The first time I attended a Metaphysical Church was in Ballard, a community within Seattle Washington. I was touched by the joy and energy in the service; the lesson that day was about the similarities between all Religions. I remember how refreshing it was to explore the idea that all religions can give us guidelines to have a more fulfilling life. As I left, I picked up a small pamphlet entitled “What Religious Science Teaches.”
On the front was a quote: “Religious Science is a correlation of the laws of Science, opinions of philosophy and revelations of religion, applied to human needs and the aspirations of Man.” In this little pamphlet there was one phrase that, to this day, gives me goose bumps and sends a message of hope to every cell of my body. “The road to freedom lies not through mysteries or occult performances, but through the intelligent use of natural forces and laws.”
That day was almost twenty-seven years ago, but I remember it as if it was yesterday for there was something within the ideas being discussed that told me, “You Are Home.”
I had been studying the principles of success for years. I even had my own consulting company that assisted others to clearly define their goals and stay on track to make them a reality. But within me there was still confusion regarding how much authority each of us really have in our daily life. I had been fighting an infection in my spine for over eight years and was still having surgeries and taking medication to deal with the infection. I knew there was power in thought, but miracles seemed a little out of my reach. I could keep my attitude up, but if there was to be a miracle, it was up to something other than me and what I wanted - - - miracles were up to God.
I had glimpses of freedom, but I just couldn’t seem to put all the pieces together so I could make my needs and aspirations come true. Metaphysics held the promise of absolute freedom. So I jumped in. And what I found was who I am and what I am capable of. Yes, along the way I gained perfect health after a total of twenty-seven surgeries. But, what metaphysics gave me was more than just health where there was only dis-ease.
It gave me an understanding of the absolute freedom that each of us have to create life.
When The Great Teachers said, “Know the truth and the truth shall set you free,” they were not talking about some abstract principle. This freedom they speak to is about our inherent ability to create this game of Human Existence. And we can create it, any way we want. We are not in bondage to our physical form. We are powerful and capable beyond measure; even in our doubt and fear, we are powerful and capable. If we are in bondage, it is only to our ideas and beliefs.
As I travel and speak at metaphysical and spiritual centers I am witness to a new excitement, a new level of sharing this great philosophy of ours. People everywhere are experiencing the wonder and magnificence of their life, not just when in meditation, prayer and treatment. They are experiencing the goodness of their life through actual demonstrations. Dreams are coming true and through the physical manifestations of their mental work, through their own experience, people are knowing their own freedom. They are experiencing their lives as glorious adventures. There appears to be a renewed confidence in the innate quality of Human Life. Oh, I still meet people who think life is about learning lessons through one challenge after another. But more and more people are letting go of that model and celebrating the innate goodness of life and experiencing joy in the game itself. And I can see this enthusiasm for living shining through their eyes.
It can be difficult at times to remember that all of my life is up to me. There is so much on TV and in the news that speaks to problems and dis-ease. There are books and articles that infer who I am today is the result of my past and within that, I must learn how to deal with this past stuff. Sometimes it can be an innocent comment by someone you know. The other day when I strained my back a friend said, “With your history of back problems, you can’t expect to have a back that’s pain free.”
But if I get sidetracked, all I have to do to re-mind myself of my absolute freedom is review my metaphysical teachings. As Ernest Holmes says, “Principle is never bound by precedent. What we did yesterday is carried into today, only because we give our consent to it. What we are thinking and doing today, can create the kind of tomorrow we wish to experience, if we will just change our outlook on life.” And knowing that, within a few days my back was as good as new.
Ernest Holmes the founder of the Religious Science movement condensed it so cleanly when he said, “The Law knows only to agree. It reaffirms our negation and presents us with bondage as easily as with freedom. But the knowledge that we can change bondage into freedom is one of the greatest joys we can contemplate.”
For me the heart of metaphysics is the joy that comes with my freedom. Yes, there are areas in my life where I want things to be different than they are now. And through my studies I have the tools to make them different. I think there will always be more things to change, more things to make different. The joy that fills my heart on a daily basis is the Joy that comes from knowing who I am and from that, I have the freedom to make any changes I desire. I can create my life out of choice.
Truthfully, I am not always as diligent as I could be in using these magnificent principles to create my life so that every day is filled with positive and joyous experiences. But even in that, I can smile. For I am not my stuff, I am not my history and I am not the things I wish to change. I am the personification of that which is both God and Man.” And in that, I AM FREE.
