Practicing the Presence...

We, who are aspirants on the spiritual path, have reached the place where we know that the kingdom of God is to be found within ourselves: We have reached the place where we now know that all of the outer forms are useless in our search; we have reached the place where we know what we are seeking~ reunion with That from which we seem to have become separated. That cannot take place outside our own being. No one can do this for us. Only in our inner meditation, in our inner contemplation, can we find it, when inwardly we have become gentle and when we feel a depth of love that would almost make us open our arms to take the whole world in, as Jesus would like to have done for Jerusalem: "Oh, how I would love to put my arms around you and draw you in, but ye would not come. Come to me and feel the warmth of love." We, too, shall find that they would not, they will not~ except the few.

We, who are practicing the Presence, are of the few who know what ultimately will save the world. It is above all things the acknowledgment that no man on earth is our father: There is one universal Father within us, and united with Him, we are united with every spiritual child of God throughout the world. Our love for God constitutes our love for the people of the world. We no longer hate; we longer fear. We need not punish; we need not seek vengeance: We need only withdraw into ourselves and contemplate our oneness with God and with one another.

~ Joel S. Goldsmith, Practicing The Presence