GOD IS NOT AVAILABLE ON DEMAND

Our lives must be lived by grace. Whatever we do, there is a divine power, the power of grace, working within us and through us to the successful conclusion of that undertaking. Joel Goldsmith, "The Heart of Mysticism," at p. 921

I believe that, so why is it so hard to remember? Particularly, "Whatever we do, there is a divine power, the power of grace, working within us and through us to the successful conclusion of that undertaking."

The "particularly hard to remember" being when we're dealing with others. If we set out to write a book, or a paper, or paint a picture, we generally know we're going to have to lean on a power greater than ourselves for inspiration to accomplish that. But avoiding a personal conflict that we are racing toward with dreadful anticipation...higher power? Pish-tosh...who needs it? Or better, a power greater than ourselves is too great to be bothered with such petty stuff so we won't even go there.

Rohr tells us that there is nothing that is not spiritual for those who have learned how to see. And grace has taught us when we perceive a problem and go for spiritual thinking, feeling, doing, being, our first task is to un-know. To detach from our own ideas. To divorce ourselves from our own opinions.

Here's the paradox: The willingness to turn first to God accomplishes the task. It is our reasoning mind that cannot accept that and thus spins and whirls and prays and ponders on how to un-know, let go, detach, etc., etc., etc.

It is in our flash of willingness that feels-like hopeless prayer, our "Please," that gives God the go-ahead...and it is finished. We're still trying to form the right thoughts, get the right words, figure out the answer that we want, and, unbeknownst to us, it is already perfected.

It takes us as long as it takes us to realize that...and that, too, is God's perfect plan. God is not available on demand. God is available because God is, and that is All.

Thank you.