Yes x 3 with Josh Reeves

[00:00:01] This is Josh Reeves and you're listening to the Mile Hi Church Podcast. Labor Day weekend, Zamira, Jackie, and myself are facilitating a meditation and prayer retreat. It's about meditation and solitude, but it's just as much about connection and community. We'll be creating a space of healing, introspection, and inner joy and fun. So consider joining us, learn more about this and all sorts of stuff at milehighchurch.org. Once in a while, not very often, someone will ask

[00:00:30] me, Josh, when did you get the call to ministry? When did you say yes? And the answer for me is that there wasn't a single yes. It was kind of an admission. It was an admission to what I was saying yes to my whole life. I had to ask myself at a young age, Josh, what is it that truly brings you joy in this life? And the answer for me was, what is our initiative this year? Healing and community.

[00:00:59] There's something so powerful about spiritual community when we loosen ourselves from our self-invented isolation to be with other people in awareness of a power for good greater than we are that allows us to learn who we are in the midst of other people and to connect with that higher power. Nothing more healing, nothing more powerful for me. I had to ask myself as well, what skill

[00:01:26] do I have that I want to continue to build on and grow? Can't fix a car, not very good at math, but I can show up as sanctuary for people. It's a great skill and something I want to continue to grow the rest of my life to reflect back to people the best I can, the truth of who they are, whether it's at church or it's the guy behind the counter at AutoZone.

[00:01:50] I love helping people to see who they are. Lastly, I had asked myself, what if it was taken from my life would cause me to lose that sense of meaning and joy? And the answer for me is quality of connections and consciousness and relationships. Not only the relationships that I've built in ministry in my

[00:02:15] time and the science of my movement, but dedicating myself to the spiritual practice called the science of mind so that I can deeply connect with the people I love the most. It's been the greatest gift of my life. The reason I'm a minister isn't because I'm a master of this teaching. It's because I need it

[00:02:33] the most. We all have a story of yes. We just have to admit it. We can look back at our lives and see a momentum that we've built in alignment with our virtues, our values, and where we want to go. And we can see how it shows up in incredible ways. Sometimes we have to move past the story of no's

[00:02:58] that we've built up around it. But when we know what our yes is and we learn to allow it to harmonize with this infinite good that we teach here in religious science, then we're rocking. Then we're rolling. Then we really have the spiritual momentum to live amazing, fantastic lives. Because that's the heart of this teaching. You and I are surrounded by an infinite,

[00:03:25] limitless good available to us at all times. And all you have to do is just say yes. And as we align with that good, it begins to demonstrate in our lives in incredible ways. Ernest Holmes speaks to this. He said, if the gift of life is already made, then our part must be to accept, receive, believe in, and use it.

[00:03:53] Your first step is to come to a more complete realization of who and what you are. Your next step is to enter into a more definite understanding of your relationship with this power. Your final step is to use this power for yourself and others. If you want to know if something is religious science, two things. One, the idea has to be fluid. It's something you can evolve in and grow in every time you comprehend it.

[00:04:22] And yet at the same time, it has to be practical enough that you can put it in your pocket. It has to be expansive enough to keep us growing in the idea and practical enough that we can put it in our pocket. And what Holmes shares with us is an everyday recipe for living a great spiritual life. To become conscious, so aware of this divine presence that it becomes aware of us as well. To know it is infinite good, infinite love, infinite grace expressing itself.

[00:04:52] To realize, oh my goodness, the truth of that power is the truth of me as well. I am a part and an expression of this vast, infinite good. It is the truth of every cell of my being. And now that I know it to be true of myself, I can know it to be true of others as well. I can look at this tangled up necklace of pearls that is our world and see that good making itself known and through.

[00:05:18] And the most beautiful thing about this teaching is when we open up to be a blessing to others, guess what happens? We get blessed by this incredible good. But you've got to say yes. My message today, yes times three, is meant to recognize that there's different layers of yes.

[00:05:39] And if you can say these three yeses every day, you can better live in alignment with this infinite good that wants to express itself through you. And I'll introduce these three yeses by asking you three questions. First, are you yes worthy? Are you yes worthy? Can you recognize that there is no cell in your being that is unworthy of this good?

[00:06:06] That every aspect of your consciousness by divine consciousness and right, it has to this incredible good. Second, are you yes willing? Are you willing to look your nose right in the kisser and expand your willingness to receive a yes that helps you transcend them? And lastly, are you yes in this moment?

[00:06:35] Where does good exist? If it exists anywhere, it is right here and right now more profound than it has ever been before. And it is up to you and to me to step in and embrace it. Yes worthy? Yes willing? Yes in this moment. Are you yes worthy? Even giving this talk today, I'm aware of how often I say no to good in my life.

