The 144,ooo By Richard Hughson

I've heard that some people say they'd like to be part of the 144,000 mentioned in the Bible, which is a righteous wish. Let me start by saying it's not an exact number with a cut-off when filled, nor does it have to be completely filled. The number was meant to describe something unimaginably large to the people of the time. It's not just 12 X 12. It's 12 X 12 X 1000. I hope you get my meaning that it's not a set group. It's not chosen by a number. It's volunteered from the heart.

The path requires astonishing self-honesty. You simply need to do the 'next right thing', not because it'll bring you into the fold, but because it comes from love.

You have to be able to discern if you're helping the little old lady across the street because it advances your cause, or because you feel it in your heart and are truly helpful. 

In my very first psychic reading I was told there was someone, probably only a few years older than I, whom I would have the opportunity to be of assistance to. I was told it might be difficult but if I chose to take it on it would be a great benefit to the guy, and to me afterward. 

Being eager, I searched around for who this might be. There were a couple of older fellows at work which I developed good friendships with. Each friendship was enjoyable but didn't seem to carry the importance the reading had given it. 

After a while I completely forgot about the reading and about searching for anyone in particular. 

Years later as a friend's health deteriorated I spent more and more time helping him, eventually moving to within two miles of his house. As my assistance level increased I finally remembered that old reading from long ago, and realized it was this guy whom I had the opportunity to help, and be helped in return.

This is surprisingly common with future scenarios which are eagerly looked forward to, they often don't come true until after you've forgotten about them.

The old farmers I grew up around used to begin a sentence with, “Believe, you, me..,” whenever they wanted to state something emphatically. So I say here; believe, you, me, I searched myself up, down, and sideways trying to discern whether I was helping this friend simply because of that reading or because I honestly felt it in my heart. It was the beginning of me learning to use self-honesty like a scalpel. 

That's what we all need to do.

As you progress spiritually, tinier and tinier bits of ego can corrupt your efforts and diminish your effectiveness. It's that 'razor's edge' they talk about.

So do the right thing. But do it because it's in your heart to do so. It's amazingly easy to play head games with ourselves, to be self-deceiving and to invent justifications for following our selfish desires. Such things are part of the human condition, and will always be counter productive to spiritual advancement.

On the other hand, realize that we will make mistakes, and that we can learn from those mistakes. Please understand that making honest mistakes then honestly correcting them is an important facet of any learning process. The more honest you are, the more righteous your process will be. So go ahead and jump into it. You will learn your way through. 

You, and the world, will benefit.

About Richard Hughson: Richard Hughson, a machinist by trade, came to understand the many STEs he had experienced since childhood through his friendship with Tom Sawyer. Tom's unique NDE brought him both spiritual responsibilities and the ability to fulfill them. The two remained close friends, traveling the world and goofing around together until Tom’s natural passing in 2007. 

Their adventures included healing the Dalai Lama and a healing by Mother Meera. All have relevance and deep implications for personal growth and the future of humanity. Richard shares the joy of his spiritual growth as a healer through storytelling, hospital clowning, and even as Santa. He leads workshops on Healing with Humor and lectures on Tom Sawyer at spiritual conferences and IANDS chapters across the country. He has authored the Heart-Session Meditations blog for 16 years at https://heart-session.blogspot.com/.