I’ve heard of people who wish to be part of the 144,000 mentioned in the Bible, which is a righteous wish. Let me start by saying it’s not an exact number with a cut-off when filled, nor does it have to be completely filled. The number was meant to describe something unimaginably large to the people of the time. It’s not just 12 X 12. It’s 12 X 12 X 1000. I hope you get my meaning that it’s not a set group. It’s not chosen by a number. It’s volunteered from the heart.

The path requires astonishing self-honesty. You simply need to do the ‘next right thing’, not because it’ll bring you into the fold, but because it comes from love.

You have to be able to discern if you’re helping the little old lady across the street because it advances your cause, or because you feel it in your heart and are truly helpful.

In my very first reading with Dan he told me there was someone, probably only a few years older than I, whom I would have the opportunity to be of assistance to. He said it would take some work but if I chose to take it on it would be a great benefit to that guy, and to me afterward.

Being eager, I searched around for who this might be. There were a couple of older fellows at work which I developed good friendships with. Each friendship was enjoyable but didn’t seem to carry the importance Dan had given it.

After a while I completely forgot about the reading and about searching for anyone in particular.

Years later as Tom’s health deteriorated I spent more and more time around him, eventually moving to within two miles of his house. As my assistance level increased I finally remembered that old reading from long ago, and realized it was Tom whom I had the opportunity to help, and be helped in return.

This is surprisingly common with future scenarios which are eagerly looked forward to, they often don’t come true until after you’ve forgotten about them.

The old farmers I grew up around used to begin a sentence with, “Believe, you, me..,” whenever they wanted to state something emphatically. So I say here; believe, you, me, I searched myself up, down, and sideways trying to discern whether I was helping Tom simply because of that reading or because I honestly felt it in my heart. It was the beginning of me learning to use self-honesty like a scalpel.

That’s what we all need to do.

As you progress spiritually, tinier and tinier bits of ego can corrupt your efforts and diminish your effectiveness. It’s that ‘razor’s edge’ they talk about.

So do the right thing. But do it because it’s in your heart to do so. It’s amazingly easy to play head games with ourselves, to be self-deceiving and to invent justifications for following our selfish desires. Such things are part of the human condition, and will always be counter productive to spiritual advancement.

On the other hand, realize that we will make mistakes, and that we can learn from those mistakes. Please understand that making honest mistakes then honestly correcting them is an important facet of the learning process. The more honest you are, the more righteous your process will be. So go ahead and jump into it. You will learn your way through.

You, and the world, will benefit.