We who have suffered with our ‘nerves’ and minds cannot avoid the question of God. Or as one person put it to me ‘if the answer’s God, what’s the question?’

We either turn our faces from the idea of God or we walk towards it in ways that only we can. From within our own brokenness we either seek the spiritual path and all of its machinations, heartache, joy and freedom, or we go it alone and look toward the world and our own resources for salvation.

It is this deepest of questions that turns our life’s on their heads and sends us this way or that. Unknowingly this question drives us, changes us, and shapes our future. It cannot be avoided – only ignored.

The shattered mind can be troubled with these thoughts, not knowing which way to turn. Anger clouds the matter and we are left, so it seems, to make up what is left of our minds alone. It can seem too much.

There is light though. It is my experience and the experience of many that I know, that a little faith goes a long way. That one needn’t be saintly, orthodox or clever to receive the spirit of life. If you truly think about it, it is the only way out of our crushing dilemma.

Our great problems are ignorance and resistance. We see the whole thing so much differently than it really is. Only looking back on what we were and reflecting on what we have become shows us the great reality of the spirit’s presence. Our task is to learn to co-operate rather than fight. To let it do it’s job rather than hanging on to everything that we think that we will lose. This is a living breathing experience that never ends. Desperate people will know what I’m talking about. True darkness opens one’s heart or closes it shut. Do not give up on yourself. The spirit is always seeking to change the way things are.

Just as a matter of interest Radio 4′s In Our Time program by Melvyn Bragg is a good way of letting some interest come into the mind rather than keep playing the same old records of doom and gloom. Fascination on a subject helps change the thinking. One does not need to understand the subject, only to be interested in it. Thus making the world a bigger place than just the inside of our minds.

We are no longer slaves to the many forms of fear and delusion that stem from our dodgy beliefs. Not because we can still feel fear or occassional panic but because we have made up our minds to live a different life. It is in this choice that we have broken off the shackles of slavery.

It is usually more painful coming to a decision that carrying it out. Fretting and worrying about the outcome, especially about fear of confrontation, stifles the truth of the matter. If we have weighed up the situation then we must find courage and take the next step. Delaying only causes more anxiety.

It is sometimes in fear and trembling that we work out our salvation and at others with ease and understanding. Whatever the case may be we must face up to what we have to do.