanked out and then suddenly bright sunshine burst into the cabin?” When in the midst of difficulty the visual of rising in conscious above the problem is good to remember. Though we may be standing in the shadow of a problem or difficulty now, the sunshine of God’s love never ceases, the clouds an illusion created by us out of fear. Years ago an old-timer said to me “whatever your problem is, give it 90 days and I guarantee it will look different.” Sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, remembering we are eternal, this day just one day in a very long spiritual life, and that by raising our consciousness through prayer and meditation not only does our life improve, but by recognizing His love the whole world gains. “The sun is always shining above the clouds.”

CAPITALIZE YOUR DISABILITY

“We are sure God wants us to be happy, joyous and free. We cannot subscribe to the belief that this life is a vale of tears, though it was just that for many of us. But it is clear that we made our own misery. God didn’t do it. Avoid then the deliberate manufacture of misery, but if trouble comes, cheerfully capitalize it as an opportunity to demonstrate His omnipotence” (Alcoholics Anonymous pg 133). Everyone is disabled in one way or another. When young we lack experience and wisdom. When mature we lack the energy of youth, and the hair. As we grow and change, hopefully, for not everyone does sadly, what was lacking is acquired and what was assumed would last forever fades to irrelevance spiritually. Please do not think for a moment that those suffering from serious disabilities are simply challenged in the same way as those dealing with the typical trials and tribulations of living, the point is however that the answer is the same for all.

Clichés always have a modicum of truth, if given lemons make lemonade comes to mind. The only power that can hold us back, regardless of the challenge, is giving in to self-centered fear. Living on the Spiritual Basis does not mean that life’s challenges no longer exist or are any less painful, but instead of allowing ourselves to drift into remorse and morbid reflection, we turn to Him who has all knowledge and power for strength and direction, demonstrating over fear. Circumstances in our lives are not impediments, just different paths of enlightenment. The truth will set us free: We are not this flesh. We are eternal spirit, existing in this form for only a moment, children of the Most High. Living on the Spiritual Basis affirms our connection to the infinite, puts all things into their proper place and perspective, triumphant over fear.

WHEN GOD DOES NOT ACT

The Universe is moved by demonstration. If we wish to be loved, first we need to demonstrate love. If we wish to be respected, first we need to demonstrate respect. If we wish to be trusted, we must first show that we are trustworthy. If you want to feel happy, greet all with a smile, nothing is more off-putting than a scowl.

It may seem tedious, but once again, the power of reaping and sowing is evident. No one practices these things perfectly, but we are willing to do better when we stumble and not to blame conditions or others. We strive for spiritual progress, demonstrating perfection in faith by our willingness. We can be perfect in faith, the price the willingness to go to any lengths for a spiritual awakening. Years ago, this was explained to me thusly: “We have to be willing to go shovel shit in Siberia if it is clear that is the next indicated action.” Chances are if we just pick up our shovel and start walking something remarkable will happen to alter our course before we even make it to our city limit. However, even if we do arrive in Siberia with our shovel, it should not matter; the journey will have so changed us spiritually that we can hardly contain our joy, for we have walked in willingness, with God. Make each day a day when you bring the vision of God’s will into all your activities, in so doing remarkable things will come to pass, God‘s action manifest.

It would be easy to stop here, but easy is for sissies. The question hanging in the air is “what about health and sickness?” What is the demonstration here? If seriously ill, what do I need to do to be healed? If it is our child, who among us would not gladly trade our life for their healing? I do not know the answer. Knowing that everyone and everything “dies”, that death is just change in condition, does nothing for the pain felt when an innocent suffers or provides little solace when we are struggling with health issues. Part of faith and willingness is to trust that one day all questions will be answered. I know God exists because of personal experience and watching Him work in your lives, even so, when my time comes to step from this flesh I have questions, just as you. So, until that time comes, grab your shovel, step out in faith and join us on the road of Happy Destiny, the destination unimportant, the journey paramount. Onward through the fog.

THE SPIRITUAL BASIS

Are you Living on the Spiritual Basis? If you have to think about it or are unsure, then no, you are not. There are many things in life were we can be “lukewarm”, kinda in and kinda out. Take it or leave it. This is not one of them.

Living on the Spiritual Basis requires:

1) Turning our will and life over to the care and direction of a Power Greater Than Themselves, God.

2) Have a clear understanding of what that Power is and isn‘t. Of course, this is a lifetime endeavor, but at minimum, God must be loving, intelligent and available, anything less, you are not Living on the Spiritual Basis, you are living on a secular basis.

3) We give all power to God, in every sense, convinced that every area of our existence is under His purview.

4) Turn to God in prayer, believing in our heart of hearts that prayer can accomplish anything.

5) Destroy any negative thoughts as they surface with prayer, for we now know that God wants us to be happy, joyous and free, our well-being of utmost importance to Him who has all power and knowledge.

6) Being clear on the teaching of “reaping and sowing.” That not only do our actions have consequences, our habitual thinking does as well, what we focus on, we bring into our lives.

7) Practice the Presence of God, to the best of our ability in Spirit, in everything, in everyone, all the time. Especially in those we disagree with or dislike. To be clear: Seeing God in everyone and everything does not mean that we do not hold strong opinions or point of views, but instead of engaging in negative or destructive talk or thinking we seek the higher ground of thought and living that Living on the Spiritual Basis offers.

8) Book end your day with meditation. Start your day in meditation asking to be shown the way of patience, tolerance, kindness and love, that your motives throughout day be devoid of selfishness and self-centeredness. End your day with a quiet meditation on that days events. Do not under any pretense engage in morbid reflection.

Like riding a bike, with practice, this way of life becomes second nature, its benefits evident. You can have your indignation, defend your right to have justified anger or you can comprehend the word serenity and know peace. The choice is always ours.

PRAYER IS ALWAYS THE ANSWER

What more do you need to know? OK, how about this: I often chat with those espousing agnostic points of view. True atheists however are a different kettle of fish. Many who label themselves atheist find that by definition they are agnostics, there by willing to converse, while atheists find people like me at best deluded, unable to accept the “truth” and living in denial, to being part of the problem that has plagued humanity for millennia and needs to be eradicated. So, to be clear: I am a “big” C Christian. The Immaculate Conception, the miracles (including raising the dead), death on the cross and resurrection, the whole enchilada, I am all in. Nope, not politically correct, not by a long shot. When asked how someone as seemingly intelligent as I am could believe in an invisible god, angels and all the rest of that spiritual nonsense, my answer? Prayer.

I did not always pray. Sure, there were those furtive “please let me pass this (math, English, history, etc) test”, “please stop the room from spinning” (if you have never said this prayer, I hope you never have too), “please, don’t let her be pregnant, I promise to use a condom from now on”, you know, the get me out of this and I promise to be good, prayers. Back then, I would refer to myself alternately as a small c Christian or an agnostic with an attitude. Neither position well thought out, yet I was always ready to argue, for arguments sake.

Prayer changed for me when I found myself facing a self-imposed crisis that I could no longer evade or avoid. My life had devolved into a state of being I would not wish on anyone, bankrupt in every area. With no place or no one left to turn to I was driven to my knees and said my first, of what has become many, honest prayer. “God help me.”

Did a light shine down or angels pick me up and carry me away in that moment? Perfect enlightenment and the solution to all my difficulties presented on a silver platter? Nope, but the soul crushing weight I was under did lessen enough so I could breathe. Fortunately, I had no idea at the time how much spiritual work was in front me, the good news was I only had to do it one day at a time.

Many years have passed, and though far from perfect in prayer, I have watched prayer work miracles of healing in my life and countless others. Today I live in the absolute certainty of the Power of Prayer. Often when speaking to those unconvinced about prayers efficacy, I’ll end with “If I could only show you the world through my eyes and experience, you too would be convinced that Prayer Is Always The Answer.”

