One morning, as I was sitting quietly, I became inspired to write an article -- this one. And then my thoughts started, "Well, what about all the work I have to do at the office? How can I put that off?"
And as I looked within, I realized something: I absolutely refuse to do anything because I should be doing it, because it ought to be done, because people are depending upon me. Every morning, as I look within, I open myself to anything… to any possibility. If I was to find within myself that it’s time to walk away from everything, to go wander a mountain or go play in town, that’s what I’d do.
When I look inside, I see what I truly want. This is not different from saying that I look inside to see what the Ascendant wants. What I find there is totally joyful, enlivening -– wonderful.
That’s why if my inner Self pointed me at a mountain, or at a movie in town, that’s where I’d go. I’m open to whatever there is inside. But usually it’s doing my "office work." Of course, it just looks like work, but it’s really a lot of fun.
This is not a plea for everyone to do whatever they feel like. This is simply inviting everyone to become so familiar with their Inner Space that they know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what surrender to that Source of All is. That’s freedom.
What if you don’t know that place, for sure? Then it’s wise to accept some "useful boundaries" to come to that place as soon as you can. (For example, following the practice of the Ishayas' Teachings as a daily habit.)
For me, I am thrilled to "go to work" every day and do what I do. I’m thrilled to maintain many websites, to send email newsletters, and all the rest –- not because I should want to help others, not because I’ll "save the world" if I do that, and not because it's what people expect of me.
That’s not why I do what I do. I do it because it’s so thoroughly and totally exactly what I love to do. And what God loves. It’s the same. I know that.
It’s done from love, but not love for the outer activities, but as a response to what’s there inside. The love inside is sufficient (and complete) motivation for anything.
So this leads me to a personal understanding about Jesus. From within, I see that Jesus was so totally charged up with desire, with love of what was inside him, that he wanted to do that cross thing more than anything else. It was his joy! And it was God’s desire. When he said, "I and my Father are One," it was a complete realization of that fact. God is love, and that love is right there inside of each of us. So why don’t people all act from that space of love?
It’s because they’ve forgotten where it is. It’s always been there, but they’ve misplaced it. That’s sad. So what I’m wanting to do (and what totally charges my batteries) is to help lead people back to their own inner space of love.
And not because I should, or because it’s the right thing to do. Or because I even care if they accept what I offer or not. It’s because the joy of making the offer fills me.
What did I do to once again find that inner space where joy and love (and yes, God) is? I didn’t DO anything! I simply found the Ishayas' Teachings and took it up, in all earnestness. I practiced daily. And everything followed naturally, like day follows night. Anyone can do it. I’ve never seen it fail for anyone who keeps at it.
This is freedom. There’s no ball and chain anymore. The only reason anyone feels a ball and chain is because they choose it. Choice is what makes everything happen.
And knowing that is great, because it is a simple choice. When you totally know you have a choice to choose either a ball-and-chain, or complete freedom in joy, what will you choose?