Self Sufficiency

An old beggar had been sitting by the side of the road for many years. One day a stranger walked up to him. "Spare some change?" the beggar asked, optimistically holding out a faded old baseball cap. "I have nothing to give you" replied the stranger, "except - what is that you're sitting on?" he mused. "It's nothing." replied the beggar, bending down to look at his feet, "it's just an old box; I've been sitting on it for as long as I can remember." "What's inside it?" asked the stranger. "Nothing," replied the beggar, "it's empty, I think."

"So, you've never looked inside it?" queried the stranger. "Why not have a look?"

"There doesn't seem much point," replied the beggar, but nevertheless, he bent down, and after some initial struggling, managed to pry off the lid.

To his astonishment, the box was filled with gold.

The above story has been re-told time and again. Perhaps you have heard it. I have heard it, many times in various forms. Jesus related this idea when he said, The Kingdom of Heaven is in the midst of you and it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.

You and I resemble the beggar when we wait hopefully for someone or something to show up and bring us the good that we seek. This is the prevailing consciousness of our little selves, which gives rise to economic, spiritual, creative, physical and psychological recession.

In our ignorance of the infinite resources within us, we toil and spin, anxiously fearing that we will not have enough. Scarcity thinking takes many forms, not just the monetary forms that bear the affirmation, In God We Trust. We also don't trust in an infinite supply of love, peace of mind, or any of the coins of contentment. This is why we seek, but do not find. We seek amiss. We look here and there, counting our blessings in what lies about us, life's vicissitudes, and rarely if ever take stock of the treasure that lies within us.

 If we are willing to stop the desperate search for a moment we have a good chance of accessing an intuitive sense that there is more to us, a treasure buried within us, that is capable of meeting all our needs. If we adopt a state of mindfulness, it is possible to remain centered in an abiding sense of well being. What seems to be missing turns out to be a case of misplaced attention. We seek and do not find, because we look amiss. When we change our perspective, by panning out from the appearances, they diminish in significance, as we become aware of the larger context of wholeness in which we live and have our being.

As we practice mindfulness, it becomes easier to forestall the rush to panic or judge by the appearances of loss, remain in witnessing mode long enough to allow for the realization that Truth abides with us always.