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The Gift of Receiving: Open Your Heart, Open Your Mind, Open Your Life To Authentic Treasure

© Richard Kent Matthews

How do we become good receivers? It's simple.

Give, expecting to receive. No need to demand. I know of people who say that it is our birthright to be rich, to get from God anything our hearts desire. We should come boldly before the throne of Grace and make our requests known. I suppose that works for them. However, the majority see themselves as unworthy of good things; crashing into the throne room demanding a new Cadillac seems a bit presumptuous, arrogant, cheeky almost. But it isn't necessary to demand. Good comes our way, not through entitlement or because we are nice people. When we give, good comes our way by right of consciousness, by practice, by Law. No implied or explicit moral imperative involved. We can make conscious room to receive all that the universe has to give. And in that receiving, we allow the giver to enjoy being part of the process. Then, we give again, keeping the cycle going. It's fun, actually.

Here's an idea: declare yourself to be the contribution. Let giving become, first, a hobby and then ultimately, your healthy, playful way of life. A giving--and receiving--consciousness is true worship; it's praying without ceasing.

When I first read St. Paul's words that we should "pray without ceasing," it didn't make sense. How could you pray continually? After all, dinner was ready, school was about to start, MASH was on. Praying continually seemed impractical if not impossible. And not much fun.

One day it dawned on me: to pray without ceasing meant to live--to walk--in expectancy. To remain open to the guidance, the goodness, and the giving of the universe, of Spirit.

To pray without ceasing, then, is to remain in a state of welcoming consciousness rather than just repeating a set of ritualized words. To pray without ceasing is to trust.

And it pays to remember that receiving is also a form of giving--an essential form. Your receiving grants the giver the joy of giving. In receiving, you complete the circle.

When you make giving and receiving your way of life, you'll have continuing opportunities to practice. Remember this: you cannot outgive the universe. You are receiving every minute just by breathing, just by being alive. Paul says that the universe returns good to you "full measure, pressed down, and running over." Believe it.

Here's one more little practice you may want to consider: unclutter your life--physically, materially, emotionally, even spiritually. Start with the easiest. Go through your closets, storage sheds, garage--anyplace that has stuff in it you won't use anymore. Give the unbroken, useable stuff to friends or charities; recycle that which can be recycled; toss the rest out. You signal the universe that you're ready to receive anew. At this point, my humble advice is to avoid gathering clutter again. Let the universe know through your thoughts, desires, and actions what you really want. More clutter isn't it, right? Making room for more good creates more room for giving. Just another way to keep the cycle going.