Seek God first or “lose your marbles” by E.G.O.
This week’s Responsive Reading reminds me of a modern day parable and “metagift” that we shared with members of CedarS family a few years ago. Friends helped prepare over 1,000 film cannisters filled to the brim, first with marbles, and then with rice that flowed in around the marbles. If you empty out a cannister and try to first put in the rice, and then cram the marbles in later, nothing fits or flows. It just doesn’t work.
Just so, when we try to seek first, or give our primary attention, to what to eat, to what to drink, to what to wear and to lists of what human things to do, and then later try to fit in metaphysical time for prayer and for God and for reading the Bible lesson (if there’s time left over at the end of the day), it rarely works. We end up feeling pressured and burdened by the many things we didn’t get done — by the rice that doesn’t fit anyway, but rather seems to expand as the day goes on.
Establishing God as always first and foremost in our lives prevents the heavy burdens and certain failures that come from E.G.O., or Edging God Out. Making time for prayer and study and for a kick-off met before each activity in our day actual does make time, instead of take time from our day. With a sense of peace and listening for divine Mind’s guidance and certain provision, we get angel ideas to help run our errands, stream-line our projects, eliminate wasted motion and make perfectly-timed and networked connections.
Jesus, our consistent Wayshower, illustrates the stress-free humility of a reflection when he says, “I can of mine own self do nothing.” (John 5:30) With God’s unstoppable power, he then proceeds to do everything, from walking on water and raising the dead, to healing the sick, blind, deaf, dumb, maimed and insane. In almost every case, Jesus is healing the spiritual amnesia of those who appear to have “lost their marbles” by helping each one recall and re-claim their precious heritage of perfection as a child of God. And, Christ Jesus does it all without feeling burdened or pressured. He urges us to follow his stress-free approach, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; . . . For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:29, 30)
Starting every activity with a met like we do at CedarS is keeping our priorities right as directed by Christ Jesus: “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt 6:33) We end up not only with all the marbles, but also with all the rice, the best and needed elements of the human condition are also added unto us when we start and stay with Christ’s righteous priority of keeping things of God first.
