It's Only Human

Today is the 2nd Sunday in our Lenten Observation this year … And as you know the topic or theme for this year we are focusing on is “Your Higher Calling” …

As you have been seeing, the Daily Meditation E-Mails (which by the way are also available on the Church Website) are steering us in a way that is showing us that we are unique Creations of a Loving God who is constantly working with us, molding and leading us in ways that bring us closer to our Higher Calling in this lifetime …

I had someone say to me “you know I think I have finally found my nitch in life … It's taken most of my life to get here, but at least now I am pretty sure about what I am doing” … And it was said in a way that expressed a lot of “regret” over past issues and choices … Sort of a “well I think I finally have got it right” … And it seemed kind of sad to me that they are missing the whole point … Life is not for us to be right all the time, life is for us to learn, to experience with a final goal in mind … You can't experience the thrill of running and winning a race if you have won before you start … What would be the point of going to school to pursue various degree's if you already had them ??? So I pointed out to them that they are actually right where they should be in Life I would say - the game is in the 4th quarter now, and they have a pretty good idea of how they going to win it …

You know a funny thing about they way we all see ourselves and others getting to our goals, responding to our Higher Callings, is sometimes so filled with almost fairy tale like ideas and goals that it makes me laugh … I mean it is like all of us think or feel that if we are all “good”, if we all follow God's Plan, nothing should go wrong with our lives, everything should be like a Courier and Ives Painting … And yet nothing could be further from the Truth …

First, I have come across many people in my journey to here and now, and no one, at least so far, has not had their share of issues - everyone in their own unique way always has something that is nagging at them, sort of like biting at their heels as they walk through life … It matters not whether they have endless or limited financial resources, what social strata they are immersed in, it is one of our most common denominators … It is a fact of life …
And another seems to be that when something “bad” whether on a personal level or on a national level befalls them, we instantly look to their Karmic position … “Oh my, God is angry with them” or “I wonder what they did to deserve that?” or my favorite “Well God is obviously trying to get their attention” … I know there are plenty more, but you get my drift … Somehow, almost by default in our thinking we go to this “bad happened - they must not be doing good” kind of logic … Well relax, because it goes back as far as recorded history - it is, for whatever reason, something that is almost pre-wired into our psyche … And yet, in almost all cases, it could not be more wrong …

Understand me, I am not saying marvelous changes, wondrous Blessings have not or do not come from some terrible accident - I mean we have all seen how tragedy can be the defining moment in a persons life - the hinge pin on which a total realignment of priorities can occur … It can bring Nations, Neighborhoods and families together … It can inspire great and powerful innovation and invention to try to ensure it does not happen again … Whether your looking on a personal or national or worldwide perspective, the “Bad” in our lives usually has positive outcomes eventually …

Now the bigger question is this - are these seemingly innocent victims being punished for some unseen sin ??? Did they bring this on themselves ??? Are YOU being punished right now ??? Do you deserve all this “bad” or “Discord” in your life right now ??? What did YOU do to ever deserve this kind of treatment ??? Well here is a real kicker - the answer to all these questions may be resounding NO'S !!! No you or they are not being punished, No they did not bring this on themselves, they or you don't deserve it … It is just an unavoidable part of life in it's present form and incarnation … Again I guess the argument could be made that it is part of a “fallen” world, some sort of resonance left over from an “Original Sin” … But that is not important to us right now, what is important is that we must see that “we” cannot be sitting in blame or judgment of ourselves or others … We must absolutely accept that we are today, are the end result of ALL that has happened to us up to and including this day … We are ever evolving, ever changing and learning with each new challenge …

Now this kind of questioning and wonder is nothing new - as a matter of fact Our Lord was asked by His followers what the “sin” was of those who had been killed by a wall and some scaffolding that collapsed back in His day … What had these people done to bring that horrible tragedy upon them ??? If you go to the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 13: 4-5 you will see the incident of when a wall and some scaffolding collapsed and a number of workers and people around them were killed … Our Lord's followers asked Him “well, what was their Sin ??? What brought this tragedy upon them ???” … As you can read, He said “Do you think they were worse than you ??? I tell you the answer is No” … It was just a terrible tragedy, a real case of 'Bad things sometimes happen to Good People' …

And that is what you need to really be focused on today and as we continue in our Lenten Journey - You are a Child of God, Greatly Loved and Protected, and yet sometimes things will happen that you do not enjoy, want or like … They may seem overwhelming - they may seem indiscriminate and horrible … They may seem greatly unfair and underserved … And yet, it is from those very things the person you are today has grown … And without even just one of them, you would not be who you are … Which is another important reason to be at Peace with yourself …

A magical thing happens when you actually, really, totally accept and wrap your mind around the fact that you are exactly where God wants you to be IF your following this “Higher Calling” … A Higher Calling does not exempt you from life's worries and anxiety … But it does give it purpose, it gives it meaning … Your not being punished by some angry God who is demanding payment - your being Lovingly Guided and painstakingly Taught by a Loving Parent who is seeking nothing but your very best, who wants nothing from you except the absolute best for you … It is only when you allow your worries, your fear and feeling of lack to control things that everything begins to look hopeless …

So as we go into our Meditation this morning and as we continue with our Lenten Journey, I ask that you keep pushing yourself towards the understanding and acceptance that, YES, this is right where God wants me to be - God is placing in my life all the people, places and things I need right to hear and respond to My Higher Calling …

Namaste'