MENTAL DRUDGERY IS NOT PRAYER

It is recommended to pray with a feather, gently, for prayer should never be hard work, it is our time to speak with God. If you are approaching prayer as work or a task to be completed so you can get on with something else, stop and spend some time in contemplation on what your relationship with God really is.

Additionally, as in all things we reap as we sow. If we pray with little faith, thinking that even if the prayer doesn’t work, it is better than nothing, is it really any surprise when we fail to demonstrate?

When praying do not concern yourself with wording or long explanations. The longer the explanation or set up the more obvious the truth that a “sell” job is going on. Whom are you trying to convince, God or yourself? “Guilty with an explanation your Honor.” God already knows our heart, for He is closer than breath. Remember, His love is unconditional, grace freely given regardless of our transgressions, impossible to earn. Though there may be secular consequences for our past deeds, we are forgiven in spirit as soon as we earnestly ask. Pray simply, honestly and quietly from the heart, and you will receive openly and in great measure, for that is the promise.

WHAT IS “SEEKING THE KINGDOM”?

Everything is connected. The belief that a problem or difficulty exists in one place and must be brought to God in prayer is false. God is either everything or else He is nothing. Nothing exists in the physical world or our consciousness that God is not only aware of but where He does not dwell. Everything or nothing.

In 1918, Max Plank won the Nobel Prize for physics. In his acceptance speech, he stated, “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.” Ninety years later quantum physics has verified by experiment and observation that which Max Plank could only surmise. Since this is the bedrock of all creation, is it the mind of God? Beats me. What I do know through practical application is once I employ the presence of Divine healing where a difficulty is, I improve. God wasn’t absent; my perception was skewed by fear. In truth we do not/cannot seek the kingdom without, we must seek within, for it was always there, veiled by self-centered fear.

A TREATMENT IS AN OPERATION

A treatment is a prayer directed specifically at a definite subject, something that is a pressing problem. Unlike general prayers that are a visit with God, a treatment is a surgical operation on the soul. A difficulty has arisen in your life, the reasons for its arrival a distraction, like spending time wondering who sold the nail you stepped on when a tetanus shot is the action required. Treatment prayers focus on solution, not causality while general prayers typically are “checking” in with God, affirmations of our love, trust and faith. The essential difference is fear. When we are engaged in treatment, we are essentially praying for ourselves. Someone we love or ourselves has become ill. We are facing financial difficulties. Our relationship with someone we care about deeply, perhaps love, has begun to or has turned sour. Our prayers, treatment, in these areas are definite. A simple form of employing treatment is:

1) Get alone, some place quiet. Begin with a general prayer (one that has significance and power for you).

2) See the difficulty in your minds eye; visualize the problem passing from your hands to God’s. If the difficulty is hard to visualize, then visualize the individual (including your self) free of the trouble, surrounded by God’s creative love and healing.

3) End the treatment with a closing prayer affirming God’s love, guidance, limitless power and knowledge. Thank him for the healing you believe will come and then:

4) Leave it be. Do not try to visualize how God will work or the outcome. This is outlining and always leads to trouble. Do not repeat the treatment out of fear. If something happens or changes in regards to the difficulty and it feels appropriate, treat again, but do not begin from fear. If very fearful, then address the fear with prayer and when it has subsided, then repeat the treatment.

Fear is not the difficulty being treated. Fear is what makes the difficulty seem overwhelming. Fear is the self-centered belief that God will not do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We believe that somehow, someway we have traveled beyond the pale, so far from God that our prayers are not heard or worse rejected or ignored. Nonsense. No one, no matter what has transpired in his or her lives is separated from God. We build the walls; create the false sense of separation, not God.

When we allow fear domination, we operate on our soul with a rusty scalpel and a shaking hand. God can and will solve all our difficulties, if we can stand firm in faith.

IS IT SELFISH?

Do you pray for yourself? Some hold that it is selfish and a waste of time to pray for ones self, but how could it be? Emmet Fox writes, “Praying for ourselves is the reverse of selfishness-it is truly glorifying God.” “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7) is the path according to Peter. There is danger in the sorting of prayers. Employing our limited vision and experience to decide what is appropriate to pray about, viewed in the light of day, doesn’t pass the giggle test. God does not need us to or want us to play prayer gatekeeper. Approach God in prayer with anything on your mind or that is troubling you. Do not waste time trying to construct or sort your prayers to avoid perceived selfishness. Speak from the heart for when the heart speaks the heart listens. God knows your heart and the issues that flow from it. He is closer than hands and feet, closer than breath. And that is most close indeed. A simple heart filled prayer delivered trembling can move mountains. Again, as Dr. Fox teaches “You must pray for yourself constantly. How could it be otherwise?”

DON’T HURRY THE CHICKEN

The hen lays her eggs, and then keeps them warm and safe until they hatch. What would happen if half way through the process she decided to crack the eggs open to see how things were progressing? Chickens are not the sharpest tools in the shed, yet not one would ever consider checking the progress of a growing chick. Yet that is exactly what we do, sabotaging ourselves. So many times a student has stated, in earnest, that they have faith, they just want to know what is going on. We can learn from the hen. Living on the Spiritual Basis, the basis of trusting and relying on God, when faced with trouble or difficulty we place it in God’s hands, then let go. The eggs, once laid, only require warmth from the hen, our troubles, once placed in God’s hands, only require our continual reliance on God as demonstrated by our prayers and meditation. In due course, the eggs will begin to crack and the chicks will emerge. The hen had faith in the process, knew if she did her job, the miracle of creation would follow.

When we give our problems to God, they are placed in a protective shell. God is doing the work, guiding the process beyond our view. From a bumper sticker years ago “Thanks, but I got this, I really don’t need your help. God.” Place your problems in His hands and let Him work. We can learn much from the hen.

TACKLING THE BUGBEAR

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

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

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

GOD WORKS WITH JOY

Do you have to “find” time to pray and meditate? Nothing is more important than our relationship with the Divine. Our relationship existed before we were born into this flesh and continues beyond its return to the dust. Nothing takes precedence over the work required of us to build and maintain our conscious contact with God. Feeling a bit sheepish? Good.

Now, do you pray and meditate out of duty? Kinda like doing the dishes or the laundry? Relieved when it is finished so you can get on with what you really want to do? Feeling a bit sheepish? Good. Praying and meditating out of duty is better than no prayer or meditation, but just barely. Understand this truth: We are never out of the sight of God. God does not suddenly turn His gaze toward us when we pray and meditate. Prayer and meditation is not for God, it is for us. God is prayer and meditation personified. When we pray by rote, reciting them as a parrot would, we reap as the parrot reaps. Though fed and cared for, we remain in a cage. If your prayers have become stale, your meditations tedious take a break. Simplify your prayers to the point of asking only to be shown His will this day. A prayer of “Please Father, guide my hands, my heart and my mind today, so that I may best serve you and my fellows. Amen” said earnestly carries more weight than a dozen memorized prayers said while the mind is wandering to other things. Additionally there is a no more powerful prayer than “Thank you God”, said form the heart.

For meditation, open any spiritual book that appeals to you and read a line or two, never more than a paragraph. Take a few cleansing breaths and then quietly consider what was read in your minds eye. When your mind starts to wander, gently bring it back to what was read. When it begins to wander again, thank God for the time spent and go about your day. Keep it simple. In time, your prayers will change as your consciousness rises and you will look forward to your quiet moments with God. Always remember: Do not struggle. This is not work, not something to “get done” so we can do something more important to us. There is nothing more important. Pray with a feather and meditate with joy in your heart, for you are not only in the Presence of the Infinite, you are part of it.

