Inner Guidance (30 page)

While I acknowledged the warning, I intended to see this through. In surrender to the Divine, I said inwardly,

“If you want me here, I will need protection, dear God.”

Then I began to quietly sing HU and declared that I walked in the Mahanta’s presence and protection, as a vehicle of divine love in service to all life.

I knew I must stay centered in this love and protection.

The grandmother was told she could go in to see the doctor. The nun reached for the baby, but I shook my head and went into the office with the child. Irene followed. The nun gave us a stern look but did not protest as we entered the doctor’s office together.

While the grandmother began to explain the history to the doctor, I studied the baby. Holding him in my arms, my inner sight and awareness were heightened.

A form of inner guidance, this ability to see beyond the physical reality indicates the presence of the Inner Master, the Mahanta. Acknowledging the company of this advanced spiritual being allows us to readily experience God’s love and blessings in a very direct way.

Inwardly, I suddenly saw that the baby had malaria and was also dehydrated and starving.
Malaria?
I thought. My well-known disease.

I wondered why he was not already being treated for that disease so common in Africa; somehow they had missed it. Certain it was malaria, I knew this child would be dead very soon if he was not treated for this malady right away. And it seemed I would have to be the one to communicate this to a doctor.

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The grandmother was beside herself with distress, and now the nun had brought her more papers to sign and forms to fill out. The doctor continued to listen to the grandmother, but he seemed exhausted and overwhelmed and just took a few simple notes.

I decided to speak up. “I think it’s malaria,” I said to the doctor. He looked up, startled, from his discussion about dry measles. “It’s not measles at all. He’s probably been misdiagnosed and treated improperly at the other hospital. What do you think? Malaria, wouldn’t you say?”

There was suddenly a light in his eyes. He half smiled and nodded.

“Yes, I agree, actually. I think you are right,” he said, addressing me and the grandmother. “Yes, we should give him an IV and treat him for malaria.”

“His arms have been abused by IV attempts at the other hospital,” I warned the doctor. I showed him the child’s bruised skin.

He looked. “We will get the preemie needles and another doctor to assist. We won’t be able to use his arms at all.”

Suddenly, I spoke from a very spiritual place, far different from my normal state of human consciousness.

This was Soul’s view. I could see myself dropping liquid into the child, and I somehow knew that liquid was called electrolytes. Part of me was thinking,
What are
electrolytes?

Yet I could hear my voice already saying, “I think he needs electrolytes, by mouth, right now. Don’t you, Doctor? Can someone bring some to me? I’ll see if I can get him to sip them. And I’ll need clean bottled water and something to sterilize the lid. That would be helpful, don’t you think?”

The work-weary doctor appeared greatly relieved.

He readily agreed and nodded to the nun. Off she ran Inner Guidance_CH 22-27.p65

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to get what I had requested. I felt rising confidence that the Inner Master was clearly working with me, telling me what to say and do and giving me knowledge of exactly what was needed.

We took the child back out through the overcrowded emergency ward. A small, empty crib awaited him by a window. The crib and window were both very dusty.

The window was open, and a breeze was filtering in, but it had also brought a thick layer of dust and dirt. I knew I would have to deal with this too. A nurse arrived with the bottle of electrolytes, bottled water, and everything I needed. We cleaned the lid and added electrolytes to the purified water, and I began to slowly dribble tiny drops of the mixture onto the baby’s lips.

At first, the liquid rolled off his lips and down his chin. One drop at a time, I continued, not giving up. I added the precious moisture to his lips and the tip of his parched tongue. Shortly his lips began to move slowly.

Then he held a drop in his mouth. Slowly, I added another, and another—slowly, very slowly.

A European doctor arrived by the side of the crib and demanded, “Whose baby is this?”

The grandmother had gone to the administration area, and I had no papers to authorize the treatments, yet I knew we could not waste any time.

“Mine,” I asserted. In a sense, I meant it with my whole heart, for in that moment I had accepted full responsibility for the life of this child. “He’s mine. Hurry!

We need the IV.”

This new doctor looked at me oddly, then ordered,

“Put him in the crib. The IV will be here in a moment.”

But I could not. It needed cleaning first.

Shaking my head, I handed the child to the nun who stood nearby, and I reached into my purse. In view of all the warnings we got before taking this trip, I had Inner Guidance_CH 22-27.p65

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prepared for every possibility. I was very grateful that I had listened to the little inner nudge to be prepared, as my handbag was now filled to the brim with individually packaged sanitizing wipes.

I put them to quick use, dozens and dozens of them, and soon we had a clean little plastic crib mattress. And in short order, “my” baby was in the little bed, hooked up to an IV.

