At the tender age of nine, Little Johnny Acres witnessed the death of his father. Family, friends, and neighbours labelled what occurred as “passing over” or “going to a greater reward;” but Johnny knew the facts. He had witnessed his father clutch his chest, take his last breath, and die. The father that he loved so dearly was dead and gone. Afterward, Johnny pretended (as he assumed the rest of his family was pretending) that his father was in a wonderful place called Heaven. But deep in his heart, Johnny doubted that such could be true.

In the coming years, Johnny’s interpretation of his father’s death coloured his attitude about many of his experiences. He chose to live now, for tomorrow you may die. He believed, as the majority of persons still do, that you only live once, so make the best of it! Time seemed like an enemy that could strike anyone down without warning. An adult now, he preferred to be called John; but he still clutched the childhood wound like a prized possession that somehow kept his father close. If he let it go, it would seem like giving up on his father; and he wasn’t about to do that. Until…

Years later, John discovered an esoteric book entitled The Master Key System, by Charles F. Haanel. He read it several times; gleaning what knowledge he could from its content. Upon one such reading, the following leapt out at him:

“The spirit of a thing is that thing; it is necessarily fixed, changeless and eternal.

The spirit of you is — you; without the spirit you would be nothing.

It becomes active through your recognition of it and its possibilities.”

Over the coming months, John’s understanding grew by leaps and bounds as he re-read The Master Key System. The tumblers of his locked view of a “material world” were clicking open. Haanel’s message was that we are spiritual beings, here and now. Through daily meditation, he realized that his experience on Earth was occurring within the waking-state dream. With this knowledge, he was finally able to peacefully set the memory of his father to rest. He also knew the meaning of Acts 17:28:

“For in Him we live and move and have our being.”

***

Dear Readers: I know that many of you may have experienced the death of a loved family member or friend. If it feels right to do so, please contemplate the words that helped to free Little Johnny Acres from his emotional suffering: “The spirit of a thing is that thing.” Appearances are, indeed, deceiving. We aren’t who we appear to be. We are Spirit. “In Him [Consciousness] we live and move and have our being.” The description of our essential nature is related in the following quote from the Bhagavad Gita, one of the Hindu holy books:

“Weapons cannot cut It, nor can fire burn It; water cannot wet It, nor can wind dry It.”

Let not your heart be troubled. (If you’re curious, I offer more information in my YouTube video entitled “The Incarnate I Am.”)

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2026 – R. Arthur Russell

P.S. Please share this article if you enjoyed it. If you’d like to view my latest book (This Taste of Flesh and Bones), press here. My YouTube videos can be found at Think2wice@I-Am-Aware. May the content of either or both help you along your spiritual journey. “Thank You” & “Note to Publishers” 🙏🏻🧡