FREEWILL OR FATE

Think from the end. Having chosen to Live on the Spiritual Basis, our vision has cleared, we see with a singleness of purpose. Fate, as a conscious power, is a convenient catch all for those confused or unwilling to do the work necessary to clear away the wreckage of living that accumulates when we chose to live an unexamined life. Understanding the law of reaping and sowing, fate is placed in its proper perspective. To be clear: Many things are attributed to fate that are in reality merely aspects of living. We are not fated to suffer illness, but if we live our lives in fear of illness is it any wonder we attract it? Then we can triumphantly announce our “fate” being realized. Remember, most of us will develop some condition that will contribute to our passing, and even if we do not, the flesh we inhabit will fail eventually regardless. It is not fate; it is part of the cycle of creation, the same cycle that applies to the mayfly or a star. Financial windfalls come from as simple a reason as buying a lottery ticket, though the odds are terrible someone always wins eventually, to being related to or born into a prosperous family. The converse being true as well, poverty, as a condition of birth is just a different path to the same destination. This is not fate, merely the set of circumstances we are born into, the lessons and paths they provide our responsibility to learn and travel.

If you still believe fate has dealt you a great/crummy hand, take a moment and investigate it. Get a pen/pencil and a piece of paper. Say a quiet prayer to be shown God’s will for you and write down the aspect/incident that you have attributed to fate. When finished read it through and ask for an intuitive thought. Take a couple of cleansing breaths, close your eyes and relax. Do not struggle or be insistent. Quietly review what you know about the Great Creative Life-Force for a few minutes in your minds eye. Usually an insight comes in the first session, but if not do this as part of your meditation period for a week. If nothing seems to have surfaced after a week, put it aside. In time you will have an “aha” moment, so do not struggle or be in a hurry. Also do not tell anyone (the only exception being if you have a close spiritual advisor) what you are about. Though well intentioned, they will not understand and will retard your demonstration.

YOUR OWN BRAND

Emmet Fox provides a wonderful visual for this teaching. Ranchers place a brand on their steers so they can be easily recognized. If a steer from another ranch finds its way into the wrong corral, it is turned out. We do the same thing with our thoughts. What we dwell on, we brand. Every time we think “my bad luck”, “I’ll never find a good job”, “the kids won’t…”, “my (insert your favorite recurring pain or condition)”, “I hate…” or any other thought or negative emotion/utterance about something we really don’t want in our lives, we open the corral of our consciousness and invite in steers we don‘t want, putting our “brand” on them. This is the Law of Unintended Consequences demonstrated. Being a law, the converse is true as well. Thoughts of peace, kindness, love, service and God will fill our corral; dominate it, if we choose to dwell on them.

Do not misunderstand. Jobs are lost and found, our kids will act up (probably not as bad as we did though), conditions affecting our health will increase as we age (and one of them will be the last one) what matters is how we address these things in our consciousness. Bad luck or good luck for that matter is an observation in the moment. Singular occurrences do not a life make, many times seemingly good luck brings pain (the stories of lottery winners trials has become almost cliché) and bad luck led to a new path or awakening. Remember this truth: When all other avenues have failed, pain is the only instrument sharp enough to cut away the excess of self.

Hate and its cousin resentment are 100 per cent effective in shutting us off from the sunlight of the spirit, their only purpose to produce more hate and resentment. Remember the analogy of the one bad apple? Apples are placed in a barrel that is filled with water, to keep them through the winter. If a single apple in the barrel begins to rot, the rest of the apples are tainted and become inedible. Hate and resentment have the same effect on our consciousness. Although we need to turn out all the steers of negativity and limitation, hate and resentment are particularly destructive.

BULB AND FLOWER

We decide to change something in our lives. Perhaps we smoke and wish to quit. We throw away our smokes (or smoke them up) and announce we are now a non-smoker. What changed? If I just polished off a bacon avocado cheeseburger and then announce myself a vegetarian, am I? If we have a room full of exercise equipment or a paid up gym membership does it mean we are physically fit? Demonstration and intention. Our intentions may be noble, but nothing happens until we take action and follow through. If we take a flower bulb and plant it in infertile ground, withholding water and nourishment is it any wonder that nothing happens. Alternatively, we provide water and plant in good soil but dig the bulb up daily to check progress, killing the new tender roots trying for purchase, is it any wonder why our flower does not appear? The purpose of the bulb is to flower. When we decide to change, to take action, we plant a bulb. The flower does not appear the next day; it requires time and consistent conditions to flourish. Change is a process; the new man is not born in a day. When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change. Wayne Dyer teaches: Think from the end. See yourself free of cigarettes, not as someone “trying” to quit. See yourself exercising in your minds eye, do not engage in making “deals” with yourself or picking a time or date to start. See yourself exercising everyday, picture your body in your minds eye as it will look after exercise. Soon the urge to exercise will become overwhelming, as long as you refrain from negative out picturing and thoughts. Bacon avocado cheeseburgers? Don’t be silly, they are the food of the Gods.

Train yourself to think from the end. Like any new activity at first, it will feel clumsy and unfamiliar. If you persist, it will become second nature, like riding a bike. Plant your bulb in fertile ground and thank God for the flower to come. See it in your minds eye, in all its radiant beauty. Though this flower of intention is but a vision, you must provide the conditions for success, demonstrating willingness in faith and God will provide the rest.

BE SPECIFIC

Short on money? Lonely? Having trouble with personal and professional relationships? Fighting an addiction? The world provides a myriad of answers and solutions for these conditions. Watch TV, listen to the radio or click on any of the daily spam messages in your in-box and an “answer” can be found for what is troubling you, usually all that is required is a credit card with available credit left. Living on the Spiritual Basis, we have a new set of tools for addressing the conditions troubling us. We treat them spiritually. Just what does that mean and how do we do it? Glad you asked:

1) Do not package your concerns. In general prayers are better than none, but provide only general answers and solutions. Be specific. Take the time to write down and separate out the things that are troubling you. What do you want to leave your life and what do you want to come into your life. Be specific.

2) Now that you have your list, address each item separately. Consider your concern in the light of your spiritual knowledge. Claim the Great Creative Life Force, as you understand it will address this concern, in its own time, in the perfect form for you, in its own way. Do not visualize how you think things should progress, visualize only the power working in your life, healing, creating, doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

3) When finished close with a simple prayer thanking God, as you understand Him, for knowing Him better. Do not allow yourself to become tense or demanding in these sessions, for this only retards progress. Do not discuss what you are doing with anyone. ANYONE. This is between you and the universe, keep it private. Do not look for signs and portents. Faith is trust, trust is faith. Trust in God.

Follow these directions for 30 days. If you are persistent and consistent in your demonstration, some remarkable changes will be taking place in your life. Few, if any will be in the manner or following the script you would have written, but they will be exactly what you need, at precisely the moment needed, arriving typically without fanfare. You will intuitively know what to do and how to do it with the needed strength, if you are willing.

Feel free to share the method and what happened to you in a general way with any you think ready to step out in faith, but keep the specifics of your list and prayer private, in the secret place in your heart where no one but you and the Creator have access. This is imperative for continued spiritual enfoldment.

MAKING YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE

Everyone daydreams. Of what do you dream? Once again, we touch on the core teaching of reaping and sowing. The thoughts we entertain (sow) will find out picturing in our lives (reaping). Now, I know what you are thinking: cool, I will think about having a boatload of money or dropping 20 pounds and poof, problem solved. Hold on there sunshine, wistfully dreaming about something without a basis for generating the change in conditions is actually destructive, counter productive. If you want to stop smoking, dream of being smoke free, not how hard it is to quit. If you lack financial abundance, dream of following your heart’s desire, money and abundance coming to you by virtue of doing what you love, not the excuses for not following your heart (too old, too young, need schooling, what will people think, etc). If you have health issues, see yourself healthy, free of the restrictions ill health places on you, not on how much you hate being sick. A difficult co-worker, unhappy friend or family member, see them happy, lighthearted, fulfilled, dream for them all the good things you wish for in your own life.

If you wish to be miserable, then spend your time dreaming about what is missing in your life and how it will never happen. Dwell on getting even with those who have hurt you (real or imagined), for revenge is a dish best served cold, resentment your friend. Focus on every medical condition you hear about and wonder if perhaps you have some of the symptoms. Never waste an opportunity to add your thoughts to any discussion dealing with a conspiracy theory, for you have dreamt long and hard on them. Watch every program broadcast dealing with end of world scenarios and ruminate on how you will cope/die as a result. Above all, dream darkly; as soon as the slightest ray of sunshine tries to enter your thoughts snuff it out, for the world is a hard, sharp place.

We choose the course of our lives by the thoughts we entertain, dwell on, reaping what we have sown in our consciousness. Which would you rather be: Happy, joyous and free or restless, irritable and discontent? Choose wisely and act accordingly for faith without works is dead.

NO BUTS

Having taught spiritual principles for a significant portion of my life, today there is no more painful word to hear from a student then but. It matters not whether the student has been on the path 10 weeks, 10 months or 10 years this word is a nearly impenetrable barrier to progress.

The new student will listen and then when an opportunity to speak presents its self they begin their comment with yeah, but…Which demonstrates their lack of willingness, they are still looking for loopholes, not convinced.

The student who has been on the path for a time, faced with something uncomfortable attempts to make their case for avoidance with yeah but, you don’t understand…They acknowledge the problem but fear grips them, hoping to avoid an imagined punishment they filibuster. Guilty with an explanation your Honor, if you would just let me explain…

Finally, those who have traveled the path for a significant period are attacked by but obliquely, in the quiet moments. Having persevered and done much work spiritually, Living on the Spiritual Basis, they “believe” but doubt has crept in. They are attempting to come to terms with some seeming inconsistency and are looking for answers, some action to take for specific relief. One of the most difficult spiritual lessons to take to heart is when to stop. When you have consulted with those whose spiritual counsel you value, have taken all the secular action indicated, have prayed and meditated on the difficulty or fear, stop. Be still and know that I am God. Living on the Spiritual Basis does not mean we will always be inspired, engaged in non-stop action and activity. If truth is true, there are no buts.

You have mixed all the right ingredients, in the correct proportions, placed them in a baking pan, now the cake needs to bake. While it bakes, leave the oven closed. Every time you open the door to see how things are progressing, you upset the balance. Let God do His work, just as the oven will do it’s once set. No action or activity is required by us, except patience. The cake batter has its job, the oven its task and neither requires our assistance. You have put together the ingredients for healing and placed them in His hands; give Him the time to cook. Good cake and faith require patience, neither have buts in them.

THE GOODNESS OF GOD

Do you believe God is good? So many come seeking answers, while secretly holding to the false belief that God does not have time for them or worse will be punished or taught a lesson in some negative way. It is a tall order indeed to manifest faith and trust if in the back of our minds the thought lingers that God is just waiting for an opportunity to punish or harm us, to pull the rug out from under us as a teaching method. Would you treat your child this way? God is not like Lucy holding the football and you are not Charlie Brown trying to kick it. Unlike Lucy, God not only holds the football steady every time but also wants you to kick it, encourages you. Fear holds us back to the point of haltingly tapping the ball or even walking off the field without even attempting a kick, fear triumphant. Though perhaps trembling, run as hard as you can and kick the ball with all your might. God is not like Lucy Van Pelt, now Linus…

THE KINDLING OF GOD

When considering our relationship with God, one of the simplest and best-known metaphors defining that relationship is man is the spark from a great fire. When you touch a piece of kindling to a roaring blaze, it sparks to life. The spark transferred to the kindling has the same composition of the blaze and can be used to start more kindling or even become the start of a new blaze, if sufficient fuel is available. Unlike the blaze, however the spark is extinguished easily if mishandled and will in fact burn out if new fuel is not added. Living on the Spiritual Basis we are the spark, daily prayer, meditation and service the fuel to keep our fire burning. The good news is that if we have failed for any reason to keep our spiritual fire lit, the great fire, God, being eternal and inextinguishable, is always available to rekindle our spark. The only requirement is that we ask.

THE LARGESS OF GOD

What is beyond God’s purview? Money? Healing? Peace of mind? Love? Serenity? Anything? There are many avenues of delivery but there is only one source, God. Spiritual and religious teachers have made this point in a myriad of ways. Nevertheless, what if we set aside for a moment any religious conceptions we may hold concerning “God”. In the last two decades, science has uncovered some interesting things. For instance, at the most basic levels of existence, the sub-atomic, the particles demonstrate “intelligence” in the way they react. Now, these particles comprise all matter. Everything. From Quasars to Mayfly’s. Grains of sand to super massive black holes. You and me. What if embodied in these particles, the observed “intelligence” was the mind of God? If that is the case, then God is not only everywhere but He is everything. That everything and everyone are extensions of Divine Mind, the Universal Creative Life Force. Sounds kinda spiritual. Just a thought, can’t prove it but it does keep me up at night, in a good way.

THE ACTIVITY OF GOD

God never sleeps. Never takes vacations or even a day off. He is ever vigilant, always available in prayer and meditation. He waits patiently for us, for though He loves us beyond measure, He will not enter uninvited, will not answer unasked questions. The purpose of the Sabbath is not for us to withdraw from anything but to set aside some time from the cacophony of the world for time with Our Father. Perhaps you cannot devote from sundown to sundown in observance of the Sabbath, but do set aside as much time as you can disconnected from the world. Turn off the phones (all of them), put the computer in hibernate and turn off the monitor, no TV’s, radios, mp3 players, iPods or any other sound producing device left on. Turn around or cover any clock that may catch your attention. In this time read a book (spiritual is good, but any will do), play games (nothing electronic), write (with pen and paper) or just sit quietly in contemplation of Him who has all knowledge and power. Depending on your circumstances, small children, roommates, uncooperative spouses etc you may only be able to do this for a short period, but make the effort. It is a simple activity that demonstrates our love for Him, since He is always active for us.

GOD, THE DELIVERER

Living on the Spiritual Basis, we have placed our reliance on a power greater than ourselves. This is not an overnight matter nor do we arrive at the point of willingness typically without pain and discomfort. Facing a seemingly insurmountable challenge in life, we found our back against the wall, all secular answers and escape routes tried or closed off. We were beset on all sides by fear and perceived negative outcome. From this nadir of experience, the spark of faith burst into life. In truth it was always there, buried under conventional thinking and secular beliefs. When faced with the insurmountable, having exhausted the conventional, we are left with the unconventional, the unseen power at the heart of everything and everyone. We begin to pray. Perhaps we have not prayed in years or were raised with a form of humanist spirituality so popular in “enlightened society” today and have never prayed in a religious sense. Perhaps we believed ourselves to be agnostic or a conversational atheist and left the question of God simmering on a back burner, only to find life has turned up the heat and the pot is bubbling forefront.

We are alone, lost, though we may be surrounded by people mouthing the usual platitudes, we feel trapped, the walls closing in, no way out. So we pray. We make sure we are alone, unseen. We feel guilty, hypocritical for all those times we belittled those holy rollers on TV, for feeling ourselves superior to those weak willed church goers, having engaged in schadenfreude when a religious figure fell from favor. However, we are at the court of last resort, so we pray.

From this moment of trepidation, one book closes and a new one opens. We quickly find that god does not make to hard terms for those who earnestly seek. That God will make himself known to us, as soon as we ask. The Great Carpenter taught that upon this mustard seeds worth of belief, a strong deeply rooted spiritual life could be grown. Your job is to remain open minded, honest with yourself, willing to listen and learn and amazing changes will take place within your consciousness.

