Learn the Grace to Accept the Gifts of God

There is a mystery in this life. Our purpose is to solve it. The mystery is our pain. Punishing feelings about what we don't want, convince us of our right to be angry. We are so constantly in pain, we don't know we're in it. We think not wanting something will change it. You can't want what you haven't known or imagined. When I say, "I want this" and "I don't want that" that doesn't include the possibility of a new choice. Get so familiar with your imaginary pain that you see it is imaginary. Can I be more interested in being awake to myself than proving myself?

Story: An apprentice sets out with the ambassador to a king. The ambassador's purpose was to tell people about the kingdom. The apprentice and ambassador meet with horrible places and people, and beautiful places and kind people. The ambassador says to them all, "I accept this in the name of the king." The apprentice finally questions the ambassador about this, and he replies, "If it were not his wish (the king's), things wouldn't be this way."

When we reject life, we reject ourselves. In every given moment there is something for a human being. My wish for continuity cuts me off from growth. We need to say, "I accept this." I can't make myself happy, but little by little I can let go.