Thoughts that Illuminate


You Cannot Fail

Over the past month or so I have been uncovering a deep-seeded belief in failure. Although I saw how this
transferred into many experiences of my life, I was lead to see that ultimately the deeply-rooted belief that
was blocking healing was my belief that after all of this spiritual work, in the end I am going to fail.  Maybe
some of you have had this same belief or ones similar: “I will never get this”, “I don’t have a clue what I’m
doing”, “and I will fail to wake up”. If you have been here, you can attest to the complete devastation that
comes when believing these thoughts.  As convincing as these thoughts are, do not believe them! For you
are closer than you think to the acceptance of truth. We can see this in the intensity in which the ego is
coming out in full-force to save its life!  I would like to share with you how the Holy Spirit guided me to let
go of this idea of failure, in hopes that you too will see that you cannot fail to make the final choice to
recognize the truth of Who you are.

It all began one evening while watching a scene in the movie “I Heart Huckabees”.  Dustin Hoffman and Lily
Tomlin- existential detectives who specialize in finding the universal interconnectivity of all things, were
having a discussion with Jude Law – a marketing executive in a ‘Walmart’ type chain store, who hired the
detectives to find the connection and meaning behind all the trouble in his life.  After a few weeks of
observation, they presented this answer to him, “You are just not being your Self”.  Agitated that this was
their answer after weeks of detective work, he exclaimed in frustration, “How can I not be myself?!!!”  The
detectives looked at each other with a sparkle in their eye and began to repeat his question back to him.
“How can you not be your Self?”  “How can you not be your Self?”, “How can you not be your Self?”

After the movie I found this thought swirling round and round in my mind.  “How can I not be my Self?
How can I fail to be Who I already am?”  If I already am what I seek to be, how could I fail?” As I went to
sleep that night I asked the Holy Spirit to help me to see how it is that I cannot fail to be my Self or fail to
make the final choice to return home. The Holy Spirit answered me with this dream.  (Note: The role of
the Holy Spirit is being played by “the mechanic”) 

I was driving my car from a friend’s house to a college campus where I was dropping kids off.  The next
stop was home. As I was driving out of the campus, I felt panic as I realized I didn’t know the way home.  I
came to a stop sign where the only choices were to go left or right.  I paused to gather my thoughts and
try to calm the rising fear taking hold of my mind. I remembered that I had come from the right so I
logically concluded that I should not turn right. I felt a little relief realizing that at least I knew not to go
back the way I came.  As I turned left I saw a gas station up ahead.  At first I was going to pass it and try to
navigate the rest of the way home myself, but quickly realized how much easier it would be if someone
already knew the way.  I pulled into a gas station to ask for directions.  That was the last thing I
remembered.  The next I knew, I was standing in my living room already home.  I had no idea how I got
there.  Standing in the room with me was the mechanic from the gas station.  I was bewildered and asked,
“How did I get home?” He explained to me that he had navigated the way home for me because he knew
the way.  He told me there were a few glitches along the way, such as running out of gas, but he took care
of that by mixing together lemon juice, sugar and 7-up.  I was amazed at the calmness and confidence in
which he spoke.  I said, “How did you know all of that! Nobody knows how to do that.” I could not believe
my luck! By simply realizing that I needed help and stopping to ask for directions, I had found someone who
not only knew the way but knew how to melt obstacles effortlessly and get me there with no time passing
at all.  My gratitude was overflowing. Because of the mechanic I had no need to worry, to come up with my
own solutions to “glitches” or figure anything out.  And best of all there was no ‘time’ in which I had to
travel to get home.

Upon waking from this dream, I realized how this all made perfect sense. There are no long roads full of
hard work to return home because we already are home only dreaming of exile. And as we sleep for
awhile, we have a guide who will stay with us, melting away obstacles and lighting our way thru seeming
problems to gently wake us up. And when we did awaken, it would seem like it happened in a blink of an
eye with no effort, strain or fear.  I was shown the simple, fail-proof plan to awaken.  It is fail-proof
because we are only required to make three easy choices:  
#1. Home is where we want to be.
#2. We are willing to let the Holy Spirit be our guide
#3. To remember it’s always best to stop and ask for directions!

Written by: Patti Fields