Having stepped on to this path, does it mean our prayers are answered in the manner we outline? No. All prayers are answered in the positive, but our vision is limited while God’s is not. I do not, although I may think I do, know what is best for you or me. Spiritual hindsight has shown me that many of the things I prayed for, had they been delivered as I ordered them, would have caused more trouble and problems down the road. God never answers a prayer that results in negative consequences. I have the same questions as you, sickness, suffering and death of children. Good people suffering or the seeming randomness of accidents and disasters. Why? What I know, from experience, is that prayer works. The greater questions we share we can explore together for there are many great teachers and books to read and study. Will we ever know all the answers? Probably not. However, the day will come when this fleshy conveyance will fail, and freed from its restrictions we will be able to sit at the feet of all knowledge and power and pose those questions. At that time, just as on this side of the vale, God will Deliver.

CUT MY OWN THROAT?

Reaping and sowing. Every spiritual teacher teaches this lesson, past and present, using everything from straightforward prose to arcane parables. Nothing stunts our personal growth, builds a wall to true freedom from the bondage of self, than any insistence to a pecking order to receive Grace or the possibility that anyone is beyond God’s forgiveness. Our thoughts, words and actions are the crop we plant, watered with love and willingness. Regardless of the individual crimes or offenses committed, it is our garden of life we work in, not the other mans. Here is something specific to chew on: Bernie Madoff stole billions of dollars. Worse yet many of those he stole from were wiped out, they went to bed one evening thinking they were comfortably invested, their future financial needs well met only to awaken to the horror of a lifetimes worth of saving gone, their future cast into doubt with little recourse to recoup their loses. Feelings of fear, anger, confusion and retribution are all natural responses, but what is the road less traveled, the spiritual path? Does walking out into my garden, kicking at my plants, cursing the ground they are planted in, denying them water and nourishment have any affect on Bernie Madoff’s garden, the object of my ire? Losing my peace of mind, my serenity, cutting myself off from the true source with “justified” anger and resentment punishes the criminal how? The only garden we will ever work in is our own. Does this mean we should blithely regard those who commit crimes, harm others? Of course not, but we cannot get angry enough to bring peace. No amount of condemnation restores serenity. Seeking revenge will never lead us out of the soul shattering darkness of resentment and condemnation.

So what is our course? Prayer and meditation. Pray for the accused, the transgressor, for God to do for them what they cannot do for themselves and then meditate on pity. Pity for they will reap as they have sown, all books are balanced in the end, one way or another, the justice they ultimately receive far greater than any secular court can hand down. Pray for the aggrieved, the transgressed, for God to do for them what they cannot do for themselves and then meditate on forgiveness. If we are the aggrieved, make the prayer personal. To be clear: Forgiveness does not mean we forget the transgression or wish to ameliorate the punishment the accused brought upon themselves by their actions, we leave them to their demonstration, invoking God’s love and guidance, but refusing to engage in resentment and condemnation.

Do not combine these sessions. Let each stand-alone, clear demonstrations on our part. Finish each session with a prayer of solicitation, that if there is anything God either would have us do to be of service, to the accused or aggrieved, we are willing. If the necessity of this closing prayer is unclear, please read again from the beginning.

IMMUTABLE LAW

Justified anger. Righteous indignation. When we are angry, outraged, indignant, upset or offended, who pays the price? We do. Sure, you may vent at the source of your displeasure, but your face becomes red, your heart beats faster, your blood pressure rises, your serenity is lost, your peace of mind replaced with turmoil. Even when you get the chance to give them “a piece of your mind” (remember, when you lose your mind it is much easier to find it later if you keep the pieces together) what was really accomplished? Then there are those occasions when the object of your ire is beyond your reach, speeding away down the road, on the other side of the TV screen or radio speaker or try as you might you just cannot get through the maze of voice mailboxes to get to a real person. 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 in a positive way when anger is the sole motivation. No world leader has ever changed their mind because I 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 a new and profound way, 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 the right to be angry” crosses your mind ask yourself this question: Who gave you this right? Bottoms up.

THE HIDDEN STUDIO

We are always building up or tearing down our mental structure by the things we ingest. Books, magazines and newspapers read, conversations of all stripes. Then there is the almost unconscious ingestion via the television. Sports, news, talk shows, sitcoms, dramas, movies, history and learning (with and without bias), “reality” shows (I always wonder whose “reality” these programs are based on) and of course, infomercials and commercials. I have to believe that infomercials work or there would not be a continuing supply of them. How stoned do you need to be to sit through a thirty minute sales pitch if all you have to do is push a button to end it?

All inputs affect, color our thinking and worldview. We choose the structure, materials and practices that compose and build our consciousness, usually without much thought or discernment. You would not use defective building materials or stand for shoddy workmanship in your home, is not your consciousness more precious than a home repair or remodel? Beginning today, take a moment and consider your mental diet, however do not rush off willy-nilly making changes or taking vows, having done this before when we “decided” to lose weight, eat better or begin an exercise regimen and although our motives were sound, we placed unrealistic expectations on ourselves virtually guaranteeing failure. As your awareness grows, quietly and gently in prayer and meditation ask to be shown what changes and action should be taken, asking God for the needed power to carry them out.

LION INTO DONKEY

We have nothing to fear, except fear itself. When in the grip of fear, it always takes the form of a ravenous beast, waiting around the next corner to attack and rend us asunder. Therefore, we hide, frozen in place, depression squeezing the very life out of us. Living on the Spiritual Basis, we no longer rely on our finite selves for strength, but on the Creative Life Force at the heart of everything. Living this way we are empowered, we turn the corner, often trembling and face fear, only to discover the lion we expected was a donkey. Living on the Spiritual Basis, we face fear with faith, enabling us to meet seeming calamity with serenity, in purpose. So the next time fear tries to exert its grip, pray for the strength to stride out in faith, meet the beast head on, and bring some carrots, donkeys like carrots.

THE THREE GIFTS

If you could receive three gifts, what would they be? Riches? A perfect body unaffected by any food consumed? Children squared away and protected? Mosquitoes extinct? We have all probably dreamed of what we would ask for if Aladdin’s lamp came into our possession. How about the ability to fly? To make all politicians tell the truth? Now that would be scary. Along with flying, there are a whole myriad of superpowers that would be pretty cool. If I could have a super power, it would be the power to instill common sense. I would walk through crowds brushing against people, striking them down with common sense, and like the end of the world virus scenarios popular on TV, movies and online gaming, once infected every person they touched would become infected as well (insert diabolical laughter here). Soon the entire world would be infected and there would be nothing that could be done to stop it, common sense would rule!! (More diabolical laughter).

Diabolical laughter aside, if common sense was, well common, consider how the world would be transformed. No one would talk/text/put on makeup/ read the newspaper/ shave or any of the other thousand things people do when driving a metal missile down the road. Politicians and leaders would actually be concerned about those they serve, working for something other than their legacy, their bank account or cushy lobbyist job upon leaving office. I may be naïve, but I have to believe that common sense would resolve conflicts before swords are drawn, that terrorists, once infected would slap their foreheads and say “What was I thinking?” and then do something constructive with their lives. Admit it, wouldn’t you love to be watching TV when some self obsessed personality or politician became infected on air? Professional athletes too ashamed to show their faces because of the salaries they are paid to play games. The sports page replaced with an expanded learning page. No more billionaires, for they have dedicated their resources, talents and abilities to making the world a better place for all. No pollution or litter, for no one with a lick of common sense would poison his or her environment or throw trash on the ground. Kinda gives one pause to wonder doesn’t it.

