Living life with purpose
I was once asked about human motivation and what drives it. The individual that asked the question was really searching for answers on a purely intellectual level. He had had little spiritual or church experience, which meant he probably had little or no religious bias. The following is how I addressed the question and the answer I gave him.
There are two basic drives within every person, the human and the divine. Humanly we seek to be safe, to build fences, and to be secure. Divinely, we are created to express, to expand our horizons, and grow. If we stayed within the human drive exclusively, we would still be inhabiting caves and avoiding contact with the outside world, if we would be living at all. Fortunately, mankind has marched forward with divinely driven inspiration toward greater knowledge and opportunities. Otherwise, Moses would have stayed with his wife, Sephora, and never ventured to Egypt; Jesus would have continued in the carpentry business with Joseph; and Columbus would stay by the seashore and not sail to the new world.
In everyone’s life we run into both ways at looking and acting upon every issue. When issues arise, some want to hide, while others rush in to confront and deal with it, much like the firemen that rushed into the twin towers during 9/11. Thank God we don’t always deal with such serious matters, but we would hope we had the courage to face what ever life has to hand us. Actually, that is what the teaching of metaphysics is all about, which is developing the consciousness of wholeness, where-in one would have the knowledge, strength and courage to live their life with confidence and strength.
Some have asked if Religious Science is Bible based. I can say yes, in that I can quote scriptures as well as others pointing to the Truth. However, I can likewise take other sacred writings and do the same. Truth was around long before there was a written language. Our current Bible consisting of sixty-six books was put together about eighteen hundred years ago. It has great stories and great truths, but that is only part of human history. Whether you read the Bible or not, you are making history right now.
We can listen to the news, read the dire predictions, or ignore them completely, we all have a choice to make. Are we going to be reactive or are we going to take charge of our emotional nature. I’ll give you a hint. Out of control reactionary procedures lead to poverty, sickness and death. That should lead you in the right direction. We don’t need to be afraid or run and hide. God is our strength, courage and wisdom. Entrepreneurs, risk takers and adventurers go beyond established norms. Some of those same individuals have gone on to become financially independent.
Each of us can move forward with that same strength as we let love be our guide. It is love for life that has propelled us into this age and the next. You are a precious child of the most high. Do not shirk your responsibility to yourself. Take Charge!
Say to yourself, “I am One with all the Power there is. I am One with all the Intelligence there is. I am One with all the Love there is. My love goes out into the world and does not return void. I lift up those about me in strength and wisdom.
God is Love and Loving You Right Now!
(The Rev. Dr. Walt Sharer is minister at Bishop Church of Religious Science, located at 129 E. Line St., Bishop. Rev. Freda Lindsay and Rev. Walt officiate the weekly, Sunday services at 10 a.m. You can hear Rev. Walt’s message on “The Devotional Hour” on Sierra Wave KSRW 92.5 FM Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. The church can be reached at (760) 873-4195 for more information.)