Greetings, TSJ Friends,
Have you ever heard the expression, “Where there is a will there is a way?” What does it mean to you?
I am quite certain that was one of my father’s favorites. And I 
did not like it at the time. This usually (but to his credit – not always) came in a less than inspiring context. You see, he said this when he wanted us to do something that he felt we were perfectly capable of doing and we were resisting.
I remember more than once hearing him say this and watching him simply walk away. We knew what it meant. It meant we did not really want to do whatever it was he expected of us, but if we knew what was good for us we would find a way! We did find ways to accommodate his command. He knew we could find ways if we were willing. And once we realized life would be much smoother if our will aligned with his on the subject, we found creative ways to do the task.
There was another factor that helped too. There was something about my father that made us want to please him. As with most children, sometimes it was because we did not want to face discipline or his disappointment but in general, all five of us grew up wanting to please our father. He was human and like any father or father figure, he made mistakes. But he had a heart for God and strong values including faith, integrity, responsibility, industriousness, and perfection. He embodied those values and we are grateful.
These past few weeks I have been reflecting often about the concept of our wills – not just the legal document people prepare for the future, but our personal will. It seems we have been given the gift of choice. Our will governs our choice of actions. And for people like myself who believe in God I often wonder, “What is God’s will for us?”
It seems clear that God’s will for us is to learn to love, forgive and be grateful at all times. In other words God’s will for us is to experience inner peace and joy. .
So in the middle of the night a few weeks past, while I was pondering many things that seem so wrong on Planet Earth – globally and within families and churches etc. – I found myself praying the “Our Father.” Most of you know the prayer Jesus modeled for us, “Our Father who art in heaven …. holy is your name….your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” This has become my default prayer when night worries overcome me. And bam! There it was … may your kingdom come and your will be done …. here in our physical world as in the world of Spirit where all is well.
We have been given the gift and freedom of will that influences our choice. The battle is always between the ego (which some say is “edging God out”) – which is self-absorbed and self-protective – and the Spirit of Love and forgiveness.
And for all of us as God’s children – just like with my earthly father – when our will is to do His will – things are aligned and new ways of seeing and new ways of being emerge. Of course God’s will is perfect and my father’s will had human written all over it at times.
I have heard a quote many times which Mariannne Williamson takes from The Course in Miracles. “God cannot do for you, what He cannot do through you.” God works through us. But we have been given a personal will. A choice. He will not go against his perfect will and we cannot see the big picture. So to have God work through us means we must will it. When we do, miracles happen. Not like walking on water but miracles of inner transformation which radiate out in the world.
So in tough situations in which my will is anything but Spirit infused… I am realizing that even a speck of willingness to see things differently gives God an entrance. Willingness and gratefulness take over.
When our wills align with His Perfect Will for us there is peace. And it is in this kingdom realm that even we humans want to please God and actually will to not steal, not lie, not be filled with greed and lust and violence. Also when we align with the Will of Love we shall not want to face the Father’s disappointment. We long for HIs approval. Another way of viewing the Ten Commandments might be like this: “Thou shalt not . . . .”. may mean “if you stay close to Me thou shalt not want to do those things that hurt you and your human family.”
When our wills are aligned with God’s will our lives run more smoothly, like a car that is properly aligned. When frustrated with kids or drivers or whatever, one way to check your words and actions is to ask yourself, “Am I willing to see this differently?” We treat others the way we perceive them. Are we willing to see each other through God’s eyes ?
May our travels this week be smooth as we grow more willing to accept God’s Will for us to love and be kind.
Margie
PS… Solomon has listened to me read this and he wants to do what the Shepherd wants too.
