Undoubtedly, enjoying the fruits of our labors is a good thing. Yet, we must never lose sight of life’s ultimate purpose: the love of God and our neighbors. For the spiritual person, all choices must be subsumed under this organizing principle. Otherwise, we spend our entire lives climbing a certain ladder, only to realize at the end of our lives that the ladder was leaning against the wrong wall.
We are on planet earth for only a short period of time. We have to function in the world and lovingly fulfill our God-given duty to family and society. While fulfilling our duties, however, we must avoid being infatuated with passing pleasures, remembering that not everything that shines is gold. What is truly golden is a life of integrity and service, a life that manifests truth, beauty, and goodness. What echoes into eternity are not our diplomas, titles, or bank accounts, but the depth of our prayers and the quality of love we expressed in our dealings with people. As we fully live our lives on planet earth, let us never forget that we are first and foremost citizens of heaven. Yogananda tells us,
“To be an emperor of the whole earth is not the highest goal man can aim for, because he has to leave it all at death; but to possess cosmic consciousness, oneness with God… The most important thing in this world is to seek and to find God. The only purpose of life is to find God.”
What is truly golden
Is a life of integrity and service,
A life which manifests
Truth, beauty, and goodness.
