Today I went in search of a book about a woman entrepreneur at Border’s and though unable to find the book despite concerted efforts by a staff member there, whose spirit reminded me of greater things than the tasks he was being curtly reminded of, I found instead this book “The Science of Being Great” by Wallace D. Wattles, an influential writer in the late nineteenth century. A small paperback, roughly 130ish odd pages, tucked away in the “Business Life” section.

I thought upon spontaneously picking up this book, why not? What is it to be great? How does one become great? Wallace’s writing interested me from the moment I sat down to read the first few lines.

Succinct, to the point. Poised and powerful.

The words leapt off the page at me.

I am thirsty.

I hunger for some knowledge.

Life is confusing.

It has been a hard year but a good one too.

I have learned many things and unlearned many things and no one, no matter how sweet and wonderful, could protect me from often harsh experiences.

And from that, what? I think I needed resistance sufficiently to finally scream and throw things down (internally) to decide: What am I doing with my life? What’s the point? What now? How?…I digress..

Let me return to the book again. This book is powerful, it is delightful, it incites you to action. It speaks of things I have been thinking about, conversations that I have had with others yet not known the answers to.

Love. What is it?

Compassion.

Yes, I can see this physical body that I have. I can experience these thoughts of my mind, ever changing, ever acting.

But what of Spirit? Spirit does not compel you to action, to thought, to everything?

I think about God. What is God? I thirst to know.

God is mysterious.

Wallace writes, “Nothing that is possible in spirit is impossible in flesh and blood.”

He speaks of a world that is “perfect and incomplete,” rather than a civilization that is dying or in need of perpetual rescue.

The first is positive, uplifting, and expansive in its embrace while the latter confines, restricts, and warns of doom. For example, he offers the root of a lily and how that can be unsightly:” But how foolish should we be to condemn the bulb for its appearance when we know the lily is within it.”

I remember being in first grade and our teacher showed us how to make impressions of coins on paper, rubbing the sides of the paper over the coin with a black crayon. I was thrilled to see the face of Abraham Lincoln show up on my paper. It thrilled me no end. I felt I was bringing some part of him back to life so I spent hours at home that evening happily filling many pages with his impression

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Wallace drew me in because of his ability to describe the human condition in gentle, compassionate, and deeply positive ways and his ability of fine discernment. I only wish I could have met him and hugged him.He explains that which befuddles and confuses me, and swiftly addresses topics that have caused me anguish with clarity and great insight. He leads you so clearly to understand and to appreciate life.

Greatness. What is it?

Compassion, kindness, clear thinking, decisive actions, humility, the willingness to serve, the recognition of beauty, goodness, and divinity in everyone.

I think about Lincoln again. Lincoln was just beautiful. How can you resist such a man who acted with such kindness and from Spirit?

From Wallace: “Do not let other people decide what you are to be. Be what you feel that you want to be.“And then this: “You will manifest greatness only when you begin to stand alone. Dismiss all thoughts of reliance on externals, whether things, books, or people. As Emerson said, ‘Shakespeare will never be made by the study of Shakespeare.’ Shakespeare will be made by the thinking of Shakespearean thoughts.

“When my dear beloved Rosie, my dog and faithful companion for eight years, died this past May 2007, I felt my heart break into two. I thought the world was an unforgiving place. A Light that I knew had been blown out. The best Love that I have ever experienced – joyous, faithful, ever positive, ever believing, ever trusting – had left me. So many people had said to me (they were well-meaning but did not understand), “It’s just a dog, Jan. You can get another one.”

Rosie? Rosie was and is so much more than that!

 

 

I did not know what to say. Rosie was so much more than a dog.

If a dog has limitations in our world wrought upon by our current society conditions, then Rosie tried her best to live out her full creative expression as best as she could. She was loving, kind, compassionate, beautiful, and wonderful always.

She showed me what Love is everyday. What more could I ask for? The Spirit within her was divine. When I cry and miss her, I still know in my heart that every minute she had with me was joyous and good. She focused on the best part of me and every person she had an interaction with. That is just incredible. It brought out the best in people.

I think that divine spirit within her that beauty…I have experienced so deeply. How glorious is that?What must it be then like to experience God?Spirit of white and gold…I wonder what it is that William Blake saw. Perhaps he felt that.

Our spirits within us, that compel us to grow, to learn, to question, to try…to love…I think that that is part of the Spirit.

love,Jan.