I know, Common Sense Man does not have the same panache as Wolverine, Daredevil, Superman or Ironman but in the real world, clear thinking is of much greater value than Admantium retractable claws. My other two wishes? Common sense dictates I keep some things to myself. Excelsior!

ONE THING AT A TIME

Ever wonder where the phrase One day at a time came from? Alcoholics Anonymous? Nope, they just popularized it. Emmet Fox was the originator: "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 woman who lives one day at a time. You'll be surprised how rapidly conditions will change for the better when you approach this ideal." When you marry one thing of at a time with one day at a time, you have a simple yet powerful guide for living, the crux of Living on the Spiritual Basis. The only time we can be present for God, the only time we can stand in the presence of God, the only time God can be present in our lives, is in the present moment. He was there in the past and I trust He will be there in the future, such is faith, but our work is done right here, right now. Keep your head where your hands are, your eyes fixed on God, your heart in His care and nothing can ever truly harm you. Oh, and you will not find One Day At A Time anywhere in the Big Book. Cheers!

ARE YOU DYNAMIC?

Coffee shop theorists. Barroom philosophers. Chat room world leaders. Many believe that change and growth can come through discourse alone. That sounding off and speaking out actually accomplishes anything. Today, just as yesterday and the day before ad infinitum, impassioned speeches will be made from the bedraggled fellow in Hyde Park speaker’s corner to the UN general assembly. None of them will be remembered next week, or even tomorrow in most cases. There has always been, and will always be dynamic speakers. Eloquent and moving in the moment, their words perhaps even bridging time, to touch future generations. However, did they result in or engender action? Consider: If Churchill had not demonstrated resolve along with his eloquence, would Britain have persevered against seemingly insurmountable odds? When FDR spoke on Dec. 8th 1941, he called for action. What would the world look like today if he had failed to act? John Kennedy did not suggest that maybe we should go to the moon; he said we would in the next ten years and put into motion the foundation to accomplish it.

These men were dynamic. Yes, they spoke well, but what made them dynamic was making their words real, turning eloquence into action. Though you and I will probably never be world leaders, at least in the political sense, being dynamic is part and parcel to Living on the Spiritual Basis. Faith without works is dead. Sweet words and promises mean nothing, actually becoming destructive, if the appropriate action does not follow. None of us walks the way we talk all the time, but it is a goal worth shooting for. Strive to be dynamic; one day at a time, a speech demonstrated with ones hands and feet always carries more weight than words alone.

THE TIDE FLOWS IN AND OUT

Tidal flows in our spiritual unfolding are disconcerting. Things are going well, we feel connected, in source, not a cloud on the horizon and then seemingly out of nowhere we begin to feel disconnected, out of sorts, edgy, stuck. Many buildings rest on a concrete foundation. It would be a foolish builder indeed who attempts to build on wet concrete. They wait for the concrete to “cure”, to become strong enough to support the new construction to come. Just as the builder cannot begin construction on the next floor until the underlying construction is sufficiently sound, the same holds for our spiritual growth. Our conscious is a multi-story construct. Just as in a modern skyscraper, it is built one floor at a time. If we attempt to move too fast spiritually, the underpinnings of our new and expanding consciousness will not have had sufficient time to “cure”, to be fully digested and integrated. The result could lead to a complete collapse of our peace and serenity, a crisis of faith engaged.

The construction of our spiritual awakening is a never-ending process, a building of infinite wonders. In those inevitable times of seeming no growth and perceived lack of progress, take heart. Soon the current level of work will become fixed, ready to be built on and new progress will become evident. Rushing leads only to setbacks at best and collapse at worst. Work steadily and consistently, allow the process to happen naturally and never forget who the architect in charge is.

FACING TWO WAYS

Walking the way we talk. When we espouse one thing but act contrary to our words not only does it make us look untrustworthy to the world but sets up a tug of war within that in turn leads to all manner of spiritual disease and a seeming disconnect from reality. Wishing to be happy but seeding unhappiness, wanting to be loved but unwilling to demonstrate love, demanding respect while being disrespectful, holding truth and fairness as essential while speaking falsely and treating others unfairly are all examples of spiritual disease. These are gross examples, easily identifiable and addressed if the individual wishes to change in truth and if they do not, we see them for what they are and turn in prayer to assist them.

Then there are the more subtle forms of condescension and self-aggrandizement couched in seemingly well-intended comments and actions. One of which, which I found particularly painful was “But for the grace of God go I”. Does this mean there are those beyond God’s grace? That I am “chosen” in some way, greater in God‘s sight than another? When the truth of the preceding hit me, for I had said it and used it many times, I became physically ill and upset. I wrestled with it, looking for a loop hole to crawl through, but they all ended in the same place, condescension and that ever subtle “better than” sense.

Wayne Dyer suggests we “think from the end”. He had not put the concept in print yet when I applied the lesson to the above, but that in essence is what happened. I am grateful today for having my eyes opened, not so much at the time. Stay aware; never be afraid of questioning or re-examining even long held beliefs or positions. “The truth will set you free” is true whether we have been on the path a few months or most of our lives. When we first embark, in truth, on the path of Living on the Spiritual Basis we are confronted with large easily recognizable defects and shortcomings. As time flows by the impediments to spiritual growth become smaller, less pronounced, often obscured with a layer of misunderstanding masquerading as truth, which require greater vision to see. The natural response is to work harder, dig deeper and faster to ferret these things out. The problem is our vision is not sufficiently refined to recognize them, so contrary action is called for.

Relax, take it easy. Hard work in this area only makes the work harder. Continue to pray and meditate daily, asking to be shown the way of patience, tolerance, kindness and love. In natural course, the things hidden will become visible and can be addressed in spiritual light. Again, we do not work on them; Divine Consciousness makes them visible and when we are ready, removes them. Our part is to remain willing, willing to go to any lengths to be spiritual awake. Today we find ourselves with the wind at our back most of the time, but if for some reason you discover you are facing the wrong way, trust in Divine Mind to change your direction back; lesson learned, to the true path.

SPIRITUAL LITERACY

You would not be reading this unless you have an affinity to reading spiritual writing and teachers. How many “spiritual” books are on your bookshelf? By how many different authors? Chopra, Fox, Dyer, Gibran, maybe Schuler, Wilkerson, Grizone and Warren a few of them? Then there are the heavy hitters, The Bible, Vedas, Torah, Bhagavad-Gita and Koran. Let me apologize now for leaving out any preferred authors or personal heavy hitters. The point here is that seekers of the ultimate do what they do best, seek. This is going to be hard for some of you to swallow, so take a deep breath, perhaps get a glass of water before reading on. Ok, ready: Reading spiritual books does nothing for our spiritual condition, any more than reading about diets results in weight loss. Sure, we know more about weight loss, perhaps more about nutrition, have read testimony from those who lost weight and have become inspired to take action. Now, we may be informed and inspired but nothing happens until we take action. Knowing when to stop seeking and start doing can be a hard and painful transition.

When I wore a younger man’s clothes and was far more impressed with myself, I would look at my book shelves loaded down with spiritual tomes with self-important satisfaction. Believing knowledge equaled demonstration, I had convinced myself that I not just talked the talk, but walked the walk.. I could not have been more wrong. When the truth finally hit, it was devastating. I had a head full of knowledge but had put precious little of the “great truths” I would expound on into action, and what I had put into action was inconsistent and haphazard at best. I was the antithesis of the teaching, talking the talk but not walking the walk.

Today I “keep it simple”. Instead of looking for a new book or author, I re-read a small select group of books. It seems that having read these books and then put them down for a time, “gremlins” sneak in and add/change the text before the next reading! Some of these books I have read for decades, all of them numerous times and those darn gremlins never fail to do their work. Instead of looking for a new book or author, pick up a book that deeply touched you, it is right there on the shelf, and read it with the new pair of “glasses” your living experience has provided you, and say hello to the gremlins.

