The course of my learning this week has been like walking a thin trail meandering through pasture grass, occasionally being offered up glimpses of “something” in the distance – only to dip down once again to be left enclosed in my own thoughts. Kinda cool, actually.

It’s been a bitter cold week (I’m in Ohio) and, in truth, on Monday I never strayed more than a few feet from in front of the wood-burning Franklin stove in my living room. But, there’s something mesmerizing about crackling logs that lends itself to reflection. Read Haanel: Part 15 and closed eyes and pondered “insight” Realized that “our actions are not governed by knowledge, but by custom, precedent and habit. That the only way we can get ourselves to apply knowledge is by a determined conscious effort.” (36)

Little light bulbs blinked above my head periodically. The first was with sentence 3: “Difficulties, inharmonies, and obstacles, indicate that we are either refusing to give out what we no longer need, or refusing to accept what we require.” ouch.

Scroll 4 added reinforcement (brighter light bulb) “I know a great secret of life for I perceive, AT LAST (dw) that all my problems, discouragements, and heartaches are, in truth, great opportunities in disguise. I will no longer be fooled by the  garments they wear for mine eyes are open.”

Back to Haanel: (5) “We cannot obtain what we lack if we tenaciously cling to what we have.” and (31) “Insight is a faculty of the mind whereby we are enabled to examine facts and conditions at long range, a kind of human telescope; it enables us to understand the difficulties, as well as the possibilities, in any undertaking.” (33) “Insight enables us to plan to advantage and turn our thought and attention in the right direction …” (click! getting brighter here!)

Made mental connections – Being in the flow of the “Law of Giving” – are things I have struggled with simply things I have been attempting to push upstream? (no doubt). How do I reverse my direction and sail with the current? – by recognizing what I’m doing and making a “determined, conscious effort.” (36) to turn myself around and put myself in harmony with Nature. Why? (Scroll 4) “…nature knows no defeat. Eventually she emerges victorious and so will I, and with each victory the next struggle becomes less difficult.” And – just maybe – I learn to stop struggling altogether and surrender to the Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent Universal Truth that is within me because … “I am nature’s greatest miracle.”

Summary:  (Haanel)  “To every man there openeth a way, and the high soul climbs the high way, And the low soul gropes the low; And in between on the misty flats, The rest drift to and fro. But to every man there openeth A high way and a low And every man decideth The way his soul shall go.” My meandering path is on an incline. How about yours?