First Things First Part 5

August 1, 2026

An email angered me because it was full of misinformation. My first impulse was to write the sender back and “set them straight.”

But instead, I waited.

I slept on it. I carried it with me into the next day. And by then, the email had lost much of its negative charge. In that little bit of spaciousness, I could see things in a larger context. My soul began to understand that the email was not an emergency. It was simply the sender’s familiar and sometimes annoying way of seeing things—a way of operating that I have known and accepted.

But the “me” who wanted to reply immediately was not operating from my soul. It was the part of me that felt a need to correct misinformation, to make sure perceptions were accurate, to ensure the facts were known. That part of me had been unleashed the moment I read the email. And yet, as I waited, I began to see something important. This dear soul lives in another world, in another reality. To correct them in that moment would not have brought healing. It would mostly have satisfied my ego’s need to feel right and correct.

Had I replied right off the bat, my response would have come from a narrow place inside me. It would have been focused on correcting, defending, and setting the record straight. It might have made my ego feel better for a moment, but it would not have helped anyone see things in a different light. A quick response fueled by ego energy may defend the ego, but it often works against the soul.

The soul moves in deeper ways, and those ways cannot be rushed. Taking time before responding allowed me to see how much my ego had exaggerated the importance of that email. In the quiet space of waiting, the soul showed me how small the matter really was when compared to what is most essential.

The soul is not defensive. It gives others the freedom to live in the world they live in. The unobscured soul is not threatened by misperception, because it seeks the truth even when the truth is inconvenient, uncomfortable, or dreaded. The peace of the soul does not depend on another person’s ability to understand us correctly. When the uninspected ego is disturbed, it thinks “first things first” means we must defend our position first and then attend to other matters.

But for the soul, “first things first” means something very different. It means that before we act, we must take time for the truth to emerge. Then the truth itself gives us direction. Then we begin to sense the Holy Plan. So how does the ego become transformed enough to support the soul rather than oppose it?

This is the work of becoming conscious.

When the same old feelings arise—irritation, anger, resentment, the pain of being misunderstood or unfairly perceived—those feelings awaken the ego. But if the ego is learning to serve the soul, then even those reactions can become useful. They can signal that we should look for another approach, one that opens the way rather than closing it.

Yes, pride may have to be sacrificed. Yes, apologies may be necessary. Yes, we may have to admit that we were wrong. And yes, we may have to state our positive, healthy intentions clearly while accepting that the other person may still not understand.

But when we have done all we know to do from our conscious soul power, then we have done our part to bring peace. And if that peace is not returned to us, we can go to the Beatitudes for affirmation and consolation. Blessed are the peacemakers. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

For in the soul’s way of living, the first thing is not to win. The first thing is to become conscious enough to let truth, humility, and peace lead the way.

Spiritual Practice

Inner inventory: What ways do you have within that alert you that the unconscious ego has taken hold? Do you know what your responses are when this happens? If so, are you pleased with how you handle things or not? Why? 

Inquiry

What would be your most significant reason why you would want your ego to serve your soul? 

Prayer

Dear God, 

I pray to first seek the space for your truth to be clear, before I do anything…

Amen