Today's
Meditation:
Part
of the reason that we don't devote ourselves to others is
that we fear that if we don't devote ourselves to
ourselves, then we won't be taken care of. We've
learned that life isn't to be trusted, that we have to
make things happen ourselves if we're to have anything
beneficial occur to us or for us.
But
the universe is not indifferent. Call it God, call
it the Universe, call it the Force, call it what you
will--but life is not indifferent. We get from life
what we give to life, and if we spend our time
giving--even emotionally and spiritually, not just
materially--we will be given back to. The trick is
not to give just in order to get back--the trick is to
give fully and unconditionally, without any expectation of
return. Only then will the return be just what we
need in life--perhaps not a load of riches, but enough for
who we are, where we are, and what we need.
I've
had enough experiences in which what I need shows up just
when I need it that I'm starting to realize (it takes me a
while) that my needs will be met. I don't need to
focus all my time and energy on meeting my needs, for when
I do that I find that I end up creating more needs for
myself! Rather, I can spend time and energy working
for others and finding plenty of fulfillment, all the
while seeing my needs lessen even as they're met!
I'm
convinced that if I sincerely trust life and God and the
Universe, if I end up having a million-dollar need (such
as a medical bill), that million dollars would be
there. As I grow older, though, five or ten bucks
here and there will take care of most of my personal
needs. Add to that the needs of the kids and other
people in my life, and the price adds up, but not by that
much. And if I keep my focus on others, my own needs
are met, whether I notice that fact at the time or not.
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