Taking Our Faith to the Next Level

Real faith is not just to place one's trust in the Higher Power, but to accept the results in whatever shape and form it comes.

I had a recent experience that demonstrates this principle. In this episode, I was owed considerable money by a client. I originally assumed they would pay in 30 days, but then found out it would be more like 45-60. Though initially slightly bothered, I soon accepted the fact in my mind and emotions for the most part. Then a series of very strange incidents occurred.

On the 5th of the month, the client informed me that the check would be issued soon in a week or so. 10 days or so after, I inquired again since I had received nothing till that point. The client then told me that the check had in fact been sent the week before, and yet I had not received it in the mail. We agreed to see if it would arrive in the next few days, but still there was the same result.

Now it appeared that it had somehow had gotten lost in the mail. When I mentioned to the building complex manager that I may have lost an important check, she noted that there had recently been problems with the mail, likely because we now had a new post delivery person. At each point in these proceedings, I consecrated the effort, offering the matter to the Divine, as did my housemate, and made the effort to put it out of my mind, putting my focus elsewhere.

And yet after a number of more days, the check still did not arrive. I then told the client via email of the situation and she mentioned that she could do a stop payment and issue another check instead. But then she hesitated and said why not wait till the end of the work week to see if it would arrive by post. I agreed. All along, I subtly understood that the Divine has Its ways. I felt the resolution would occur on Its terms, not mine.

When the check still did not come, I emailed the client to tell her to do the stop payment as and issue the new check she earlier suggested. However I got a response instead that she was out of the office for several days. It had somehow fit the pattern! I then called the office to let others know that I had emailed this person about the missing check, and I assumed that she would now send the new check.

Several days later, I had pretty much given up on anything particular occurring. Also, if a new check had been issued by her, it would still nor arrive for several days. But when I checked the mail on this particular day, there it was! (It turns out I arrived there just as the new mailman had placed the letter in my box.)

But then I suddenly realized that I had asked the client to do a stop payment on this check, so it was essentially worthless! I then decided to call her on the phone and tell her that the old check had finally arrived. She then told me that she never did the stop payment, meaning that the check I received was actually a good one. Moreover, she also told me that ANOTHER check for an ever bigger amount (that I suspected might also be somehow delayed) had arrived and would be sent to me that day!

Somehow, this all made perfect sense to me. In fact, I sensed all along that this confluence of the two checks might happen. I.e. I would receive the Net 30 check at the same time as the Net 60 one. I felt it was the Divine logic that transcended my own.

A little background: For several years I had worked with this client in developing a variety of proposals. Each time the jobs were about to start, they were cancelled at the last moment. In other words, all dealings with the client had worked out wrong in the past. Therefore, the current problems with the check -- it being on long term terms and it being lost/delayed -- did not surprise me. (I understand the principle that how things originate indicate what is to come.)

At each step along the way I had offered the matter to the Divine; having faith that It was in control, transcending my own limited perspective of space and time. I understood that the Higher Power not only knows the Big Picture -- including the nature of the client, my inner relationship with them, my own financial pressures, attitudes etc. -- but resolves matters through the logic of Its Infinite consciousness; which to our surface mind seems incomprehensible, even absurd.

It is one type of faith to ask the Divine to work on our behalf and resolve a problem. It takes an even greater faith to accept every movement and result that follows as a reflection of Its Will. It is thus this type of incident that pushes one's faith to the next highest level.