“Do not bend reality to your tiny experience or limit its purpose to your little personal thoughts.”—A Course in Miracles
Every year, I start anew on the lessons of the Course in Miracles. There are 365 lessons, one for each day. Right now, as I’m wrapping up January, the lessons focus on seeing things differently. Learning to look on all things (yes, all things) with love, appreciation and open-mindedness.
When you choose to see Reality as it truly is, instead of the condensed version trumpeted throughout the media, you get a wider perspective. You see your connection to everyone. You feel gratitude and deep compassion.
Jay, from my posse yesterday, mentioned he keeps reminding himself that he has no idea about anything. As I told him, that’s the wisest thing anyone said today. Probably all weekend. It also reminded me of this blog post, one of my favs from 2013. Enjoy!
I’ve been thinking a lot about Hans Schultz. He is the fictional sergeant to Colonel Wilhelm Klink in the old TV series, Hogan’s Heroes.
Even though Schultz knew about the shenanigans of the Allied POW’s who were running Special Operations from Stalag 13, he was famous for proclaiming to his inept colonel, “I know nothing” in a clipped, German accent.
I repeat that line (complete with the accent) quite often. In fact, it has become an important piece of my spiritual practice.
I have learned that any time I think I’ve figured something out, any time I believe I’ve found the route to this intention or that dream, I promptly proceed to get in my own way.
My understanding is sorely limited. But when “I know nothing,” like Hans Schultz, I leave the gates wide open for blessings to rush in.
Last week, for example, I got an incredible response to my first post on The Daily Love. It’s a popular website run by Mastin Kipp, a young entrepreneur who recently appeared on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday as one of the Next Generation thought leaders.
I happened to catch that episode, looked him up and discovered that, lo and behold, he grew up in my hometown. I decided that I wanted to write for The Daily Love and I did everything I could think of to interest Mastin in my “brilliant wisdom.” I even wrote an article about him in the local Lawrence magazine. I mean, c’mon, we talked in person.
Those initial pitches? That initial scheme I came up with for getting on The Daily Love? Futile. Nada. Didn’t work.
However, when I let go of my plan, repeated the Hans Schultz “I know nothing” and forgot all about it (“Set it and forget it” is a new mantra of mine), Madeline Giles, the editor of The Daily Love or the Love Curator, as she’s known, contacted me.
Out of the blue, she wrote to me, said she liked my new book and wondered if I’d be up for contributing to The Daily Love.
So, Hans Schultz, thank you for proving that inspiration and important spiritual practices can come from anywhere.
Pam Grout is the author of 18 books including E-Squared: 9 Do-it-Yourself Energy Experiments that Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality and the recently released, Thank and Grow Rich: a 30-day Experiment in Shameless Gratitude and Unabashed Joy.
21 Responses
I woke up to this today? I am so blessed. So grateful… Thank you Eitan! I too “know nothing!”
It’s a beautiful place to be–every time we think we KNOW something, we cut off all other possibilities.
Thanks Pam! So glad to be aboard! The guy that had two assignments in Kansas…
Richard
I think my buzz is not that good. Not one time I reeived an answhere from the field in 48 hours (I come from Holland and have the translated books E2 and E3). But weeks after the buzzzz 😉 suddenly there is a huge answhere. Don’t you think this is strange? 😀
Not at all. As Einstein said, “Time is but an illusion, albeit a very convincing one.”
you mean “reality is an illusion albeit a very persistent one” i know i wrote it in my book which i restarted writing in it.
Please include a url where folks can click to read your messages which makes it easier to share with a group of others THANKS for all that you do!!! …. Pat Jolly
I’d be honored to do that. Do you know how?
There are share buttons all over pam’s blog. 🤗 The link to this entry is:
https://pamgrout.com/2017/01/30/incredible-things-happen-all-the-time-when-you-buzz-at-the-right-level-eitan-tom-aitch/
Haha… this should be easy for me, because I truly forget 🙂 I guess being clueless is sometimes a blessing. Thanks
Oh, this is a keeper. Thank you Pam.
My pleasure.
Im giggling my tookus off that you used a jolly photo of Sgt. Schultz for this topic. Youre hilarious Pam!!
Thanks. So is Sgt. Schultz!
While there really are no coincidences, I have a picture of Sgt. Schultz and his famous quote hanging in my office. I refer to it frequently!
Pam, I love all your books & blog posts and I am living an amazing life. However, I can’t help but worry about our country’s future due to all the political chaos. How do we remain positive with what is happening? I am still in shock who was elected & what has happened so far!
Hi, Debbie–
Was going to reply to your question, but first wanted to check a site I blog for to see if they’d posted my latest blog. They hadn’t. Here’s part of what was there instead:
“When we think about the biblical story of David and Goliath, these large corporations seemingly have the power. But if you listen to Malcolm Gladwell’s fascinating take on this classic tale, there is a very good reason why David is able to defeat the giant, making this victory not so unlikely after all. The lesson here is that David’s weapon to defeat the giant is stronger than we think and that the giant himself is not nearly as powerful as he might first appear.” Change “large corporations” to “powerful politicians.”
And this is, in a way, what I wanted to say. The good thing about what’s happening is that it has awakened masses of people to finally take action.
The other side has been working and organizing in school boards, state houses, and at the federal level for decades. They don’t just sit on like-thinking websites and complain to each other. They attend town halls; they call their representatives and congress people; they vote. They make themselves heard, and it’s paid off.
Sunday’s Washington Post had a story about one woman, Laura Moser, who’s trying to duplicate their success for our side. Following the Women’s March, she started a group called Daily Action, and over 100,000 people have already signed up to receive daily texts on one quick, simple action they can take (usually a phone call to their congressperson) on that day’s subject.
And that’s the answer. We can’t fight everything at once, but we can pick our battles and do what we can. We are the Davids now, and despair will get us nowhere.
And remember–eight years ago they were just as appalled as we are now, and look where they are in just eight short years. The pendulum will swing back, and the more radical his moves, the farther it will swing in our direction. Be patient.
P.S. Also, don’t watch/read so much news as in the past. You can still get the broad strokes of what’s happening just by following the headlines.
P.P.S. Take nature breaks whenever you can. Go outside and look up at the sky and that will help you maintain perspective.
Nicely stated Pat!
Thanks, Richard–
I’m thinking of the Galaxy Quest battle cry:
Never give up, never surrender!
Wow, did I need this post today. I was buzzing at the wrong level. Your post reminded me to state what I want and then let Divine Oneness handle the rest. Thanks.