This past Sunday I attended an online Eckankar service. The title for the service, “Is this a gift from God?” caught my interest and wanted to hear what others had to share on the topic.
I listened as several people related personal accounts of unexpected miracles or gifts they had received throughout the years during difficult times.
I believe that the Holy Spirit showers us with unlimited gifts of Divine Blessings and Love at all times, during the good times and the bad ones, as Spirit’s Love is beyond the limitations of time and space. How can I recognize these divine presents?
It is easy to recognize a gift of love when the result is something that I want and expect. Yet there is another side to these divine gifts, one that is difficult to understand and especially to embrace and accept. I am talking about those times when my familiar and safe routines get disrupted suddenly. How can I call these “happenings” a gift of God? Are they really a gift? They feel more like a curse, don’t they?
One of the speakers addressed this point by pointing out the Golden Contract. My ears perked up wanting to know more about the subject matter. I know of the Golden Rule spoken of in the Bible and wondered if this person was referring to it. The Golden Rule calls for “doing onto others as you would onto you.” How would this rule address the negative ‘happenings” as gifts from God? I wondered.
“The Golden Contract,” the presenter explained, “is one that applies to all of life and it reminds that every situation we encounter and every person, animal or plant that crosses our path is a gift from God because the experience that comes along is meant to help to move forward spiritually and to open our heart to recognize and accept God’s love.”
“The key to obtain this level of acceptance and recognition during any event in our lives,” the presenter continued to explain further, “”is in the keeping an attitude of gratitude in every circumstance. This attitude keeps the heart center open and allows for the Divine to work Its “magic” for us and through us and to begin to resolve the situation according to God’s Will, not ours.”
“The healing and refreshing waters of Divine Love enter our heart (when it is open in gratitude),” he continued, “and flow out of it reaching and touching everything and everyone around us. The Love of God begins to soften the raging fears, shows us solutions where there appeared to be none, opens doors where things were blocked, transforms behaviors and brings back harmony and joy to our surroundings.”
“Love works every time in every circumstance as long as we allow It , do not try to control outcomes to our liking and needs and have the patience for Love to do the work in God’s way and time. Basically, we need to stay out of God’s way (instead of telling God how to do it and what to do) and we make ourselves available to be Its humble vehicle for Love to flow through (by keeping the gratitude attitude).” He concluded
This is easier said than done, I thought to myself. We have been conditioned to react to life’s circumstances and to keep tight control in fear of losing it. What can I do in order to have control over an emotional or mental reaction? How can I obtain a certain level of detachment from a trying situation in order to see clearly instead of reacting?
A dear friend of mine told me once that what he does in these circumstances is to “take a pause and breathe deeply.” This allows the nervous system to reset and keep calm.
There are many practices that can be used to restore balance to an agitated mind, some people resort to prayer, others to meditation, going out in nature, listening to soft music, exercising…whatever works.
I have found that if I engage my mind to figure out a solution in any situation I end up more agitated than I was to begin with. I feel stuck inside an endless loop that continues to look at the same thing over and over and doesn’t really give me alternatives or solutions. When I listen to my mind and follow the reactive instructions I usually end up compounding the problem instead of solving it.
Over the years I have been practicing “the pause;” to remain calm, breathe deeply and trust God. At this point, I turn to gratitude, gratitude for God, for His Love for all of Life. I may not know what God’s plan is at the moment but I trust that God always has my best interest and well being at heart. In time, if I continue to practice gratitude and don’t forget to breathe deeply, my mind will stop running around for answers and let the Heart take over. It is here when miracles happen. (I will write about these in another post)
This way of engaging life may seem difficult at first but I have found that it is actually the easy way. I am slowly learning how to live life according to the Golden Contract and the Golden Rule. In my spiritual practice I use both prayer and contemplation. In my prayers I ask God to show me what I need to learn from any circumstance and to show me the Love within it. During contemplation I sing the word HU out loud, a high vibration sound that connects me to Spirit and allows me to listen to God’s nudges.
I enjoyed the service and the golden nuggets that were shared so that I can turn my focus back on God every time and under any situation. I do want to return to living in God’s real universe and rhythm.
I want to encourage you to take the time to contemplate on these golden nuggets, see what they mean to you and see for yourself how they can transform your life.
Blessings to all.
The Road Home 