A long time ago I stood on a street corner in a mid-sized town in Northern California with two dogs, two cats and a special needs granddaughter I was raising. We had just driven all across the country from New York City and I needed a place to live, a job and a special education school. I had researched the town, knew what rents were, knew what temp agencies paid, but I didn't know how to put all my needs together in the perfect house, perfect school district and perfect job.

It was a dramatic lesson in faith. I, as my physical plane "me" could not pull those elements together. I truly stood there and said, "Your turn, Spirit, this is way to big for me."

And of course, Spirit took over and I found the perfect house that would take pets, in the perfect school district with strong special education classes and a good temp agency that sent me out right away to a place that offered me a full time position.

Periodically I have to get yet another lesson in "letting go."

I know I get to vote on my life experience. My word has power. My thoughts have power, my intentions are powerful, and my vibration attracts to me my life experience. In all of these I have choice. I can change or not, I can choose or not-they are all instrumental in how my life unfolds. I also know that in the larger scenario I am a strand in a greater web, a part of a Grand Plan. When I remember to allow for the natural, harmonious flow and align myself with wholeness, my life is smooth.

I get stressed and worried when I try to control the flow or even direct it. How do I control getting a perfect new housemate, in the perfect time so I don't lose any money, and work around the landlord's offer of new carpet throughout the house which entails my moving everything I own, all when I am starting a 90 day product development series that requires most of my attention? I spent one very bumpy day trying to plan and control all that. Then I remembered to let go and simply allow it to fall into place organically. When I let go the stress disappeared and I moved back into a place of inner peace and serenity. All it took was for me to let go and trust.

I get stressed when I try to force a timetable of my own choosing. I think Spirit sometimes chuckles at my detailed plans simply because if we do it my way there wouldn't be time for the something bigger and better to show up that Spirit has planned for me.

So who's in charge here? I'm not going to be passive and say, "Spirit is." I think we are partners in my life experience. Spirit provides opportunities and circumstances and insights and I choose. Spirit guides. I decide, Spirit provides. That partnership is what shapes my life experience.

Some of it is mine to do, but it always works better when I listen to my intuition and confidently turn the big stuff over to Spirit.

© Cara Lumen 2005

Feel free to reprint this article if you include the following: