Free will is God's gift to us so that whenever in our life we have a choice to make (and when don't we?), we are free to use our will or to seek God's will.
Those of us who choose to live by our will alone often suffer crash-and-burn, leaving us feeling all alone and utterly hopeless. Often it is by looking back we realize that was the moment we made the involuntary decision to seek help from a Power greater than ourself...the beginnings of our spiritual growth.
A big reveal: We do not need to believe in God to be a good and decent person. But, who's kidding whom, few of us are overly good and decent without a Higher Power to guide us...because what do we know about good and decent when "what's in it for me?" has been our only guide.
Paradox: We discover by seeking still more spiritual growth that being a good and decent person is the lowest bar and the highest standard.
The lowest bar, we just try not to be as nasty as we want to be...and that counts. The highest standard? Without thought, we come to give over, give up, give in. I suspect that's why we must needs keep coming back...until we get it right.
Thank you.
SIDEBAR: I'll note this morning that I have a new power greater than myself...I got me a dog! Who has already totally rearranged my morning by refusing to eat dog food...people food, please. I'm hurrying now so I can get to the store and buy some yams, brown rice and kidney beans...I've been down this road before. My first dog refused to eat dog food, and I was scrambling eggs, serving it on toast, before I accepted the vet's word: "No dog ever starved to death with food in his bowl before him." But I'm not serving eggs on toast anymore...I have my standards.
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