November 16, 2008
Dear Friends,
When I was inspired to write my book and get it published, I experienced the divine flow like never before. With incredible ease and grace, I was unmistakably directed to the publisher of my book; the cover photo was divinely delivered to me; three of the notable people who first endorsed my book literally showed up on the doorstep of my church; and my first significant speaking engagement was a rare opportunity that just came my way. Even when I was writing my book, I received extended, unexpected income to help support me during that lengthy process.
The reason, I believe, that the flow was so consistent and obvious in this instance, was simply because the activity that I was engaged in was directly related to my “calling.” A calling is something that you are extremely passionate about. It is something that adds purpose and meaning to your life. It is something that you have an innate talent for, find extremely fulfilling, and would do even if you received no income for doing it.
I found my calling when I was first invited to teach a weekly class to a group of adults at a Unity church in Dallas, Texas. I had never done anything even remotely like that before. But I found it to be the single most fulfilling experience of my life. Within a very short amount of time, I knew that I had found my life’s purpose. I knew that I was on this earth to use my skills and ability as a communicator to deliver a message. And that message was that we live in an incredibly beneficent universe—a universe that is continually working on our behalf to help us fulfill our heart’s desires.
So why—once I found my calling—would I have noticed the flow to such an elevated degree? It is simply because a calling is a true desire of the heart. And being aware of that calling meant that I was consciously aligned with that desire—that my head was aligned with my heart, and that every part of me was open and receptive to moving in the same direction.
One of the main obstacles to living life in the divine flow—in all areas of life—is that your heart may be encouraging you to go in one direction, while your head is looking in another direction. This makes it extremely difficult for you to see the divine signs that are pointing you toward your highest good, and toward your greatest joy.
Have you found your calling yet? If not, begin by asking yourself a few simple questions. What are you good at? What unique combination of talents, skills, or abilities do you have? What brings you the most joy? What have you been fascinated with your whole life?
Remember that your calling is not always something that becomes your career. It may simply be something special that you have to share with this world, no matter what activity you are engaged in.
Here’s to finding your passion in life . . . your purpose . . . your calling. And more than that, here’s to answering that call. When you do, I guarantee you this: It will feel as if the entire universe is bending over backwards to support you in your endeavor. Because it is!
Steven
P.S. I know that getting in touch with one’s passion and purpose is not always simple. If you feel challenged in this area, you might want to investigate the program offered at this site: PassionTestOnline.com. I have not enrolled in this program myself, so I cannot personally vouch for it. But I did notice that the initial cost is minimal—a $2 donation for a 30-day trial—so perhaps it would be well worth your time.
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
A Charmed Life
November 9, 2008
Dear Friends,
Several months ago, Carol and I entertained a couple from Dallas, Texas, who had come to Sedona for a short vacation. We took them on one of our favorite hikes . . . a hike that leads to a relatively small plateau that has some natural caves near the top.
As we relaxed at the mouth of one of these caves, we began to discuss our various philosophies of life. Although Carol and I had known the gentleman for many years, we didn’t know his fiancé very well, and she was unfamiliar with my particular focus in life. When I described some of the miracles in my life that have led me to believe in what I call the divine flow, she replied, “Wow, Steve, you have certainly lived a charmed life.”
Charmed life? It was at that point I realized that she didn’t fully grasp what I was trying to communicate to her. “Being charmed” has nothing to do with being in the divine flow of life. Nor does “luck” or “good fortune.” For the most part, the ability to live life in the divine flow depends on how well you practice certain principles. When you practice those principles, your life will, indeed, feel “charmed.” But when you don’t practice those principles, your life may feel like one, long, uphill battle.
In other words, living a “charmed life” is something that you can consciously create, which means it’s not about “being charmed” at all. It’s about being attentive, flexible, loving, and positive. It’s what occurs naturally when you:
There are other principles involved, too, of course. In fact, I could write a whole book on the subject—and did! My point for today is just to remind you that when you fail to practice any of the above ways of being, you may be instantly limiting your ability to experience the divine flow in your life, and your life will be more of a struggle than it has to be.
