Eckankar: The Porch Door

It has always been swollen and generally uncooperative. We got used to not closing it all the way, or only closing it when we were leaving, or at night, or never. The porch door was just one of the many stubborn problems in the everyday world- not a biggie.

One day a friend who is a very creative man asked if it would be good to fix it. I didn’t have much faith that it was possible, frankly. Old house-old door frame-old door. But I said yes.

He brought his tools and saw-horses and deftly took off the door, carrying it outside to work on it. I left on an errand and he finished working and was gone when I got home.

It would be nice to have dinner on the porch, I thought. When it was ready to eat, I yanked on the handle and lost my balance! The door worked like butter and I didn’t need to yank! I guess it was a biggie. Every warm summer day since I have silently thanked him for seeing a problem and giving assistance.

Today I saw a pattern about that event. There’s a tendency to accept drudgery, inconvenience, and stall outs. I do this, and I do it in the belief that I am showing qualities of a dependable hard worker. But sometimes I need to learn to give up and stop fighting, to look around for solutions to help myself.

A little thing like this is spiritually important. If I have been learning spiritual truths, and yet never use them, the door gets stubborn. If I have been learning to work with a spiritual teacher, but never request help, I stay stuck in drudgery and get used to life being tough. We don’t have to go it alone. We can benefit from the experience that another has had going before us.

You can use any teacher who uplifts you and sets your heart toward the higher view.

In Eckankar, I use the whispers of the Mahanta, the Inner Master, and the writings of the Outer Master, Sri Harold Klemp. It’s worked over and over for me, and I’ve grown my box of tools and skills. And grown in gratitude. It’s a personal view, but you can experiment with these tools if your porch door is stuck. You’ll have to ask, though. The ECK Masters, as part of their code of spiritual ethics, will never enter your life without invitation.

Here is a simple spiritual exercise to try:

If you have spiritual questions about your life, sit in a quiet place and just ask the question in your thoughts, your heart. Ask with love. You could use the name Mahanta or Wah Zi (Jesus, Buddha or Allah). Watch and listen. Watch your dreams and your outer life. See what happens.