Book 12

           1.Everythingyou’retryingtoreach—bytakingthelongwayround—youcouldhaverightnow,thismoment.Ifyou’donlystopthwartingyourownattempts.Ifyou’donlyletgoofthepast,entrustthefuturetoProvidence,andguidethepresenttowardreverenceandjustice.

           Reverence:soyou’llacceptwhatyou’reallotted.Natureintendeditforyou,andyouforit.

           Justice:sothatyou’llspeakthetruth,franklyandwithoutevasions,andactasyoushould—andasotherpeopledeserve.

           Don’tletanythingdeteryou:otherpeople’smisbehavior,yourownmisperceptions,WhatPeopleWillSay,orthefeelingsofthebodythatcoversyou(lettheaffectedparttakecareofthose).Andif,whenit’stimetodepart,youshunteverythingasideexceptyourmindandthedivinitywithin...ifitisn’tceasingtolivethatyou’reafraidofbutneverbeginningtoliveproperly...thenyou’llbeworthyoftheworldthatmadeyou.

           Nolongeranalieninyourownland.

           Nolongershockedbyeverydayevents—asiftheywereunheard-ofaberrations.

           Nolongeratthemercyofthis,orthat.

           2.Godseesalloursoulsfreedfromtheirfleshlycontainers,strippedcleanoftheirbark,cleansedoftheirgrime.Hegraspswithhisintelligencealonewhatwaspouredandchanneledfromhimselfintothem.Ifyoulearntodothesame,youcanavoidagreatdealofdistress.