Sunday, July 30, 2000

I am guided to share the following with you as an example of following Spiritual Guidance. While I sometimes share similar experiences verbally as relevant to another person, or during a seminar, I spend very little time recording same. Every day and every week brings similar developments.

It is important to note that the STYLE or Pattern of the Guidance I receive is intimately connected with by Basic Personality, as outlined in my astrological chart, and, with the capabilities of my physical form, and the resources I have available. Continually, I am Guided to do what my Ego and/or SuperEgo want to believe, or wish, were impossible. That is their excuse. ALWAYS, I have been able to do whatever my Spiritual Guidance has offered was what I would best be done next.

The Guidance you receive will be in a different context and pattern, for you personally, according to your capabilities --- as an extension of your Basic Personality, physical form, and resources. This short example will give you a sense of how the Guidance can work, what may be expected from you, and what can develop from it. I take no pleasure in doing this beyond the knowledge that I am Guided to do it and it can help you. I would much rather be living life than recording it. And, for me, this takes a great amount of time when I wish God could give me 28 hour days.

ONE:

On Wednesday, July 12, I had gone to COMDEX Canada in downtown Toronto. While there, I had spoken to a computer distributor from Markham who included blank CDs in his product line. A new brand he had he was interested in my testing as I had mentioned that shortly I expected to be publishing as many as 10,000 CDs. He gave me two blanks.

By Saturday evening, July 15th, I had confirmed with Tom that he would become part of the Balancing Seminar Marketing Team and accept to confirm Spiritual Guidance with me until he had perfected his own contact. I had updated files and an updated audiocassette ready to send to him for several days but had been Guided not to send them until now. After completing some preparatory work including further updates on the files, I prepared to do the 1 hour formatting of the blank RW CD, make the copy and go to bed early around 1.00 AM.

It seemed like a simple straight-forward task.
I had one spare blank RW-CD and the two new ones that I had received at COMDEX. I had left the making of the new one for Tom until the last minute both as Guided and as such he would have the most recently revised files. I used the newly acquired CDs first. After an hour formatting the first, I wrote the CD. When it had almost finished, it indicated an error. So, I formatted a second time, taking another hour. Now this first CD refused to accept any data. I began with the 2nd CD. Another hour went by formatting it. When I tried to use it, it signaled that it was already full and could not accept new data. I checked and double-checked with the file explorer which listed nothing on the CD. Again a second format, another hour, and a second CD failure. Four hours gone for a one hour task.

Now, I took out the last and older spare that I had and formatted it, another hour. I copied the files onto it and it tested OK. I had fortunately been able to do other activities while the formattings were in progress. I finished up several things now and it was 6:00 AM. I had expected until now that I would be doing my usual work at (my employer) today, Monday, between 10:00 AM and 4:00. If so, I would best be up by 8:00. Instead, I was now Guided to take today as my day off and do my laundry BEFORE taking a rest. I was to be up for 7:00 to head out to the nearest laundromat. I was Guided not to go to bed for the intervening hour but to do other work on the computer.

By 7:00 AM, Monday morning I was out the lane in time to catch the bus. A few minutes later, I had reached the nearest laundromat, a mile away. When I reached the door, it was locked. A sun-faded scrap of paper with almost unreadable pencil scribble proclaimed that the new hours were from 8:00 AM, above the clear, bold lettering stating the previous opening time of 7:00 ... which continued to be noted on all the signs within. Nearing physical exhaustion, my Ego was frustrated and angry. Why did God have me come early! I could have taken some rest. Now, I had almost an hour to spend. Ok, my Ego had let off its steam, so now back to Guidance.

My Guidance proved the Spiritual Planning I could have no previous knowledge of.
First, I put the package of cassette and CD into the nearby mailbox in time for the early morning pickup. I had taken the package with me the previous Saturday and had it weighed and purchased the correct postage, as Guided. Putting it in the post box now could save at least 24 or even 48 hours over the delivery time of a next day pickup. Then, I was guided to go to the donut shop across the street and to buy a soup and coffee. I had the first bowl of soup prepared for the day. It was fresh and delicious. As Guided, I had taken a worn pocket-book with me that a client had lent me a few days previously. It was on the topic of Higher Self Guidance and I had not heard of it before. The time in the coffee shop enabled me to skim through the 430 page book. Breakfast completed, I returned to the laundromat to become the first customer of the day.

