This is a wonderful story form my new friend DJ who deeply embodies the Truths offered in “A Course of Love.” One of my favorite Truths is moving out of an if, then world. This can be a hard Truth to grasp but DJ does it so beautifully here. Enjoy these luscious words!!!!Joy that comes from sharing in the expression of the “elevated Self of form” and wants to share one story, from many, that set the stage for his time “on the road” —I began my journey into the unknown with being left by my friends in a national park in Southern Illinois. I had $120 in my pocket, a tent, a backpack, a coffeepot, a little coffee and 4 days left on a campsite reservation. (by-the-way, I left there with only my pack and the money, I gave the rest away) So I had 4 days before I had to leave and I had no idea where I was going from there.It’s a very interesting feeling having absolutely no plans for the future! I had no idea what I was going to do the next day or where I would do it! However, standing there in front of my tent, I decided I needed to hunt for some firewood to build a fire to make my coffee; so I headed off into the deeper woods to do just that.Well, 15 or 20 minutes into my hunt for appropriate wood I was miserable. It was in the high 90’s and humid. I was getting bit up by mosquitoes, it was muddy from an earlier rain and I wasn’t finding anything I could use! All the sudden, I remembered what my purpose was for doing this whole thing! I wanted to experience the Truth Jesus spoke of with the birds and the lilies of the field. You know, “They neither spin nor toil…”I thought, “I’m not doing this! I want to experience living life effortlessly!” So I walked back to my campsite, sat down on a log and started to read. The only effort I was going to expend, was the effort I put into not doing anything except what I wanted. And of course the effort I had to put into not worrying about it! I kept my thoughts on what ACOL says about not living in a “if this, then that” world. Only maybe an hour had past when I looked up and saw the most astounding thing!My jaw dropped, as I looked out over a clearing and saw a boy, maybe 10 or 12 years old, walking toward me, dragging some firewood! I got up and walked out to the boy and said. “Hey little brother! What’s going on?” He replied, “We were camping over there,” and pointed to a distant site, “but we’re leaving and my dad saw you and thought maybe you could use the firewood we got left.” I chuckled and said said “Sure! That’d be great!” I helped him stack the wood he brought by my fire pit and then made three more trips with him from his campsite to mine. I met his wonderful family of six and had more firewood than I could use in the next three days!This was the first day of my journey and every moment after was filled with the coolest events. Most of what happened after isn’t as easy to explain and had more to do with Joining. I’m back in Illinois again, living in a small town outside of Bloomington. I work about 25 hours a week and spend most of my time alone. However, I NEVER feel bored or lonely…. I JOINED with those feelings years ago now!”
remembering the joy of being
