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Enjoy another wonderful text by Rev. Phil Smedsted, minister Emeritus of Oasis Rising Center

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Phil Smedstad's texts are one of the ways Oasis Rising Center supports members.

A Positive Path for Spiritual Living

Oasis Rising Center Spiritual Center
Oasis Rising Center 8125 West Sahara Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89125
(702) 804-8189
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“Resources Follow Commitment”

By Rev. Phillip Smedstad

This past Sunday was the fifth in our “Summer Prosperity Series’ based on my book Real Wealth.  I began the lesson with a question:  “What dreams would you have if you didn’t have to know how you were going to manifest them?”
Langston Hughes is reported to have said, “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird which cannot fly.”

Next, I shared with everyone what is probably the best-known statement there is about commitment.  It is by W. H. Murray, the leader of the Scottish Himalayan Expedition:
The Power of Commitment
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.
“Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:
“That the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.  All sorts of things occur to help one that would otherwise never have occurred. 
“A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no one could have dreamt would have come his way.  I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets:
‘Whatever you can do, or dream you can – begin it.  Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.’”

Yes, it’s true.  Resources really do follow commitment, even though most of us wish it was the other way around.  In my own life, this was a lesson to be learned in at least three large situations: 

• When I decided to attend Ministerial School, I had to commit to it first, before I knew how I would create the money to do it.
• When my first Unity congregation in Port Richey, NV, decided to build a 10,000 square foot building, we had to commit to the construction before we had all the money in place to finance it.
• When I decided to do a six month long, two days a week course in deep transformation, for which the tuition was $5,200, once again I had to commit to it before I had any idea how I was going to pay for it.

This concept of resources following commitment was one which was outlined several times in Biblical days, especially in the life of Moses.  First he had that vision of “a burning bush which would not be consumed.”

“A burning bush which will not be consumed” is an Aramaic idiom which means “a big problem which will not go away.”  The big problem Moses had was the guidance he had received.  It told him that it was his life’s mission to free the Jews from slavery in Egypt.  He didn’t feel ready or qualified.  He even thought he’d be arrested if he returned to Egypt.  He had to be willing to commit to this vision anyway.  (The “burning bush” was in his heart.)

Later, when the Israelites were escaping from Pharaoh’s army, they got to the Red Sea.  Moses again listened for his guidance.  It said, “First put your foot in the water, and then the sea will part.”
By the way, the parting of the Red Sea didn’t happen the way Cecil B. deMille depicted it – with 100 foot high walls of water.  They crossed at a shallow point called the Sea of Reeds.  Spirit caused a strong East wind to blow all night, at which point the water was shallow enough for the Israelites to cross.  The important point today is that once again Moses first had to commit, and then the answer came.

This week’s lesson is really about two aspects of creation:  Knowing what we want, and manifesting what we want.

What do you most want to manifest in your life?  Many of us believe we don’t know what we want, but that’s only because, as kids, we decided things like:

• Asking for what I want upsets people, so I won’t ask.
• If I ask for what I want, people say I’m selfish.
• What I want doesn’t matter.  I won’t get it anyway.

If you made any of those decisions, you learned to suppress your desires.  You literally decided to not know what you want.

On Sunday, I asked people to join me in affirming something which is always true for every one of us on some level:
“I always know what I want.”

Also, regarding commitment, many of us grew up believing things like, “As an adult, if I love people, it means I have to sacrifice for them.”  Thus, many of us have been allergic to commitment.  We have believed that commitment is a kind of prison, and that commitment is something we do for the benefit of others.

I encourage you to have a new relationship with commitment.  I encourage you to be willing to commit to your own happiness and well-being.  Fear of commitment is actually fear of success, and “keeping all the options open” is a recipe for never having what you want.

What Jesus said about “asking” really is true.  “Ask,” he said, “and you will receive.  Seek and you will find.  Knock, and the door will be opened.”  However, there is one really important concept to understand about this:  Our everyday actions are a form of “asking.”

For example, suppose you pray to find a new career path, and then you never take action toward finding it.  You don’t ask Spirit for guidance; you don’t talk to others in the field in which you are interested; and you don’t check out educational options.

If that were to be the case, what you would actually be saying to Spirit is:  “I want to keep doing what I’m currently doing, and I want to keep being resentful and frustrated with the belief that I don’t know what career path to choose.”  Your lack of action would be a kind of prayer.

Whatever you want to manifest, ask Spirit, “What is my next step to take?”  (There is always a next step.  If you don’t know what that is for you, ask me for help.)

If, as you move forward, it looks like there are barriers, remember Moses’ example and take a step forward anyway.  Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and do your best to not be attached to form.  Keep reminding yourself, “This, or something which suits me even better now manifests for the good of all concerned.”
Also, be sure not to wait until you’re ready before you take your next step.  Almost no one ever does feel ready.  As Goethe said, “Whatever you can do, or dream you can – begin it.  Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.  Only begin and the mind grows heated.  Begin, and the task will be completed”  So just begin.