I continued using the wipes to clean the rest of the crib. Then I used them to clean the window frame and finally to bathe the baby. As the vital liquids boosted his bloodstream, I lovingly cared for this sweet child. I started with the top of his head and worked my way down his little body, cleaning him with the refreshing cloths.

Before long, his eyes were fluttering open, and it was apparent he could see me. He did not cry out and barely stirred. He simply did not have enough energy yet, but he was coming around.

Slowly and carefully, I continued the little bath.

When I gently lifted his arm and wiped underneath, he looked right at me and then, ever so slowly, began to lift his other arm. He liked it and wanted more! I smiled and cleaned under that arm too with the cool cloth.

He gave a weak little smile. In that moment, I knew he would be all right.

T
he night was slipping by rapidly. Finally all the paperwork was completed, and the baby was officially registered in the hospital. A nurse arrived and put a nameplate on the crib. “Nat Huson,” it read.

I knew that name. A young adult by that name, my daughter’s friend, had visited our home in the United States. Our family knew Nat Huson well, though I had not seen him in several years. When Irene and the Inner Guidance_CH 22-27.p65

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grandmother finally joined me by the crib, I asked about the name.

“Auntie Irene,” I lovingly addressed her, “is this baby related to the Nat Huson I know?”

“Yes, of course!” she said. She grinned widely as she shared the whole story. “This is Nat’s son. Nat Huson married and has twins. This boy has a twin sister too.

And this is the grandmother, who is helping to care for the babies while Nat and his wife are both completing their higher degrees in music in London right now. That’s why the grandmother, grandfather, and aunt are taking care of the twins.”

Had I helped save the life of a baby whose father, unbeknownst to me, was a man I’d met years before in a place some seven thousand miles from here? It took my breath away. Irene nodded as if she knew what I was thinking.

Baby Nat Huson’s young aunt showed up to take over our watch by the bedside. I knew her too. Cynthia and I hugged and greeted each other, and she took over our vigil.

At dawn, Irene and I went home. Weary to the core as we left the hospital, we were also both quite delighted with the way the evening had gone. We were filled with gratitude.

I showered before climbing into bed.

“How’d it go?” Alden yawned.

“Great, just great,” I whispered as I cuddled up next to him. “You’ll meet the baby tomorrow. We’ll visit the hospital.”

My husband didn’t say anything; he just hugged me tightly.

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I
n the morning light, the hospital didn’t look frightening at all. Nat was in the children’s ward, in nice, clean clothes and a charming crib, and he looked much better.

He smiled when he saw me, and it touched my heart.

By Sunday, baby Nat was at the ECK Worship Service with his twin sister. He looked at me the whole time with his big, joyful eyes—and I smiled at “my” baby with tears of pure delight.

I
nner guidance always brings us to the heart of who and what we are as Soul. It may take the form of extraordinary service, as happened to me in that African hospital one dark night. It may be simple and everyday, as when it helps a person find the right job or best relationship. But it’s always here, always available to all of us.

This connection with God is our divine birthright.

Why? Because God has provided every blessing and gift we could ever need. We just have to raise our awareness enough to be able to recognize the blessings and know we’re worthy of them. Why? Because we are Soul, a spark of God.

It’s completely up to each of us whether we use this amazing spiritual tool, inner guidance. It takes attention, practice, and above all, trust—knowing that we’re worthy of such a beautiful gift.

Harold Klemp, in
The Living Word
, Book 2, says,

“Seize the moment, seize the day—and embrace life with joy and wonder.”41 That’s what my practice of inner guidance, through the teachings of Eckankar, has brought me: a life of joy and wonder.

May it be so for you too!

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Next Steps in Spiritual Exploration

•
Try a spiritual exercise on a daily basis.

Example: With eyes open or closed, take a few deep breaths to relax. Then begin to sing

HU (pronounced like the word
hue
) in a long, drawn-out sound, HU-U-U-U. Take another

breath, and sing HU again. Continue for up to twenty minutes. Sing HU with a feeling of love, and it will gradually open your heart to God.

•
Browse our Web site: www.Eckankar.org.

Watch videos; get free books, answers to FAQs, and more info.

•
Attend an Eckankar event in your area.

Visit “Eckankar around the World” on our Web site.

•
Read additional books about the ECK teachings.

•
Explore an advanced spiritual study class (or study privately) with the Eckankar discourses that come with membership.

Books

If you would like to read additional books by Harold Klemp about the ECK teachings, you may find these of special interest. They are available at bookstores, from online booksellers, or directly from Eckankar.

The Call of Soul

Harold Klemp takes you on an amaz-

ing journey into a world you may have

only dared to dream of—the infinite world

of God’s love for you. More, he shows,

through spiritual exercises, dream tech-

niques, and Soul Travel explorations,

how this love translates into every event,

relationship, and moment of your life.

Includes a CD with dream and Soul Travel techniques.

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