Here’s to consciously creating your own “charmed life,” by learning how to recognize and cooperate with the divine flow of life. It’s a flow that is continually guiding you toward the effortless fulfillment of your heart’s desires . . . whether you are aware of it or not.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
Several months ago, Carol and I entertained a couple from Dallas, Texas, who had come to Sedona for a short vacation. We took them on one of our favorite hikes . . . a hike that leads to a relatively small plateau that has some natural caves near the top.
As we relaxed at the mouth of one of these caves, we began to discuss our various philosophies of life. Although Carol and I had known the gentleman for many years, we didn’t know his fiancé very well, and she was unfamiliar with my particular focus in life. When I described some of the miracles in my life that have led me to believe in what I call the divine flow, she replied, “Wow, Steve, you have certainly lived a charmed life.”
Charmed life? It was at that point I realized that she didn’t fully grasp what I was trying to communicate to her. “Being charmed” has nothing to do with being in the divine flow of life. Nor does “luck” or “good fortune.” For the most part, the ability to live life in the divine flow depends on how well you practice certain principles. When you practice those principles, your life will, indeed, feel “charmed.” But when you don’t practice those principles, your life may feel like one, long, uphill battle.
In other words, living a “charmed life” is something that you can consciously create, which means it’s not about “being charmed” at all. It’s about being attentive, flexible, loving, and positive. It’s what occurs naturally when you:
- Pay attention to your intuition
- Try to discern the meaning in signs and synchronicities
- Treat others with loving kindness
- Let go of your preconceived ideas and plans
- See everything that happens as a stepping stone to your highest good
- Release your attachment to specific outcomes
There are other principles involved, too, of course. In fact, I could write a whole book on the subject—and did! My point for today is just to remind you that when you fail to practice any of the above ways of being, you may be instantly limiting your ability to experience the divine flow in your life, and your life will be more of a struggle than it has to be.
Here’s to consciously creating your own “charmed life,” by learning how to recognize and cooperate with the divine flow of life. It’s a flow that is continually guiding you toward the effortless fulfillment of your heart’s desires . . . whether you are aware of it or not.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Saturday, November 1, 2008
The Paradox of Love
November 2, 2008
Dear Friends,
Once again, I just noticed that the messages I have been inspired to deliver to you lately are part of a series—a series that focuses on the power of love. Today’s message completes this unintentional 3-part series. This one is about the paradox of love.
Before I get to the paradox, however, I need to spell out three ways that love enhances your ability to live life in the divine flow, and reach the destinations you choose in life with effortless ease.
First, love amplifies your ability to be divinely directed. This arises from the fact that love is your divine essence. It is the very nature of your spirit—of your higher self. This higher self, however, is also your source of divine guidance. That means that whenever you express love, you are not only a more compassionate person, you are also a more divinely guided one . . . because you are directly connected to your spirit, and to the wisdom of your spirit.
Second, love brings out the divine wisdom in others. This arises from the fact that whenever you treat others with loving kindness, they are much more likely to respond with love. And just as it is with you, when people come from love, they become open channels for divine ideas to flow through them—and those ideas may turn out to be extremely helpful to you.
Which brings us to the third way that love enhances your ability to live life in the divine flow, or said more accurately, enhances the way you experience the flow. . . and this is what creates the paradox:
Love feels good! This arises from the fact that nothing feels better in life than simply being true to your self. And since—at the core of your being—you are the very embodiment of love, it feels good to express that love. When you love, you feel happy. And when you feel happy, is there anywhere else you’d really rather be at that moment? When you feel happy, aren’t you okay right where you are?
Do you see the paradox here? It’s the fact that love helps you get where you want to go in a more divinely inspired manner, yet at the same time, you are perfectly happy right where you are—whether you are just about to reach your dream, or whether you are still miles away from it.
So, my friends, here’s to following the divine flow to the effortless fulfillment of your heart’s desires. But even better than that, here’s to being happy right where you are—wherever you are—by simply being the love that you are.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
Once again, I just noticed that the messages I have been inspired to deliver to you lately are part of a series—a series that focuses on the power of love. Today’s message completes this unintentional 3-part series. This one is about the paradox of love.
