Difference between revisions of "1997-01-26-Wonder"
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==Session== | ==Session== | ||
===Opening=== | ===Opening=== | ||
| − | Ham: Greetings, I am Ham and I want to thank you for coming tonight for gathering to hear my weekly words. Tonight I want to talk about wonder | + | Ham: Greetings, I am Ham and I want to [[thank]] you for coming tonight for gathering to hear my weekly [[words]]. Tonight I want to talk about [[wonder]]. |
===Lesson=== | ===Lesson=== | ||
| − | + | ===='''''[[Wonder]]'''''==== | |
| + | You all have small periods when a sense of [[wonder]] is recaptured in your lives. Wonder is an [[emotion]] that humans long for. [[Human being]]s want to hear [[tales]] of wonder, to see [[movies]] that [[inspire]] that sense of wonder. | ||
| − | + | People want to feel that [[feeling]] of seeing something or hearing something for the first time. [[Beautiful]] things [[inspire]] that sense. People want to be inspired to [[action]]. They want to feel the sense of [[wonder]] at belonging to something for the first time. They want a sense of [[connection]] between the artist or the movie or the [[song]] that speaks to them [[individually]] and how wonderful that is. | |
| − | + | The world is full of [[wonder]] if you would learn to see with the eyes of the [[spirit]]. The eyes of the spirit [[reveal]] that the world is made from [[love]], that all the [[life]], all the living and growing things, are a part of the [[matrix]] of love. There is love in the grass, there is love in the spider and his web, there is love in the birds and their [[songs]] and their [[beauty]]. But most of all, there is the wonder of finding [[love]] in each other, of looking into another's eyes and recognizing your brother or you sister. This is truly what people are made for. This is truly the enrichment and the [[reward]] of [[life]]. There is nothing more wonderful than this. | |
| − | Now there will be those who will not accept your love, who will never acknowledge it, and will not accept it. But you go a long way toward removing your fear of them and therefore their ability to harm you by loving them. And you will find that either people will change and come near you with love, or they will separate themselves from you if they are not able to accept your love or to return it. Eventually over time, if you live always in love, giving love and showing love, you will attract those to you who want to be loved and give love and show love as well. The others will not stay. Be steadfast then and walk in the way of love, do not let fear intrude on this pathway if you can help it. That is essentially the lesson for this evening, are there any questions? | + | You must go through life finding that sense of [[wonder]]. How much more wonderful can something be than finding your [[enemy]] to be your brother or your sister? Finding love is replacing [[anxiety]] or [[fear]] or [[worry]] because you are never anxious or worried or afraid over anything other than other [[human being]]s and when you love them they cannot really hurt you. And if you love them long enough, [[eventually]] their [[fear]] will also change and their anxiety and [[desire]] for gain at your [[expense]] will disappear as well, and your enemy is then your brother or your sister. |
| + | |||
| + | Now there will be those who will not [[accept]] your [[love]], who will never acknowledge it, and will not [[accept]] it. But you go a long way toward removing your [[fear]] of them and therefore their [[ability]] to harm you by loving them. And you will find that either people will [[change]] and come near you with [[love]], or they will separate themselves from you if they are not able to [[accept]] your love or to return it. [[Eventually]] over time, if you live always in love, giving love and showing love, you will [[attract]] those to you who want to be loved and give love and show [[love]] as well. The others will not stay. Be [[steadfast]] then and walk in the way of love, do not let [[fear]] intrude on this [[pathway]] if you can help it. That is essentially the lesson for this evening, are there any [[questions]]? | ||
===Dialogue=== | ===Dialogue=== | ||
| − | Q: If I had to define what it meant to love another person like you were describing, I would have trouble, Is it an attitude, is it a way of behaving, is it both and more? Could you elaborate? | + | ===='''''[[Love]]''''', '''''[[Connectedness]]'''''==== |
| + | Q: If I had to define what it meant to [[love]] another person like you were [[describing]], I would have trouble, Is it an [[attitude]], is it a way of behaving, is it both and more? Could you elaborate? | ||
| − | Ham: Love is the realization that another person is your brother or your sister. When you understand that basis of the relationship, then you become instantly sympathetic with that person and able to sympathize with their fears or with their anxiety, whatever it is that animates them. It is realizing that the barriers that you all consistently put between yourselves and others are not real. | + | Ham: Love is the [[realization]] that another [[person]] is your brother or your sister. When you [[understand]] that basis of the [[relationship]], then you become instantly [[sympathetic]] with that person and able to sympathize with their [[fears]] or with their [[anxiety]], whatever it is that animates them. It is realizing that the [[barriers]] that you all [[consistently]] put between yourselves and others are not real. |
| − | Q: Becoming one with unification, Divinity. I have been belatedly getting a realization of that lately. You can read about it and think about if for years, and then you begin to realize it. That one thing, becoming one. Between yourselves, that means a lot. They are me to, I am a part of everything and everything is a part of me. Finally you see how come it is so painful to the soul to have animosity toward another. | + | Q: [[Becoming]] one with [[unification]], [[Divinity]]. I have been belatedly getting a [[realization]] of that lately. You can [[read]] about it and think about if for years, and then you begin to realize it. That one thing, [[becoming]] one. Between yourselves, that means a lot. They are me to, I am a part of [[everything]] and everything is a [[part]] of me. Finally you see how come it is so [[painful]] to the [[soul]] to have animosity toward another. |
