DO GOOD AND FORGET ABOUT IT

"No good deed goes unpunished." I have no idea who first said that, but the first time I heard it, I laughed. The second time, and thereafter, I wholeheartedly agreed...because it surely seemed to be true.

Now, however, I've come to believe that it is only true when the ego involves itself in the deed.

A good deed done with no thought of self is neither punished nor unpunished. It is momentary in the doing...that's all. Its effects may last for a short or long while for the receiver, but for the doer, no. It is finished.

Now, the test: Can we do good and forget about it? Can we even imagine really doing a good and honorable thing and not feeling ownership in any way? Ah...I'm feeling resistance. The reasoning mind's "Yes, but...." has joined with ego and is pushing back. Which proves the truth of my last thought as I drifted off to sleep last night; namely, that our ego is the root of all our woes...perceived, interpreted or imagined.

Yet, the answer remains the same as when first we learned it....ego deflation at depth is our necessary work if we are to know spiritual peace...or peace of any kind in fact.

It may be that ego is God's gift to us as our cross to bear. That which is necessary to us to keep us on the right road back to God. The necessary part being our chipping away at ego in order for us to get to God.

Sounds complicated enough to be of God, doesn't it?

Thank you.