I just had a thought; maybe it will develop into a suggestion for those of us who see 33s....
As I was just now reading a report from a 33 seer, newly writing to me, I found myself comparing,
and sometimes contrasting, my experience with his, and it occurred to me that maybe I do this regularly, naturally. My guess
is that most of us do this.
For example, we write about our own experiences, because that is what we know best. But how carefully
- how attentively - and how non-comparatively do we read and process the reports of others' experiences?
Most who find this site for the first time describe their surprise. Many people - including myself
before I posted this site some years ago - thought that they were the only one experiencing this "33 phenomenon." Coming in
with a view like this, some are changed instantly as they realize they are not alone, that others have very similar "33 experiences."
But, then we may wonder, just HOW similar is that to what I experience? The thought process may go
something like this: Well, I haven't seen 33s as the result of some loss of relationship; or, I do not interpret my own experiences
as so-and-so does; etc....
In that case, might we be in danger of paying significantly more attention to our OWN experience
than we are at that point to the larger community of people who are COLLECTIVELY having 33 experiences, or to the fact that
this thing is bigger than any one of us - or indeed, even ALL of us combined?
So, what I am trying to ask is this: I wonder what it would be like to read a Guestbook entry
written by another 33 experiencer as if their story held some essential and vital clue to our own mystery? As if in some sense
they are holding some piece that uniquely fits your puzzle, a piece that you could uncover only if you can see it or hear
it clearly?
What would you do if someone wrote to you in such a way as to give you reason to believe that
in their message may lie the very "answer" you are looking for?
Now, what if that were actually true, but you missed it because - rather than reading attentively
and listening carefully - your mind was too noisy with comparing his or her words against your own experiences?!
Or, to put it another way, What if the key to YOUR 33 mystery could be found only collectively, only
when we all genuinely and caringly listen to the messages of others describing their own experiences? What if something about
that process of attentiveness itself might reveal the key to this Mystery?
For a moment, pause, breathe....
A frequent contributor to this site has recently posted something that I think is a good example
of one of the many problems we can run into when we focus too much on ourselves, and too little on the thoughts of others.
He writes:
"It...has struck me as odd how people of the Christian Religion immediately think it has to do with
their religion regardless of the fact that many people of different religions see the number. I mean, if the number itself
is to convert non Christians to Christianity, then why would the Christian be seeing it?"
He makes a good point, it seems to me, and it has broader implications for us.
As strange and as widespread as this 33 phenomenon is, any solution might be equally strange. What
if the answer to YOUR mystery could only be found inside of the experience of another? What if you could find that only by
quieting the impulse to tell your own perspective and to deeply listen to that of the other, instead?
Interesting food for thought, wouldn't you agree?
Along these lines, there have been to date well over 250 signatories in the Guestbook Forum at this
site; plenty of opportunity to explore what others have to say about 33.
Thanks again to all of you who have continued to write courteously, respectfully, and sincerely.
Despite some recent intrusions with spam-like entries, I continue to feel grateful for the consideration for others demonstrated
by those who post at this site.
_____________________
"If something seems true to the mind, it may or may not be; if it feels true to the heart, then it
is." -- ACB