Before I get to the paradox, however, I need to spell out three ways that love enhances your ability to live life in the divine flow, and reach the destinations you choose in life with effortless ease.
First, love amplifies your ability to be divinely directed. This arises from the fact that love is your divine essence. It is the very nature of your spirit—of your higher self. This higher self, however, is also your source of divine guidance. That means that whenever you express love, you are not only a more compassionate person, you are also a more divinely guided one . . . because you are directly connected to your spirit, and to the wisdom of your spirit.
Second, love brings out the divine wisdom in others. This arises from the fact that whenever you treat others with loving kindness, they are much more likely to respond with love. And just as it is with you, when people come from love, they become open channels for divine ideas to flow through them—and those ideas may turn out to be extremely helpful to you.
Which brings us to the third way that love enhances your ability to live life in the divine flow, or said more accurately, enhances the way you experience the flow. . . and this is what creates the paradox:
Love feels good! This arises from the fact that nothing feels better in life than simply being true to your self. And since—at the core of your being—you are the very embodiment of love, it feels good to express that love. When you love, you feel happy. And when you feel happy, is there anywhere else you’d really rather be at that moment? When you feel happy, aren’t you okay right where you are?
Do you see the paradox here? It’s the fact that love helps you get where you want to go in a more divinely inspired manner, yet at the same time, you are perfectly happy right where you are—whether you are just about to reach your dream, or whether you are still miles away from it.
So, my friends, here’s to following the divine flow to the effortless fulfillment of your heart’s desires. But even better than that, here’s to being happy right where you are—wherever you are—by simply being the love that you are.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Saturday, October 25, 2008
The Power of Love
October 26, 2008
Dear Friends,
At the end of last week’s message, I mentioned the power of love . . . but it was in a somewhat limited context. My focus was only on the ripple effect that love creates, and how a little loving kindness can go a long, long way.
For example, when you treat people with understanding and compassion, they feel loved and uplifted. Because of that, they are much more likely to treat others in their path with the same caring attitude. And those people, in turn, are likely to pass the love along once again. For all you know, one simple act of loving kindness on your part may end up transforming a life or healing a situation halfway around the world!
As great as that power is, though, it still has its limits. What I just described was a power confined by the laws of cause and effect—of action and reaction. The true power of love goes way beyond the laws that govern this world. It is a power that exists beyond this physical plane we live in . . . a power that works its magic totally unrestricted by the confines of either time or space. It is this power that is responsible for the experiences in our lives that we consider to be truly miraculous.
It is the kind of power that choreographs incredible synchronistic encounters between individuals who have similar desires of the heart, but need each other in order to manifest their dreams.
An architect with a critically ill child, for example, may one day feel divinely inspired to design a hospital wing for children with similar health challenges. At the very same instant, thousands of miles away, a wealthy benefactor may become inspired to finance just such a project. Before these two people meet—or even know of each other—they both “decide” to vacation in New York City, where they just “happen” to encounter each other at a coffee shop. And . . . well . . . you can fill in the rest.
That, to me, is the real power of love. It is a power that sets the whole flow in motion, initiating a complex series of events that weave together in a way that no one would ever have imagined possible.
It is a power that simultaneously inspires minds, ignites hearts, and orchestrates harmonious outcomes of incredible beauty.
That is authentic power—a power that goes far beyond the ripple effect, but still starts in exactly the same way . . . with one, single, loving intention.
Here’s to the power of love . . . rippling . . . tripling . . . and manifesting miracles in an instant.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
At the end of last week’s message, I mentioned the power of love . . . but it was in a somewhat limited context. My focus was only on the ripple effect that love creates, and how a little loving kindness can go a long, long way.
For example, when you treat people with understanding and compassion, they feel loved and uplifted. Because of that, they are much more likely to treat others in their path with the same caring attitude. And those people, in turn, are likely to pass the love along once again. For all you know, one simple act of loving kindness on your part may end up transforming a life or healing a situation halfway around the world!
