Dear Friends,
“Being Led Beside Still Waters.”
What really heartens me during these times of seeming “break down” in so many facets of Life, is that there are many around the globe holding to Truth, knowing, and trusting. Yes, many, many more than we even know about or realize. So, when we do our daily meditation, reading and contemplation, we are just a small part of the “many” that are HOLDING TO TRUTH AND BEING LIGHTS IN THE WORLD – the peace-keepers, doing the work and living on purpose!
Years ago David Korten, philosopher and economist, wrote: “The deepest moral and spiritual issue of our day centers on the defining choice evoked in the biblical admonition that no one can serve two masters. We must choose between God (the spirit of life) and money.” We do not need reminding of the issues and power-struggles evident in the world today; instead we are going to rediscover the wisdom in the 23rd Psalm, the Lord/Law is my Shepherd…. I do not want.
There is One creative Source; One originating Intelligence to which all of life is connected. In our realization of this, in this moment, we do not want. A beautiful promise! Lying down in green pastures, being led beside still waters and our soul being restored, follows on from our acceptance of the One Power, and then, trusting. Through challenging times and feeling overwhelmed, our main struggle is our inability to trust; trust the Shepherd—trust the Law.
Each of us is here on purpose! Truth resides within, and our Teaching is based on the PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD.. We turn to this Presence inwardly, and as we follow the inward path, our needs (not wants) are already met.
Throughout the Psalm, there is a continued declaration and acceptance of what is. He leads me beside still waters and restores my soul. Even when walking through the valley of the shadow of death…thou art with me. And in Matthew 28:20, we have the promise: I am with you always.
And we need to ask ourselves why it is that so often this turning to God in trust, is our last resort. Due to the many changes in all aspects of daily living we need a firm spot from which to make decisions and face each day. It needs to be “something” to “stand on,” – from which to make new decisions; to face the beginning of each new day with an inner understanding of being sustained.
This brings us back to the “bottom line,” we are either relying on God, following the shepherd, or we are not. It is a reliance with trust—no demand or expectation involved When we try to use Truth to get more or be more in the world, we are denying the whole of the 23rd Psalm.
The next section states: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies (our own thoughts). Thou anointest my head with oil. My cup runneth over. Again this is stated in the present tense. Followed by: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Another way of understanding this statement is: ‘and I will dwell in God-consciousness forever.’ And of course this is through our awareness.
We do not have to get God-consciousness, we don’t have to get Truth. What is required is that we become aware that nothing can change what God created. The 23rd Psalm requires us to realize Truth—the Truth of all being … the Truth that is; and follow the shepherd, always ready to guide us. So that our dwelling is in this God-consciousness forever.
In Closing…….
Through faith we are brought together in a communion of noble purposes. By fear we are separated, each attempting to insure his own survival by exploiting others.
Until faith becomes as natural, normal, and acceptable to the human being as are the fears which now beset him, neither the individual nor the group can experience lasting peace or security. We are impoverished by our fears, even as we are enriched by our faith.
Faith is not sustained by the visible works of man under existing conditions. We must, therefore, depend upon the increasing light within ourselves for the strength of our convictions. The Mystical Christ—Manly P. Hall
Bountiful blessings,
Mallory