The Twelfth Insight - James Redfield [21]
We made our way back to the tents and Wil got out his cooker and began preparing one of the meals. A chill was in the air now, and a light rain was falling.
“The question,” Wil said, “is what to do? With no food, we have a decision to make. We might have to be in this wilderness for many days. We need provisions. On the other hand, if we go back to get them, we might run into those guys following us.”
“What choice do we have?” I asked.
“We could just keep going. Let this play out.”
I was resisting. “We can’t stay up here without food.”
Wil just looked at me. “Well, it’s a challenge, but isn’t the same thing happening out there in the world? Think about it. Millions of people are experiencing this same situation. They go in to work one day and hear they’re fired, and suddenly, no more money for food. They’re in this same situation we’re in now, only worse.”
“But how will we eat? Are some of your Hopi friends up here somewhere?”
“No,” he said. “They’re already looking for the Fourth Integration farther up north. We’ll have to rely on getting food from strangers.”
I squinted. “That might not be easy.”
“No, but again, in reality isn’t that what we all have to count on? We’re all in business somewhere, aren’t we? Even if we work for the government, if others don’t buy what we’re selling, or no longer need our service, we can’t survive. So to some extent we all have to be fortunate. If the Universe doesn’t smile on you, if you’re not lucky, then you’re in big trouble. In times like these, especially, we come to realize we are solely dependent on strangers showing up to, in effect, give us food.”
I’d never had it put that starkly, but I knew Wil was right. Cut to the bone, we’re all always at the mercy of others.
“So it figures,” Wil continued, “that there are some esoteric rules working behind the scenes determining whether people are going to show up or not—rules that we can figure out and get into alignment with. I’m telling you this because it is exactly what the Third Integration says.”
“Okay,” I said, “then let’s see how it plays out.”
Within minutes, we had consumed the stew, put the tents and water in our packs, and headed up the trail. After a while, Wil looked back at me.
“There’s something else. Remember that other cultures have awakened in history in the same way we are now. These cultures have always been smaller and somewhat isolated, but they have always discovered the same basic spiritual principles that operate in this Universe.”
I ran up beside him. “So you are sure the Third is going to tell us what the laws are?”
“Yes, the basic laws are known. The Hopi told me some of these principles have aspects that aren’t fully complete yet, and of course, they have to absolutely be proven out in one’s own life before they can be believable. But yes, we know what the basic laws are, beginning with the one we’ve already been using.”
“What is that?”
“The Law of Truth. We used it to keep our Synchronicity going, and it governs the situation when we swap truths in Conscious Conversation. Just remember that it’s easy to stay in truth when the Synchronicity is flowing to help you. It’s much harder to maintain the habit when the economic stakes get high.”
Suddenly, in the distance, I saw two people walking along the trail in front of us.
“There are some people up there,” I said to Wil.
We sped up until we could see them clearly. Two men were walking together, dressed in hiking gear and floppy hats and bearing large, expensive packs.
I looked over at Wil. “What do you think?”
He shrugged. “They look okay to me. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”
“Okay,” I said, feeling for some reason I should handle the matter. “I’ll go ahead and talk to them about buying some food.”
Wil looked slightly surprised that I took the initiative, but smiled and nodded.
Campers, I knew, were usually extremely friendly and helpful. I was sure that, as long as I didn’t appear