Another Tussle With Numbers

FRI., DEC. 29, 2000, 3:53 PM
FARM, BRKFT. TABL

You are part of an age that has much focus on numbers, particularly in this culture of yours. You did reasonably well with numbers in your school and university years, as a student. But you decided this aspect of life was not to be a “strong point” with you, and so you proceeded with your career, avoiding numbers as much as possible.

In your personal and family life, however, you have been the one to balance the checkbook at the end of each month. This has generally not been difficult, but, perhaps because of your “adventure” and how this has “encouraged” you to pay less than normal attention to such matters, you have put off checking the bank statement against your combined record of checks written. You now have done this, laboriously, and have come out with a figure that says you have less money in the checking account than your book records and another one (that you do like better) that indicates you have more than you thought. I, your friendly Holy Spirit, am not much on numbers and obviously not had to deal with bank statements, checks, and “money in, money out.”

A few of My servants (relatively) here in the earth likewise have no concern about currency, checks, credit cards and the whole cultural pattern of institutions that are very oriented to money. In your culture (at least in the portion that you generally “inhabit”) there is much attention to and concern about money… and the churches, while trying to be as “uncommercial” as possible, are too often influenced by the need to “raise money.” You see, for example, that there is some “question” about your checks to your church… whether all were written and actually given and whether all were cashed as they should have been.

Your “financial situation” is better than it has ever been, thanks to the frugality and generosity of your parents. It didn’t seem to you that they were ever “in want.” Their later years in both Long Beach and Honolulu were “comfortable”… but they did leave you and Joanne considerable wealth (by your “standards”) Realistically, this has provided you with a “cushion” that should make the rest of this earth life, for you, comparably comfortable and with few worries about “having enough.”

I realize, of course, that, while you never have been in true need you have had dominant feelings about “not having enough.” You have been relatively generous toward the Church and toward organizations and causes that need contributions from those who are able. You’ve never aspired to be “rich,” and it is almost uncomfortable for you now to be “comfortable.”

Rightly, you should consider Lenore’s needs after you come on over to the life that needeth not money (and you can’t quite imagine what that will “be like.”) You want her to be at least as comfortable as you two have been, together in this earth life. So you are reluctant to give too much away, even to your children and their families. It is a time to be both appreciative of what you have and how you can benefit self and others, and cautious about how and on what you spend.

You don’t really like the idea that your life is affected, positive and not-so, by the numbers that represent dollars. You still are almost amazed at the size of the numbers that represent what the credit union (your “form” of bank) reports that you have, as wealth. You were pleased to be able to give some of that to your sons and some other family members this Christmas. You feel good about being able to give to son John Patrick when his income is not sufficient. His appreciation of you, as expressed in that short “Christmas letter,” makes you even more willing to help him and his family when their “ends don’t meet.”

You have considered yourself quite able in dealing with these monthly balance sheets from the C.U. But during this time of pain and recovering you have not done well. You hope the numbers that indicate you have more available than you thought are “more true” than those that say you have less. You hope that the trouble you’ve had these past two months will abate and that you can return to having the balances all agree… you and the C.U.