Basic Progress - Prologue

The joys and excitement of life lay ahead, not behind. To date, every attempt to manipulate, maneuver, orchestrate, control, coordinate, and exploit had failed with a clattering thunderclap. Goals, plans, ploys, and cunning tactics had long since been fatigued. Strategy, ambition, and aspirations were partners in the disintegration of purpose and function. Attempts to be 'somebody' had reverberated delinquency and deterioration, echoing mental incoherence, and spiritual indigence. In the arena of life, I was a pauper. It is likely that anyone who persists in avoiding God just doesn't understand. I hadn't, and what I had understood was a lie. The very inner yearning and hard headed approach that had driven me down the path of rebellion had, again, boxed me into a blind alley. I had no option. I had to move forward with God or else. Certainly, a backdoor approach to the Master, but it was the only door remaining.

Again, I returned to return the basics. I devoted myself into helping others. It had worked before. I started to work more diligently with men who were struggling with the same circumstances and issues that I had been forced to confront. I began to help people develop a relationship with the Great I Am.

Introducing the God idea to a downtrodden soul is quite illuminating. Problems arise when individuals attempt to hang on to preconceived notions that haven't worked in the past. Religion and family have taught us certain principles and truths about the Divine Source that may or may not be correct. Right or wrong is not the issue; Function and access is. With any relevant relationship that encounters a roadblock, a restructuring or even a new beginning is essential to the required permanence.

I recall one friend, Leland, who had the hardest time in developing a concept of God that he could deal with. I asked him to write down those things that he understood about God, both good and bad. The exercise is one that would allow the sufferer to begin a new partnership with a higher power by redefining what God is. Certainly, we do not change "The Great I Am" in any way, but it does make sense that our perception of God affects our relationship with Him.

Leland began by writing socially acceptable definitions; God is love, God is good, God is the provider and He sent his Son to die on the cross so I can be forgiven! It was no more than a couple of paragraphs later that he began to honestly appraise his concept of God; He hates me, He does things for others, but He certainly hasn't done anything for me. His standards are too high. He is condemning and mean, etc... He causes earthquakes and hurricanes and snuffs out people, like me, who are worthless. My friend wrote two full pages of hatred and depressing ideas of what he thought God is.

When he finished, I read it and we discussed his thoughts. It became obvious to him that he had been appealing to the wrong god. In fact, he stated that it was more like the Devil. I asked him if he wanted to rid himself of that failing concept and he agreed. I pulled a plant out of a small clay pot, he rolled up the pages and set them afire in the dirty 'urn.' I assured him that God would show Himself, if he honestly sought Him. I could see relief spreading throughout this man's facade as he destroyed a misconception of God that many of us share. We were both quiet as his old bitter and mean god was burned.

Leland, using a black marker, forcefully stamped out the last flickers. I watched as he reached into the clay pot and inquisitively pulled out the only piece of paper remaining. It was roughly the size of a quarter. The revelation necessary came on two singed lines burnt out of his warped credo. On the top line were two words: "there is," beneath it, the word, "need!" "There is need."

Leland had dared to be open to the Divine and the Divine had made His presence known. It 'I AM THAT I AM,' is good enough for Moses, uh... sounds like a great place to start.

The crossroads of maintenance and progress often seems to confuse the spiritual traveler. The delusion that maintaining spirituality without sustained action is fueled by the inert thought that a decision is somehow valid without the necessary efforts to consummate the choice! It is the experience of those gone before us that the many who waltz lackadaisically through the beginning stages rarely have the fortitude to withstand the looming turbulence of the necessary reconstruction of personality. The retreat back into the obsession, compulsion, and eventual relapse is inevitable -merely a matter of time. In therapy, we might understand the reasons behind our behavior, but the frustrating truth remains: overcoming our self imposed difficulties is initiated through self diagnosis (or full acceptance of external diagnosis), processed by self discipline, and necessarily insured by the movements in our lives of the Creative Power which is God.

Why I considered it a stroke of genius to pursue the idea that God could handle things better than I is added testimony to my need for Him to do it, - and immediately. I mean, what part of me did I want to keep? I certainly didn't want to be unhappy... I was reassured that God wanted me to be content and productive and by the way, "If you had hired the person to manage your life the way it has been managed the past few years, how much would you pay him?"

The elements of a total resignation to God's will are to be encountered every day. This event only begins the process. There is more to do. A decision is always consummated be the effort necessary to render the choice. Humans are uniquely equipped with the ability to direct their own lives, set their own priorities and values, and formulate opinions. Rarely do we take note of these guiding principles in a sense that would alter them to our benefit. Becoming what the Creator had in mind for him or her upon conception is the ultimate goal. God will not force us. We are not machines, He gave us brains, He expects us to use them!

Obviously, the task of understanding the Divine is impossible. If He was small enough for me to understand, He wouldn't have been big enough to do what He has done for me. That being said, as we venture down the spiritual path, there are characteristics of the Holy One that we can know. We begin to understand how God works and How he shows Himself in this world and our lives. We develop a sense of belonging. We begin to regain our self respect. We often sense that we are walking hand in hand with the creator of the Universe. At other times we are frustrated that we cannot be more mature. Sometimes we revert to old habits, but because we now have a functional understanding of God, we are not in danger of returning to the loneliest street in the world. God knows we are human. He knows we will fail. If He didn't, He wouldn't have done for mankind what He has done. Understanding what God has done compels people to talk about it. If we don't talk about God and Jesus, --we just haven't yet understood His personal grace and love.

