this is part of a multi-part series on discernment. what are my ways of discerning what some traditions would call “god’s will” and what others might call in alignment with highest good for me or what deepak chopra calls communication from our nonlocal intelligence? i will use the terms “god’s will,” “highest good” “nonlocal communication” interchangeably throughout the series so look alive. click through the first post (how do i discern what is alignment with my highest good and why might i want to?) to see what lies ahead or what i’ve already brought forth.
the energy of spirit is responsive and affirmative. it always says yes. so if i don’t ask for help, i am energetically saying “i’m fine, i don’t need help.” so spirit says, “yes! i love you. let me know when you need help.”
if i say, “i can’t get through a day without eating 2 pints of ben & jerry in secret,” spirit says “yes! i love you. let me know when you need help.”
if i say, “i’m broke. i’m unemployed. my life sucks,” spirit says “yes! i love you. let me know when you need help.”
but when i turn to spirit and ask for help spirit is only too thrilled to respond “yes! i love you. what do you need?”
i mentioned a post or two ago my revelation that it is not possible to displease god but it is possible to please god. the story of the prodigal son in luke 15:11-32 of the holy bible is an example of that. the story goes that a wealthy father has two sons. one of them is the obedient good son who stays with the father and does everything he is supposed to. the other is the “prodigal” son who asks for his inheritance early, leaves, squanders it and then returns later in life penniless and just asking for a job with the pigs.
when the prodigal son returns the father welcomes him home with a huge feast (which infuriates the good son). the story shows us how thrilled the big love that is god is when we make any move toward it. it gives us full choice to squander our inheritance and even when we do so, we are welcomed back. even when we have made exactly no move in its direction and done nothing “right” we are welcomed back.
notice, however, that there was one thing the prodigal son had to do to get back in his father’s graces: he had to admit that he needed help and to ask for help.
now i want to tell you a story about a time that i was in despair and asked for help and what i received, but i’m going to leave that for another day.
