Alice, my classmate of the 70’s, said she did not give to the poor, that she only gave to the prosperous. At first hearing this, we, her fellow classmates, were taken aback at what seemed selfish and self-promoting. She went on to explain that she was speaking about the realm of ideas. In other words, she did not give energy to the idea of “poor,” knowing that her energy would eventually harden into facts. She explained that she gave her energy to ideas of “prosperity,” aware that her energy would eventually harden into facts. It was an “aha” moment for all of us. We realized it was her way of saying, “where attention goes, energy flows.”
Alice had reconciled within her mind that if God, the Omnipotent Good, is all there is; then the idea of poor is a false idea…. a false belief that keeps repeating itself, until it is replaced with the truth. Therefore, she decided not to perpetuate the idea of “the poor,” by giving it her attention.
Now this does not mean that Alice did not give to charitable organizations. In fact, she was very generous in this regard. However, her giving was with a consciousness of prosperity. She let her idea of an abundant and lavish universe be her motivation. Her consciousness of Truth, followed by action proved her point; i.e., there is sufficiency right here and right now for every person to have enough food, a comfortable home and a sense of belonging.
Giving, in the context it is being used here, is “affirming what is already so” or “bestowing a blessing.” Of course one cannot give what he/she does not “have” an awareness.
The enlightened ones of the ages agree with Alice. The mystic poet Kahlil Gibran said, “You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”
William Shakespeare understood the power of right thinking when he said, “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” In other words, it is the way we think, or our perception of reality that ignites the Law of Mind action, which in turn, mirrors our beliefs into the world of people, places, and things.
Jesus said: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27) His exalted consciousness gave to humanity what already belongs to humanity. His self-giving was a consciousness of the Peace at the center of all beings.
When I ponder, ‘what is mine to do;’ I ask myself what does my consciousness have to give, and what action am I willing to take to prove the reality of my gift.
The Psalmist said, “Be Still and Know that I AM God.” (Psalm 46:12) I have come to understand that what I have; I Am. My spiritual practice is to keep my attention and energy on that within me that I would like to see in the world. My self-giving-ness of the divine ideas within me, coupled with my corresponding action are sure to harden into the facts of life.
“I am a magnificent being with an abundance of power and love to give.”
StillPoint 