Thy Will Be Done

Long ago, a very "spiritual" friend of mine said, "Kathy, it's not about your will.  It's 'Thy will not mine'.  When we let go and let God do the work it's easy.  It's so easy because we don't have to figure out anything.  We just go with the flow".

Having a very strong will of my own, at that time I was quite resistant to this notion.  It felt like I was giving in to something else.  I believed that if I agreed with 'Thy will not mine', I was trusting something else to do what was good for me instead of relying on what I knew for sure:  my own self.  I didn't like the idea of giving up "control" to something I could not see, nor hear, nor touch.  Something that required 100% faith.

After almost 2 decades, I understand that notion a little bit more.  It is not so much giving up control, as much as it is surrendering to the process of life.  Surrendering to the notion that everything happens for my benefit (whether or not I see it that way at the time).  Surrendering to the notion that God loves us so much that guidance is always there not only for the asking, but especially there with surrendering. 

For those that are uncomfortable with the notion of God, it's like this.  We can flow with the river of life, or cling desperately to the banks of the river.  When things are going the way I want them to go, I easily flow with the river.  When disappointement after disappointment ensues in my life, I typically cling to the banks - often for dear life.  Over the decades I've learned to loosen my grip and jump back into the river. 

Many years ago when my friend said:  "When we let go and let God do the work it's easy", I finally understand what she was talking about. 

When our will (wanting) doesn't pan out like we had hoped, listening to divine guidance (God's will), is like never having to grip on to the banks of the river.  Understanding that "Thy Will Be Done", means continually flowing in the river of life without ever holding onto the banks of that river, and trusting that Divine guidance is always directing our flow.

I suppose it would be tougher clinging onto the banks rather than going with the flow of that river.  I don't know.  This is all new for me to let go and surrender.  I'm going to find out!