As great as that power is, though, it still has its limits. What I just described was a power confined by the laws of cause and effect—of action and reaction. The true power of love goes way beyond the laws that govern this world. It is a power that exists beyond this physical plane we live in . . . a power that works its magic totally unrestricted by the confines of either time or space. It is this power that is responsible for the experiences in our lives that we consider to be truly miraculous.
It is the kind of power that choreographs incredible synchronistic encounters between individuals who have similar desires of the heart, but need each other in order to manifest their dreams.
An architect with a critically ill child, for example, may one day feel divinely inspired to design a hospital wing for children with similar health challenges. At the very same instant, thousands of miles away, a wealthy benefactor may become inspired to finance just such a project. Before these two people meet—or even know of each other—they both “decide” to vacation in New York City, where they just “happen” to encounter each other at a coffee shop. And . . . well . . . you can fill in the rest.
That, to me, is the real power of love. It is a power that sets the whole flow in motion, initiating a complex series of events that weave together in a way that no one would ever have imagined possible.
It is a power that simultaneously inspires minds, ignites hearts, and orchestrates harmonious outcomes of incredible beauty.
That is authentic power—a power that goes far beyond the ripple effect, but still starts in exactly the same way . . . with one, single, loving intention.
Here’s to the power of love . . . rippling . . . tripling . . . and manifesting miracles in an instant.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Saturday, October 18, 2008
The Ripple Effect And The Flow
October 19, 2008
Dear Friends,
Lately I have met a few people who have the mistaken impression that if you truly master the art of living life in the divine flow, you will never again run into any obstacles in life. I wish!
It’s true, that when you consistently practice the principles involved with living life in the divine flow, the number of obstacles you encounter in life will diminish dramatically . . . for a couple of reasons:
First, by following divine guidance you will be directed around some obstacles before you even encounter them. But more importantly, by making decisions that are divinely directed, you will not be manufacturing obstacles for yourself . . . which is what people often do. Through our unguided choices and misguided actions, we frequently make life harder for ourselves than it has to be. In short, we inadvertently create our own hurdles, and they are needless ones.
Even if you do, though, manage to stay in a fairly constant state of divine attunement—consistently recognizing and cooperating with the divine flow in your life—it is likely that you will still encounter plenty of unexpected challenges along the way. Why? Because of something commonly called The Ripple Effect.
In ways we can’t even begin to conceive of, we are all interrelated and interconnected. When even one of us does not follow divine guidance, and, instead, makes a choice out of ego—out of fear or frustration, judgment or jealousy—that decision creates a ripple that goes out and eventually affects everyone around it.
Without even getting metaphysical here, it is easy to see how one person’s behavior can directly affect the way that others react to him or her . . . and their reactions, in turn, affect those around them, and so on.
On a small scale, it’s like the old story about a boss who unjustly criticizes one of his employees; the misjudged employee then goes home and unfairly criticizes his wife; and the upset wife then kicks the dog when it gets in her way.
On a larger scale, it’s like the time in 2001 that a man directed his followers to hijack some American Airlines planes and fly them into the Twin Towers; after that, American Airlines decided not to advertise for a year; their advertising agency then had to cut its budget; and people had to be laid off. I was one of those people.
It’s a simple case of cause and effect. And the economic crisis we are experiencing today is no exception. We are all feeling the effect of that ripple.
So, does living life in the divine flow mean that you will never encounter another obstacle or challenge in your life? Not at all. But the point I want to leave you with today is this: Living life in the divine flow is not about avoidance. It’s about responsiveness.
What’s important is not so much what happens in our lives, but how we respond to that. And when we respond with love—with understanding and compassion, and with an expectation of good—then we create a new ripple effect that is even more powerful than the original one, and much more positive.
In fact, there is no ripple in this world that is more powerful than the one created by a simple act of loving kindness. And when enough people choose to come from love instead of fear, the whole world can transform for the better in a heartbeat.
