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Ellen Debenport
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It’s Not Easy Being Divine
Last updated on: January 5, 2016 at 2:13 pm by Ellen Debenport
It’s Not Easy Being Divine 2016-01-05T14:13:27-05:00 Ellen Debenport
Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.
Marjaana Pato / photo on flickr
Since Wayne Dyer died in August 2015, I’ve entertained myself by imagining his triumphant return to the Other Side.
Angels, guides and ancestors are greeting him with high fives and well dones.
“Good job!”
“You went to Earth as a teacher, and you taught millions!”
“What a lifetime!”
But the other message I’ve been getting – you know how ideas come at you from every direction when it’s time to consider them? – is that we really aren’t in human form to accomplish anything.
Just to be.
I’ve been wrestling with this idea. If we aren’t here with a purpose, then why bother? It seems — I don’t know – lazy.
On the other hand, wouldn’t it be a relief to get off the self-improvement treadmill?
MULTIPLE MESSAGES
The topic arose when I teamed up with my friend Rev. Ed Townley to speak at Unity of Dallas, where we worked together years ago. We were saying that in our personal spiritual journeys, both of us are focused now on becoming more aware that God is all there is. It’s all God — the good, bad and ugly.
And of course human beings are part of that divine whole.
Ed said that means we don’t have to work so hard. We already are divine; we already are everything we can be.
That’s when I started to squirm. What about the spiritual journey? What about making ourselves better? What about fulfilling our life’s purpose?
Ed seemed to think we’ve been trying too hard. All we have to do is awaken to what already is true.
Well, yes, but . . .
Not long after, I treated myself to a reading with a channeled entity or group of energies named Osiah, who told me to quit worrying so much about achieving some life purpose.
“Must we remind you that the sheer fact that you are existing is you playing out your purpose here?” Osiah said. “Humans become so confused by the idea of ‘purpose.’ There is nothing to do or accomplish in this experience, other than to experience.”
Of course, Abraham-Hicks has been saying for years that Earth is not a school, and we’re only here for joy.
BUT THEN WHAT ABOUT . . .
One of the reasons I’m reluctant to let go of the belief that we are here to work on our soul’s growth is that it helps me explain why bad things happen.
The heartbreak and losses that are part of the human experience – why would we go through them if not for some deeper purpose or learning?
If someone’s child or spouse dies, do we just shrug and say, “Well, you came for the experience. Sometimes it hurts.”
I like to think there were soul contracts in place, so that each person got exactly what he or she needs at this point of spiritual development.
I also hesitate to let go of the idea that life is a journey of awareness and accomplishment. I worry about complacency. Can we simply put our feet up and exist? Isn’t coasting through a lifetime a waste?
Self-improvement is an evolutionary driver. We naturally want more, bigger, better. Those desires have led to civilization, inventions and progress, as well as our expanded consciousness.
Would Wayne Dyer have been the teacher he became if he hadn’t done the inner work? If he hadn’t consciously participated in his spiritual growth while on Earth?
CAN WE JUST LET GO?
I do understand why it doesn’t help to think of ourselves as broken or failing in some way, aka “sinners.” Then our efforts at improvement are born of obligation, not inspiration.
How much more freedom would we have, how much more energy, if we lived without finding fault in ourselves or those around us, if we gave up our efforts to be better and simply enjoyed being here!
Awakening to our divinity would make us better people without all the work.
We could live with a sense of wholeness, so that whatever circumstances currently exist would be acceptable, at least for now. We could be happy where we are and eager for more.
Maybe not all lifetimes are for learning and growth. Maybe some are just for fun.
Or maybe we learn while having fun.
As usual, I can argue both sides of the question. Here’s where I have ended up after a week of cogitating on this:
- You are divine, a part of God – how could that be bad?
- You are living as part of the One.
- You are already everything you need to be, and more will be revealed.
- You will develop your divine attributes further.
Or not. You have eternity after all.
PS — Am I overthinking this? What do you believe about the purpose of a human lifetime? Is it for learning? Joy? Or something else? I would love for you to share your thoughts below.
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