LIVING TO HIS GLORY

Limitation. All teachers of spiritual principles and living agree on this point: freedom comes when limitation is overcome. On the surface the differences in approach from one teaching to another seem dramatic, but in essence they are all tools to address the same thing, our perceived loss/missing connection to the eternal, divine mind, the Source. To be clear: We are not/cannot be disconnected from the Source anymore than flame can be from its source and continue to burn. We choose to believe in a gulf or lack of connection because of fear and the seeming unfairness of life. Our inability to comprehend the totality of existence with our limited understanding of the miraculous leads us down the path of denial and spiritual make believe. It is seemingly easier to hold that we are living at the whim of the winds of creation, therefore taking no responsibility, than to live in purpose, coming to grips with the truth that we are where we are because of every choice and decision we have ever made. In truth, to paraphrase from A Course in Miracles: If you knew who walked beside you everyday, on this path you have chosen, you would never be afraid again. Living to His Glory is really living to ours. Redouble your efforts today to free yourself from your self-imposed fetters on your spiritual life, strip away the self-conscious fear of standing in the light, the fear of exposure, of what others will think, and step out in faith. Living any other way is existence restricted, fear rather than faith dominate, living in the light desired but giving in to the familiar, always beckoning shadows of limitation. Banish the shadows, stand in the light.

SUCCESSFUL CONCENTRATION

Meditation Continued:

Focused Meditation: Here we have a specific problem, difficulty or question we are seeking to understand. As before find a quiet place where you will not be interrupted and perform the cleansing breaths previously outlined. If asked, do not explain the specifics of the meditation to anyone, for in so doing you invite failure. Our time in meditation is the time we are in concert with the Source, it is our time, not the other mans. In your mind’s eye, visualize, without words, the issue at hand. See it in all its aspects. , all those involved, the places and possible outcomes without consciously outlining a solution. After you have thoroughly explored, without words, the issue, silently ask the Source to make the correct course of action evident. End the session thanking the Universe that you now know it better, take a cleansing breath and go about your day. Again, do not tell anyone what you are doing.

Purpose: We are part of everything. Everything is connected and at the most basic level of existence, that which comprises everything, intelligence exists. Even hardened scientists grudgingly acknowledge this truth, though of course there must be a secular reason to explain it, if they could only find it. In focused meditation, we invite the Universal Mind to address our difficulty, without outlining the solution. In short order you will intuitively know what to do, the answers just come. We begin to rely on the infinite, all knowledgeable Source instead of our finite vision and fear tinged solutions.

Chanting Meditation: Begin with cleansing breaths. You probably want to find an undisturbed quiet spot that is additionally out of the earshot of others. You will not be shouting, though you can if you are so situated, but you will be speaking. The chant can be anything really, however it is suggested that it have some spiritual significance for you. Keep it short and simple: God is great or there is only one God or Divine love drives me or be still and know that I am God, you get the idea. Close your eyes and begin chanting until the transition. What is the transition? Trying to describe it would be like standing before Michelangelo’s David and trying to describe it over a cell phone. The first time it happens it will scare the bejesus out of you. This is natural. You will choose an exit point.

Purpose: By staying focused on the chanting, the conscious mind loses its grip and the sub-conscious floats to the surface. We transition into a waking dream. With consistent effort, you will find yourself actually leaving the conscious realm and walking the hidden world of the sub-conscious. Your body will continue to chant but you will lose awareness of it as you travel the astral planes in a waking trance. If you walk this path, make sure your body is left in a safe place for in a deep trance, though connected to your body you will not feel it in any real sense.

There are many ways to meditate, to experience true concentration. Considering the payoff, the purpose in truth, what are you waiting for? See you on the other side.

THE ART OF CONCENTRATION

Meditation is a topic that seems to cause much unnecessary grief and consternation. Many hold to the false belief that meditation is quieting the mind. Well, the mind will not be quieted! Our mind is like the shark that must always move forward, in motion, in order to live. Consider, right now your mind is regulating all of the various systems and organs in your body, making thousands of silent decisions about hormone levels, blood pressure, heart beat, breathing, digestion etc. All of this taking place without any conscious thought on our part. Therefore, to be clear, this side of the veil the mind is never quiet.

When a new student first begins meditating, they typically have a picture in their minds eye based on an actor’s portrayal. Even documentaries usually get it wrong because those typically explaining the process have little or no personal experience with meditation. So, let us begin at a simpler level. First, lay aside your conceptions of what meditation is or is not. Meditation is a tool and there is more than one tool in the bag. Follows are some simple modes of meditation.

Reflective Meditation: Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed for 15 minutes or so. Avoid if at all possible telling anyone what you are doing. Pick up any spiritual tome that appeals to you and read a few lines, never more than two paragraphs. Take three cleansing breaths: breathe in gently through the nose, and then gently exhaling through the mouth. Now, with eyes closed, go over what you just read in your minds eye. Consider every word along with the over all import of what you read. Repeat. Do this for 15 minutes or so. When done perform another cleansing breath, thank the Source (God) for time spent and go about your day. If in the course of the meditation your mind begins to wander gently, bring it back to what you read. If it wanders again, take a cleansing breath, thank the Source (God) for time spent and go about your day. Note: Do not struggle or condemn yourself in any way if you are unable to go 15 minutes in the beginning. No marathon runner started out running marathons. Do not set a timer, wear a watch or have a clock in your field of vision. In time, it will not matter but when first starting out it is a distraction. Your body has a wonderful clock in it, allow it to do it’s job. Do be consistent. Spiritual exercise is the same as physical; we only reap the benefits if we are consistent.

The purpose: to give the conscious mind a break from the cacophony of thoughts and the information deluge we are subjected to daily. In time, a short time, you will begin to look forward to these quiet times (not quiet mind). You will begin to feel renewed and refreshed after these short sessions, your mind and thoughts more ordered, less energy expended needlessly.

CONTINUED TOMORROW

From 2008: Testimony

In the course of our spiritual growth, we step across the line of student/teacher and back again regularly. In the beginning clearly we are the student the majority of the time, our teaching generally limited to directing others to teachers or teachings that have helped us. As we progress, becoming more attuned to the "still quiet voice" our ability to teach and our range of teaching expands. This is all natural and comes with no conscious effort on our part. One of the most exciting moments in our growth happens when we are approached for advice and we speak from a place of knowledge we had never touched before. It is as if "we" stepped aside and a power greater than ourselves stepped in and spoke through us. The great mistake at this point is to step away from being the instrument and begin to believe that we are the master. Our job, yours and mine, is to continue refining our connection to the Power of Universe, God, which permeates all. By keeping our focus, we are in much less danger of being overcome by ego. I have never really cared for clichéd word plays but in this case, it is appropriate: EGO-Edging God Out. One of the most heartbreaking moments in life is when we meet someone who has lost the thread of awakening and become their own higher power, attempting to persuade all about them that they have the "answers." We are all connected and any teaching or teacher that proposes we need an intermediary who has a secret/special connection that only they can provide should be avoided. There are no secret handshakes or passwords on the path of enlightenment. "We believe that the realm of Heaven is open, all inclusive. Never exclusive or forbidding, we believe it is open to all who earnestly seek." As you progress in your awakening, you will attract more and more individuals to you seeking advice. This is happening because your inner light is glowing brighter by the day. This is all natural and as it should be. Never lose sight though of the source of the light. As time passes, you will spend much of your time as a teacher but it is a poor teacher indeed who does not recognize the need to remain teachable.

