Life Dramas and Happy Endings

"Those who are certain of the outcome can afford to wait, and wait without anxiety... All one sees is certain outcome, at a time perhaps unknown to him as yet, but not in doubt."   - A Course in Miracles One of my earliest memories of an "aha" moment took place while I was in the middle of watching some TV drama as a young child. I don't' recall the actual show now, but the lesson has stayed with me. Eyes glued to the picture tube, immersed in the drama that was unfolding, deeply fearful for the main character that was up against some dire, seemingly hopeless situation. He looked to be a goner. No way out! The fear must have been written all over my face, when my father said," Well we know he will get out of this somehow. He's the main character; the show can't go on without him." Whew! I relaxed. My fear subsided with the assurance of some pre-determined outcome; that the beloved character make it through the ordeal.  It is easy for us to get caught up in the dramas of our own lives, anxious to the point of trepidation or even depression, when we fear for the way things will turn out for ourselves or our loved ones. Despite the admonishment offered by Jesus and a host of other enlightened teachers, we do worry, we do judge by appearances. Or if we do gain peace of mind it isn't long before a new drama unfolds and we are back to hoping and praying that this happens or that does not happen. Why? Because our contentment is all about how the story ends - we are both in the world and of the world. This is the bane of human existence, the cause of most of our suffering. We can start a new job, get a new mate, pay off our debts, or any other ways to begin again, however, like the season premier of a TV series, the old stories surface again in a new form.   Our illusory (false) self, the self that looks outside itself for its happiness, with its immense security needs, will get absorbed in the next drama unless we wake up from such mindless viewing habits.  Awakening our true self can bring us fresh and enlightened perspective to this upcoming season of life. Not to say that spiritual growth will spare us from the human challenges anymore than expecting a fall television season without new dramas on the schedule. Nor, should we expect that reruns are finally behind us. Spiritual growth is a gradual expansion of context, and context, as philosopher, Ken Wilbur insists, is everything. Framing life dramas in a larger context; in a cosmic perspective, allows us to observe the rising and falling action on the screen of our awareness without losing our identity in the appearances. Your true self, the self that predates your birth into a body, enjoys conscious union with God, no matter what is happening. The real you never forgets it's just a show, and sees life as the hero's journey, in which every drama, no matter how dangerous, resolves in a happy spiritual  outcome. In this certainty of outcome, you, the beloved one, returns home, safe and sound. This Sunday we will take up this topic with the message,"Even When You're Down, the Tao is Still Up." As we look squarely at our world appearances, with economic forecasts of doom and gloom, we can keep our hearts wide open to feel into the happy ending, the ultimate good, that Spirit has scripted for everyone of us. Our UCOD choir ensemble will bless us with some special music as well. Be there for your weekly "faith lift."