To ask for and to receive in a place and in the presence of....

Whilst driving home from work today, a song came on the radio that I had not heard for some time and is one that I like, particularly because it reminds of the time when I first discovered my true vocation (about 7 years ago) and chose to follow it. This was my decision to help people.
The song "Where is the Love" by the Black Eyed Peas touched me at that time, connecting with that feeling in myself to question why the world is so full of conflict; to demand answers. 

When seeking help or understanding for ourselves or others, I think that many of us do it in that tense and emotional way that consumes energy. In so many ways we forget a key component in the transaction of asking for and receiving. 

How can we choose to receive? 

I believe this take focus. The ability to listen, accept and receive into the soul with gratitude that which is always on offer, even if it is not quite what we expected, is the answer. Having taken part in and facilitated some relaxation and meditation sessions recently, I have first hand experience of this. To be in the presence of others that are calm and relaxed assists this process in a great way. This is the result of the creation of a calm atmosphere. It's not a complicated concept really. I make no apology for mentioning that it goes on all over the world in churches. In fact that applies to all faith groups or groups that come together with a common purpose. 
The "asking" part of this is easy enough to do. Asking with passion and at length is even easier. The more difficult part is the concept of calmly listening to receive. For example, how many times have you seen somebody go into a shop or service to make a complaint, then not wait with patience to receive an answer? Maybe you have been the complainant yourself and made that very same error, storming away with anger and resentment. Of course, we don't always get the answer we want, but perhaps it is the answer we need in order to learn. There is great wisdom in the saying "Never look a gift horse in the mouth".

There's a final and important point to all this to a joke I heard and use use to illustrate the point. Apologies to all you Catholics out there. The use of the Pope in the joke is incidental. You can substitute him with any other person that people may desire to meet. 

A millionaire who's a devout Catholic decides to go on a luxury
trip to the
Vatican city to see the Pope in person. He flies out to Rome first
class and
arrives in that big square to listen to the Pope address the faithful.
Afterwards, the Pope comes among the people to meet and greet and
deliver
his blessings. The millionaire is standing there, near the front,
wearing his
finest Armani suit and his best gold jewellery and his chest puffs up
as the
Pope approaches. However, the Pope stops just before him and starts
talking
to a stinking, scruffy old tramp who was standing nearby. The Pontiff
put
his hand on the tramp's shoulder and whispers in his ear, then
leaves him and
walks straight past the millionaire. The rich guy was extremely upset,
so he
found the tramp and said "Look, if I give you my clothes, can I have
yours?" The tramp agreed and so the next day, the millionaire, in his
smelly rags, awaited his audience with the Pope. Once again, the Pope
came
among the people, saw the millionaire, unrecognisable through the
grime, put
his hand on his shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Didn't I tell you to get lost yesterday!"


The lesson in this story is: Be careful what you ask for!


Final, final words I promise!!
Having just listened again to "Where is the Love?" I challenge you to also listen, hear and understand the words. (The video is embedded below.) They tell of all the questions we have in seeking enlightenment for self improvement. Once you have done this, spend some quiet time in relaxation and meditation (or prayer listening state if you prefer) waiting patiently for an answer. You may find some deep revelations to the answers you require in your life.