[00:07:07] And I realize how much of it at times is based upon this belief that I'm not yes worthy. I want to enjoy good with my kids, but I can't stop thinking about that negative thing someone said about me. I'm fed a compliment and just as quickly spit it back up. I'm looking for a nice pair of pants in my closet and one isn't there because I left it at the store because I told myself I didn't need it.

[00:07:37] Ralph Waldo Emerson said, When it comes to your infinite good, assume the post. My good is in need of an organ here. Shall I not assume the post? My abundance is in need of an organ here.

[00:08:05] Shall I not assume the post? Love, healing, harmony, wholeness is in need of an organ here. Shall I not assume the post? Because this good, not only do we need it, it needs us to flower, to bring it forth into our life journeys. No part excluded because that is a misbelief in this good that there might be a part of ourselves that is unworthy.

[00:08:36] Are you yes worthy? Yes. Yes, you are. I love getting to put my daughter to bed at night. And she got into this little habit, which I have too, this beautiful little routine, where just before she goes to bed, she says, Daddy, what are you proud of me for today? And it's a lot of fun because it helps me pay attention each day about what I'm going to tell her.

[00:09:02] Nancy, I so loved how quickly you repaired that relationship with your friend when you got upset. I'm so proud of how you listened when it was time to go. I'm so proud of how funny you are. You are so hilarious. I'm so proud of how kind you are. I'm so proud of what you drew today and what you wrote today. And I can tell she soaks it up and it's just wonderful.

[00:09:28] But I have to pause at one point because a big mistake could occur. And that would be that my daughter might associate my pride with her with something that she does instead of with who she is. And so every night, and it annoys the heck out of her, I say, Nancy, do you know what I'm most proud of you for? What, Daddy? Just being you. Just being you. That's how yes-worthy you are.

[00:09:59] Just by being you and letting go any illusion that in order to get good, you have to be someone you're not. No. Just be you. Are you yes-worthy? Yes. Yes. Are you yes-willing? Are you yes-willing? Being yes-willing is about confronting those areas where we block ourselves off from good in our lives, admitting it, and letting the good in anyways.

[00:10:29] Do you have those no's? I meet the girl of my dreams and I get to introduce her to my fear of commitment. I go to the job interview in which expresses that six-inch eyebrow hair off of my eyebrow. Anyone else have that? It's an amazing mutant feat. I make a new group of friends and I get to introduce them to the museum of all the stupid things I've ever said in my life.

[00:10:58] What I've learned about my issues in my own experience is that all of the issues I've always had my entire life have never gone away. They're always there. However, over time, less and less do they shout at me through a megaphone. They get quieter and quieter. But they still come up. And it's up to us to decide how am I going to respond when this no to my good comes forward.

[00:11:27] Let's take the mutant eyebrow hair, for example. One technique is just to pluck it out and say, problem gone. Guess what? It comes back. I can't go pretending that my issue just disappears when I pluck it. Another way is just to accept it as a beautiful part of me. Hello, how are you doing today? What's going on? Did you have a good week?

[00:11:54] Or lastly, and I think most effectively, I can carry around some tweezers. Right? Our issues don't have to be problems. In fact, they can be alarm clocks to open our heart to a greater willingness to our good. This issue, this problem, this neuroses, this idiosyncrasy, thank you. Thank you for reminding me to be more willing to receive my good.

[00:12:21] Because what is that issue but a belief that we are not worthy of that good? What is that issue but a lack of faith that this good is operating in your life? What is this issue but ignorance to the truth of who you are? It may never go away. It may be like a constellation we see in the distant past. But you're who you are now.

[00:12:45] And you can be, yes, willing, not with some supreme arrogance, but with humility. That's how we enter into this greater good. That's how we express this willingness with humility. One of my favorite parables of Jesus is the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. These two men go into the temple to pray. And the Pharisee's prayer goes something like this.

[00:13:13] A Pharisee being a philosopher of Jewish philosophy. God, bless me because I am not like all these awful people. At least I'm not like that lowly tax collector over there. And I do everything right. I do my tithing. I show up to church. I do everything to my duty. Bless me. And then the tax collector's praying. And all that he says is, God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

[00:13:41] Now, I know this language is distorted within some more traditional forms of Christianity. But the message is about humility. I am someone who makes mistakes. But I'm still worthy of this great good. I am someone who has flaws. But these flaws are openings to receive this divine good. I am not all that I'm meant to be.

[00:14:09] But I'm still meant to be all that I am. I am willing to receive this good of God through this vessel of humility. Are you yes worthy? Oh, raucous crowd today. Are you yes willing? Yes. Ooh. Nice. Nice. And lastly, are you yes in this moment?