While my laundry completed, I finished reading the book and, by Guidance, noting which 12 page spreads to copy. The only public copy machine in the area was at a variety store next door. I wanted to get the copies before my laundry finished so that I could catch the next bus after packing up my laundry and not have to wait another 30 minutes. The variety store did not open until 1 minute before I finished packing up the laundry. I went next door for the copies. Initially, the copier would not work. Eventually, it did and the copies were excellent. A few minutes and I was back to pick up my laundry and hustle out to the bus stop. 30 seconds later the bus came. I returned home and slept the rest of the day.

What had been accomplished?
The updated information was sent off to Tom at the earliest time possible after the information was received indicating that he would need it. I learned the hard and dependable way, no theory, that, as Guided, the team were not to resort to making small numbers of individual copies to satisfy small initial sales. After this experience, others could make the suggestion, and none of us should have a problem in knowing why such should receive little further consideration.

The media dependability and technology involved at the personal level was too unreliable. Also, we would need to be aware of reliability concerns before contracting for any mass CD publication, regardless of who paid for it. This could not have been determined with certainty otherwise. Every manufacturer and retailer say their products are perfect and without failure. Numerous technical articles and surveys would later be found, with Guidance, that disclaimed EVERY brand of media.

I had a great breakfast. I mailed the package at the best time. I used the least fares to accomplish everything in the least amount of time necessary. Every fare is important with my low resources. Finally, Monday happened to be the only day that the Sales Manager was away that week, making my presence less required. Monday was also a slow day for the plant so it was relatively quiet and I had a great rest.

How could ANY of this have been rationally planned ahead of time. There were many times when I did not think I could continue. My Guidance said I could. I set aside my Ego and SuperEgo, asking them to be patient, continued, and finished. Just another everyday example of what is possible.

TWO:

The income producing work that I have at the moment is extremely stressful. I call companies who may have business for my employer but who have never heard of us before. In this day, most companies have automated telephone answering which often, though sometimes not, may allow you to speak to a receptionist. Most of the receptionists in this area are trained not to give out information to strangers, not to relays calls to department heads, and to terminate anything which sounds like a sales prospecting call. If I manage to get past the electronic and human sentries, I usually encounter voicemail, which usually offers an opportunity to leave a message. Some of the time, I actually get an extension number to use if I need to call again, or again, for up to 8 times over a period of 7 to 35 days. After each call, I must evaluate when next to follow up.

To do the job effectively, I must be totally alert, keenly listening, and able to respond to a few words and the tone of the persons voice at the other end of the line, immediately. Many times, I have the disappointment of not reaching anyone. To be effective, I must instantly determine the likely thinking style of the other person so that I can respond with the information they would be interested in, and in the tone, rhythm, and volume they will not be defensive towards. Obviously every call is treated in a unique way. There is no room for pattern or routine. I have less than 10 seconds to make contact. A wrong word or phrase any time afterward terminates the call.

My goal, for my employer, is to find out who is the relevant contact in the company and make an appointment with them for the sales manager to see them. As part of that, I try to determine what type of and what quantity of business the company may have. I ask as many questions as I can. I always treat the person at the other end with respect regardless of their attitude or response. Most often, I take a position of ignorance, rather than aggressive promotion, and the other person tries to help. You can only go so far and ask so many questions with each person. One question for this person; seven questions for a second; three for a third. One question too many and they will never speak to you again. One question too few and I do not have enough information.

This is the kind of job for which few people have the communication skills, attitude, and Basic Personality. My employer wanted to hire someone to do this work for 8 months before my previous employer suggested me to him. Regardless of advertising, no one would take the job, and especially not for the money paid. Many others who do similar jobs take a break for 15 minutes in every hour. To this is added a lunch hour. Usually, as Guided, I work straight through. No breaks, no lunch. It is not a personal choice. It is a guided choice. To keep on track to accomplish my mission I must do as much as I can with the few resources I have within the time available. My employer wins, I win, the prospect wins, God wins.

