What Is God Preparing Me For?

From an evolutionary perspective or worldview, development - the emergence of that which is new-is seen as the greatest good. So during the limited time that each of us has here on Earth, we all have the opportunity to develop, to make a difference in this world through applying our God-given capacity for free agency, or freedom of choice, to our own conscious evolution. No matter who we are, we all have some measurable, not insignificant degree of free agency. And learning how to activate that gift, so that which is truly higher and new can emerge through us, is what makes all the difference. -Andrew Cohen

One of the pitfalls of a spiritually focused lifestyle is the tendency to denigrate the world and diminish the significance of what we do here, seeing activity as inferior to being itself.  Because the emphasis and goal of enlightened spiritual practice is to know oneself as formless essence, we might be tempted to believe that it matters little what we do here. Yet a singular focus on the inner life will deny us the privilege, if not the responsibility, to take our place in the evolutionary process in which each of us has a key role.

As Andrew Cohen observes it is allowing that which is "truly higher...to emerge through us..." that empowers us to use our spiritual insight to make a difference in the world.  For despite the relative, temporary nature of the physical world it remains undeniably the ground upon which we are currently assigned to live, move and have our Being. We do not have to be conformed to this world as the apostle Paul admonished, but transformed -- awake and fully functional on this plane of life. A balanced approach transcends and includes the world and the choices it offers, in order to bring an engaged spirituality where, as we say at UCOD, we embrace our humanity while we express our spirituality.

When we see that our spiritual yearnings are connected to the unfoldment of the greater good we can open to a sense of our divine purpose or assignment. This is the recognition that we each have a special gift that only we can share in a particular way that serves the world.  Life is not capricious - it does not on one hand give us the passion and talent for something that would not serve a greater evolutionary purpose.   The world needs our enlightened and engaged action. If we are to our know our authentic self we must be consciously committed to the expression of the beauty, perfection and wholeness revealed by our spiritual practice, not merely sit on it. Our recognition of this unique purpose and willingness to give ourselves fully to its expression is the way we cooperate with the evolutionary impulse while bringing meaning to our lives.

We can inquire more deeply. "What does life want from you?'  How do you fit in the totality?  What is your place in the whole?" When we venture beyond the cave of our personal awakening we are available to be used by Infinite Love and Intelligence for its greatest purpose. We can hear and express our heart song. If we listen deep enough, we can hear the music of our heart that fills us with a purpose and passion and then let that purpose inform our choices and guide our steps.