"Forget the wrong that may
appear in the outer world of things and give all your thought to the great good that is
inherent in all things. You thereby place in action the greatest freeing power that the
human race will ever know. We are in bondage because we have lived to please the person.
Follow the inner spirit and freedom will come quickly. Then you shall please the person
better then ever before. To follow the inner spirit is to enter the greater domains of
life—those domains from which we may secure everything that is rich and beautiful and
superior in human existence. The spirit leads not only into the life more abundant, but
also into the actual possession of all the spiritual riches that the greater life may
contain. And when we find the kingdom that is within, all that we may desire in the world
shall be added. The soul that lives most perfectly in the present creates most nobly for
the future. Be all that you are or can be today and you will live in a fairer world
tomorrow." –Anonymous
Several times Jesus
said, "Follow me." He was on a great spiritual journey and knew that the same
road was there for all of us—the road to freedom and spiritual mastery—if we are
willing to take it. The only thing which keeps us from following Jesus’ example of
spiritual mastery is ourselves. The will is the faculty of mind which makes the choice to
"give up all and follow Jesus." It is the faculty within us which chooses to let
go of whatever no longer serves our highest good in order to seek the greater good which
awaits and to which we are guided by the Christ spirit within. Are we willing
or willful?
There are many examples
in the Bible of personal will and willfulness at work and one of the first in the Gospels
occurs in the story of Jesus’ birth. Herod was troubled when he heard about the birth
of the Christ child. He told the traveling wise men, when they found the child, to bring
him word that he might worship him. Warned in a dream about Herod’s real desire to
destroy the child, the wise men avoided Herod on their return to their own country. Herod
represents human will at work in us as we begin our spiritual journey. When we grasp the
first idea that there is something more in us than mere human, the human ego becomes
fearful of change. From a purely human or physical perspective, the concept of a spiritual
reality is difficult to understand. We may feel afraid of the unknown, of change. We could
become concerned that we might have to give up some activity, belief or thing which brings
us pleasure or pain. Even painful experiences can become habitual and seem normal. Herod
chose to keep life as it had been, perhaps not the best but at least familiar. His
willfulness would kill any idea he considered a threat to his stability.
The difference between
our human will and Divine Will is in degree. As there is one power in the universe, there
is also one mind—God-Mind—and one will. God’s will is for greater, grander,
larger expression of Itself, good throughout the universe. Human will is a mis-perception
of Divine will. We tend to see infinite possibility through a pin-hole and believe that
such a limited view is all there is. When we are willful we see limited good and believe
that we must grasp it or it will be gone. We look at lack of supply or life and health and
say, "It’s God’s will." We see, as Paul said, "through a glass,
darkly" and have blamed it on God long enough. In the nativity story, the wise men
did not let Herod have his way. Within each of us is the accumulated wisdom of ages which
sees personal will for what it is and removes any power we have given it to keep us from
our goal.
The Cosmic Christ,
speaking through Jesus, said, "I am the vine; you are the branches." (John 15:5)
For the branch, the vine is its connection to life as Christ is your connection to God.
The branches have their source in the soil and the activity of the root. Remember that God
is the source which moves through the vine and is expressed as the branches and manifested
as the fruit. The leaves, buds and fruit of each branch depend on the life energy from the
root. If the branch inhibits the free flow of energy flowing in the vine, the branch will
not bear fruit and may wither and die. God is the source of all you could ever need or
desire; Christ is the vine through which the Source expresses itself and you are the
manifestation.
In one of Jesus’
most difficult moments, while praying in the garden for some other way than what he saw
before him, he reached a point of power when he said, "Thy will be done."
(Matthew 26:42) At times, I have found these words very hard to say. It is difficult to
step out into a mysterious void. If I speak these words, will I give up my freedom? Will I
have to let go of something, someone or some belief I cherish? It is hard to let go,
difficult to step out in faith into vast, undifferentiated good, yet it is so powerful
when we do. We do not give up freedom; we give up bondage. We never are required to give
up actual good, but only what we’ve substituted for our good.
In the Sermon on the
Mount, Jesus said, "the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction,
and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads
to life, and those who find it are few." (Matthew 7:13-14) Jesus, as way-shower, gave
us the map which leads to spiritual life and mastery and called us to follow in his
footsteps. It is easy to follow the popular way even if it does not lead to the end we
seek. Many take the same route again and again hoping it will eventually take them where
they wish to go. The gate is narrow and the way hard because a larger life requires us to
make new choices, take charge of negative thinking, give up cherished limitations and
follow the guidance of the inner Christ spirit.
When we choose well, we enter those
domains from which we may secure everything that is rich and beautiful and superior in
human existence.
Copyright © 2001 by Greg W. Neteler
Used with permission.
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