Cameo 16 – Helen’s Extra Mile

March 30, 2021

In this little cameo of Helen’s journey, we see that at first her refusal to help a brother has presumably caused fatigue. As we learned in chapter 3 fatigue is a sign that we have debased ourselves. This means we have accepted an identity as something less than what we really are. Jesus tells Helen that instead, when she claimed her function by choosing to help her brother, she was following his injunction to go with a brother twice as far as he asks.  He states that by refusing to help we will set our brother back on his journey and it sets us back as well. But devotion to him will only inspire.

To be inspired is to be “imbued with the spirit to do something, by or as if by supernatural or divine influence” (www.dictionary.com)

We can assume then, that Helen’s resistance to being helpful, induced fatigue or some other inefficiency and maybe also reduced the efficiency of her ability. When she chose to help, it seems, she became inspired, and presumably her ability became more efficient. She was able to give a detailed analysis of a woman’s unconscious dynamics, which were affecting her relationship with her husband, for the person she had decided to help.

The thing to understand from this cameo is that devotion to our brother is what must be the starting point of our behaviour. Our devotion to knowing our brother cannot set us back. It will not fatigue us but inspire us. It will lead only to our mutual progress.

An Exercise

Pay attention to your energy level today. If you are feeling fatigued or low in energy, ask yourself if you have been refusing to be helpful to a brother. Ask Jesus for help in understanding how to be devoted instead. Try to write down and pay attention to any guidance you get. Try to implement your guidance. When you do pay attention to your energy levels, see if you become inspired.

Suggested Practice

I will use any sign of having debased myself to remember my goal is to be devoted to my brother.