I could go and on about the miraculous effect of love, but I don’t need to. As “the flow” would have it, right after I was inspired to write this message, I received an email from one of my readers containing a link to a video that is titled . . . yes, you guessed it . . . The Ripple Effect.
I invite you to watch that video now as a fitting and uplifting end to my message for today. You will find it at the bottom of a webpage for the Humanity Healing Network. Just click on this link: http://humanityhealing.net/RippleEffect.htm
Blessings!
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
Lately I have met a few people who have the mistaken impression that if you truly master the art of living life in the divine flow, you will never again run into any obstacles in life. I wish!
It’s true, that when you consistently practice the principles involved with living life in the divine flow, the number of obstacles you encounter in life will diminish dramatically . . . for a couple of reasons:
First, by following divine guidance you will be directed around some obstacles before you even encounter them. But more importantly, by making decisions that are divinely directed, you will not be manufacturing obstacles for yourself . . . which is what people often do. Through our unguided choices and misguided actions, we frequently make life harder for ourselves than it has to be. In short, we inadvertently create our own hurdles, and they are needless ones.
Even if you do, though, manage to stay in a fairly constant state of divine attunement—consistently recognizing and cooperating with the divine flow in your life—it is likely that you will still encounter plenty of unexpected challenges along the way. Why? Because of something commonly called The Ripple Effect.
In ways we can’t even begin to conceive of, we are all interrelated and interconnected. When even one of us does not follow divine guidance, and, instead, makes a choice out of ego—out of fear or frustration, judgment or jealousy—that decision creates a ripple that goes out and eventually affects everyone around it.
Without even getting metaphysical here, it is easy to see how one person’s behavior can directly affect the way that others react to him or her . . . and their reactions, in turn, affect those around them, and so on.
On a small scale, it’s like the old story about a boss who unjustly criticizes one of his employees; the misjudged employee then goes home and unfairly criticizes his wife; and the upset wife then kicks the dog when it gets in her way.
On a larger scale, it’s like the time in 2001 that a man directed his followers to hijack some American Airlines planes and fly them into the Twin Towers; after that, American Airlines decided not to advertise for a year; their advertising agency then had to cut its budget; and people had to be laid off. I was one of those people.
It’s a simple case of cause and effect. And the economic crisis we are experiencing today is no exception. We are all feeling the effect of that ripple.
So, does living life in the divine flow mean that you will never encounter another obstacle or challenge in your life? Not at all. But the point I want to leave you with today is this: Living life in the divine flow is not about avoidance. It’s about responsiveness.
What’s important is not so much what happens in our lives, but how we respond to that. And when we respond with love—with understanding and compassion, and with an expectation of good—then we create a new ripple effect that is even more powerful than the original one, and much more positive.
In fact, there is no ripple in this world that is more powerful than the one created by a simple act of loving kindness. And when enough people choose to come from love instead of fear, the whole world can transform for the better in a heartbeat.
I could go and on about the miraculous effect of love, but I don’t need to. As “the flow” would have it, right after I was inspired to write this message, I received an email from one of my readers containing a link to a video that is titled . . . yes, you guessed it . . . The Ripple Effect.
I invite you to watch that video now as a fitting and uplifting end to my message for today. You will find it at the bottom of a webpage for the Humanity Healing Network. Just click on this link: http://humanityhealing.net/RippleEffect.htm
Blessings!
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Saturday, October 11, 2008
What Is Your Source?
October 12, 2008
Dear Friends,
As I occasionally mention in these weekly messages, I teach what I need to learn. That means that I have become pretty good at living life in the divine flow, but I am not perfect at it. There are still times when I fall into fear, and thus restrict my ability to tune into divine guidance. I don’t stay in that fearful state for long, but I am certainly not immune to it.
With the dramatic downturn in the U.S. economy—and in the economy of the world in general—it is quite a challenge for me to maintain any kind of positive outlook right now . . . and I’m sure that it’s a bit of a challenge for you, too.
