Do Not Make This Mistake, Otherwise...

Recently I received a wonderful article by Hugh Prather written back in 1999 entitled: What is the Course? Will it exist in the 21st Century? Although was very extensive, one of the paragraphs that caught my attention was:

"Does this mean those who lecture or write about the Course have turned down a dark side road? Certainly not. Does it mean that anyone who loves discussing metaphysical ideas has lost his or her way? Certainly not. But it does mean that those who coat themselves in spiritual concepts run the risk of thinking that they are the concepts. It's not hard to notice that the people in our culture who are conspicuously devout and talk continuously about God usually begin to take on an all-knowing, all-seeing attitude. In other words, in their own minds they have become the God they profess."

That's why I keep asking myself, why is it that I find myself writing books, and speaking, even when I am still facing my own darkness? Shouldn't I have it altogether before I can teach? And the answers I keep getting is that I am doing it to remind myself of what "I" need to learn.

It is like someone who was born with the innate desire to surf, and is destined to be a great surfer, but in his mind he does not want to get on the surfboard until he thinks he can master it first. Well, that will never happen. He has to get on that surfboard, fall out of it many times, before he can master it. And yes, at the beginning, he may hit people with the surfboard for not having mastered the right balance and control. He also have to ride all kinds of waves until he gets a better feel for them, and eventually, he will reach his destination, which is becoming the great surfer he was meant to be.

This came to mind because since I have written books, and for some reason speaking is something I enjoy doing, and based on the feedback I have received, I guess I must be getting better at it, what I often remind people of, is that I experience the same challenges everybody else does. I do not claim that I talk to Jesus, or that I have achieve some kind of enlightenment, or that I am guru, or pride myself that I have reached some kind of spiritual level of consciousness, or that I know something, because in reality I don't. I may be working towards it, but I guess that when that happens, people will naturally sense it, and at that point my writings and speaking are just stuff that I do.

I don't know if tomorrow I may feel guided to take my facebook profile down, get rid of my websites, move to a little town, get a job and live a happy life there. I don't know what the future holds for me. I just keep writing, and sharing, and trusting that hopefully, what I am doing is what I am supposed to be doing. And like the surfer, before I get to that place of complete unconditional love, for me, writing about it, and talking about it is one way of getting on that surfboard for the first few thousand times. And along the way, some people may experience my ego and may think, "who the hell is this guy teaching A Course in Miracles?"

But as I keep "practicing" and my love keeps flourishing, some people may say, "this guy really walk his talk." But to get to that place, it requires, first and foremost, willingness to choose again, to choose love, over and over and over and over again and again and again, until I have experience all sorts of waves, just like the surfer. Because even if he can master a particular kind of wave, it does not mean he is able to ride every single wave. But the more he is exposed to different kinds of waves, the better he is equipped to maintain a good sense of balance in all circumstances.

I am very grateful for the journey I am on. But I do have to say, I have had to face a lot of darkness, and still do in many different areas. I am becoming better equipped to handle what comes my way, but I am still practicing, and as long as I am in what appears to be a body, the practice will never stop. My sense of balance may be more steady, but that does not mean I will not be faced with experiences that may rock my boat.

So if you like my writings and my speaking, I thank you, and I hope that in some way I am able to serve you through the use of these particular talents and gifts I seemed to have, But do not make the mistake of putting me on a pedestal, because if you do, you are now turning me into what A Course in Miracles refers to a "false idol."

Trust me when is say that YOU are the guru you have been searching for. And my writings are simply pointing you in the direction where you should always look; within your Self!

I love you!

"i want to thank you for letting me be myself again" -Sly and the Family Stone

Remember to order a copy of Nick's book What Happens When You Let God at: www.TruthAndMiracles.com or www.WhatHappensWhenYouLetGod.com
And to hire Nick to speak at your church, college or corporate event, simply visit: www.NickArandesPomo.com