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I’ve taken note that I often receive guidance, creative ideas in the middle of the night when I’m not quite sleeping, yet not really awake. This also can occur once I’ve finished my morning chant and head into some silent meditation time. I try to remember what’s been imparted, but am not always successful, although I do ask Spirit to help me to remember. And, sometimes the stuff actually makes sense in the 3-D world!

This morning I received an idea about asking for help from people. That in and of itself was interesting since I don’t ask for help very often. The idea was that whenever I ask someone for help, I’m actually asking the Divine for help. And, ya know, that’s an idea that makes sense to me!

The Divine does not have a corporeal body so expresses Itself through people who obviously do have a physical body. We are each the hands of God, the feet, the eyes, etc.

That thought brought to mind a poem attributed to St. Teresa of Ávila. In reading it, you might want to substitute “Christ” with Spirit, God, Oneness, etc.

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which He looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are His body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which He looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Not only can we help physically using our hands and feet, but with our heart as well, being compassionate with others.

This idea that came to me in the middle of the night certainly puts another slant on asking for help and for providing help; it adds another layer of meaning for me. When I ask for a person’s help, they are the conduit in which Spirit provides aid to me. And when I give help, Spirit is expressing through me to others. So not only am I being of service, but I am strengthening my bond with Spirit.

We are each helping God out.

A few weeks ago, I volunteered to use my many years of experience and expertise in creating and publishing electronic newsletters to train the person newly responsible for the e-newsletters at my spiritual center. Since I work full-time, we made arrangements to have the first session today following the Sunday service.

Having these plans, I found one of today’s morning readings timely:

I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble. – Hellen Keller

“This is what gives our life real importance: to know that with God’s guidance, we can make a contribution that is necessary and unique.”

– “In God’s Care*: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery,” March 6
*As We Understand God

Well, Spirit had other plans. While this person was present at the Sunday service, she left before it had concluded, without a word to anyone. We don’t know if perhaps she wasn’t feeling well, or something else came up; no one had her personal phone number in order to contact her. I trust she is well and am sending light and love to her; I’ll check in tomorrow at the office if she doesn’t connect with me first.

So while I was waiting to see if this person might have briefly left and would return, I got called in to be of service elsewhere: a Board member needed a second person to assist with counting the offering. This is one area in which the Board has been struggling to find volunteers each week.

I gladly obliged, especially grateful to help out since my other volunteer plans had gone up in smoke. I really wanted to be of service, and Spirit needed my contribution elsewhere. It felt great to be productive and to give of myself, even if the details were different than I was anticipating.

Being of service makes me feel closer to God. I get the opportunity to interact and better know other people and help to ensure the organization continues to thrive. Such a deal!