Jesus: I Speak to You Again
Chapter 120
One’s Growth Due to One’s Experience at the Present Moment
Whatever views you hold about your current life, they can always be expanded and improved. Never think that you have reached a point where you can’t grow or make your life better. Similarly, do not believe that you have become so good that there is no more room for improvement. While it’s important to remain calm and grounded, you should also not fall into the trap of thinking you’ve achieved everything you need to in life, losing the desire to strive for more.
This attitude, even on a spiritual path, can be dangerous. It can lead to a place where a person loses the sense of purpose in their daily life, focusing too much on the future—perhaps even fixating on what life will be like after resurrection. But this future may still be far off, and your physical body is full of unused energy, capable of accomplishing much in the present. If your inner self becomes too focused on future possibilities and loses interest in your current form, you risk missing out on the richness of life right in front of you.
When you focus all your energy on the past—on studying history, revering ancestors, or cherishing traditions—you are also not using your present potential. This mindset is similar to the one focused entirely on the future. Both mindsets miss the power of the present moment, although for different reasons. The person stuck in the past or the future fails to feel the satisfaction and joy of spiritual growth in the present, leading to a lack of fulfillment and even despair. Over time, this disconnect from the present can cause a person to withdraw from their surroundings and become isolated.
Spiritual growth, like physical growth, cannot be forced to happen faster, nor can it be slowed down indefinitely. Growth corresponds to an individual’s desire to participate in the present moment and engage with their surroundings. While you can desire to grow faster, the actual process of spiritual growth happens through your experiences, moment by moment. No matter how strong your desire to reach spiritual perfection quickly, you can only grow through the experiences you have in the present.
In the end, it is the present moment that determines your level of spiritual development. Growth is a process that happens over time, but it is experienced fully in each moment. By embracing each moment, with all its challenges and opportunities, you allow your true spiritual self to flourish.