Inspired actions

There must be a willingness to listen for Lord’s advice

Editor’s note: Look for a sermon or lesson from Houston’s diverse faiths every week in Belief. When for a purpose I had prayed and prayed and prayed Until my words seemed worn and bare with arduous use,

And I had knocked and asked and knocked and asked again,

And all my fervor and persistence brought no hope,

I paused to give my weary brain a rest And ceased my anxious human cry. In that still moment, After self had tried and failed,

There came a glorious vision of God’s power,

And, lo, my prayer was answered in that hour.

This beautiful poem, “The Answer” by Lowell Fillmore, expresses an answer to the inner dilemma we all face in our spiritual quest.

At some point we come to the reckoning between what is ours to do and what belongs to a Higher Source. We awaken to the power of surrender to an inner still point where we experience the supremacy and presence of God. At this moment of chaos in our country and our world, we need “The Answer” more than ever. During this turmoil, we have stirred the proverbial pot of beliefs and experienced subsequent reactions and actions. The indignity, righteousness and determination within us — and in our outer expressions — stimulate feelings of separation from one another and often from our Divine Source. What a perfect dilemma. There are arguments from every perspective, and justification for each set of beliefs. Along with that comes a rally cry to action. Many believe they know

the answer from their assessment of the current political, social and economic activities. This may, or may not, be action inspired by the infilling of Spirit or of a Divine call. How do we know?

What is fundamental to any spiritual journey is an awareness of a much greater Divine Mystery unfolding. Are we willing to surrender to a Higher Power? We are invited in the midst of our inner frenzy, or the world’s turbulence, to turn our attention to an inner expansion of presence that is one with source.

Look beyond the outer realm of activity, or even the beliefs of the

mind or collective ideas that are dominant in our outer culture. The infinite arises in peace and harmony to awaken an inner awareness when we turn to the silence and stillness within.

We may know this presence as God, Light, Love, Christ, Krishna or Buddha, or call to it as Father, Mother, Jesus, Goddess, Benevolent One, Great Spirit, Principle, The All That Is or the I Am That I Am, or any other name of our choosing. When we open our hearts fully and surrender to the Great Creator, we have the opportunity to experience the beauty and glory that eases releases our view of ourselves as separate from God and one another.

Our actions become inspired and effective when they follow the internal quest for clarity and guidance — not by contemplating things of the world — but born of the deep inner contemplation, meditation and prayers that have no agenda other than to experience and know a wisdom that could only come from of The One and a realization of our interconnectedness.

When we open in this way, the Spirit can nudge us in the most surprising ways. When we go to God indicating we now what needs to happen, being sure of our assessment of God’s plan, then we may shortchange a divine process that leads to greater spiritual growth.

This is a challenging concept, one faced by all great seekers of a higher way. To sit in quiet and wait on the Lord in the midst of something that seems to require immediate action appears to be counter intutive. And yet, transformation of indignation, righteousness or warrior stance is far more common when there is a willingness to wait humbly for clear guidance.

This does not mean we subjugate our responsibility or power to act. Nor does it mean we allow ourselves to be victims or become passive-aggressive bystanders. This means we hit pause and surrender all we “think” we know to allow a greater wisdom to inform us, or maybe even consume us like the moth in the flame.

We let love have its way in us. Inspired action then becomes a natural next movement born of an intrinsic knowing.

How do we know we have heard a Divine answer? The answer has no attached “against” energy or anger. It may come in and fill us with power and conviction, but it is a spiritual power filled with love and strength for that which serves the highest good of everyone, without a need to diminish one for the gain of the other.

When the surrendered soul is drenched in the Presence of Oneness, internal pressure is released. There is no longer a perception of right or wrong, or good or bad.

Judgemental beliefs dissolve away, and all players are seen as part of a greater plan. Awareness awakens into new meaning, and the path forward now rises from within. A harmony is achieved with oneself, with Higher Self, and with the direction that emerges. The final realization of this connection arrives as gratitude floods forth. The Answer is experienced in an inner spiritual glory and the results are undeniable.

May The Answer bless your life, awareness settle gently in your soul, divine wisdom guide your way, and may all your actions be inspired.