INTERFERENCE

How easily, unwittingly and often do we interfere, delay and divert others from their life path! Jesus Christ said “Obstacles are sure to come, but alas for the one who provides them! It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone put round his neck than that he should lead astray one of these little ones. Watch yourselves!” (Luke 17: 1-3).

I used to think that He meant leading others “astray” by bad example so that they broke the commandments or committed mortal sin. Until this moment, writing this – I did not realize how easily and unthinkingly we can interfere with our friends’ spiritual journeys, their quest for truth. (And, whether we are aware of it or not – we are all on a spiritual journey, which – by the way reminds me – ‘If you don’t know where you are going…..that’s just where you’ll end up….nowhere!”) We can either help and guide or hinder and distract – and all this in the twinkling of an eye, the beat of a heart, without even knowing it – WITH A FEW, UNTHINKING, ILL-CHOSEN WORDS!…….

WORDS?… what words? Well, we all love it when someone asks our opinion – don’t we? It makes us feel so important! So, our unsuspecting friend has just decided he would like to…….. take up meditation, sell his paintings in a market stall, go see a spiritual healer, become a vegetarian - in other words TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT! And, God help our unsuspecting friend when we let loose with “Don’t be daft!” – ‘They’re only all a con!” - “That’s rubbish!’ - ‘It’ll never work!” - “Cop yourself on!” _ “You’re definitely wrong about that!” - “What a waste of (time, space or money)!” Now our poor demoralized friend grin’s stupidly and retires back into himself until he gets up enough courage to come up with another idea - and, with friends like us – he definitely doesn’t need any enemies – does he?

And what about the consequences for ourselves of those few words? What about the Law of Cause and Effect? What about Karma? What about that warning from Jesus Christ? Make up your own mind on that……! For myself I will put the following on my wall until they become embedded in my consciousness lest I cause anyone to stray from their path!

Connect to my Source

Work from my heart

Think before I speak

Check my motivation

Stay out of other people’s space

Do not get into predicting how other’s will react to my words

– this can lead to manipulation.

No judgement

Don’t get hung up on the result.

Hopefully, with these in mind – if I can’t help my friends, at least I won’t be doing them any harm!!