| − | Ham: Very well said. It is painful and distressing to the soul because it is unnatural and unreal. | + | Ham: Very well said. It is [[painful]] and distressing to the [[soul]] because it is unnatural and unreal. |
| − | Q: We are all connected. | + | Q: We are all [[connected]]. |
Ham: Correct. | Ham: Correct. | ||
| − | Q: Invisible | + | Q: [[Invisible]] [[chords]] of [[love]]. |
| − | Q: I had an experience recently that illustrated this point. I had a conversation with a man in Baltimore as I was waiting for a plane. It was very friendly and natural and even though we did not know each other and we were really different, I could feel love and brotherhood. You are right about the wonder of discovering a brother, even in something simple like a conversation waiting for an airplane. | + | Q: I had an [[experience]] recently that [[illustrated]] this [[point]]. I had a [[conversation]] with a man in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore,_Maryland Baltimore] as I was waiting for a plane. It was very friendly and [[natural]] and even though we did not know each other and we were really [[different]], I could feel [[love]] and [[brotherhood]]. You are right about the wonder of [[discovering]] a brother, even in something [[simple]] like a conversation waiting for an airplane. |
Yes, exactly. | Yes, exactly. | ||
| + | ===='''''[[Fear]]'''''==== | ||
| + | Q: It seems to me that the [[barriers]] we put between us if [[fear]]. For me, it is often my fear that creates a barrier between myself and other people. It is hard to [[love]] them when I have this protective shield of fear between us. | ||
| − | + | Ham: But it can be their fears too. | |
| − | + | Q: The [[ego]] must come up with a reason to dislike and [[reject]]. | |
| − | + | Ham: Yes, I would say most people are uncomfortable [[thinking]] of themselves as [[connected]] with all others. | |
| − | + | Q: I was trying to think this out. It is ourselves that we don't like. when you make this [[connection]] at first. Here is somebody who is a part of me, but I don't like them either. I am not sure it is that [[conscious]], it is almost on an [[animal]], [[instinctual]] level. You know, I must not admit that it is my [[fear]], that is the last thing I want to see. So I have to assign it to something else. I am getting kind of [[confused]], it's us we don't like . ... | |
| − | + | Ham: A lot of fears are just part of the [[animal]] [[legacy]] in your [[genetic]] make up and so you instinctively fear the [[different]], those who are different. | |
| − | + | Q: But why wouldn't it be the ones who are like you. That is who you don't [[trust]] and don't like. | |
| − | + | Ham: Then you are getting into a [[psychological]] situation. At first, you are usually afraid of joining a new [[group]], new [[social]] situations. | |
| − | + | Q: But that is because of low [[self esteem]]. | |
| − | + | Ham: No it is [[instinctive]], an instinctive [[fear]] of those who are different, of other [[groups]]. | |
| − | + | Q: What you are saying is that as we learn to [[recognize]] all people as our brothers and sisters, even those who are [[different]], that we will begin to [[transcend]] our [[instincts]]? | |
| − | + | Ham: Yes. | |
| − | Q: I am reminded of that passage in the Urantia book that says our task is not to learn to love everyone all at once. but to learn to love one person one day at a time. | + | Q: I am reminded of that passage in the [[Urantia book]] that says our task is not to learn to [[love]] everyone all at once. but to learn to [[love]] one person one day at a time. |
Ham: Exactly. | Ham: Exactly. | ||
| − | Q: I've been thinking about this this week. I forget exactly what you said that triggered it, but I was thinking about getting up each morning and facing each day with enthusiasm because there are so many wonderful things to do. What you said puts it together, the real wonderful thing to do is to interact with people and experience the wonder of love. | + | Q: I've been thinking about this this week. I forget exactly what you said that triggered it, but I was [[thinking]] about getting up each [[morning]] and facing each day with [[enthusiasm]] because there are so many [[wonderful]] things to do. What you said puts it together, the real wonderful thing to do is to [[interact]] with people and [[experience]] the wonder of [[love]]. |
Ham: Yes exactly. | Ham: Yes exactly. | ||
| − | Q: Is that how it is when we get past the first couple mansion worlds, life is filled with enthusiasm and wonder instead of all of this anxiety? | + | Q: Is that how it is when we get past the first couple [[mansion worlds]], life is filled with [[enthusiasm]] and [[wonder]] instead of all of this [[anxiety]]? |
| − | Ham: Yes, Fear is like a trap, and as you peal off the layers of it, your freedom is greater and greater. | + | Ham: Yes, [[Fear]] is like a [[trap]], and as you peal off the layers of it, your [[freedom]] is greater and greater. |
| Line 78: | Line 84: | ||
[[Category: Rebecca]] | [[Category: Rebecca]] | ||
[[Category: Wonder]] | [[Category: Wonder]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Love]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Connectedness]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Fear]] | ||
[[Category: 1997]] | [[Category: 1997]] | ||
Revision as of 16:25, 29 October 2012
Heading
Topic: Wonder
Group: Nashville TeaM
Facilitators
Teacher: Ham
TR: Rebecca
Session
Opening
Ham: Greetings, I am Ham and I want to thank you for coming tonight for gathering to hear my weekly words. Tonight I want to talk about wonder.
