Truth Is Not Necessarily Comfortable, It Is Just True

Q: I am a retired minister. Getting to where I now am has taken 45 years. I am terrified to publish my work or speak openly about what I now believe. I could be charged with heresy and stripped of my ordination. How does one deal with such a transformation in belief systems? What does one do with this? My answer for now is to just be and when asked to preach or teach -- to then translate.

A: I would simply suggest you listen to your own heart. The truth is what opens your heart and quiets your mind. Does your fear open your heart? If not, if it closes your heart and constricts your awareness, then it simply is not very true or very important. The things you fear might still happen, but so what? If they are not actually very important, then just let them happen. And also, if your fears are not very true, then it might even be pretty unlikely that what you fear will happen.

All there is, is truth. So your fears are all true.....just not very true. They could happen, but it might be very unlikely or very unimportant if they do happen. My favorite example of something that is true, but not very true is a lottery ticket. It is true that you could win, but unfortunately, it is not very true. In fact it is a ridiculously small truth. And even if you did win the lottery, it would not really matter that much as there is not much truth in the imagined value of money or material possessions either.

Listening to your heart can put all of this back into perspective. Following the truth that your heart shows you will not necessarily be successful, admired, financially rewarding, comfortable or easy, but it will be true, real, meaningful, deeply satisfying and fulfilling. All of that is so much more important and true than anything your fears might be pointing to.

You may want to re-read part two of my free spiritual ebook, Living from the Heart (available for free here), to reinforce this perspective of orienting to the truth. It is not so important what we think, what we feel, or even what we want. What matters is simply what is true.

I hope this is helpful my friend.