Let the Path Come to You

Last week, I was being interviewed by a warm, communicative woman named Maggie, about my life.

I shared with her my passion for my work in the world, for my commitment to make a difference in the lives of others, and to awaken people to their own commitment, passion, joy, and heart. I shared my personal story — where my interest in personal/spiritual development began, in the first place, with whom I studied, in what ways the spiritual principles I was embodying made a difference in the enterprises and the people with whom I worked…the whole story. She wanted to know.  She was a great listener.  It was so easy to talk with her.

We were enjoying one another. Toward the end of the interview, she asked me, “What are your goals for the future?”  

Somehow, at that moment, her question did not resonate with me.  I do connect with what is Sourceful and create commitments from intention. I hold creating intention like an energetic force that moves the universe. And, then, I let go of my attachment to the result. That “letting go of attachment to the result” seems to be very important just to stay sane in these days of uncertainty and rapid change. You may have heard of the Yiddish proverb, “ Man plans. God laughs.”

So, it is best not to get ourselves all bound up in our expectations and attachments. People can do that with goals.

And then. I simply trust the universe. Like Obi-Wan tells Luke in Star Wars; “Trust the Force.” 

Of course, sometimes, being human, I don’t trust the universe: I worry instead and then I strategize, and figure things out, and try to control things. Becoming lost in that world of effort, I forget who I am.

So, when I start to worry and become aware of that (the key is always awareness), I know it’s time to stop, sit, and return to trusting the universe, to coming into that Silence, that Stillness, where the inner Voice of wisdom can speak, and I can Listen.

A brief, fleeting thought of making something up around goals passed across my mind, and I instantly let go of it. That would have been awful!  I would have found myself in a world of pretense, looking good, "saying the right thing," etc. So, I just told the truth.  And that is easy. Because then I didn't have to pretend or dissemble in any way. 

So, I said, “You know? I don’t have goals. Instead, I listen deeply to my inner guides inside and follow their teachings. They seem to be there for me, to lead the way.”  And I shared the story about how my poetic Muse guided me through some inner work I needed to do to create a new relationship with my daughter in 2019.

She appreciated it. She thanked me for my honesty and transparency. Not only that, she began to share with me, personally, and deeply, about her own life.

 If I get quiet enough, slow down enough, and listen deeply enough, I can hear the wisdom, the Teaching, that comes from my inner guides. I know we all can have access to our own inner wisdom if we are willing to enter the Stillness, attune to the Presence of the Guides, adjust our antennae, ask whatever question is ours to ask at the time, and listen.  

As you know by now, reading this blog, my guide, or guides, frequently guide me through poetry.   Throughout the last 5 years, and the uncertain and uneven times we have been in, I have listened.  

And I have learned.

And I have been given access to a great deal of Peace.

The following, “Let the Path Come to You,” was one of those teaching poems that came through me from my Muse, as I was struggling with being confused by the many different paths I could take.

May it inspire you and settle you, as it did me.

Let the Path Come to You

Let the Path come to you.
It will, you know.
You do not have to seek it
or strive for it
or work for it,
or exhaust yourself,
or push yourself or another.

You just
have to stop, 
retreat into your Self
where you can see,
discover, and find
what you love
in the inner heart of your heart
and follow that path.

Like the Great Blue
who simply opens his great wings
and becomes a straight arrow ̶
long feathered tail ̶
long neck, long beak
everything aligned,
in tandem with the world,
flying northwards
towards his next home,
compass set, purposeful.

His wings uplifted easily
by the winds of Grace.
He follows, effortlessly,
 his own north star. 

All you need to know,
All you need to follow
is "what brings you alive."

Here is an opportunity for inner work:

If doing so calls to you, you might want to stop, just breathe deeply, be with the poem, and take a few moments now, or during your day, to address that question for yourself:  “What brings me alive?”  

The question comes from the following quote by Howard Thurman, who was the spiritual advisor to Martin Luther King. Jr. 

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

         —Howard Thurman

May I just say: what “makes me come alive” is contributing to you, to your wakefulness on the planet, to you more deeply knowing yourself, walking through life in an inspired way. One of my favorite, most pleasurable, most heartwarming moments is when someone comments or writes back to me on my email address about how much that day’s particular Blog meant to them, touched them, or awakened them in some way. So, I deeply thank you for that. Those moments are most meaningful, as that is what I have dedicated my life to!

If you feel it would contribute to someone in your life, please feel free to share this post with another or others.