I have a good degree of success.
It has taken a lot of effort and self-development.
Earlier in life, I was extremely shy and not a good communicator. In a market in which this type of activity often produces no results and where prospects are written off simply because they can't be reached in the first or second call, I make appointments and learn a lot about many of the companies. This is a particularly poor time of the year to do the job, as many of the persons when contacted are either going on holiday now or soon, have staff going on holiday, are just back from holiday, or just don't like summer appointments.

As Guided, I have been working 24 hours average per week for 5 out of the past 6 weeks for a pay of Can$ 9.00 per hour (US$ 6.00). During that time I have made over 620 phone calls, completed assessing 240 companies, excluded 110 for future contact for 1 of 41 specific reasons, received 22 requests for information, made 10 appointments, scheduled 66 companies for callbacks to set up appointments later at times they have requested. I have also been a major participant in a half dozen meetings, researched in detail the backgrounds of 25 companies, and provided constructive marketing suggestions, and "mentoring", as termed by the Sales Manager. He wants me to stay and work for the company forever in whatever capacity I choose working whatever hours I choose. He makes an effort to tell me this every week. In return, I thank him and reaffirm what my Guidance has been from the beginning ... that I will probably not be with him past the beginning of September. THIS is my part-time job.

For this period the printing sales prospecting job supplies most of my income. As a side benefit, I live in the industrial unit, rent free; have access to unlimited Internet use after the offices and plant shut down (sometimes they have extended and weekend hours), and a place to store my belongings in a manner that they are largely concealed. When I finish this work, according to my Guided schedule, I start my main job, which currently involves completing the Balancing Seminar package, providing supervision to two Marketing Representatives who each are learning to access their Spiritual Guides, and providing Balancing Therapy.

On or about the evening of Wednesday, July 26th, extremely Ego depressing information came to my awareness. I had earlier found a browser plug-in which promised to convert the WordPerfect Project Earth files for viewing in any browser. Until then, there had been no thought or Guidance to include the Project Earth files on the Balancing Package CD. Now, with the browser, my Guidance was to include many of the files. I had added them and the plugin to the last version of the CD which I had given a copy to Steve of. He had reported having difficulties viewing the files and by phone I could not determine what the problem could be. I myself had originally noticed that the complete WordPerfect file was not displayed. I assumed then that it was just the last few lines that were not displayed. Now, on closer inspection, I found that, on my browser, only the first 5 pages of a 50-page file could be displayed. On Steve's machine, he appeared to get the last 5 pages, with unclear text.

After some experimentation and testing, I determined that there was no free way to contact anyone at Corel about a correction, the plugin was not recent and with its low market profile would not likely be upgraded, Corel had been going through recent cash flow difficulties leading to downsizing, the plugin was not open source code allowing others to repair it, and, finally, my Guidance advised me to dump the plugin. Yet I was to continue to include the Project Earth Files! And without a conversion viewer most recipients would not be able to view them unless they were converted to HTML. Panic stations. If my Ego had a heart, it would have had heart failure. The impact was massive but not devastating. I knew that for me to make the conversion would have been unthinkable until the release of WordPerfect 2000, which was introduced in March of this year. It was included on the machine I had been Guided to purchase in late March. It was now possible, but horribly lengthy.

Thankfully, although my Ego did not like to accept it, My Higher Self had not initially guided me to convert the Project Earth files to HTML. Doing so without any preparation would have truly been a shock for me, for what I knew must be involved. Instead, by making the possibility of viewing the files available, the possibility gave me positive feedback from Steve and Tom about including the files and I could see the potential benefits to the recipients, as well as to developing a market for the later product, not to mention making it easier to get financial support for completing Project Earth. At the same time, it provided Steve with an up front and personal experience of the software industry in which huge companies can produce programs which fail or have severe limitations, and never acknowledge those limitations or improve the product. It is one thing to tell someone about such. It is another reality to actually go through it yourself.

I had not expected to do anything more with the Project Earth files until I was in a position to work on them full-time again. Much still had to be added and the final or next style of formatting still had to be discovered and confirmed by Guidance. I began converting a file. Steve later queried as to whether this might mean an extra 40 hours of work for me --- all to be completed by September 1st, if possible. Sounded possible. Over the next 50 hours, spending all the time I could squeeze out of my day, it became evident that the amount of work could occupy me for 40 days! I mentioned this disheartening news to Steve. He offered to assist in the conversion if I could show him and if he could do it. I was Guided to have him help and set about trying to at least get one file completed for his reference and a sheet of instructions.

