This passage is from Robert Schwartz’s book Courageous Souls. It refers to one of the stories in the book — the case of long-term alcoholism lasting more than four decades.
I am skipping much of the explanation about why a soul might choose such a heavy life challenge as alcoholism — this could be the subject of a separate publication — and I am moving directly to the quotation, in which many of us may recognize ourselves, even if alcoholism is not our destiny.
Who but the bravest souls would separate themselves from the Love that is their birthright, in order to come to know it more deeply?
As the case of Pat shows, experiences on the physical plane are not what they seem.
What some might brand as weakness or retreat is, in fact, an absolute and decisive embrace of one of the greatest challenges a soul is capable of planning…
On the surface level, the world may indeed see fear in Pat, just as he himself perceives it in himself.
Fear of social institutions.
Fear of women.
Fear of being promoted at work beyond his abilities.
Fear of being left alone, of not being able to cope with life on his own…
These layers of illusion conceal the daring soul that has chosen to learn, while in a body, not to be afraid…
Only the brave plan fear.
Robert Schwartz
Source: Robert Schwartz, Courageous Souls, pp. 202–203.
Translated from Bulgarian.
