The Highest Goal

I am re-reading this book called The Highest Goal.  The author encourages the readers to reflect on their purpose.  I have been contemplating about my purpose for years, and have been expecting that it will reveal itself with flashing lights.  This is your purpose, now go do it!   With frustration, I am admitting that has not happened.   The book is based on a class the author teaches at Stanford, giving young college students a foundation for which to start their adult life (where was that when I needed it).    The author will shatter your dreams if you think that your highest goal is to feed the homeless, build schools, run for office, or make a million bucks.  Our highest goal relates to having complete awareness of the energy that sustains us, it reveals itself differently to all of us, but is rooted in the same principles.  



In one exercise, we, all of us readers, think back to our earliest childhood memory of feeling like we were in the flow, connected, etc.   As a side note, if I am a child and thinking about flow and connected, I would say when I was playing Twister.   But, being more educated now, I can tackle this challenge.    When I was no more than 7, I would venture off with my friends to a field with a creek, trees, and no houses for as far as a 7 year old could see.  This was at least a quarter mile away from home.   I know you must be asking "your mom let you do this when you were so young?"  I am asking that question now too, but it never crossed my mind then.  Mom, what were you thinking!



This creek, surrounded by cottonwood trees, offered me serenity.  I could stomp through it, ponder what critters lived in it, what the generations before thought about it.    I felt part of the larger system called life.    Fast forward to the age of 10, we lived in the "country" with 10 acres of open field behind our house.   I could disappear into the field and trees anytime I wanted to reflect on nothing.  Pondering nothing was important when you had an obnoxious brother and sister (this is past tense, John and Pam).     Did you ever lie in a pile of snow, with only the sound of your breath, watching the clouds move overhead?     The connection with all that surrounded me coalesced in my breath.   



When I was 15, my best friend and I, hung post it notes with peace signs all over the city where we went to school.  We really believed we could make a difference.   Sure you chuckle now.   We were united in our purpose, and simply our intention that the world would be better, I am sure had an impact.    I felt connected with the yearning of all of the others around the world, who yearned for peace.     We unconsciously came together in this system.   How is that for easy teamwork?    Unfortunately, we were not too green minded, or would not have scattered so many reams of paper.  



We have a raging creek in our backyard today, surrounded by trees.   My 9 year old daughter sits out and watches it flow, she connects with the life around her, and becomes one with the system we call life.    



I think I have completed my assignment now.   My highest goal is to bring my awareness to the connectivity (communing) we share with each other, the trees, and animals.life.      I wonder what the next chapter in my book brings.   I hope it gives me an instruction manual on how to execute with flashing lights!