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TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR FUTURE
By Rev. Dr. Arthur Chang
In a Process Science of Mind or Process New Thought, it is useful to realize that the seemingly firm ground of the present moment is, as quantum science tells us, so infinitesimally small it can be registered but not measured. It is like a droplet of reality that comes into being and instantly perishes. Each droplet (or present moment) is similar to separate frames of a movie filmstrip that when run sequentially, which is process, forms a moving picture. All is process except for principle, which is unchanging.
The totality of our past is responsible for the present moment and what the future actualizes will depend on what you do with the present moment. The past, present and future are relational as is everything in our universe. Process thinkers do not speak of God as omniscient as does Classical Theism because the future is open. They speak of God as most knowing, where Omni is the Greek for “all” and signifies “all-knowing.” The future has not occurred and therefore cannot be known.
When the priestly writer of Genesis 1 said that humans are made in God’s image, he was speaking of the freedom to create as God creates. Freedom means the future is open and not predetermined. If God knew the future, then we would not be free. Freedom means we are largely creating our future.
An open future requires that we take 100% responsibility for our lives. Although we are interdependent or relational beings, we have the role of choosing our future. Process thinkers say life is forever in the process of becoming. Everything changes. Ernest Holmes says in his book, “The Science of Mind”,
The meaning of freedom implies the possibility of suffering, because if we are free we are free only by virtue of the possibility of choosing more than one course of action as an experience.
By saying our choices can lead to suffering as well as success, Holmes is agreeing that the future is open. God is then persuasive as Process Thinkers argue.
Having the freedom to choose is the reason we must take action on our behalf if we are to enjoy the Good life. Freedom comes with responsibility. By saying, we are to have dominion over our lives; the Book of Genesis 1 implies both the gifts of choice and the power to create our future. We are meant to create our future by what we think and do today. That is the freedom we have. God puts before you options, because God is persuasive, not coersive. Choosing is our prerogative.
How do we find the empowerment to accomplish our goals? We must work as Lao Tzu says, with the way things are. This means to work with the principles of Creation or the Law of Mind in Action. When William James said, “Believe that life is worth living and the belief will help to create the fact,” he was encouraging the use of the Law of Faith or Belief. Everything you have achieved to this moment in your life is the result of your belief in the past. The Buddha taught, “All that you are is the result of all you have believed.”
The present moment has three functions. The first function is to appreciate and be grateful for the present. This results in happiness. Rabbi Abraham Herschel expressed this as, “Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.” The second function is to reconcile yourself with your past. Forgive the hurts and learn principles from them so they can support your ongoing journey. The third function is to be aware of your vision, purpose, or goal and to apply your thought and action accordingly. This will determine your future.
Blaming others for your difficulties is easy. Even God may fall into this category of blame—“God, why did you make this happen?” This response may spring from being too miracle-focused and too little self-responsibility-focused. New Thought teaches, “Whatever God can do for you God must do through you.” Fredrick Douglas may also be instructional in saying, “I prayed for freedom for twenty years, but received no answer until I prayed with my legs.” Furthermore, we may think of God as a heavenly butler, there at our disposal, or one who is to be blamed when our desire does not manifest.
Paul rightly says, “All things work together for good for them that love God…” (Romans 8:28) When we apply our creative intention with faith, it does seem that the options or help we need is activated. It is then that the future happens, not by chance but by choice or by personal design.
You can take responsibility for your future.
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