Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:2-4)
How might I do this? First, how about relegating INTELLECT to its proper place on our behavior scale—way near the bottom
INTELLECT refers to the faculty of the human mind responsible for reasoning, understanding, and abstract thought, distinct from emotion or instinct. This appears not to be an aspect of childhood—to the contrary.
Then there is SELF-HONESTY.
“Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves.” — Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book, preamble, chapter 5.
So says the ‘Bible’ of Alcoholics Anonymous, The Big Book.
I was always skeptical, befuddled and intrigued by “constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves.”
Does this allude to defective genetics or to off the chart levels of narcissism and self-indulgence that keep feeding and nurturing fantasies instead of self honesty?
No, it is closer to making strides with SWADHYAYA—self study.
Then there is H.O.P.E: Helping Other People Everyday
If when waking up in the morning, my first thoughts are HOW CAN I HELP, HOW CAN I SERVE, rather than, “My tooth hurts,” the chances of having a really good day are maximized.
Looking within—and doing it with self-honesty—affords us the opportunity to find the answers we seek…including why we are here, what are we meant to do and what are the best ways to do it.
But the ultimate goal is to do what is needed to help those less fortunate.
And one need not look far for the unfortunate in this time that dark forces are flexing their muscles.
So we have discussed here what might be considered antidotes to the subject of last month’s article—FEAR.
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR AT HAND, we have been told. Let us grab the ring while on this merry go round of life.