So how can we feel secure in such uncertain times? I, for one, make a conscious effort to remember the following: The true origin of my prosperity is not the income I receive from my work. It is not the money I have in the bank. And it is certainly not the investments I have in the stock market. I remember that the ultimate origin of my prosperity is that Infinite Field of Supply that some call Source, and others (including me) call God.
I do believe that we live in an infinitely abundant universe—a universe that is continually responding to our needs through an unlimited number of channels. And those channels are not limited to the financial avenues we are used to.
I’ll never forget a time when I needed an additional $2,500 to pay some unexpected bills. One day, my car was slightly damaged in a shower of cement fragments that fell off an office building that I was parked next to. The damage was very minor—just a few nicks and dings here and there. But because the damage was spread across several panels of the car, the cost of repairs was much more than one would expect. The owner of the building, though, was happy to write me a check for that expense . . . a check that I used to pay my bills instead of repair the car—a check for exactly $2,500.
It was that experience, and many others just as amazing, that have repeatedly confirmed for me how incredibly inventive our universe is, and how the divine flow can guide us to our good in totally unexpected ways.
In these challenging days, I invite you to regain your sense of peace by letting go of your need to figure everything out by yourself. In your daily time of prayer and meditation, include a moment to affirm the true source of your financial blessings, and open yourself up to divine direction.
Remember that as a beloved child of God you have a divine right to an abundant life. Remember that abundance is not always about money. And remember that the Mind of the Divine can prosper you in ways that you simply can’t predict . . . or even imagine.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
As I occasionally mention in these weekly messages, I teach what I need to learn. That means that I have become pretty good at living life in the divine flow, but I am not perfect at it. There are still times when I fall into fear, and thus restrict my ability to tune into divine guidance. I don’t stay in that fearful state for long, but I am certainly not immune to it.
With the dramatic downturn in the U.S. economy—and in the economy of the world in general—it is quite a challenge for me to maintain any kind of positive outlook right now . . . and I’m sure that it’s a bit of a challenge for you, too.
So how can we feel secure in such uncertain times? I, for one, make a conscious effort to remember the following: The true origin of my prosperity is not the income I receive from my work. It is not the money I have in the bank. And it is certainly not the investments I have in the stock market. I remember that the ultimate origin of my prosperity is that Infinite Field of Supply that some call Source, and others (including me) call God.
I do believe that we live in an infinitely abundant universe—a universe that is continually responding to our needs through an unlimited number of channels. And those channels are not limited to the financial avenues we are used to.
I’ll never forget a time when I needed an additional $2,500 to pay some unexpected bills. One day, my car was slightly damaged in a shower of cement fragments that fell off an office building that I was parked next to. The damage was very minor—just a few nicks and dings here and there. But because the damage was spread across several panels of the car, the cost of repairs was much more than one would expect. The owner of the building, though, was happy to write me a check for that expense . . . a check that I used to pay my bills instead of repair the car—a check for exactly $2,500.
It was that experience, and many others just as amazing, that have repeatedly confirmed for me how incredibly inventive our universe is, and how the divine flow can guide us to our good in totally unexpected ways.
In these challenging days, I invite you to regain your sense of peace by letting go of your need to figure everything out by yourself. In your daily time of prayer and meditation, include a moment to affirm the true source of your financial blessings, and open yourself up to divine direction.
Remember that as a beloved child of God you have a divine right to an abundant life. Remember that abundance is not always about money. And remember that the Mind of the Divine can prosper you in ways that you simply can’t predict . . . or even imagine.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Constant Surrender
October 5, 2008
Dear Friends,
A short time ago, a dear friend of mine named Judi experienced one of those days when “everything that can go wrong, did go wrong.” Judi was in charge of a Potluck Lunch to be held at her church—an event that was usually attended by about 70 people. That day, the electricity went out, so any food that required heating had to be eaten cold . . . or not served at all. It was a particularly hot, humid afternoon, and without electricity there was no air conditioning. And when they tried to open the windows for some relief, only one would budge, so they couldn’t even catch a breeze. Then, to make matters worse, the toilets overflowed.
