By Rev. LeRoy E. Zemke
Pastor, Temple of the Living God

Love all God’s creation, the whole and every grain of sand in it. Love every leaf, every ray of God’s light. Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love.
Feodor Dostoevski

Be clear about your purpose and mission as you blaze a trail ...Recognize the connectedness between your thoughts and your intention, and in your journey allow your soul currency to create and enrich you in all senses.
"Soul Currency" by Ernest D. Chu

How many of us ever think of ourselves as a magnet? The dictionary defi nes a magnet as a body that possesses the property of attracting certain substances to it (i.e. iron is attracted to steel).

In the rich repertoire of metaphysical literature, including writers and teachers on goals, personal achievement, personal mastery and success in the world of our day to day lives, the law of attraction figures very prominently indeed! As we begin to explore this idea, let’s think about how it shows up in our daily lives at home, at work and at play.

Esoteric and exoteric teachers have taught us that our human form is a composite of untold hundreds of billions of cells, all with a pre-programmed intention or plan. A group of cells that form our nose, eyes, tongue or chin do not form a liver, a heart, or bladder or lungs. The cells of arms, legs and hands do not turn into hips, knees or feet.

The spinal column cells and its related bones, tissues, muscles and tendons do not become brain tissue, ankle or foot parts. There is an innate guiding intelligence that directs the proper flow of all living tissues, cells, bone and fiber in our body. One way to view this incredibly complex phenomenon is that at the moments when the basic human embryo splits and divides after human conception begins, this same innate guiding intelligence draws together all the appropriate cells to grow into what ultimately becomes a human body. While it has been studied extensively in medical literature it is quite literally beyond description or explanation.

Ancient and modern teachers suggest that we are born into specifi c families, groups, tribes or communities often by race, geography, culture(s) and ethnic groups... to learn about the particular qualities each unique group has or offers to life. The process that allows this decision occurs beyond (before) birth and is thought to be the result of specific attractions at very deep levels of the soul. Long before birth occurs, we are guided in the planning of the next incarnation as well as being profoundly guided to experience whatever lesson(s) a particular lifetime will offer to us. This process is called the “gathering of soul essences” arranged by an internal attraction to a mission or purpose to be uncovered, revealed in a particular lifetime. We speak of this process after we are born as the discovering of our purpose (mission) etc, within our life. We ask “what does God intend for me in this life experience?”

As we live into our lifetime, we see evidence of what attracts us in the outer world. As a child we find ourselves fascinated with music, sound, rhythm, dance and experiment with those elements as it is available or possible in our immediate natural environment. When we say we “connect” with a specific person or group, our soul is engaged and we learn to dance, sing, play a violin, a piano or organ. As we learn to express ourselves, literally hundreds of ways open up to that deep energetic resonance to music which allows us to explore life as a musician. The same, I suspect can be said as we uncover or explore other resonances, as well, such as a desire to heal, to make money (as in a business as an entrepreneur or financier) to educate ourselves and pass on that learning to other people as an educator, scientist, artist, leader, politician, warrior, film maker, actor, chemist, environmentalist, industrialist, therapist, minister, teacher, attorney or many others of literally an unknown number of capabilities, talents, skills of our beingness.

As we mature, the arenas of our lives expand dependant, of course, upon our family of origin or absence thereof, siblings, relatives, friends, acquaintances. We are attracted to school or repelled by it (as a negative attraction). We learn from teachers, priests and other professionals as well as our peers, parents and professors. Each in his/her unique way calls forth an internal response. We like them, trust them, respect them and if we are inwardly ready to receive what they offer, we take advantage of their gift and their learning.

As we step into adulthood we become more conscious and more attentive to the subtlest feelings, ideas, concepts and how they strengthen or diminish in importance in our lives. We are attracted to (notice, observe, watch) a certain person who fascinates us. We pay attention to a yearning to learn about growing things, plants, shrubs, flowers, caring for a horse, cat, dog, and/or some other animal. We give considerable attention to ideas, social customs such as politics, religions, government and building relationships, friendships. We focus on school and/or academic studies, careers, choices that influence the direction of our lives.

At some, not always conscious place internally, we become aware of the principle of the law of attraction. First we see what appeals to or interests us. We notice small things and pay internal attention to the tiniest details. As this happens it grows in importance, relevance and significance to us. For example: we notice a desire to learn a skill such as Yoga, Tai Chi, painting, cooking, automobile repair, driving a car, flying an airplane, swimming, biking, singing, dancing, and many hundreds of other similar skills. Once we focus upon one or two or three areas (skills), the ability increases. We practice yoga and we improve. We learn to sing and our voice grows strong and powerful. We start cooking and discover a new world of food combinations and an art that can lead to a profession let alone feed ourselves or our family. Whatever we focus upon grows, increases, multiplies.

If our focus becomes scattered, slipshod, uneven, irregular or filled with doubt and fear, then the result of the practice needed to develop a skill such as swimming, painting, learning a new language or operating technical equipment such as computers, iPads, garden power tools or driving a car, falls, falters, and never really develops. We learn an extraordinarly important lesson.

The power to develop any set of plans, skills, talents, or abilities is already present within us. It comes “prepackaged” with the incarnation. When we focus upon what attracts us, the object of the focus will flourish. If we scatter our attention in too many directions, then the focus will weaken.

A simple example will suffice. We realize a need to accomplish a goal we’ve set for ourselves. (We are now recognizing that we are attracted to or desire to achieve the stated or specifi c goal). The goal may be to clean a closet or achieve order in our home, offi ce, business environment, etc. The decision has been made, both internally and externally. We set a date, time and inwardly commit to it. Yet, when the day, time and situation offers itself to us, we freeze, or we call a friend and talk for a long time, decide to postpone until later in the day or week when we have more energy. The focus falters, the goal fades momentarily and if we do not change our focus, we will not realize a desired result.

The task is to recognize that we are in charge of our thoughts and that the goal we seek is still available to us. We must stop, center ourselves and say to ourselves, “I can and I will accomplish my stated goal.” We slowly refocus our thoughts, plans, intentions and get back on track. No recriminations. No guilt. No blaming ourselves or another person, our lack of resource, poor energy or other excuse that may surface.

The deep task, I suspect is to really choose wisely what we will bring into our lives. In all metaphysical systems there is a caution that is offered here. Learn to ask our Divine Nature flowing in, through and as us, what is for our highest good in every situation. Once we ascertain that we have that “connection” the go ahead signal is in place.

In reality we attract what we are. If we are kind, we attract kindness; if we are loving, giving, open-hearted, we shall attract loving, generous and open-hearted experiences. If we are mean spirited, angry and selfi sh, we shall likewise attract into our lives mean-spirited people, or those who are angry and bitter and focus only upon selfish ends. Again if we are peaceful, grateful, joyful we attract the same into our lives.

The law of attraction works in myriad ways in all areas of life. Test what now appears to be manifesting in our lives and see if the results that occur can be clearly recognized!

God is equally present in all, but He is most defi nitely expressed in the heart of the spiritually minded, loyal person who thinks only of Him. Through your loyalty to God you can establish your Oneness with Him. Loyalty attracts the Divine Attention. Thus when the storms of life gather, and the waves of trials buffet you, you can guide the boat of your life safely to the divine shores by realizing His omnipresence.
Paramahansa Yoganda