What exactly does God do? It has become evident that he bends over backwards to afford all of us, His most adored of creations, a chance to love Him. God and His angels cheer us onward. He provides strength and ability. He supplies helpful people and above all else, a wailing wall of comfort. When the exercises of life get tough, He understands. He takes care of us. He loves us so much, He will allow us a freedom to do His will, or not to. When we do, He is there to lift us up and take care of us!

A wonderful analogy is the carpenter who hired an apprentice. He asked his worker to cut the trimming on a wall. Being inexperienced, the helper cautiously informed his boss that he had never done this before. The master carpenter told him to give it his best shot; that there wasn't anything the apprentice could do that the master couldn't fix!

Of prime importance to God is that mankind have a freedom of choice. It was illustrated in the garden of Eden by the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. What good is an instinctual adoration? If it was intuitive, easy or natural to turn away from the desires, passions and magnetism of ungodly pleasure, what delight would He have in us making a decision to become one of his kids?

Humans are uniquely equipped with the ability to direct their own lives, set their own priorities and values, and formulate opinions. Rarely do we take note of these guiding principles in a sense that would benefit us. Becoming what the Creator had in mind for him or her upon conception is the ultimate goal. God will not force us. We are not machines, He gave us brains, He expects us to use them!

What is it that God doesn't do? He will not keep you from deciding not do better yourself. He will not force Himself on you. He loves you that much. God will not do for me what I will not do for myself. He will not give me more of what I cannot handle now. What is it that we expect Him to do? Every relationship requires cooperation. I am not big on percentages, but, He already has provided ninety-eight percent of the effort! We have a two percent solution, but, it is an important two percent and,.... at point blank range.

I wonder what spirituality is... It is certainly a word that, if not abused, is overly used. It has been my understanding that it is the "conscientious efforts toward and the conscious respect for the contiguous active presence of the Holy in our midst." This definition puts the onus on the individual. The burden of spiritual maturity is on the person attempting the disciplines. This is where the practice of the disciplines can be effective. They are designed to help us be more aware of a loving Presence of the Origin, the Ultimate, and the Eternal. The pursuit of Christian perfection is the exercise of His will in all of our affairs, and the conscious enhancement of our capabilities to image the Father to others in this world. It involves stewardship and toleration. It is devotion and discipleship. It requires a persevering spirit of dedication that moves our will to a practiced prayer life and a habitual incessant return to Godly activities that do not always seem to perform any reasonable nor productive short term result, but always stabilize our world and the lives of those around us.

The problem with that definition of spirituality is the absolute negligence of the handiwork of the master craftsman. The bulk of spirituality is the activity of God in our lives. The concept of the "mere presence of God" is an absolute travesty. God is fascinated with His work. As the Holy Spirit moves throughout our lives, He is marvelously engaged with each detail. His most effective work is done under pressure. Crisis is when the opportunity for intimate proximity to the Holy is at its peak. The idea that sufficient mysticism or asceticism in of itself will engage God leaves the divine pursuit of Mankind out of the equation. God is not only active but the main operative in spiritual development! We merely cooperate!

The molding of a human being in our physical state requires a tremendous amount of torque over a sustained period of time. This repetition is akin to the sculptors chisel. The initial molding of the stone comes in hard blows; large chunks of rock are broken off. The initial changes are phenomenal and noticeable to all. As the artist develops his image of the intended piece he may sharpen his chisel or he may use small chisels, files and even fine tipped awls. The work becomes tedious and often there seems to be no end to the product. In the hands of a great craftsman, the longer he takes to finish the better the final result will be. There is a more delicate finish. The intricate detail fascinates all that take time to look. The most impressed is the one who was involved in the process. This story may not impress you, but it sure has convinced me!

True spiritual maturity is nothing more than becoming attuned to Divine craftsmanship. We remove our will and surrender to the Almighty in such a way as to Let Him be the boss. When He is in charge: we find the time for prayer and meditation, we are confronted with those to whom we owe amends, we are provided for beyond our means and in spite of ourselves. Any dependence on anybody or anything other than on God will fail. People are going to fall short. You will be let down, period.

That's what I was doing that created that hole in my belly with the wind blowing through it. I was dependent on me and I needed others to affirm me. I thought I was special, or it was the car I was driving or the job I had, or the 'babe' I had underneath my arm. It's just not that way for me anymore.

The fact of the matter is that most of us do not know what is good for us. Is there such a thing as happiness outside the realm of God? All I know is that I didn't know that I didn't know. What I had not experienced I did not miss. More importantly I did not understand that it was available. I now know that God is available and that He loves me. He cares for all of us and is actively trying to help us be what is best for us. How in the world could I have not had this passion?

It is mind boggling to consider how God shows himself in spite of our blindness. To be blessed the way I am and yet to struggle with ignorance and foolishness. I have need. I have craving for God's power and love. I can claim a relationship with my Creator that is significant. I believe that God will bring anyone with a mere spark of interest to a new place in life. It is not easy, nor is it meant to be, but it is not all that difficult --I just had to look around me.

I tell this story with many of my old friends in mind. Sure, they might be inspired and, in most cases, be real surprised, but there are many new friends who have settled for less than the prize. The people that struggle the most with surrender to God are those who have the most. The reason they struggle is because they have no felt need.

Folks, the slums do not have an address. It doesn't matter if you are wealthy, poor, ugly, attractive, weak, muscular, short, tall or just plain old dumb. You need your creator.

Let's face it. Cars are not designed to run on buttermilk and people are not designed to run on self will. However wonderful your relationship with God, there is more to experience.

There is need.