LivingReal

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The earliest lesson I remember getting concerning money was when I was in my early twenties. (It would of course be wrong to say that my parents taught me nothing prior to this – in fact much was learned and taught growing up about spending, saving, investing and earning, but we’ll leave that for another time)

My then girlfriend and I (now wife of 27 years) were traveling by thumb and backpack around Europe and caught a ride somewhere in Italy with a very exuberant woman. She insisted on taking us to a café for coffee. She felt a connection. She was sure we knew each other. We met in a prior life. We were Native American Indians. It was a long time ago. I was into it. I liked the connection. I liked being an American Indian.

After enjoying the coffee together we left the café and said our good-byes. Her parting action was to stuff a wad of money into my hand. I tried to give it back saying how we really didn’t need it and had just earned money working in Switzerland over the winter. She pushed my hand back and said – “take it – it is only an energy of the world”

That was an important lesson. It parallels the laws of giving and receiving, tithing, sowing and reaping. I have often shared the story adding the example of how electricity flows through a building and a person only needs to plug into it to become part of the flow. (Of course plugging into it can lead to death, an appliance it recommended). A better example is the water pipes in a home. In this form of energy a person can control the flow. Opening the faucet wider creates a larger flow.

And so it is with money. Some people have learned to tap into this Energy of the World in a bigger way. Some professions or industries have a larger faucet; some are limited in how much the faucet can be opened.

The software industry is an example. While many examples exist of failed attempts in this area, those that have succeeded in creating a product consumers like can open a wide flow of energy. Once written, software code can be duplicated and delivered rather inexpensively. I apologize to those who would choose to differ; I use this as an example only, along with five years working in this industry.

Compare this to the flow of money/energy that goes to a person who has chosen the profession of child care. While the energy flow of money is a comparative trickle, it is important to know that the flow of grateful emotions, smiles and giggles is far greater than in other professions.

But flow is the important word here.

Who hasn’t stood in a warm shower when someone flushes the toilet?

What happened is that the flow of cold water was diverted and all that was left was the hot water flow. Fortunately this situation quickly corrects itself and the flow of water is balanced. Not so in life. If we stop the flow of money out of our hands we eventually stop or slow the flow of money into our hands. The retailer who does not buy new products to sell can not continue to make profits. The business that fails to spend money on advertising slows the ability to earn income.

A great example of this is in the natural world. In Israel there are two great bodies of water, the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. The Sea of Galilee, or Kinneret in Hebrew, is where Jesus took a memorable walk. On the northeastern side of the lake is the Golan Heights. This is where many of Israel’s first kibbutizim began. The Kinneret is full of life. Fish and fowl are in abundance – size, quantity and variety. In contrast, the Dead Sea, many kilometers to the south is, well, dead. There is little to no life in the salty water and only desert species in the surrounding mountains.

The difference between these two is their flow. Both bodies of water have an inflow from the Jordan River, (and the Kinneret also has underground springs). Then the Sea of Galilee flows strongly out through its southern end, continuing the Jordon River into the southern deserts where it pours into the Dead Sea. Then nothing. The Dead Sea stops the flow, it does not continue on. The salt and minerals collect and life ends.

In summary – whether your profession taps into the flow of money and wealth in a big way or a small way, it is often up to you to decide how wide you want to open the tap. Check the other energy flows in your life. Are they stuffed up? Is it because you are not giving as much as taking? Become a conduit of all the energy and resources and talents you have been given, and much will be added unto you, press it down, shake it up and enjoy!

“Give and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure– pressed down, shaken together and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”