“If its not simple, its not from God”
Is it true? Is there always a simple solution?
I believe so…
Last fall the brake lights of my ’96 Honda went on and stayed on, draining my battery. I tried everything to fix it; a new brake light switch, checked wiring, paid Honda Online Experts $ to give me guidance… nothing…
I spent months lifting my hood and unhooking my battery cable every time I drove my car; what a pain!
It was also embarrassing. My car is missing two hubcaps and the paint is peeling… and here I am, lifting the hood and fiddling beneath it every time I meet friends for dinner… (my car is a beautiful gift in humility!)
Then I’d be gone, traveling for a month (or two). I’d come back, get inspired for another round of solutions and experts… Nothing.
Then… THEN… I asked someone at the auto parts store (I’ve asked many times before but ya never know…) He said “I HAVE JUST THE THING – ITS A FIVE DOLLAR PART!”
He was right! A simple little rubber plug. I knew it was something simple!
And when its not, there is still always a simple solution – breath…
My friend Duran’s dad sells cosmetics. One of his counter employees started growing a big black mole on his face. It was gross to look at, and it kept getting bigger…
His boss told him to see a doctor. He said he would, but didn’t.
It got bigger… and bigger…
The boss was worried. Who wants to buy cosmetics from a guy with a great big ugly black thing on his face? “Go to the doctor”, he said. “I’ll pay for it”. But the guy wouldn’t go.
He was scared! (I don’t blame him)
So one day the boss takes the guy to lunch. But instead, he takes him to a dermatologist. The doctor takes out a scalpel, nicks the mole and out pops a foot long ingrown hair. Problem solved!
That poor guy spent a year worring about the growth on his face…
I had tennis elbow. It hurt. I’m not a rehab kind of guy, not wired to do daily exercises (except breathing and eating). I held out for a simple solution (another definition of lazy). Then one day while snorkeling, I bumped into a sea urchin.
Five of its spines stuck me right in my sore elbow!
It hurt! Within the hour, it lessened…
The next morning, the pain was gone, along with the tennis elbow.
I have great faith in simple solutions. This faith has grown exponentially. So has the quantity of simple solutions.
Which came first?
I dare you!
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
HI Joe, I have a couple of stories on that subject to share :)
My apt is foreclosing so I moved out to rent another, then since nothing is happening with it I decided to take the risk and move back in. After moving in I immediately went on a trip to Brazil for 17 days and when i returned to my old/new apt, the AC wasn’t working and neither the refrigerator. Two very important things to have specially in FL. So I practiced a lot of patience and trusted that in the right time solutions would show up. I tried a few things that didn’t work.j I thought I had to buy a new AC and fridge. That bothered me since I have no idea how long I would be staying in this apt. So I kind of jsut surrendered to the situation but did not give up. (Two different things) I was still open and searching for solutions. Finally the AC problem turned out to be just a lack of freon to cool the air. Its working now:) and the fridge was just dust in front of the coil. All I had to do was vacuum the dust. The tech guy wanted $ 200 to do the job. HA HA right! The fridge still have probs but I can get buy. What I wanted to share is that during the weeks of patience and waiting for solutions to present themselves…I stayed with the moment accepting what is. The heat in my apt was outstanding, so I imagined I was on vacation in the Pacific Islands where there were only fans available no AC. And I got by with fans for a couple of weeks and used the top freezer as a fridge (which was the only part of the fridge that worked) It is a daily exercise to practice patience and acceptance that things don’t always go our way and happens when we want. We just have to wait sometimes.. The energy shifts and then all the balls that were in the air fall into place again. So I know exactly what you were talking about in your post:) Take care. Namaste
Thank you for this very timely reminder. Facing the many twists and turns in building a new business, I sometimes wonder if I should keep going, but my passion runs deeper than my challenges. I look for the alternate perspective knowing that the universe is with me in all that I do, but just the same, sometimes it just feels rough. Your message is perfect…and simple :). Thank you!
Joe,
A friend sent your “What Happened to Joe” post a while back and I just re-stumbled upon it. I don’t know what is going on with you now, and I know there are tons of teachings and teachers…but I just wanted to point you to Adyashanti if you haven’t already found him. He is from Northern California and puts things quite simply. If I wake up in this lifetime, I am certain that he did most of the “pointing” for me!
Genny
Hi Ginny! Yes I love Adyashanti’s message of Oneness, he’s a beautiful manifestation of Oneness pointing back at itself! :)
Hi Michelle! Glad you enjoyed it! What fun to follow our passion, it comes from Source and gives us the adventure of our lives!
Hi Lorraine,
Sometimes the way gets complicated, that’s when I relax and ask for the simple path to be shown. I don’t always see it in the moment, yet over time (and also in hindsight) it reveals itself.
When I encounter complexity, I take comfort in knowing that simplicity exists, even if i cannot in that moment access it! :)