On Wednesday, July 26th, I worked a full shift for my current income producing employer. My health for the previous few days had been such that I had been experiencing periods of physical exhaustion and a potential health problem with my colon had once again briefly presented itself. Over the previous two weeks, I had experienced 3 occasions of my heart indicating extreme weakness such that I was Guided to and took huge doses of Hawthorn Extract leading to almost immediate recovery in two of the instances. After working much of the previous night on Guided work, I had managed to get an hour's rest before starting my telephone work at 9:00 AM. Again, my heart was weak and, as Guided I took more Hawthorn and took a rest for 1.5 hours mid-day during the more difficult period for me to make phone calls.

After my day work for Wednesday, I was Guided, as frequently is the case recently, to walk 3 blocks to the nearby coffee shop. It gives me some fresh air away from the fumes and stuffiness of the industrial unit, provides me with some much needed exercise, and I get the Ego reward of a coffee or soup, and maybe, a donut or muffin. Often, the exact time that I am Guided to go, not usually the same time each day, there just happens to be a used section, few pages, or complete newspaper in which I find 1 to 4 articles of particular relevancy to Project Earth. It is also a particular newspaper. There are 3 large popular newspapers in the area. Invariably, the paper left accessible to me changes brand often. Whenever I have compared the brand that I am Guided to and the others available, the Guided newspaper has the more complete, better written, or more relevant facts, for my mission. Another plus. Then, I have my walk back. And it is back to work, as Guided.

With little sleep Wednesday night, I was feeling very tired when I left for my walk. I felt better when I returned. I had been guided to see Steve before the weekend coming so that he could pick up a copy of the revised files I had been working on and expected to have finished by then. His schedule was not convenient for meeting on Friday, and we couldn't work out something that was acceptable to my Guidance for me and his availability for Saturday. I now had to get all the work ready for Steve by the morning instead of having the next two evenings and Friday afternoon to complete it. This had included, unexpectedly, a 30 minute meeting with my Sales Manager. Then, I think I took a sleep for exactly 2 hours, got up and worked through until 8:00 AM. I ended working until 7:00 AM, showering, eating and dressing by 8:00, and resting until 9:00. We were to meet at 2:00 PM today, Thursday.

I completed my (workplace) obligations at 1:30 and immediately started back on the files I was preparing for Steve. He arrived at 2:00 and shortly thereafter I began showing him how to make the changes to the raw files. As sometimes happens, the process took 2 hours rather than the hour hoped for. At that point, I could relax. I had been Guided, and Steve had agreed, that he would take me the short distance by car to the nearby public transit station for me to buy a Day Pass for use the next day. A task that could have taken all of 7 minutes, when I arrived the attendant had no passes left.

Fortunately, Steve was with me and was driving.
The next station was not far away, unlike ALL the other stations on the line which were further apart from each other. What would have taken me hours to walk, Steve was able to drive me to in a matter of minutes. By this time, somewhat relaxed from the hectic previous 48 hours, I felt exhausted and starving. I hadn't eaten since 8:00 AM and it was now after 5:00 PM. We went and had a sandwich, then he went on his way with me back (to my workplace-residence).

I went to sleep for 2 hours, got up, made and returned phone calls for several hours, prepared and had my supper ... seems like a lot of suppers after 1:00 AM these days ... did some more work and a little relaxing, and went back to bed. Saturday, 10:30 AM, I was up. By 11:00, I was out the door to do my 8 scheduled activities, as Guided. I had an appointment for 3:00 PM, scheduled number 6, with a current Balancing client. It was a requested social visit to counsel him informally. As I started my list, I thought there would be no way to see him by 3:00. By 1:00, it looked as if I might be an hour early. I arrived 2 minutes before 3:00 without rushing or delay. I expected the meeting to last 30 or 45 minutes. I left him after 2 hours.

