Early settlers in America, or in any new country, found it quite essential to be physically helpful to each other in order to survive, However, this scope of helpfulness did not extend to the mental or spiritual realms, only because they were not conscious of any pressing need of survival in that sphere. Each group sought the supremacy of their own religious interpretation, which was a remnant of the old countries from which they had fled for opportunities of better living, because of persecution or limitation of mind and body.
The question now arises whether our spiritual vision is keen enough to embrace real spiritual values as a Life, by finding its direct simplicity and application through comparison and search of all revealed values in that line. Have we done any spiritual searching, thinking and selecting of real values to live by, and then for a true living Master or Mystic to protect us and show us how? On the contrary, we seem to
have lost the zeal and interest even in that which we have followed for so long, without discovering the Jewel in that Lotus of Sacred Text or Belief. Are we satisfied with only languidly imitating our predecessors, or are we looking for a life more abundant and richer as promised in our own Sacred Scriptures?
All things, whether spiritual, mental, emotional or physical take thought, time and constant effort of application before we can become efficient in a branch of any one of them. Physically, we know that success depends on clear thinking and effort in any line. When we have chosen a vocation in life, we spend many years in studying under teachers in schools, colleges, universities, and then take post-graduate courses along with the actual and practical work and experience gained thereby. But spiritually, we assume to become proficient by the mere reading of a book or listening to sermons. The exercise of spiritual faculties, like muscles of action in that field, has been utterly neglected and forgotten.
A belief held but not used, is like the “light under a bushel” (Mat. 5 15), (Mark 4 21) and (Luke 11: 33), for then it does not light the way for the possessor of it. The value lies not only in keeping the lamp in repair and full of fuel, but in lighting the lamp of understanding and discrimination, like the five wise virgins in the Bible.
We ourselves must live the life and find the way to union with that essence within us that and beyond us, which is the Supreme Being, and results in Consciousness, and exultation of Inner Bliss, Love and Truth. “Only those who live the life shall know the Truth” is an old Hermetic saying.