A: The way we get our parents is like this... Before we exist as humans, we exist as non-physical beings. The physical level is the last to be developed. We call those who have developed the mind but not the body, Jinns. Before the Jinns are the angels, who have developed a soul but not a mind. Before them are the archangels, who have developed certain broad qualities, but not individuation.

So there you were, in a space beyond time, an angel who lives in the world of light and love. Some angels feel an incredible imperative to "get real," to "descend" into further levels of individuation toward becoming a human. The goal of the whole creation is to become human, and even the angels feel that pull. Information has come to you about the condition of the physical plane: the suffering, the joy, the challenges, the growth. None of these concepts are understandable to an angelic being who lives in Spirit and Grace. You are intrigued and you decide to explore further, even though this requires you to turn your face from the light of Glory at the Source and peer out into the outer reaches of creation.

By the desire to know more about the process of manifestation, you acquire a mind and become a Jinn, a transformation that alters you forever. The world of the Jinn is fascinating. They know everything that happens in the physical world, except for human motivations. They see WHAT, but they don't comprehend WHY, because they've never been human. The Jinns typically think that humans behave strangely, even badly. Yet they envy the humans because only humans are fully "real," able to manipulate matter and create physical change in the universe. It is also clear to the Jinns that the whole purpose of creation is fulfilled in humanity.

For most Jinns, the attraction to humanity is unbearably strong. They cannot wait for the opportunity to experience sensation. They are willing to accept ANY opportunity to be born, and they are happy for any circumstance, whether poverty-striken, disaster-prone, physically deformed, ordinary, etc. But some insightful Jinns are more selective; they are willing to wait for a favorable opportunity. They apply whenever conception becomes a possibility among parents that would provide the opportunity they need. Musicians look for musician parents, etc. Some of the queues for conception begin to form before the couple has married, or even met, since Jinns can see the potentials of the future.

Some few Jinns have a higher ideal; they want to help humanity on. They choose a life with the opportunity to be of service. They volunteer to be placed into situations of extreme need or huge potential. These are the souls like Isaiah who heard God ask, "Who shall I send, who will go for Me?", and answered, "Send me!" When they go forward into life, they are sent with all the inner resources and psychic protection one could ask for. Then they sacrifice themselves, to make a difference. They are ultimately the greatest beneficiaries of the experience of life, for they give their life to the One whose Life it is. Their loss proves to be a gain in the end, as it brings a depth of understanding and capacity of greatness.

If you feel you were born into a life of great difficulty, there are two potential reasons: either you didn't care what kind of situation life provided, or you volunteered to be of service to those who needed you. For every child who has a story of suffering at the hands of his or her parents, there is a parent who has a story of being saved by their child. Most adults have their first major opportunity to work out their childhood issues when they have a child and can experience the other side of the situation.

If you knew all the difficulty that the first part of your life would entail, would you still volunteer for it? Maybe you would if you could see what a difference your life has made for your parents, siblings, friends, clients, etc., and what has been gained in yourself.

The aim of the first part of life is to open the heart. There is a second part of your life that then begins -- the representative of the heart. Even though you volunteered for it, you forget your purpose. Eventually you develop enough inner capacity to make your heart operative, whether by heartache, trauma, conscious attention, unconditional love, etc. Then the heart opens, and you enter a second chapter. You still have the outer situations of the first part of your life, but now you have the power of the heart to deal with them. The remaining difficulties are quickly resolved and you then are given the opportunity to renew your pledge, to volunteer consciously for the purpose you have been prepared for. You, yourself, have become the solution to the problem you have solved.

Now the purpose of your life expands to new horizons. The past only makes sense by considering the future. The intention is revealed in the result, and the results are still coming in. You volunteered to place yourself in a crisis situation, like a human shield. You didn't do anything wrong.