I had found out late Friday, that I would not get paid until Monday.
After going to the bank, I had $50, and three items I was Guided to buy. I was Guided to pay about $20 for the first item, blank CDs. I have never bought or priced this brand before. I paid $20.60, including tax. The second item, printer paper, was $9.00, tax included. I had got it before and fortunately, there was one in stock at that price. The third item, 3 litres of honey, I had paid $19.00, tax included, before on several occasions and ditto as the case for the second item. I had not eaten all day and had hoped to have enough money to buy a delicious $3.00 meal when I met my client. With only $2.00 to spare, I was guided to get a coffee and donut, without the energy of which I probably could not have remained alert and navigated through the next 4 hours.

I got home at 7:30 PM and just wanted to sleep.
I was Guided NOT to sleep. I prepared food and drink according to Guided ingredients. Miraculously, I was feeling more refreshed about 5 minutes after my meal. I worked until about 10:00 around which time I spoke with Steve and gave him feedback as had developed into a semi-routine. That finished, I expected to go to bed. No. There was more that had to be done and it could not wait until the morning. As the night wore on, the required activities were revealed. As one was completed, another came to light.

By 8:30 AM, Sunday, I had answered my e-mail, finished setting up and inputting shared files that I had just put together, or completed, sent off notices to the Team members so that they would have the access and info for Sunday, as expected, or requested, to and at the Intranet site, and completed the conversion of the remaining 50 or so Project Earth WordPerfect files to HTML files, as well as running some technical tests and doing some specialized research on the Internet. NOW, I could go to sleep, and I did, until 6:30 PM.

After getting up, I have worked for hours on this, as Guided, took a sleep break, did some of my paid work, and finished and uploaded this document, early Monday afternoon.

The Reality of a Spiritually Guided Life is this, according to my experience and that of others I know of:

1. God doesn't owe us a life of material riches, fame, and social acceptance;

2. God gave us life and the Earth for us to take care of; so far, we have failed;

3. God has always gifted each of our Personal Spirits with everlasting contentment; We thought we could do better. How has your life been until now?

4. If everyone requested and followed Spiritual Guidance, we would have an Eden-like existence on the Earth; most humans never ask and of those who do, most don't follow.

5. The Spiritual Work required is equal to the amount of goof-ups made by humanity to date. The more goof-ups we contribute, the more work is left for others. For some, just living a Spiritually Guided life will be a contribution. But since God wants all human spirits to be content, options remain for redemption until a final hour or maximum fall from grace threshold is reached.

6. The magnitude of what is required of each Spiritually-Guided individual is exaggerated by the few in number who are accepting the task, and restricted to the maximum which you are capable of. If many contributed, each would be required to do that much less. If God did not require your maximum contribution now, there would be no hope for humanity. In God's grace, there is still hope.

7. In cultures that sincerely give reverence to God and encourage the image of spirituality, individuals who enter a spiritual lifestyle are rewarded with respect, and usually, free room, board, instruction, and, a task which contributes to the increased well-being of society.

8. In much of the industrialized and commercialized world, no sincere respect or allowances are provided to encourage anyone to consider a Spiritually Guided life nor attempt to live one. This human-constructed world lives by materialism, and will die from materialism.

9. Living a Spiritually Guided life means working AND living to the max to accomplish and facilitate what you previously considered would have required a miracle for anyone to accomplish. It means potentially doing something to save, extend and improve the lives of many persons so that they do not have to live through the tragedies, pains, abuse, confusion, failures that you have experienced, or grieve for in others. Most of those persons will never know your name. For a few, material riches will come, only because you are willing to devote those to carrying out your Spiritually Guided life mission. Political and social fame will only come if your Basic Personality can handle it, and most cannot.

10. Predictions seldom come true. Prophesies always come true.
We are quickly approaching a historical point at which perhaps only 100,000 of a population of 6,000,000,000 will survive. You have an opportunity to be one of the survivors and to facilitate others to earn their way into that group.

The ship is sinking.
You have selected yourself to be part of the solution. You can either help with the bailing, or, sit back and watch those around you drown, and, eventually die yourself. There will be one lifeboat. Those doing their best will be taken off first. The others will perish. This is not tragedy. This is reality. The tragedy is to know the future and do nothing to change it for something more positive.