I recently watched
a video on the notion of ‘Abundance’ in our lives, a mighty subject. I’m
of a mind that it never hurts to get yet another perspective, and had anticipated
finding an example of a happy marriage between Self-Help and Spirituality.
(The speaker is a noted author, and now travels broadly passing on his
particular wisdom, though I won’t mention his name) However, having an
open mind doesn’t mean I let just anyone inside to freely cavort, let alone
stay. Maybe I’m getting ‘crusty’. But I just can’t fathom one person having
all the answers, signed, sealed, and delivered…no matter whom they have
conversations with (there’s a clue to the author…)
Firstly, there was no recipe whatsoever for how to “make
Lemonade “ – which is something I do think we all need in abundance. No,
it was more about being ‘enlightened’ enough to attract The Good Stuff.
Now, the author/speaker said that he had, sometime in his past, spent a
year on the streets, although what he learned there was notably and rather
sadly neglected. However, he did devote a substantial segment to the notion
“Money is not Evil!” and that even being “filthy rich” does not necessarily
conflict with Right Living (Yes, well, we all know that guns don’t kill,
either…). Paraphrasing, ‘We need to make friends with it - for if God is
all things, God is money too!’ Well said, what? To make his point, he then
went on at length (unabashed) to justify his $550 pair of shoes, and all
I could think to ask was, did some talented Cobbler labouring in a foreign
country get a wonderful paycheck that week? …Or was it the commissioned
clerk at the posh store on Rodeo Drive… Yep. Money is power. But is it
a tool, or a reward - and who carries the true cost?
In a world where Right Thinking is increasingly sought,
certainly it’s not my job to shoot down any would-be ‘Guru’, but to humbly
suggest that we each possess the power of discernment. Nor am I saying
that money is indeed evil. But much like guns, while perceived as prudent
to possess, it’s never seemed to enhance relationships, which is what we’re
basically about, no? And what we do with and comes of all our ‘riches’
is in the Final Tally, worldly, or ethereal – for we inevitably create
ripples. Yet, if we were to talk about true Abundance, how about being
taught Gratefulness… Mindfulness… or how to amass the inner wherewithal
to make positive changes despite Life’s obstacles, or to keep peace with
reasons for things we cannot grasp at a given time, or to be able to simply
be ourselves, for richer, or poorer… and be accepted. Many apparently hunger
for those with “The Secret Recipe”, hence the guru worship… But the trouble
with Abundance, I find over and again, is that we often don’t realize what
we truly have until we lose it… and that Abundance for the few, usually
comes at the cost of countless others. There’s a little Yin in your Yang,
Sir…
Power is not what you
have, but what you do with it.
Having is not owning.
Nor is being, knowing;
We inhabit Time,
yet rent space ~
Borrow breath
Lend courage
Invest Love
Share thoughts
Spend tears, of Sorrow, and Joy…
We concede that Life owns Us ~
Yet who is not rich?
