"I fairly sizzle with zeal and enthusiasm and spring forth with a
mighty faith to do the
things that ought to be done by me." These words were written by Unity's
co-founder, Charles Fillmore, when he was 94. I remember once quoting these words to
a friend and quickly adding, "I wish I had zeal and enthusiasm for something."
Without these qualities life is flat and dead. Without them we only go through the
motions, walking life's path without taking any interest in what can be found along the
way. However, with these qualities, life is transformed by a burning inner fire.
There is power in enthusiasm. "En theos" means "inspired or
possessed by God." When we are enthusiastic, we can accomplish virtually anything no
matter what the odds or who says it can't be done.
I think that Jesus must have been one of the most God-inspired,
God-possessed people
who ever lived. When he taught, he was enthusiastic about what he taught. His
words, even as recorded secondhand, convey a great sense of excitement about the
kingdom of heaven within everyone. This is evident in the parable about a treasure
in a field which a man found and when he had sold all that he had, bought the field.
In the East at the time there were no banks so they hid their valuables to keep
them from thieves. It was common for a man to bury his goods in his field. If
a man died without telling anyone where he had hidden his savings, it remained there until
someone found it. And it was the custom that whoever found the treasure was the new
owner, provided the field in which it was buried belonged to him.
Imagine being so God-possessed that you would be willing to give up
lesser things for
greater, to be so inspired that you are willing to give up even the limitations you have
long
believed in order to have a richer, fuller life. The treasure is the God-self within
you, the "light of the world" which Jesus said we should let shine. It
requires faith to perceive the presence of this inner spirit. Spiritual power is the
faculty which provides the energy to initiate any movement or change. But it is the
faculty of zeal which is the inner fire that prompts us to take whatever steps are
necessary in thought, belief and action. It provides the energy to continue, to
carry on and follow through to a right conclusion. Zeal is an energy given to all
for divine purposes to stir us to get results instead of merely drifting through life.
You know when it is zeal or God-inspiration which prompts you to action
and when it is
the ego. When it is human ego at work, we are possessed to acquire what we perceive
as our good no matter what, because it is for us personally and we want it. The ego
promotes
competition against others instead of cooperation. It does not matter whether it is
good for
anyone else or what its impact might be. However, when we are God-possessed, we are
motivated to act by constructive instead of destructive means and our actions do not take
away from anyone and are even for the greater good of all.
We always have the potential to express zeal or enthusiasm; it is a
divinely given faculty
of man. It is not something we take on; it is something we already have. We
choose to express enthusiasm. Do outer things and events make us enthusiastic?
No, they do not. It is our positive response to ideas and desires which
releases enthusiasm. Paul wrote to Timothy, "rekindle the gift of God that is
within you . . . " (2 Tim 1:6) Imagine what your life would be like if you
rekindled the flame of zeal and enthusiasm, if you were really interested in life.
It is a choice we make to be uninspired, to be shut down to the inner spark
of God's spirit as it also is a choice to be "alive, alert, awake,
enthusiastic." The fire of God-possession is there and the life giving energy
which stirs you to seek results is yours if you decide to use it.
Revelation provides some strong words: "I know your works; you are
neither cold nor
hot. Would that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm and neither
cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth." (Rev 3:16) Saying yes to life
and burning with an inner divine fire is to be hot. Denying negative expressions of
life and releasing any negativity in consciousness can be considered cold. When we
do not love something and desire expansion, when we are not willing to recognize
negativity for what it is and release it, we are lukewarm and as we walk life's path, each
step is the same. This was my experience when I wished that I felt zeal and
enthusiasm for something!
Life is full of joy and mystery and excitement. To see these you
only have to look, but
with different eyes. Rekindle your divine gift by affirming that you are enthusiastic,
that you are God-possessed. Whatever is before you, whether something you look
forward to or something you would rather avoid, remember that zeal is a spiritual faculty
you already have which is necessary to express ideas and achieve positive results.
It is your power to continue and carry through to a positive conclusion because you
are interested in life.
Copyright © 1998 by Greg W. Neteler
Used with permission.
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