| When my son, Jonathan, was much younger, I would | | | | There have been hundreds of thousands of people |
| try to help him with some of his tasks, whether it | | | | who've read one or more of my books. Among the |
| was his homework, chores or even just plain, simple | | | | many wonderful email I receive would be one or two |
| advice. Many a time he would look at me in | | | | short, to the point comments saying something to |
| exasperation and say, "I know that, dad." Even when | | | | the effect of, "I know all that already. I've been |
| he did solicit my help directly, he would listen, but not | | | | practicing all that stuff for years and so you haven't |
| "hear" what I had to say. | | | | told me anything new." |
| Now, mind you, I do not claim to be a paragon of | | | | My feeling is that there is really nothing new. As the |
| excellent advice or wisdom, but many of the things I | | | | Book of Ecclesiastes says, "There is nothing new |
| told him would have saved him tremendous amounts | | | | under the sun." What I think is new is the |
| of time, frustration and heartaches. As Jonathan | | | | interpretation we bring to things, the different way |
| grew older, he learned to listen a bit more, so instead | | | | we look at the information we receive. We can |
| of discounting most of what he heard, he would | | | | choose to see if, perhaps, there are any gems in |
| evaluate, weigh the merits or lack of, and then make | | | | what we hear and see or any wisdom in what we |
| choices based on what was consistent with his idea | | | | read or listen to. |
| of right and wrong or good and bad. | | | | By opening up our minds to new possibilities, we may |
| The Universe speaks to us all the time. It doesn't | | | | find that we are being led by that glorious, higher self |
| always do it in ways that we expect. Sometimes | | | | within us to explore possibilities that have the |
| amessage comes from a friend and at other times, it | | | | potential to bring us peace, joy, wealth, success -- all |
| may be someone we do not really care for who | | | | good things. |
| brings a very clear message to us. There are times | | | | If someone tells you that you shouldn't do something |
| when the messages are sent through dreams, or | | | | because it doesn't work, what that person is really |
| books, or radio, TV, the Internet and even the more | | | | saying is that it doesn't work for him. Listen to your |
| prosaic form of the telephone. | | | | heart, gather all the information and let the Universe |
| If we close our minds and think that "we know that | | | | show you how to make it work. |
| already," we may miss the one little point that could | | | | Jonathan listens a lot more these days. He reflects |
| have saved us a lot of trouble. Keeping an open mind | | | | and thinks about what he hears, sees or reads. He is |
| gives us an opportunity to evaluate the | | | | willing to listen to points of view that are totally |
| communications we receive and then make decisions | | | | different from his own without getting defensive as |
| based on our own true feelings. | | | | he used to. As a result, he has become more |
| The story is told about some scientists who went | | | | tolerant, more compassionate and, in many ways, |
| into an apple orchard to study apples. They were | | | | more successful. He has grown into a fantastic young |
| busy with their notepads and pencils, measuring the | | | | man who, I am sure, will bring much credit to all that |
| dimensions of the apples they found. They observed | | | | he chooses to do. |
| and noted the size, weight and colors of the fruit | | | | Let us not be like the person in the little ditty who |
| while off to their left sat one of their fellow | | | | says: |
| scientists under a large apple tree. He was quietly | | | | "In matters controversial, my perception's really fine. I |
| eating an apple. | | | | always see both points of view -- the one that's |
| All the other scientists knew about apples. The one | | | | wrong and mine." |
| who was eating the apple knew "apples." Knowing | | | | Let us, instead, listen to all that comes to our notice |
| about something does not necessarily mean knowing | | | | and after reflecting on it, exhibit the qualities of |
| the thing. Knowing about God does not mean | | | | tolerance, peace, understanding and compassion. And |
| knowing God. Knowing about the secrets and laws of | | | | as Commander Spock would say, "Live long and |
| the Universe will not do us much good if there is not | | | | prosper. |
| the deep knowing in our hearts and souls. | | | | |