The elderly nun quietly entered the refectory of the convent. Clasping her hands together and looking heavenward, she exclaimed, “Ah, the economy of God! If there are three people in a room, they are all teaching each other a lesson.” A friend who was at the convent just then on retreat shared this story with me.
I’ve often thought about the wisdom in that nun’s words. Everyone in our lives—whether the loving friend or the challenging neighbor—is there for a purpose. The situations in which we find ourselves, though perhaps painful in the moment, are there so that we can learn what we need for our growth. If we can willingly accept everything that comes to us and see behind the outer forms, especially of those things that are difficult, we find that God’s love and wisdom have been orchestrating it all.
Even when we consider the bigger picture, we find that the universe itself is arranged so that everything is in balance. Scientists recognize that the water, atmosphere, and chemicals on our planet are all perfectly designed to allow life to exist. If the forces of gravity or electromagnetism were to be altered slightly, by even the smallest fraction, the universe would not hold together.
In the midst of this vast plan wrought with divine intelligence, how can we question the purpose of the people and events in our lives? Circumstances are not random, but are a part of “God’s economy,” His perfect order.
Remember, too, that we are not insignificant in God’s plan, nor do our struggles go unnoticed. As Paramhansa Yogananda says, speaking of the state of cosmic consciousness, in his poem, “Samadhi”:
The sparrow, each grain of sand, fall not without my sight.
All space like an iceberg floats within my mental sea.
So what is the divine purpose behind this vast, ordered universe, and behind all of our life’s experiences? God has manifested everything to express His joy, beauty, and love, and our purpose is to realize our oneness with the Creator behind it all. Ultimately, all creation will merge back into the limitless sea of consciousness and rest in the perfect joy from which we came.
With joy in God,
Nayaswami Devi
16 Comments
Beautiful, Devi! Thank you. :-)
Thank you friends. I am finding myself in very difficult circumstances in which my children and I are serrated by 800 miles. They are a young 20 year old son and a young 21 year old daughter. These kids had to raise themselves literally due to their active alcoholic mother. I have been on this spiritual journey the past 14 years right after the divorce from their mother I found self realization fellowship to he me and my recovery and my involvement in 12 step groups having grown up in active alcoholism and my addiction the ex had grown up in that environment but now it seems the next generation is inflicted with this malady also. Is there any hope in all this madness right now friends. Please pray for me and my two kids. My son doesn’t even seem employable right now. I am stuck in fla and they in nc . I can’t take them in because I live I n a noble home park. Is this tough or what. Please pray.
Dear Rick,
Thanks for writing. You can ask for prayers for you and your family by going to ananda.org, then Healing Prayers. We will also pray for them. I know from many experiences with devotees that God and Master protect their children. Try to call to Master now to surround your children in HIs light.
With love,
devi
My dear Rick, I had to reply to your comment because I have gone down the same river of Karma as you! Almost word for word! Except that my ex husband was not Alcoholic, but a great enabler. Both of my sons are victims of this karmic dis-ease. My youngest has been addicted to Meth as well as Alcohol from a young man. I do not know at this time not only were he is, but if he is still in the body. My other son, Alcoholic as well, fairs a bit better, but is still in denial and struggling to see the truth of Alcoholism.
I am 23 years sober, but could not raise my children. For many years the guilt was what kept me in relapse! Then the Truth came to me……”It is not what happens to us, or what comes to us, or what we must endure! But what we become through these experiences! I choose to allow the Grace of God to flow through me and around me.
Our children have their Karma as well and have chosen us to help them work through it.
Most of all, our Prayers and unconditional love will do a great deal for them.
One more thing that Yogananda spoke about. When we evolve spiritually, we help to raise those in our family to greater spiritual heights. Our advancement will help them!
It must be what Yogananda and Swami Kriyananda spoke of in “Niskam Karma” Acting without the desire for the fruit of our action. This sets us free…..and in so doing will help them.
I do hope this helps. Please feel free to e-mail me at anytime, or visit my website. Also, you might like to know that I now live at Ananda Village and serve and live at the Meditation Retreat. We are not alone! Neither are they!
Yours,
in Divine Friendship,
Brindey
Thank you Devi.
Thank you so much! This was just what I needed to read and so it resonated so strongly for me.
Love,
Angela :)
Devi,
That’s so beautifully put. I’ve been through some very hard circumstances but they led me to where I live now and the opportunity for a new spiritual path at last.
Blessings,
Pat
Dear Nayaswami Devi, Thank you for sharing this Article. We are Thine :)
Thank you Devi!
Dear Devi,
Such an important reminder with water scarcity, ebola outbreaks and airplane crashes all in the news!! Thank you so much for sharing wisdom this way.
Dearest Devi,
So Beautifully written. Thank You.
God and the Universe are infinite in their Wisdom.
I too find that all lessons, whether harsh or gentile, give so much to help us advance and grow.
The kicker is whether or not we choose to learn and/or can be open and receptive to the lesson at hand. I am filled with gratitude for it all. As the saying goes . . . “What doesn’t kill ya, makes ya stronger”.
~~~Peace, Josette
Dearest Devi, Thank you! The upcoming Guided Retreat at the Meditation Retreat is “Harmony through Stillness” and this is something I will interweave in the talk I plan to give.
The wisdom you share is and always has been a boon to me. Yours in Love, brindey
Dear Brindey,
Thank you for your beautiful reply to Rick. Every test we overcome is something we can share with others to help them get through it themselves. God bless you for your generous, loving spirit.
Dearest Deviji,
Thank you for your touching words!
We are Blessed! We have had the
best teacher to learn from!
Written with great clarity, simplicity, and conviction, like all excellent writing!
That’s Beautiful