EXCERPT FEATURE: February – Greater Shall Be Given
LAMA SING: Remember His words:
“Go forth and bear my message. Do my works. And take naught with you, save the faith and joy in your hearts and spirits. And if ye have a need, ask of those whom thou meet, and they shall give it unto thee.”
Look again at the traveler. Jacob has come before him and asks him, “To where do you journey, and what is your purpose? And what are those things which you are bearing on this journey?”
Because of Jacob’s sweetness, none fear him, all love him. And the traveler, heavy with burdens, removes them from his back, and placing them down upon the path, smiles at Jacob as he carefully removes each item and explains their importance, their value, and why he carries them.
You may recall how the story unfolded. And, of course, it was not Jacob in the original version, but we are one of spirit so it matters not.
The traveler then asks of Jacob similarly, “To where do you journey and for what purpose?”
Jacob responds, “I journey to serve. I seek out wheresoever there is a need, and I shall offer myself unto that, praying that I am able to fulfill that need.”
The traveler asks of Jacob, “But where are your belongings? To what shall you give unto the needs you meet?”
Jacob, light, radiant, energized, answers, “From here,” tapping his chest.
“Good Sir,” responds the traveler, “you appear to be, indeed, a vibrant being, and I marvel at what I feel from you, and what I sense about you. But if you would answer me this question. Look upon these things I bear. Each of them has some potential to answer any need that might come about. Why do you not bear the same if, as you say, you are seeking to serve?”
Jacob smiles and extends his hand to the traveler, who, puzzled, hesitates but a moment and reaches out to grasp Jacob’s hand.
“If you will trust,” comments Jacob, “and leave all this behind, and walk with me, I shall show you greater abundance than any that lies at your feet.”
Feeling the warmth and truth of Jacob’s words in the grasp of his hand, the traveler looks from Jacob’s eyes to the wealth and material possessions that lay arrayed before him on the earth.
Looking back up into the unwavering smile and gentle eyes of great Jacob, the traveler asks, “But these represent all that I am. The fruits of all the labors of this life are here,” gesturing with his free hand. “If what you say is true, and I am drawn to believe you, then help me to leave these that I might find the greater.”
Releasing the traveler’s hand, Jacob bends and picks up a bolt of fine fabric from its wrapping. “What would you do with this fine fabric?” questions Jacob of the traveler.
“Well, if I were to follow you, dear Jacob, I might give it unto one who has a need for a garment for warmth.”
“That is a good choice,” comments Jacob, carefully, respectfully, laying it back down, covering it again. “And here, in this container you have rare ointments and balms. And to what purpose would you use these?”
“Perhaps I would honor one who is worthy of such honor,” comments the traveler. “Perhaps I would use these for barter, for trade, unto one’s need were I to walk with you and find same.”
“That is, indeed, a good use,” comments Jacob, carefully placing the ornate container back to the earth. Lifting up a satchel of, obviously, foodstuffs aplenty, “And this, unto what work would you give these.”
“Again, dear Jacob, were I to travel with you and find one who is enhungered, I might take of this and give unto their need. In it are good herbs to make teas and potions.. And the finest grains that others may take of them and sow them, and unto their own harvest, know the goodness thereof.”
“That is a fine intention,” comments Jacob, reverently placing them back upon the earth. “And, here, in this beautiful pouch, what have you?” as Jacob lifts it up for the traveler to review.
“I have all manner of gems and coins and such of precious nature. To answer your question as you have given it previously, this I might use to acquire unto the needs of those whom we would meet, were I to walk with you.”
“That is a good, a fine, intent,” comments Jacob, placing it carefully upon the ground.
And so with several more items does the discourse continue. And, finally, Jacob steps back, smiling, and states to the traveler.
“Then what is your decision? Will you journey with me?”
“I will,” comments the traveler, bending to gather up those things.
“No,” softly comments Jacob. “These you must leave behind.”
Turning to look up at Jacob’s smiling face, the traveler questions, “But why, dear Jacob? You, yourself, have stated they are to good purpose and good need. They will serve well. Your own words have stated this.”
“All that you say, dear traveler, is true. And you could give garments of finery to those who are cold and who have need to clothe their body. You could give good foodstuffs and seeds, and they would not hunger. You could take of your wealth, your ointments, your balms, your gems and such, and provide unto their need. But that thing which you bear, is more precious than all of those which array the earth before you. That thing which is you, is the most precious of all”
Standing erect, the traveler, looking, probing, asks of Jacob. “But what is this thing of which you speak that is within me? And how could it be precious to those who have needs to clothe their body, to feed themselves, for a place in which to dwell, and on and on?”
“Those things are unto the need of the moment, and endure only for a time,” comments Jacob. “For if you give them this fine cloth to cover their body, will the time not come when it is worn and tattered and falls away?”
Looking at the traveler, Jacob does not provide him time to respond.
“And these ointments and balms, they will honor those unto whom you would give them, or those who are anointed by same. But in time the elements will take this away, and there they will be, once again, without them.
“And so is it with the foodstuffs, that unto the hunger of this day, it will meet the need. And, perhaps, if they sow the seeds, the needs of future. But will there not come a time when their hunger surpasses that which you have to give?
“And what greatness of wealth, of gem, of coin endures beyond the employment of those. When they are gone, what shall take their place?”
Somewhat saddened, the traveler is gazing from bundle to bundle, torn between the truth and accuracy of what dear Jacob states, and that which is his nature. His entire life has been devoted to gathering these possessions. It is the path he has followed.
Looking up, his face troubled, his eyes questioning with a unique emptiness and wonder. “If not these then, Jacob, what have I to give? Who am I? What am I?”
“You are,” responds Jacob brightly, “a gift. The gift is within you. And if you claim that, and honor it with the same reverence as you have honored these things,” gesturing to his possessions on the earth, “then what shall that become? If you give reverence and security, if you impart goodness to and what you are, just you, what gift will it bear to others who are in need?”
The traveler covers his face with his hands, rubbing his face, and Jacob stands merely watching, smiling.
“Do not labor, good traveler. For if that which I ask of you is greater than you can bear, then I have added to your burdens, have I not? The truth of the way, and the gift of your spirit and heart, are free. But if you take my words and burden them with it, then I have served you not.”
With that, Jacob, smiling broadly, bows and turns and begins to walk upon the pathway.
The traveler looks down and looks up at Jacob’s departing figure, and cries out, in a voice shaken, trembling with the tenacity of the decision he must now make. “Wait! Wait, Jacob! I choose to be with you, teach me, show me the truth of your words.”
Jacob pauses and turns, raises his arm, and gestures to the traveler. “Then come, sweet traveler, let us join together in song and see what our journey holds out for us, what wonders, what blessings lie ahead.”
Moving, and pausing halfway between his belongings still covering the earth behind him, the traveler turns and looks one last time at them, and back to Jacob.
And Jacob answers his unspoken question. “Others will come and find them. And I ask you, will they not think it a gift from God?”
The traveler turns and looks one more time at the result of his Earth journey to this point, and then turns back to Jacob.
And walking slowly, confidently, towards him, smiles and answers. “Then let it be our prayer, sweet Jacob, that those who find them know them to be a gift of God.”
