Corrective Thinking
By Lucille Cedercrans
Lesson 6
Today we are going to learn how to pull weeds. It is a Law of nature that good ground will produce both that which is planted and that which is latent within the ground itself.
So it is with man. Latent within him are the "weeds", those undesirables which have been acquired through years and centuries of living. The common names for some of these weeds are:
Fear Greed
Jealousy Criticism
Resentment Prejudice
Pride Intolerance
Many of these weeds have not as yet had a chance to grow due to lack of nourishment. Certain conditions are necessary to stimulate growth of any kind and man, like all other forms of nature, goes through cycles or seasons. Many individuals are passing through the winter of their cyclic activity. In other words, they are at an apparent standstill insofar as the growth of their consciousness is concerned. In a sense their consciousness is sleeping. The body is automatically performing the functions necessary to daily living, but the incarnating entity is apparently making no expansions of understanding.
Then comes the spring and the consciousness stirs with new life. It looks about with newly opened eyes, observing its activities and the activities of others with greater interest. It stirs and awakens to the One Life indwelling all form, and begins to grow. Like the flower it lifts up its head into the light of the sun and rises above the earth. This does not, of course, mean that man literally moves from earth but rather that his attention is turned from that which is material to that which is spiritual.
As he does this he suddenly receives new energies, spiritual energies, which stimulate the growth of this consciousness. Into his mind and emotions are planted the seeds of Truth and they take root and grow. The vital life energies, which are pouring through him from his own Soul feed and nourish that which has been planted and is desirable, as well as that which is latent within him and is undesirable. The negativity he has acquired springs up as a bed of weeds along with the positive concepts of Truth. Thus it is that we often see a man who has taken a step forward upon the path into a newer and broader understanding, develop some characteristic which is undesirable and becomes an obstacle in his path to further progress. Very often such a one becomes critical, criticizing and judging those who do not think as he does. Sometimes he develops pride and thinks of his growth as an accomplishment which places him just a little above others. These are the weeds which must be eliminated if the plants are to ever bear fruit.
The first step in learning how to do this is to realize that these weeds are there and will grow and must be pulled. No man is exempt from this process though many do not recognize it. Therefore, if you feel that this does not apply to you; better look again, for a weed is escaping your vision.
The second step is to learn not to be dismayed when you discover a weed. It is a good sign for your ground is fertile and your garden growing.
The third step is to discover and to eliminate the weed at the right time. It must be large enough for you to see; in other words, making itself obvious either in your attitude or activities, and not too deep rooted for you to pull. Do not let a weed grow too long; neither attempt to pull it before it is obvious. If you let it grow too long, its roots will be so deep that in pulling, you will break them off, leaving some to grow again. If you attempt to pull a weed too soon, you may pull the wrong thing and so eliminate a rootling of that which you have planted. Be sure then that your weed is obvious before you attempt to eliminate it from your garden. However, once it is obvious, and you know it to be a weed, waste no time; pull it.
The last step is in the pulling of the weed, and that is very important. As you pull something, pressure is applied in a pulling manner from above, and as it comes out it is revealed in its entirety.
Your garden tools in this instance are Divine Love and Divine Will. First you realize that you are the gardener, the Divine Soul, and that you can do anything you wish with your garden. You can let it become a bed of weeds or a wonderful garden of spiritual food for the spiritually hungry.
Then you bring your will to bear upon the weed. Your will is your intent and is actually the plan of your garden. You see it as you wish it in your own mind, and then follow through with Divine Love.
Divine Love is a wonderful tool and can be used in many ways. One of its characteristics is its quality of magnetic attraction. The steady application of Divine Love, impulsed by Divine Will or intent, will gradually draw your weed right out of the depth of your garden and into the light of day where it can be seen, roots and all. Then you will know its cause and the weed will have been instrumental in the growth of your understanding.
Let your application of Divine Will and Divine Love be so gentle so as not to break the weed and steady so as to assure its elimination.
First you must learn to do this yourself in your own garden. Later you will be able to help others. You can begin helping others by pulling your own weeds and becoming a radiating center of love and light to them.