Begin where you are

I listened once to a man talking about his life. There were two stand-out parts to his story. The first was the fact that he underwent a complete psychic change on the cliffs above Beachy Head; he had driven there from north of London to kill himself. The second was the nature of the lesson he had learned while parked there. He learned that in order to do anything, to actually achieve anything, we have to do it now and in order to start any journey we have to start here and now.


This had a profound impact on me and - keeping in mind I tend to dramatise this part of my journey - saved me from following him all the way to the place where suicide seemed a better option than living my life as it was. From the time I heard what he said, I knew at a deep inner level that my life could be measured by my actions. 
But in order to do anything I had to start here and now. I was later to add to this the idea that I should use what I have to get things done. No longer would I be able to reassure myself that planning and deciding on action were the same as taking action


And that thought led to my life no longer being a function of what happens to me but rather a function of what I do when things happen to me. And this can only take place in the here and now; I have to be present in order to live my life.


Later, my spiritual mentor, Mike, gave me a card to keep. It was headed The Secret.


     THE SECRET

1. Begin where you are
2. Do what you can, gracefully
3. Step out in faith
4. Expect God to help.