You can't always see the true picture

When people become busy with life's affairs it's difficult to see there's more going on than meets the eye. When we're involved in our daily activities, much is occurring of which we are unaware. Our soul constantly attracts or repels -- bringing to fruition what we most attend to.

James Allen wrote, "The soul attracts that which it secretly harbors; that which it loves, and also that which it fears. It reaches the height of its cherished aspirations; it falls to the level of its unchastened desires -- circumstances are the means by which the soul receives its own, both, that which it fears and that which it desires."

What goes on within our heart and minds accomplishes far more than our actions, what we physically do. You can call it a self-fulfilling prophecy, nevertheless, what goes on within our psyche contributes to what happens in life.

You could say "He's had a hard way to go in life" or "She never had a chance." But without going into a treatise on the value of good thoughts, man truly is what he thinks about all day. If a laborer dreams of attaining higher goals in another field and constantly imagines himself in fresh and prosperous circumstances, he'll outgrow his present surroundings. His environment of the sweatshop can no longer contain him. Just as an overstuffed container will eventually burst if it continually expands, so too shall man break out of his chains of discontent and bondage if he continually creates another world in his mind. This doesn't mean he shirks what he's presently doing, but that his present condition can no longer cage him. Out of necessity, he'll enter his new and desired state.

Whether we're conscious of it or not, God's will is constantly at work in our lives and lives of others.

"I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand. I shall not be moved." Psalms 16-8 Our thoughts and actions touch areas and lives beyond what we can possibly imagine. Everything begins with a seed -- a plan -- a dream. Even though we must work to make things happen, our thoughts can determine success or failure.

If man continues to persevere, his goal will eventually surface. Not out of the blue or through some twist of fate, but through visualizing, praying, educating himself and then doing -- using God's power within him. We truly reap what we sow, barring certain illnesses or freak accidents of nature, even though it may fail to appear so on the outside. No one knows another's thoughts, but the way we think and the attention we give determines the outcome. Galatians 6:7 tells us "to not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." All of life has a plan of order and a consistency. One can't plant pumpkin seeds and expect a watermelon crop. Spiritually speaking, we can't persistently sow "wild oats" and expect to reap the kingdom of heaven.

The same holds true for the outcome of our endeavors in life. We will receive the good we desire by applying right mental, physical and spiritual principles. To attain our goals, whether they are love of family, material gain, status or power; we must invest the time, energy and expertise demanded to make it happen. Even though, at times, it seems like life is standing still, undercurrents are still present. Remember, volcanoes seem passive until they suddenly erupt. And submissive, unassuming people reveal more strength than one would imagine from their usual demeanor.

We must never become discouraged, because as long as we keep our thoughts on God, blessings flow. We become free from thoughts of lack or limitation by persevering, and remembering that what we can see isn't always the true picture.

Ellen Shuck is director of religious education at St. Mary's Cathedral Parish.