Cutting the rope of selfishness brings freedom and joy
(republishing, copying, no restrictions)
By: Father Shay Cullen
A good friend sent me this story. It is about a mountain climber, who wanted to climb the highest mountain. He begun his adventure after many years of preparation, but since he wanted the glory just for himself, he decided to climb the mountain alone.
The night fell heavy in the heights of the mountains and the man could not see anything. All was black. Zero visibility, and the moon and the stars were covered by the clouds. As he was climbing only a few feet away from the top of the mountain, he slipped and fell in to the air, falling at great speed. He could only see black spots as he went down, and the terrible sensation of being sucked by gravity.
He kept falling and in the moments of great fear, it came to his mind all the good and bad episodes of his life. He was thinking now about how close to death he was getting, when all of a sudden, he felt the rope tied to his waist pull him very hard. His body was hanging in the air.
Only the rope was holding him and in that moment of stillness he had no other choice other to scream: "Help me God".
All of a sudden a deep voice coming from the sky answered, “What do you want me to do?”
Save me God”.
“Do you really think I can save you”.
"Of course I believe You can”
“Then cut the rope tied to your waist”.
There was a moment of silence and the man decided to hold on to the rope with all his strength. The rescue team said that the next day a climber was found dead and frozen, his body hanging from a rope, and his hands holding tight to it and only 1 foot away from the ground and a short walk to his base camp and safety.
Who can you trust to be there to guide and advise you in times of crises and danger? We can trust in God and those who lead us to Love itself. But we have to believe that God is Love. God is an intense experience of being alive and in the presence of over powering protection, felling completely safe and secure and having no fear. Like when a baby clings happily to it's mother, or when a friend reaches down to pull up the fallen climber risking his own life to save his friend. That is trust and love itself.
Do you only trust yourself and your own opinion and belief that you know everything that is wise and good for you? You have to let go of your rope strong as it may be, it wont save you from the forces that surround you in this challenging world where we fell the heartache and loss of someone we loved.
Cutting that rope of self-pity and turning it to compassion and love of hungry and imprisoned children will be liberation itself for them and you.
Thinking of others who needs us is God speaking to us through strange events, the inspiring example of others, opening ourselves to words of advice and wisdom. Then we can find our true selves and the path to love and happiness. It is the selfless love that seeks no reward brings us to the exhilarating experience of God’s love.
There are times when we have to trust in the wisdom of others and those who have nothing to gain, no reward to reap and are only concerned for our well being. These are the people who really love us and they are worthy of our trust and friendship. God’s works through others like you and me. We have to be unselfish and help others hanging from their ropes in the darkness. We have to see and appreciate our strengths or abilities to help others and forget our selfish desires, the urge for instant and continual gratification, renounce the love to possess useless worldly goods. We need to trust that God will give us happiness when we let go of that rope that ties us to selfishness. Tell your friends that the gift intended for them was sent to the starving in Sudan or the child prisoners in the Philippines.
Christmas is a challenge for each of us to be renewed and throw off the old selfish ways and think of others. The poor and hungry need all we can give. Six months ago without the money to save and support the imprisoned children from the jails I was hanging in the dark deluged with doubt. We needed desperately to open a home for imprisoned children but with no money and little hope of success I heard a voice that called me to trust in God and cut the cord of doubt and accept whatever came. I did and dozens of small kids came our way happily released from the filthy disease ridden overcrowded prisons. It was salvation freedom and happiness for them and all of us too.
Help and support came too; we don't cling to ropes but are in free-fall trusting in God. There are great and wonderful people in the world who love God and others more than themselves and they will bring happiness to those who need it most this Christmas and everyday throughout the New Year. [End]
