The Seedling

Circumstances, however, are so complicated, thought is so deeply rooted, and the conditions of happiness vary so vastly with individuals, that a man's entire soul condition (although it may me known to himself) cannot be judged by another from the external aspect of this life alone. A man may be honest in certain directions, yet suffer privations; a man may be dishonest in certain directions, yet acquire wealth; but the conclusion usually formed that the one man fails because of his particular honesty, and that the other prospers because of his particular dishonesty, is the result of superficial judgment, which assumes that the dishonest man is almost totally corrupt, and that the honest man is almost entirely virtuous. In the light of a deeper knowledge and wider experience, such judgment is found to be erroneous. The dishonest man may have some admirable virtues which the other does not possess; and the honest man obnoxious vices which are absent in the other. The honest man reaps the good results of his honest thoughts and acts; he also brings upon himself the sufferings which his vices produce. The dishonest man likewise garners his own suffering and happiness.

James Allen here conveys that we are always more than we appear to be. No man is black or white, but shades of gray, growing through thoughts, words, actions and experiences in one direction or another; towards purity or murkiness. Outer expression alone is insufficient to evaluate the totality of a man-the honest man my hide dubious qualities, while the dishonest man may hold virtuous qualities. In truth, every man is both a sinner and a saint, and the totality of a man's life-results expresses in the outer world-both honest and dishonest man will experience happiness and suffering in line with his moral strengths and weaknesses.

Where do you experience a challenge in your life? What actions do your take or fail to take that contribute to this challenge? What different action can you take NOW-small or large-to shift this challenging circumstance in your life? What support do you need, from yourself or others, to begin to move away from the actions that create or perpetuate this challenging circumstance?

Make Some Light!