Charles Dickens wrote: “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” Ralph Waldo Emerson added: “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” Even the Roman philosopher Cicero (106-43 BC) wrote: "Not for ourselves alone are we born – Non nobis solum nati sumus." Adding to this view about our potential to make a difference in this world and lives of others, Edgar Cayce taught:

When we reach the place that we desire only to be a channel of blessings to others and self is lost sight of, then we have attained to the Christ-Consciousness.

-- Edgar Cayce reading 262-11  

In doing this we are not to overlook our own spiritual needs, no, but Cayce taught as we are a channel of blessings, we receive blessings! (Edgar Cayce reading 262-3) Cayce assured us:

As seekers apply that indicated here [spirituality], we find that their lives will grow better, their knowledge of their relationship to Creative Forces will be broadened, and their abilities to aid and be a channel of blessings to others will be increased.

-- Edgar Cayce reading 262-124

So often we lose our way or become uncertain about what to do with our lives. This happens to all of us. Former president of the United States, Barack Obama, spoke up on this matter: “The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.”

Edgar Cayce added:

If an entity is desirous of finding its place, its relationship, know that wherever it is – wherever it is – it should begin! And each day, each hour, offers a new opportunity for those who seek to find their place, their relationship, to be a channel of blessings to others, through the knowledge of the divine within their own individual experience. Keep that before thee constantly. Not as something that hinders from the material associations. Rather let it sweeten; let it make the entity, the body, the mind, the activities more amenable, more congenial, more in that atmosphere of helpfulness always to others.

-- Edgar Cayce reading 361-13

It’s hard. Our minds and motivations can easily be knocked off the track of our good intentions. Doubts creep in, reactions to unkind people can dull our enthusiasm, and we retreat. Cayce knew this. He knew human nature well. He encouraged us to keep "constructive thought"! He went on:

There should be little of fear, for as the body expresses itself at times in its relationships to others, keep that [constructive] attitude. Be more tolerant, be more patient, be more humble. These are … just as applicable in the experience of business as in the social and the spiritual relationships. For one's attitude regarding its religious or spiritual life should be not as of proclamations, not as tenets, not as 'see the beautiful things I have done' or that have been done, but do them without comment, live the Life! These are the manners, then, to keep the proper attitude towards conditions that may arise, that do arise in the home, in the office, in the associations with friends, foes, enemies, and those that would become a part of the entity's association in every relationship.

-- Edgar Cayce reading 257-168

There is a powerful psychological principle at work here that underlies the psychology of caring about others and their lives. When we experience ourselves as givers, we affirm our value to others. In transcending the self-centeredness, we find our true self that was originally made in the image and likeness of the Creator of all life! (Genesis 1:26)

We do however have to search our hearts for purity in our motivations. All of the great teachers warn against self-exalting motivations to do good so as to be seen by others and honored by others. Human motivations are complex. Do we give because we want to be thought of as generous? Do we give because of social pressure? Or, do we give because it makes us feel good to see others happy? And it does! American Rabbi Harold S. Kushner, author of several books, wrote: “When you carry out acts of kindness you get a wonderful feeling inside. It is as though something inside your body responds and says, yes, this is how I ought to feel.” Do we give because we genuinely care about someone’s welfare or about the welfare of our neighborhood and country?

When Cayce began his teachings on searching for God (his 262 series of readings), his first topic was Cooperation! Humans have had to be somewhat cooperative for evolution forced them to rely upon other people for survival. One way that evolution has conspired to promote cooperation is by building a sense of mutual benefit. But, Cayce took cooperation to a higher level by encouraging us to "learn what it means to cooperate in one mind, in God’s way." (Edgar Cayce reading 262-1) He added:

All power, all force, arises from one source; and those that have same are only lended same by an All-Wise and Merciful Creator as talents to be used in His vineyard. For each entity, each soul, is his brother's keeper!

-- Edgar Cayce reading 189-3

We are an important part of collective soul group! Our presence makes a difference—that is, if we engage life and people.

In his book Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience, Steve Maraboli wrote: “This life is for loving, sharing, learning, smiling, caring, forgiving, laughing, hugging, helping, dancing, wondering, healing, and even more loving. I choose to live life this way. I want to live my life in such a way that when I get out of bed in the morning, the devil says, 'aw s**t, he's up!'”

American writer and theologian Frederick Buechner wrote that God originally said to us: “Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are, because the party wouldn’t have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It’s for you I created the universe. I love you.”

The "party" wouldn’t be complete without you and your caring about us. Be a channel of blessings, and you will enjoy blessings within yourself.

This blog is part of our 2019 Enlightenment Series. Members can access all of the available material, which includes an online video and downloadable monthly lesson, in the Member-only section of our website at EdgarCayce.org/members. Not a member? Join now.