After noticing how smoothly and calmly Judi continually adjusted to the ever-worsening situation, a woman came up to her and said, “Wow, Judi, you sure know how to go with the flow!” When Judi got home that evening, she immediately called me to express her appreciation for “teaching her how to go with the flow.” As we spoke, though, it occurred to me that her gratitude was perhaps unnecessary.
Even without the benefit of my lessons, there is a very good possibility that Judi would have been in the flow anyway. How so? Simply because it is easier to be in the flow when things really get out of hand than it is when things are just slightly unmanageable. It is when things are obviously out of control that we give up the idea that we can control what is going on, and we tend to surrender.
It is in that state of surrender that we become genuinely open to whatever is required of us in that moment. We stop resisting what is, and we stop trying to force things to go the way we “think” they should go. Instead, we desire only to know the next right step that will be in the best interests of all. And it is in that state of genuine receptivity that we begin hear and heed the still, small voice of spirit that is always there to guide us.
The real challenge—which is what I am building up to—is relinquishing personal control when the situation does seem controllable. You see, living life in the divine flow requires you to constantly stay in “surrender mode”—no matter how easy it would be for you to manipulate a situation to your liking.
That doesn’t mean that you never take any action at all. It just means that before you take any action, you get quiet, go within, and try to get in touch with the wisdom of your spirit. You may get the guidance that you should refrain from taking any action at that moment. Or, you might be inspired to take some kind of action that you have never taken before. The key is to avoid jumping to conclusions, assuming that you know best, and acting hastily.
Remember that living life in the divine flow is about being willing to seek divine direction in every situation—even the situations that look like you can easily and instantly handle them on your own. That kind of mindfulness will require a conscious effort on your part, true . . . and it may require a fair amount of humility, too . . . but the outcome will be well worth it.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
Dear Friends,
A short time ago, a dear friend of mine named Judi experienced one of those days when “everything that can go wrong, did go wrong.” Judi was in charge of a Potluck Lunch to be held at her church—an event that was usually attended by about 70 people. That day, the electricity went out, so any food that required heating had to be eaten cold . . . or not served at all. It was a particularly hot, humid afternoon, and without electricity there was no air conditioning. And when they tried to open the windows for some relief, only one would budge, so they couldn’t even catch a breeze. Then, to make matters worse, the toilets overflowed.
After noticing how smoothly and calmly Judi continually adjusted to the ever-worsening situation, a woman came up to her and said, “Wow, Judi, you sure know how to go with the flow!” When Judi got home that evening, she immediately called me to express her appreciation for “teaching her how to go with the flow.” As we spoke, though, it occurred to me that her gratitude was perhaps unnecessary.
Even without the benefit of my lessons, there is a very good possibility that Judi would have been in the flow anyway. How so? Simply because it is easier to be in the flow when things really get out of hand than it is when things are just slightly unmanageable. It is when things are obviously out of control that we give up the idea that we can control what is going on, and we tend to surrender.
It is in that state of surrender that we become genuinely open to whatever is required of us in that moment. We stop resisting what is, and we stop trying to force things to go the way we “think” they should go. Instead, we desire only to know the next right step that will be in the best interests of all. And it is in that state of genuine receptivity that we begin hear and heed the still, small voice of spirit that is always there to guide us.
The real challenge—which is what I am building up to—is relinquishing personal control when the situation does seem controllable. You see, living life in the divine flow requires you to constantly stay in “surrender mode”—no matter how easy it would be for you to manipulate a situation to your liking.
That doesn’t mean that you never take any action at all. It just means that before you take any action, you get quiet, go within, and try to get in touch with the wisdom of your spirit. You may get the guidance that you should refrain from taking any action at that moment. Or, you might be inspired to take some kind of action that you have never taken before. The key is to avoid jumping to conclusions, assuming that you know best, and acting hastily.
Remember that living life in the divine flow is about being willing to seek divine direction in every situation—even the situations that look like you can easily and instantly handle them on your own. That kind of mindfulness will require a conscious effort on your part, true . . . and it may require a fair amount of humility, too . . . but the outcome will be well worth it.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
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