Abundance

November 9, 2023

People of conscious faith approach abundance quite differently from people who are primarily ego-driven. Ego-driven folks either work for a constant flow of abundance or complain about a lack of abundance. Neither strategy works. But those striving for conscious faith are aligned with the natural rhythm of the universe. They understand abundance is like the ebb and flow of the ocean's tides.

Overflowing abundance comes in waves, and when the waves naturally dissipate, the visible evidence of abundance ceases until the next wave comes in. People aligned with this universal principle of ebb and flow are not discouraged when abundance is not constant. Unlike the ego-driven, they handle periods of scarcity with faith in the natural order.

A crucial point about abundance is that, even with faith, we are not assured of always getting what we desire. Plenty may come to us in different forms than what we expect.

A wife, husband and children lived on a farm in Nebraska. They raised wheat. The farm fell on bad times because of several bad growing seasons. The bank officer came to the farmhouse one day and announced that the mortgage payment was overdue. She said that she would have to foreclose if payment was not received. The wife said they would devise a payment plan and inform the bank officer next week. The husband was shocked. He said to his wife, "How will we get the wheat to grow?"

The wife had a fairly sizable apple orchard in the pasture. Her Macintosh apples were so sweet and flavorful that they made your taste buds stand on end. She had won many competitions for her apple pies, and she sold her apples by the bushel.

When the bank officer came, she was greeted by a confident couple with a plan. The entrepreneurial farm lady served the officer a piece of delicious freshly baked apple pie. It was the best pie she'd ever had. The long and short story was that the farm was saved by a new marketing plan to sell apple pies and apples. There were plans for more trees for the orchard and a fully equipped kitchen. The officer was so excited about the new project that the mortgage was refinanced and the family thrived.

The farmer had prayed for wheat to grow, but it did not. However, the apples became the new source of abundance due to the wife's conscious faithfulness.

Inquiry: How would you apply the story's message to your life?

Dear God,

Show me my apples. Amen.

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