Changes

===Teacher: [[Will]]===

===Teacher: [[Will]]===

===TR: [[Eric]]===

===TR: [[Eric]]===

==Sessionn 1==

==Session 1==

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

Our God is a great God. We marvel at His wisdom, His insight, His consistency, His

Our [[God]] is a great God. We [[marvel]] at His [[wisdom]], His [[insight]], His [[consistency]], His

thoughtfulness, His rectitude. He has planned well and thoroughly for the progress, not only of

thoughtfulness, His rectitude. He has planned well and thoroughly for the [[progress]], not only of

humans, but also for other ascenders. The speed of your lives is not the speed of all lives on all

[[humans]], but also for other [[Ascending sons|ascenders]]. The [[speed]] of your lives is not the speed of all lives on all planets. Just as a day on [[Jerusem]] varies from a day on [[Urantia]], so too do days on other planets vary. The very [[pace]] of life is completely [[different]] as well as the concerns, the [[traditions]] and the approaches.

planets. Just as a day on Jerusem varies from a day on Urantia, so too do days on other planets vary.

The very pace of life is completely different as well as the concerns, the traditions and the approaches.

All [[paths]] lead in the same [[direction]] ultimately. [[Our Father]] has thoughtfully provided that even in the

All paths lead in the same direction ultimately. Our Father has thoughtfully provided that even in the

[[process]] of [[change]] from the most base components to the most rarified and [[pure]] components,

process of change from the most base components to the most rarified and pure components,

[[transition]] is preferred. Never [[forget]] that [[our Father]] is [[eternal]], that He never violates His own [[plan]]

transition is preferred. Never forget that our Father is eternal, that He never violates His own plan

or the [[laws]] of [[nature]] even at the extremities of [[the universes]]. Neither do [[Descending Sons|His Sons]] [[violate]] the [[laws]]

or the laws of nature even at the extremities of the universes. Neither do His sons violate the laws

of [[nature]]. One of the [[laws]] that is not [[violated]] is that [[progress]] shall be sound and steady. It is clear

of nature. One of the laws that is not violated is that progress shall be sound and steady. It is clear

from [[everything]] that we have [[observed]] that [[the Father]] prefers substance over [[speed]]. You will note

from everything that we have observed that the Father prefers substance over speed. You will note

that even that the passage from the [[material]] life to the [[morontia]] life provides nothing in the realm of

that even that the passage from the material life to the morontia life provides nothing in the realm of

[[revealed]] [[knowledge]], no [[challenges]] to overcome, no [[information]] imparted. All that occurs in the

revealed knowledge, no challenges to overcome, no information imparted. All that occurs in the

[[transition]] from the [[material]] life to the [[morontia]] life is the fact of the [[survival]] of the material [[death]].

transition from the material life to the morontia life is the fact of the survival of the material death.

In all other respects you pick up your life again at the exact [[point]] that you laid it down in the [[material]]

In all other respects you pick up your life again at the exact point that you laid it down in the material

realm only the [[knowledge]] of the [[reality]] of [[survival]] has been added and you go on from there.

realm only the knowledge of the reality of survival has been added and you go on from there.

Compare to this scheme. What can we look for in this life to indicate our progress? You

[[Compare]] to this scheme. What can we look for in this life to indicate our [[progress]]? You

should approach your challenges the way a rock climber approaches a steep rock face. The rock

should approach your [[challenges]] the way a rock climber approaches a steep rock face. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_climbing rock

climber doesn't have time to think about how glorious it will be at the top. He or she must get there

climber] doesn't have time to [[think]] about how [[glorious]] it will be at the top. He or she must get there

first. And getting there is what being a rock climber is all about. It is not possible to skip over any

first. And getting there is what being a rock climber is all about. It is not possible to skip over any

of the steps, neither the easy ones nor the hard ones. It's not possible to think your way up or to have

of the steps, neither the easy ones nor the hard ones. It's not possible to [[think]] your way up or to have

your way drawn up with good intentions, or to clamber up through the use of outside devices. You

your way drawn up with good [[intentions]], or to clamber up through the use of outside devices. You

must climb the rock face yourself and it is a matter of small things, tiny toeholds, rock ledges, finger

must climb the rock face yourself and it is a matter of small [[things]], tiny toeholds, rock ledges, finger

holds and cracks, some of them perilously temporary, yet they will all be traversed in time. And the

holds and cracks, some of them perilously temporary, yet they will all be traversed in [[time]]. And the

ascent is a slow and difficult process requiring great fortitude, great opportunism, planning and

[[ascent]] is a slow and [[difficult]] [[process]] requiring great [[fortitude]], great opportunism, planning and

courage and the reward is worthwhile. Skilled climbers can do the apparently impossible and they

[[courage]] and the reward is worthwhile. Skilled climbers can do the apparently impossible and they

make it look easy. But there is nothing speedy about the process. There is nothing flashy about any

make it look easy. But there is nothing [[speedy]] about the [[process]]. There is nothing flashy about any

of the moves.

of the moves.

It is the same story as always, step by step, opportunity to opportunity. No rock face, no

It is the same [[story]] as always, step by step, [[opportunity]] to opportunity. No rock face, no

matter how sheer, is a total blank. They can all be scaled. The lives in front of each of you meeting

matter how sheer, is a total blank. They can all be scaled. The lives in front of each of you [[meeting]]

here tonight present varying degrees of difficulty. No matter the degree of difficulty imposed, it is

here tonight present varying [[degrees]] of [[difficulty]]. No matter the degree of difficulty imposed, it is

still necessary to scale to the height. Each of you is on your own. We think that each of you has the

still [[necessary]] to scale to the height. Each of you is on your own. We [[think]] that each of you has the

basic tools and the range of skills necessary and your technique gets better. In fact, it gets easier.

basic [[tools]] and the range of [[skills]] [[necessary]] and your [[technique]] gets better. In [[fact]], it gets easier.

But it is not speedy and in order to gauge your progress you must look back. You may be surprised

But it is not speedy and in order to gauge your [[progress]] you must look back. You may be [[surprised]]

how far you have come, inching along, exploiting those opportunities which have presented

how far you have come, inching along, exploiting those [[opportunities]] which have presented

themselves to you. Taking advantage of those opportunities which you have developed for yourself.

themselves to you. Taking [[advantage]] of those [[opportunities]] which you have [[developed]] for yourself.

 

We are not offering sweeping [[change]]. We are not offering dazzling [[revelations]]. We are

We are not offering sweeping change. We are not offering dazzling revelations. We are

offering solid, laborious [[progress]]. But the result is [[good]] and the passage is not nearly as [[dangerous]]

offering solid, laborious progress. But the result is good and the passage is not nearly as dangerous

as it would be if we were attempting something [[foolish]], whimsical or immature. When you look back

as it would be if we were attempting something foolish, whimsical or immature. When you look back

at your lives you can see what great [[progress]] we have made in only one year, it will be something like

at your lives you can see what great progress we have made in only one year, it will be something like

that. This is my lesson for you tonight.

that. This is my lesson for you tonight.

[[Shalom]].

always to assist you with your thoughts.

==Session 2==

==Session 2==

*December 20, 1992

*December 20, 1992