I have been in one of those listening modes again as I ponder my own spiritual journey. This is reflected in Lesson 155 “I will step back and let Him lead the way,” It is an echo of what I want my spiritual journey to consist of and what I am working towards.

What is that? It is complete trust in God, a surrendering to Spirit, and letting the Divine to take my hand and lead me where it is I am to be. Not only where I am to be, but what I am to be and what I am to say or do in any given situation.

The “Truly Helpful” prayer helps us do just this. I find it very helpful to begin the day and as I approach various situations in my life. Join with me now and let’s pray it together: “I am here only to be truly helpful. I am here to represent Him Who sent me. I do not have to worry about what to say or what to do, because He Who sent me will direct me. I am content to be wherever He wishes, knowing He goes there with me. I will be healed as I let Him teach me to heal.” (T-2.V.A.18:2-8)

So in stepping back and letting God lead the way, I am recognizing a sense of freedom in all that I do and say. The chains of control are lifted and I no longer have to be concerned about my responses or reactions or even the reactions of others. Judgment is lifted and replaced with Love. In following the call of Spirit, one never knows where one is led.

Recently, I have had two cinematic experiences. The first was watching “Brother Sun, Sister Moon,” the life of St. Francis of Assisi. The second was the video on the life of the Peace Pilgrim. Both St. Francis and Peace Pilgrim relinquished worldly possessions, heard the call of the heart and were inspired by the Divine. How inspiring their lives were! But perhaps that is not for everyone. There is a lesson here though. The lesson that I see is that there is no need to have attachments to the material world; this will not bring happiness. There is no need to have attachments to the world of personal relationships; this will not bring happiness. There is no need to have any attachments to the call of the ego as this again will not bring happiness. Only listening to His Voice will bring me the happiness that I seek.
Happiness is only found within.

How many times have we surrounded ourselves with so much and yet felt so empty inside? Both of the stories of these two glorious souls help to teach us what it means to surrender to the Will of God. We do not have to suffer, sacrifice, or experience emotional pain. We have a choice, in that I choose the Life Source of God.

This reminds me further still of Lesson 102, “I share God’s Will for happiness for me.” We are not alone. We are never alone. When we choose loneliness and anguish, it is just that — our choosing. I have chosen that across the pages of my life. I have made a life these past 40 years of choosing sadness, tragedy, anger, fear and the like. Even as I became ordained as a minister four years ago (2000), I did not realize the joy and peace that I would find in God here today. As I continue to surrender that which I have been attached to, peace keeps flowing as a gentle river in my soul. I do not have to dwell on all the past tragedies of my life, and there are many, mind you. I have been raped, abused, married three times, two of my children molested, gun held to my head, experienced domestic violence and other seemingly traumatic experiences. All along through the years I knew, somehow deep down, that I was a part of God’s Love. I wrote a song in my early 20’s that states, “the fire still burns bright in my soul.” Through all the pain that I had come to know, I knew then and here I am again recognizing the Light that is within me. We carry It always.

Some would look at my past and make judgments about who they think I am. That does not matter. Some would look at it and see my inner strength. Inner strength comes from God. Some would still see God’s Love through it all. The latter is what I choose to see.
God’s Love is always there no matter what it is that you are seemingly going through. You will be strong as you let Him lead you down the road. Accept Him and you accept that the obstacles will be cleared from your path. You are not your past. You are as God created you to be. I am as God created me to be and that is a shimmering reflection of His unconditional, unlimited, undying LOVE.

Where am I going now? That I do not know. I trust only in Him. I walk the road of truth. I walk to Him. The end of Lesson 155 tells us: “Your feet are safely set upon the road that leads the world to God. Look not to ways that seem to lead you elsewhere. Dreams are not a worthy guide for you who are God’s Son. Forget not He has placed His Hand in yours, and given you your brothers in His trust that you are worthy of His trust in you. He cannot be deceived. His trust has made your pathway certain and your goal secure. You will not fail your brothers nor your Self. “And now He asks but that you think of Him a while each day, that He may speak to you and tell you of His Love, reminding you how great His trust; how limitless His Love. In your Name and His Own, which are the same, we practice gladly with this thought today: I will step back and let Him lead the way, For I would walk along the road to Him.”
(W-155.13-14)

How lovely are these thoughts! How glorious to place trust in Him! Let us walk together brothers and hurry Home.