Think how nice it would be to spend your day going from one new understanding to the next. That’s the beauty of your spiritual work — to begin to establish relationship with a force that is ever-renewing.

Here’s an exercise connected with all we have been learning. Each day, just watch, as best you can, what the prevailing energy is — how you want to get things done, how you are rarely (if ever) right with yourself where you can learn something. Then make it your new wish to start to grow, to find the learning ground within you instead of staying caught up in this terribly painful, endless pursuit of possessions.

Just notice how your life is all about the idea of gaining what will get rid of the feeling of being incomplete. Instead, turn your attention back around. Don’t reach out; reach in. Put your energy, your will, your wish, your attention all in the one place that it’s possible for you to start having what this life is for, which is to grow.

Driving your car, in the office, at the supermarket… work at moments where you’re not trying to gain getting out of somewhere so you can get home and eat the pizza, or you’re not trying to gain any person’s good opinion of you. Your sole aim is to be conscious of yourself so that you can see what is in your way, what is for you and what is not, and what it means to grow.

God wants you to grow. That’s the whole purpose of life. We have been set up, not to gain things, but to grow from our life. What an advocate you have if only you would put yourself on God’s side.