Saying For Today: Give yourself to the Giver, and giving will move through you, naturally, spontaneously without your feeling any need to be a giver.
*Brian Wilcox. 'Flowers of Fall'.
For in truth it is life that gives unto life~while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.
*Kahlil Gibran. The Prophet.
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I was Senior Chaplain but volunteers led Sunday worship in the cell units at the jail, and I took off work on Sundays. This Sunday I was called in to lead a worship service in one of the units for females. The person who usually led the worship meeting in that unit had taken a leave of absence. I went in and entered the small room where worship would be and to my amazement it appeared only one inmate wanted to attend. The other women were enjoying television.
I was a little upset. The ego talk inside began, "Here, I come out of my way to offer this, and these women do not even care enough to say goodbye to a TV for a short time."
The one woman who had entered the room alone, she could see I was frustrated. I thought I had hidden it, but not. She and I had enjoyed a positive sharing on a number of occasions. She said, looking at me intently, kindly, "But I'm here, and I'm important." And that struck me as true. I smiled, and I said, "You're right." We began the meeting with a time of prayerful silence, and just then two inmates entered the room. We four had an enjoyable sharing for about two hours. And from the time that dear one kindly reminded me of how important she was, the thought of or concern with those who chose not to participate, that never entered my mind again. We four were all needed, for we were there, together. How beautiful!
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It doesn't matter how many you serve, just serve, even if one.
True. One is as important as a multitude. In the mathematics of Spirit, one is as significant and as many as one million. Also, when you serve one, you serve yourself, and you serve the Giver. See, Life is present to give Itself, you are the instrument through which Grace plays its music of Love. Detain from seeing yourself as the doer, you are not, even though doing is happening. Do not measure success by numbers or response: true success, that of the heart, cannot be a matter of measurement or response. What is given through you, even if no one appreciated it, that is success, for success is first fidelity to the giving itself. In Spirit, which is oneness, you are both instrument and music, but you are not the Source in yourself of either. Give yourself to the Giver, and giving will move through you, naturally, spontaneously without your feeling any need to be a giver. Once you identify yourself as giver, you have put yourself in a position of power over, not communion with. In giving from the heart, heart meets heart, and shared-sharing occurs.
Why were you upset?
That was self-righteousness within me, implanted there and nurtured from early in life. I cherish the memory of that dear woman reminding me of her importance, awakening me to truth. For that few moments, she was my teacher.
Always remember that Love is present to fulfill Itself in relationship, and it does not first matter the how or whom, but that you say "Yes" to it happening. The Sunlight is the light of the same Sun, whether one window is opened or a myriad for the Light to enter and give Itself and, so, fulfill Itself.
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*The theme of "Lotus of the Heart" is 'Living in Love beyond Beliefs.' This work is presented by Brian K. Wilcox, of Maine, USA. You can order Brian's book, An Ache for Union: Poems on Oneness with God through Love, through major online booksellers.
