THE FOUNDATION FOR A LIFE WELL LIVED

To me, the two most important words for spiritual growth are trust God. To trust God without fail is all but humanly impossible...we cannot realistically expect to ever achieve it, but to aim there is to get out of self.

Unsurprisingly, the test for trusting God generally comes in the shape of a dollar sign. For the sake of simple goodness, trust God as we may, the reasoning mind is unlikely to accept the need to give up or to not get financial gain no matter the amount of dollars involved. 

Our better self may easily want to...actually will...give up, donate, contribute for the good of another when we believe we have more than enough to give. However, when we're feeling a tish pinched, whether we are or not, few if any dimes or dollars pass from our hands for the benefit of another. 

In general, this thinking applies to all of us...Pope, piper and just plain folk...justified by "that's just commonsense." Instinct argues "to give up what little I have for the benefit of another may leave me in need."

It is that reasoning that sells the Sermon short. Because there's little, if anything, in the Sermon that can be justified by commonsense. Basically, the Sermon does not make a lick of sense to the reasoning mind. Check it out: Resist not evil? If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also? If anyone would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well? (Matthew 5:38)

We must trust that? That is what we're throwing in with? On trust?

There is the root of our woes...we stay stuck in the reasoning mind while studying how to have the mind of the Buddha, the mind that was in Christ Jesus. Many of us pray the prayer of Saint Francis daily but actually do what we're praying for? Hardly.

Nobody I know, least of all me, is or is likely to become a saint. But to aspire to their ways...to want to be more caring for another's welfare than I am for my own because I trust God has my back...I believe is God's will for us.

The secret, and that which we tend to forget, is that we do not do anything all on our own. All our seeking still more spiritual growth is about seeking...we achieve some, show forth a little and be as happy as the moment calls for. There. That's the foundation for a life well lived. According to me.

Thank you.