Give What You Need

Do you feel you need more of something? Whether you are exper-iencing a lack of financial prosperity, loving and harmonious relationships, health and vitality, peace, or anything else you desire in greater abundance in your life, you can have more of what you have been longing for by giving it away.nn“But how do I give what I don’t yet have?” you might ask.nFrom the Unity perspective, we have at our disposal everything we need at all times, even if it does not always appear that way. We are taught by Jesus, however, not to judge our lives and circumstances “by appearances” but to “judge with righteous judgment.” (John 7:24).nnTo judge by appearances is to judge based on the sensory world—that is, on what has already materialized in our lives based on our past thoughts. To judge with righteous judgment, on the other hand, is to assess our life situation from the perspective of Spirit. Whereas the material world is finite and fragmented, Spirit is infinite and whole. In Spirit, there is absolutely nothing lacking.nnWhen we feel overwhelmed by the experience of something lacking, it can nevertheless seem like quite a challenge to tap into that knowing—to access the infinite wellspring of love, wisdom, prosperity, and vitality that is our inheritance as spiritual beings. nnHow, in the midst of experiencing apparent lack might we lift ourselves into this realm of the Infinite? There is one very simple and extremely powerful method: pray. Bless someone else with the very gifts that we seek.nnAre you longing for greater financial prosperity? Hold in mind someone you know who might benefit from a financial gift. Perhaps this person is your own spouse. Perhaps it is the home-less person that you pass by every day on your way to work. nHold this person in mind and envision him or her as completely prosperous, totally secure, having everything that that person needs for his or her well-being. Shower the person with thoughts of every good imaginable. Let Infinite Good flow through you, and then AS you. nnImportant: Take care, when doing this, not to picture the person to whom you would send this blessing as poor in any way way or as needing your gift. To do that would only create additional false images of lack in your own mind. nAre you craving more love in your life? Hold in mind someone to whom you would like to radiate love. Perhaps this might be someone toward whom you do not normally feel loving: nBut I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. (Mt. 5:38-44)nWhomever you choose, behold this person as wholly blessed. Envision the person encompassed by a warm, tender light. See this person AS that light. Picture images of the person as surrounded by loving friends and family. Conjure up whatever images you like that bring to you feelings of connectedness, harmony, and unity.nnAre you longing for more joy and peace in your life? Picture a colleague or boss—a nation, even—that you would like to bless with greater joy and serenity. Picture this person or entity as already having abundant joy and peace. nnIn so envisioning, you are exercising the third basic Unity Principle—the Law of Mind Action: nnThoughts held in produce after their kind.nnTo send love to another, we must hold the thought of love in our minds. To bless someone with financial or physical well-being, we must first hold thoughts of well-being in our own consciousness. Thus, by holding in mind thoughts of good—love, peace, plenty—for another, we are setting the stage for that good to materialize not just for the perceived “other” but for ourselves and in our own lives.nnAs A Course in Miracles teaches, ideas grow by being shared. Exercise your God-given power of imagination to sculpt images of love, peace, and bounty for and about others in this world, and watch as greater good materializes in your own life experiences as well as the experiences of all around you. nn“Divine imagination is the chisel we wield in molding the paradise of our inner thought kingdoms. While in the silence, therefore, the thought forms we permit to be imaged in consciousness have as great an effect on our lives as our spiritual realizations. Intelligent seeing is a form of imagination; we should always behold ourselves in a state of keen, intelligent knowing. We should see God, good, as the foundation on which life is built; we should see God, good, as the source of life, and we should see ourselves majestically springing from that source.” -CHARLES FILLMORE, THE TWELVE POWERS, P. 249n