Some personal observations on teaching: First: never answer the unasked question. Often it will be clear to you what the answer is, but they must ask the question if the lesson is to be learned. I am sure you will violate this "rule" just as I did when I first learned it. In short order you will come to rely on it. I have been working with a man for nearly 20 years and although he was doing many things right, there was one area that needed healing. Had I approached him about this area, answering the unasked question before he was ready, I would have been greeted with a polite thank you and the deadly "yeah your right, I need to work on that" and would have lost him because he wasn't ready. I waited over 10 years until the pain became unbearable for him and he asked for help becoming honest in this area.

Second: never speak down to anyone. I have taught spiritual principles and ethics to high school students by speaking to them as spiritual beings and not the knuckleheads that most of them are. As a teen on my best days I rose to the level of knucklehead spending most of my time well below that level. Tell the truth, warts and all. Do not try to tailor your manner of speaking to fit the perceived audience. Speak from the heart and you will be amazed at the result.

Finally when you are speaking with someone and you see their eyes lose focus (always look at the eyes) stop, they have. I will stop in mid-sentence if it is clear they have reached their limit for this session. Let them go with a smile and remind them that you are available when they would like to chat again.

TESTIMONY

In courtrooms across America, people take the stand to give testimony, to witness for either the defense or prosecution in criminal and civil cases. In the past individuals would place their hand on a Bible and swear, “To tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help them God”. Although it is up to the discretion of the judge, this has not been the norm for many years. Curiously, elected officials still almost universally take their oath of office on a Bible, but I digress. Courtroom testimony aside, though the spiritual consequences and responsibilities are high, what of spiritual testimony? You are doing it everyday, in every moment. Our actions give testimony to our spiritual condition. Unlike those who, even after swearing to tell the truth in a court of law, lie, ones actions always demonstrate the truth of being, eventually. Some are able to produce a false front for a long time, Bernie Madoff comes to mind, but one day the truth wins out.

You are always testifying, demonstrating your spiritual condition. If your life were in the docket, what would your testimony look like? Do you walk the way you talk? Are trying to enjoy a reputation you know in your heart you do not deserve? Do you stand in faith or are you short selling your belief in God out of fear of what others may think, fearless in the closet but full of fear in the light? God does not keep score. He does not convene the court of our life, we do. Everything you have ever done, seen or said, every experience is written on your heart, in your hand, God does not need to keep track, we do. Difficulty arises when we act contrary to what we believe out of the fear of exposure and/or ridicule. To be truly free, consistency in belief and action is paramount. Today in meditation, ask to be given the strength to continue/start living in the light, living in purpose, Living on the Spiritual Basis.

BUILT-IN HEALING

When someone first experiences 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: God never says no, but 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 perspective, that we are in fact eternal beings, this flesh a mere conveyance of our consciousness. That you have always existed and always will, this day a single day in eternity, Our Father, Divine Mind, not limited in vision as we are in this flesh.

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. Nevertheless, I cannot get sad enough to help the suffering. I cannot get sick enough to help the dying. I cannot get poor enough to help those who lack. I 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 that one day all mysteries will be revealed.

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 and leave the results to God. In this simple way the universe responds, God’s will realized, true healing manifest. If we can do this, even trembling, keep an even mind though our spirit may be breaking, we touch the heart of faith and are renewed.

AFTER YOUR HEALING

There is probably no greater hindrance to a continued spiritual experience than the fear of exposure. You have been consistent and faithful in your spiritual growth, having confronted the things that were blocking you off from the sunlight of the spirit. You have stood up and owned your shortcomings and defects of character, asking God to remove them. Having apologized to those harmed and, with God’s help, steadfastly begun to amend your behavior you are growing in understanding and usefulness. Prayer and meditation coupled with ongoing personal daily inventory have placed you in the unique position of carrying the Good News to all who suffer and seek. Service work has become a way of life; you have reaped the promise of a conscious contact with the miraculous. Then a remarkable thing happens, retreat into self. Instead of shouting the good news, you act like the embarrassed child looking down at their shuffling feet mumbling quietly “It’s nothing”.

Having persevered with the soul searing process of getting down to the causes and conditions that blocked you from a personal relationship with the Source, having arrived at the final step, you balk. Fear seeps in and it becomes seemingly “easier” to backtrack, to rehash and even redo work already completed than to stand in the light, exposed. “When you raise your head above the crowd, you become a target.” Fear is an implacable foe, it never rests and is always seeking avenues to attack and control us. Break through this final barrier and stand as a child of God, unafraid of the inevitable slings and arrows cast your way. When struck, thank God for knowing Him better and pray for those casting the aspersions “for they know not what they do”. In this way, you break free of the final fetters of self-imposed fear and place yourself finally and completely in God’s hands, ready to serve in any manner He would have you.

KEY WORDS IN THE BIBLE (AND LIFE): LIFE

(From 2008) Having life in the spiritual sense is different from just being alive. We have met spiritual “zombies” as we have moved through life. Possibly at some point in our own lives we lived as zombies for a time. This state is arrived at when we close our minds to new information, refuse out of stubbornness (actually fear) to recognize a different point of view or even the possibility that we may be mistaken, we close our minds to growth and mount the sacred cow of arrogance and contempt. All zombies ride sacred cows. Now there is an interesting visual. The good news is that once we dismount the cow life returns. “There is a principle which is a bar against all arguments, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation.” Stay young at heart by a willingness to investigate everything that interests you. By remaining open minded and willing to learn, we open ourselves to the sunlight of the Spirit where we find our connection to the eternal and “experience life when you feel yourself to be free and useful and joyous, unconscious of either fear or doubt.”

(FROM 2008)

Today’s Key Word: REPENTANCE

Whenever I think of repentance I see in my minds eye Burt Lancaster as Elmer Gantry spewing fire and brimstone (if you haven't seen the movie it is a classic). As I matured watching a variety of real world preachers threaten damnation if I didn't repent, only to discover that they didn't walk the way they talked I became ambivalent about the whole concept. I find it a little hard to find any sincerity in someone who on the one hand is threatening me with eternal damnation if I don't follow them to the letter while talking through their hat. Then I found Dr Fox. Dr Fox explains repentance as simply being ready to change ones mind in concerning something. Here we are presented with one of the clear differences between much religious dogma and metaphysics. Dr Fox teaches, consistently, that God is within and must be sought there, not some punishing power outside of us keeping score that we must attempt to appease to gain entrance to heaven. As Dr Fox teaches, and I believe, when we identify any condition that needs to be changed we begin by addressing the Power within in prayer and meditation and avoid at all costs engaging in morbid reflection wallowing in past mistakes and hurt. When we refuse to engage in remorse, condemnation and worry about our past lives we make true repentance possible. Metaphysically speaking of course. Elmer Gantry would not approve.

The following is of a personal nature and if you choose to move on, I understand. Today’s date 9/13 holds a special significance for me. It was on this date in 1985 that the most important act of repentance in my life to date took place. I didn't know it at the time but such is usually the case with such moments. It was on this date that I truly placed my feet on the path. The moment was birthed with tremendous pain and confusion. It would be a year or so until I found Dr Fox but the key was that I had become teachable again, sweetly reasonable as only tremendous psychic pain can make you. I had been looking for answers all my life and at this point the best I had done was to be a raging agnostic, with all the answers of course. Today I believe in a Power greater than myself. This Power is Loving, Available (in prayer and meditation) and Intelligent. It matters little what moniker you adopt, call it God, Creative Life Force, Power of The Universe, Yahweh, Christ or Chuck. What matters today is I know that I am not alone and am loved unconditionally. As are YOU. We are all equal in His eyes, all being His children; there are no grandkids. Dr Fox teaches that the way out of any difficulty is to realize enough love and I believe that in the end the only yardstick that we are measured by is the love we freely give away and we hold the yardstick, not God. Realizing love, especially towards those we find fault with, is a daily learning experience. I am far from perfect at it but I am better at it today than ever before. One day at a time.