Gratitude 22 … Providence
Today I am grateful for Providence — the “Hand of God” always guiding us; both directly — by inspiring us to search for (and perceive) current opportunities to serve, as well as more indirectly — by letting us feel the nature of the actions we are already engaging (otherwise known as intuition, or “hunch”; the peace that is felt when acting with kindness, and the dis-ease we feel when acting from self-interest) …
There are innumerable “right actions” available to us in every moment of our lives; an infinite array of services we can lend to others and an infinite number of paths we could tread to enact those “labors of Love”. And it is quite tempting to fantasize about the “greater good” we could someday enliven, after we “learn more” or “obtain more life experience”. And yet, when we pause to look into any particular instant with a “humble eye”, we can see that every single one of our current “coincidental” encounters are already ripe with opportunities to Do Good. As such, it is not necessary to search for a “better path” or a “more powerful service”, but rather to simply dive deeply into the challenges we have already been given. And this is what I mean with regards to “Providence”. This is what it means for me to be “led by God”.
Indeed, there is no need for any of us to “pray for guidance” — for we are all already being led! There is no need for us to pray for the chance to Do Good — as our Callings to Caring are already in front of us! There is no need for us to pray to become a powerful servant of the downtrodden — for the selfless Kindness we can extend to strangers is already more than enough!
We are all literally swimming in a river of Love, and the Grace of the Source is its current, one that carries us along its infinite length. Yes, we may strive against this Flow with our selfish desires and self-centered attempts to make things “better”, and yet every time we do so we inevitably tire — and are swept back into the smoothly meandering flow of Oneness … Ultimately, it is unconditional Acceptance that brings us back to this Peace — an Acceptance born in the inevitable knowledge that no matter how steadfastly we strive against the Flow of what IS, we cannot succeed in altering its course.
And to get to this state of pure detachment most smoothly, radical Gratitude is The Way … a heartfelt Gratitude not only for the blessings that bring us pleasure and comfort and ease, but also an equal Gratitude for the challenges of ego that call us to return to a Life dedicated to the One. And this brings the most Peace — for this challenge, this transcendence, is why we are all here.
The “Hands of God” are gently firm in their pressure; allowing us to veer as far from the Flow as we wish — to experience as much suffering as we desire, and yet always coaxing us back to the fold; always allowing us back into the current of unity without so much as a hint of reproach for our selfish divergences. We are even allowed to stray with such vehemence that we physically perish. And yet even then the gentle hands are always there to guide our conscient Souls back to a soft residence nestled deep in the heart of The All.
I am so thankful for those Hands — their strength of constant guidance, and their strength to let me find my own way to answer their Calling.
And so it is that I climb to my proverbial mountaintop, take a deep breath filled with profound reverence, and let loose with a long & loud –
Thank Youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
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