[00:14:42] I'll have what she's having. There's no greater act you can perform today for forgiveness, for healing, for harmony, for well-being than to choose your good right here and right now.

[00:15:05] The greatest act of forgiveness is to let go of our not good story and to step into the good that is here for us right here and right now. I got to give a story. I got to give a story. I got to give a talk at the beginning of this month and I gave you a homework assignment. It was to stop three times a day and ask yourself, what is the story I'm telling myself about my good right now? Talk about getting in the way of our good. More often than not, there can be a story.

[00:15:33] Things were so much more gooder back then. Things would be so much more good if this were to take place. No. No. Your good is right here and right now. Every moment greater than what was in the past. Even greater than the good that I just mentioned is the good right now. Even the good that's greater than that is the good that I just mentioned is this good right here and right now. That's how good this good is. Say yes in this moment.

[00:16:03] If it's a cup of coffee, if it's breathing in air, if it's walking in nature, if it's hanging with a friend, it's not about being overly idealistic. It's just simply recognizing and be true to what is right here and right now. You're incredible good. The great Emmett Fox put it this way. The art of life is to live in the present moment and to make that moment as perfect as we can

[00:16:29] by the realization that we are the instruments and expressions of God. The best way to prepare for tomorrow is to make today all it should be. That last line one more time because it's a real good one, isn't it? The best way to prepare for tomorrow is to make today all it should be. Sometimes we build such a strong identity in our not good stories

[00:17:00] that we fear if we let it go, we'll lose ourselves completely. There have been times in my life that I've built up my identity so much in what that person did to me, in this thing that didn't go my way, in this disappointment over there. All has validity. None of it is the truth of who I am. The truth of who I am is in my ability to choose my good in this moment.

[00:17:27] And there is nothing greater you can do to unleash spiritual momentum in your life than to choose your good right here and right now. Are you yes in this moment? Yes. Keep choosing it. Yes, worthy. There is no cell of my being that is not worthy of the goodness of God. Yes, willing. There is no no strong enough in my life that can keep me from being unwilling,

[00:17:57] to receive a greater good in my life. Yes, in this moment, all the good that ever has been and ever will be is right here and right now and even greater because good exists nowhere but right here. Anything that isn't, isn't real. It's right here and right now. Three things before we close to remember about this good that's all around us, to welcome in our good.

[00:18:25] First, once again, this good is unlimited. It is inexhaustible. It is the nature of this good to continue to multiply itself more and more and more. Second, sometimes this good makes things crooked before it makes things straight. The reason why that is is because we get attached to good looking a particular way and our good knows better than we do what to do and how to be.

[00:18:55] So it may look like it's messing things up or causing things to fall apart before they get better. Remember, trust in this good. Hang on to your virtue. Be responsible to your values. Hold strong to your faith and your authenticity. And this good will see you through and even better than that. And lastly, remember, just as much as you need this good, this good needs you.

[00:19:24] That's why we're here, to express this divine good that brought the trees to blossom, the sun to shine, the galaxies to rejoice. It is an expression of this good. And yet we human beings exist to be organs of this good, vehicles of this good, vessels for hope, for prosperity, for love, and for good in all things.

[00:19:52] Allow yourself to be that vessel and feel the pride of that good in you just by being who you are. To close with prayer, I invite any of our practitioner prayer partners to stand, especially our brand spanking new ones who passed their panels yesterday. And a little something I've written for us today.

[00:20:22] God's good is the joy I bring to my relationships. God's good is the forgiveness I grant and has granted me. God's good is the ability to find the silent peace on a scattered, hurried day. God's good is a smile out of nowhere. God's good is crystal clarity in the midst of not knowing. God's good is gratitude for what is with room for what's been. God's good is with me even in the thick of it.

[00:20:49] God's good is not controlling but in control. God's good is the wholeness of my life, speaking to me through all things. What a wonderful opportunity we have in this moment to renew our relationship with good and allow this good to renew itself in us. I open my life to allow good to be the truth of all of my affairs. Even those that look messy, I simply know that God's good is triumphant.

[00:21:19] That it brings forth the highest and best in me and in all things. That even in challenges, there are openings for God's grace, for God's love, for God's wonder. And I open my heart and my life to the magic of this good. My good is all around me and I engage with it profoundly.

[00:21:42] Knowing that without control on my part, but with absolute trust and the courage to see with love and to keep showing up fully present, this good manifests itself in ways known to me and beyond my imagination. I am so grateful to receive this good and know it blesses everything. And so it is. Amen. Thanks for listening to the Mile Hi Church Podcast.

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