Changes

March 21, 1993

March 21, 1993

===Opening===

===Opening===

WILL: The love of God surrounds us. The love of God enfolds us. The love of God supports us. Wherever we gather, He is.

WILL: The [[love]] of [[God]] [[surrounds]] us. The love of God enfolds us. The love of God [[supports]] us. Wherever we gather, He is.

Good evening to you all once again. I am your teacher, Will, who loves you. For several weeks now we have been practicing on an exercise designed to make the initial step from the passive to the active, from observation to interaction. I think you are doing well. We are pleased with your response - when you remember. But then that is what this ministry about. Each week we gather here for fellowship, exchange of information, exchange of insights and, occasionally, another assignment which builds upon the last.

Good evening to you all once again. I am your [[teacher]], Will, who [[loves]] you. For several weeks now we have been [[practicing]] on an [[exercise]] designed to make the initial step from the [[passive]] to the [[active]], from [[observation]] to [[interaction]]. I think you are doing well. We are pleased with your [[response]] - when you remember. But then that is what this [[ministry]] about. Each week we gather here for fellowship, exchange of [[information]], exchange of [[insights]] and, occasionally, another [[assignment]] which builds upon the last.

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

Soon we will greet a visitor, another who comes from afar. This one teaching techniques of meditation applicable to stillness practice. In preparation for our visitor I desire for each of you to write down one question about your personal stillness practice. Not a general question. Not a question about how other people practice stillness, but about your practice. She will cover the generals. The specifics are for you to raise.

Soon we will greet a [[visitor]], another who comes from afar. This one teaching [[techniques]] of [[meditation]] applicable to [[stillness]] practice. In [[preparation]] for our [[visitor]] I [[desire]] for each of you to write down one [[question]] about your personal [[stillness]] [[practice]]. Not a general question. Not a question about how other people practice stillness, but about your practice. She will cover the generals. The specifics are for you to raise.

I think it is clear by now that our endeavor in the Sunday teacher group is about the general. We would be doing you a disservice if we caused you to become dependent on anything other than the Adjuster's guidance. This kind of activity is the ultimate in personalized activity and it is not possible for us to say, "What you need is a cashmere sweater of a certain size and cut," because the business upon which we are now engaged is slippery business. The high ideals and the general ideals are those that will service in the long run, which is all that really matters.

I [[think]] it is [[clear]] by now that our endeavor in the Sunday teacher group is about the general. We would be doing you a disservice if we caused you to become dependent on anything other than the [[Adjuster]]'s [[guidance]]. This kind of activity is the [[ultimate]] in personalized activity and it is not possible for us to say, "What you need is a cashmere sweater of a certain size and cut," because the [[business]] upon which we are now [[engaged]] is slippery business. The high [[ideals]] and the general ideals are those that will [[service]] in the long run, which is all that really matters.

Over the past year, we've seen very encouraging developments in each member's ability to respond to their Indwelling Adjuster's leading. First, thoughts which break through the chatter and actually make it to the surface as an inspired vehicle for insight and participation in the wrestling and turmoil of daily life on your planet. Second, from time to time, we see you act upon those leadings and this is particularly gratifying to us, for the leadership of the spiritual life is a leadership by service. Not even by example. Only service. With or without an audience. The feeling, the intent, the devotion, and the interaction is the same.

Over the past year, we've seen very [[encouraging]] [[developments]] in each member's ability to [[respond]] to their [[Indwelling Adjuster]]'s [[leading]]. First, [[thoughts]] which break through the chatter and actually make it to the [[surface]] as an [[inspired]] vehicle for [[insight]] and [[participation]] in the wrestling and turmoil of daily life on [[your planet]]. Second, from time to time, we see you act upon those [[leadings]] and this is particularly [[gratifying]] to us, for the leadership of the spiritual life is a [[leadership]] by [[service]]. Not even by [[example]]. Only service. With or without an [[audience]]. The [[feeling]], the [[intent]], the [[devotion]], and the [[interaction]] is the same.

Leadership through service is what we are after. We think that some day in the future each of you will be leaders. It is impossible for us to forecast, at the moment, the number of lives that your service may touch. So I congratulate you. I think you are doing well. I exhort you to spend more time with the Father. I encourage you to deal with your brothers and sisters one by one, taking them as they come without any intention to convert them, to guide them, to provide for them, only serve them. Respond to the needs of the moment. And having satisfied the bread of this world, provide the bread of the afterlife for you well know a hungry belly is an effective blockade to the Father's voice.

[[Leadership]] through [[service]] is what we are after. We think that some day in the [[future]] each of you will be leaders. It is impossible for us to [[forecast]], at the [[moment]], the number of lives that your service may [[touch]]. So I [[congratulate]] you. I think you are doing well. I exhort you to spend more time with [[the Father]]. I [[encourage]] you to deal with your [[brothers and sisters]] one by one, taking them as they come without any [[intention]] to [[convert]] them, to [[guide]] them, to provide for them, only serve them. [[Respond]] to the needs of the [[moment]]. And having [[satisfied]] the bread of this world, provide the bread of the [[afterlife]] for you well know a [[hungry]] belly is an effective blockade to [[the Father]]'s [[voice]].

The shift from observation to interaction takes courage. Courage is not born of resolution. It is born of practice. It is born of devotion in spite of failure. So we will be at this assignment for quite some time. On those occasions then when you feel like you've lost the thread, stop. Close the door. Unplug the phone. Take a few minutes for communion with the Heavenly Father. He has a way of setting people's feet back on the right path. We don't know how He does it. It seems to be His business alone. But we will continue to work with people, one by one, mirroring to the limits of our capacity, the very interaction which the Heavenly Father practices in His personal ministry throughout all the universes. We take them as we find them, provide them a service, share a kind word and an uplifting thought. That's our work.

The shift from [[observation]] to [[interaction]] takes [[courage]]. Courage is not born of resolution. It is born of [[practice]]. It is born of [[devotion]] in spite of [[failure]]. So we will be at this [[assignment]] for quite some time. On those occasions then when you [[feel]] like you've lost the thread, stop. Close the door. Unplug the phone. Take a few minutes for [[communion]] with the [[Heavenly Father]]. He has a way of setting people's feet back on the right [[path]]. We don't know how He does it. It seems to be His business [[alone]]. But we will continue to [[work]] with people, one by one, [[mirroring]] to the [[limits]] of our [[capacity]], the very [[interaction]] which the [[Heavenly Father]] [[practices]] in His personal ministry throughout all [[the universes]]. We take them as we find them, provide them a [[service]], [[share]] a kind word and an uplifting [[thought]]. That's our work.

===Closing===

===Closing===

This is my message for you tonight. We will talk on this again. Until our next meeting, shalom.

This is my [[message]] for you tonight. We will talk on this again. Until our next meeting, [[shalom]].

 

==Session 3==

==Session 3==

March 28, 1993

March 28, 1993