Knowing how to yield is strength.
Use your own light
and return to the source of light.
This is called practicing eternity.
(Tao 52)
Do you want a life? Or do you desire your life? Did you know there was a difference? For the longest time, I didn't. In A Course In Miracles it says: "Let Him, therefore, be the only Guide that you would follow to salvation. He knows the way, and leads you gladly on it. With Him you will not fail to learn that what God wills for you is your will. Without His guidance you will think you know alone, and will decide against your peace a surely as you decided that salvation lay in you alone. Salvation is of Him to whom God gave it for you. He has not forgotten it. Forget Him not and He will make every decision for you, for your salvation and the peace of God in you."
What does this mean?
Spiritual maturity calls us to claim our life and in effect let go entirely of what we want. Said differently, if we choose to grow into spiritual adulthood - life truly becomes more about tuning in and listening, while ultimately letting of of our own agenda. As a spiritual seeker, I used to think we had some kind of say in the course for our lives. Now I would amend this thought.
Although I do believe we are part of our co-creation with the divine, I now recognize that our outward life reflects only the life we live within. To let go of expectation and claim the life that is ours then, we must hold fast to the divine within and follow its light to show us the way. As I see it, for true spiritual seekers, you will need to know three "rites of passage" on your journey home. I call them: Embracing Choice, Embracing Necessity and Surrendering to Divine Intention.
Embracing Choice
Embracing choice begs the question: How is
choosing different than expectation? To me,
expectation involves an egotistical outward
desire for an intended result. As spiritual
adults, it is of great importance to learn
how to give up our need to have things our
way. Easterner's remind us through the
Tao Te Ching. It says: "True mastery
can be gained by letting things go their own
way. It can't be gained by interfering."
In my words, I feel we are all threads and colors in the greater mosaic, and as such we are vessels of the divine. Instead of imposing your will then, look instead to "tune in" with every decision you are faced with. In doing so you can better become aware of your inner world and the way it directs you. As a spiritual seeker, this will become part of your daily "work."
Embracing Necessity
Next, we must aim to understand that some
things simply must happen to shape the
overall framework and development of our
life. Like this or not, necessity is often
a large part of what I think of as our
spiritual infancy - the life we must know in
effort to know who we are not. These events
aim to develop us into who we truly are. As
we come to know ourselves through necessity
of experience, we can evolve into maturity.
It is through these sometime dark places, we
can find our balance and channel to the
divine.
Surrender To Divine Intention
On the road to spiritual maturity - the
process of surrender is the most challenging
of all of our quests. It is most difficult
to give up our ways to live in
divine intention. In the beautiful volume
The Bhagavad-Gita: The Song Of God, the
great Hindu classic, Sri Krishna says: "Who
cares to seek for that perfect freedom? One
man, perhaps, In many thousands. Then tell
me how many of those who seek freedom Shall
know the total Truth of my being? Perhaps
one only."
Sadly many will not dial in to receive their messages. The path is difficult and as we've said before, the roads are narrow and rocky. In the bravery of being a freedom seeker, we involve a spiritual evolution and maturity that requires a discipline of discernment. For those inspired to reach spiritual maturity - surrendering to divine intention is the discernment of the inner messages we receive and follow their direction. It is not important to immediately be clear on this path right away. Or ever. It is only important that one gives in to it and surrenders, no matter the outcome. Life will then show us its way.
For now, we must understand that this notion of surrendering is a process. One that teaches us how to tune in to the frequency of our hearts and souls. This can only come out of the challenging experiences of necessity and a re-membering of ourself that is the part of the greater whole. During the journey we must always remember, our threads, each with a unique quality all are special and perfect as created for their own individual purpose. Daily as we tune in and learn to read and live this purpose we weave our thread through the delicate tapestry of a life.
Taoist Affirmation:
Today I am listening, tuning in to spirit
and discovering its messages for me
the voices I hear clearly,
my assignments delicately handed to me.
although they seem awkward
the outcome is a golden promise of freedom
freedom beyond that of my own expectation
one that could never be reached
on my own.
****
Laura M. Turner is a health journalist,
author and net-preneur.
She hosts:
Beauty
& Body Online: Your Home For Natural
Health,
Wellness & Creative Abundance. Laura is the
Sr. Editor of
The New Body news and Wellness Letter.
To Listen To The Letting Go Of Expectation Podcast Click Here