Lesson
Wonder
You all have small periods when a sense of wonder is recaptured in your lives. Wonder is an emotion that humans long for. Human beings want to hear tales of wonder, to see movies that inspire that sense of wonder.
People want to feel that feeling of seeing something or hearing something for the first time. Beautiful things inspire that sense. People want to be inspired to action. They want to feel the sense of wonder at belonging to something for the first time. They want a sense of connection between the artist or the movie or the song that speaks to them individually and how wonderful that is.
The world is full of wonder if you would learn to see with the eyes of the spirit. The eyes of the spirit reveal that the world is made from love, that all the life, all the living and growing things, are a part of the matrix of love. There is love in the grass, there is love in the spider and his web, there is love in the birds and their songs and their beauty. But most of all, there is the wonder of finding love in each other, of looking into another's eyes and recognizing your brother or you sister. This is truly what people are made for. This is truly the enrichment and the reward of life. There is nothing more wonderful than this.
You must go through life finding that sense of wonder. How much more wonderful can something be than finding your enemy to be your brother or your sister? Finding love is replacing anxiety or fear or worry because you are never anxious or worried or afraid over anything other than other human beings and when you love them they cannot really hurt you. And if you love them long enough, eventually their fear will also change and their anxiety and desire for gain at your expense will disappear as well, and your enemy is then your brother or your sister.
Now there will be those who will not accept your love, who will never acknowledge it, and will not accept it. But you go a long way toward removing your fear of them and therefore their ability to harm you by loving them. And you will find that either people will change and come near you with love, or they will separate themselves from you if they are not able to accept your love or to return it. Eventually over time, if you live always in love, giving love and showing love, you will attract those to you who want to be loved and give love and show love as well. The others will not stay. Be steadfast then and walk in the way of love, do not let fear intrude on this pathway if you can help it. That is essentially the lesson for this evening, are there any questions?
Dialogue
Love, Connectedness
Q: If I had to define what it meant to love another person like you were describing, I would have trouble, Is it an attitude, is it a way of behaving, is it both and more? Could you elaborate?
Ham: Love is the realization that another person is your brother or your sister. When you understand that basis of the relationship, then you become instantly sympathetic with that person and able to sympathize with their fears or with their anxiety, whatever it is that animates them. It is realizing that the barriers that you all consistently put between yourselves and others are not real.
Q: Becoming one with unification, Divinity. I have been belatedly getting a realization of that lately. You can read about it and think about if for years, and then you begin to realize it. That one thing, becoming one. Between yourselves, that means a lot. They are me to, I am a part of everything and everything is a part of me. Finally you see how come it is so painful to the soul to have animosity toward another.
Ham: Very well said. It is painful and distressing to the soul because it is unnatural and unreal.
Q: We are all connected.
Ham: Correct.
Q: I had an experience recently that illustrated this point. I had a conversation with a man in Baltimore as I was waiting for a plane. It was very friendly and natural and even though we did not know each other and we were really different, I could feel love and brotherhood. You are right about the wonder of discovering a brother, even in something simple like a conversation waiting for an airplane.
Yes, exactly.
Fear
Q: It seems to me that the barriers we put between us if fear. For me, it is often my fear that creates a barrier between myself and other people. It is hard to love them when I have this protective shield of fear between us.
Ham: But it can be their fears too.
Q: The ego must come up with a reason to dislike and reject.
Ham: Yes, I would say most people are uncomfortable thinking of themselves as connected with all others.
Q: I was trying to think this out. It is ourselves that we don't like. when you make this connection at first. Here is somebody who is a part of me, but I don't like them either. I am not sure it is that conscious, it is almost on an animal, instinctual level. You know, I must not admit that it is my fear, that is the last thing I want to see. So I have to assign it to something else. I am getting kind of confused, it's us we don't like . ...
Ham: A lot of fears are just part of the animal legacy in your genetic make up and so you instinctively fear the different, those who are different.
Q: But why wouldn't it be the ones who are like you. That is who you don't trust and don't like.
Ham: Then you are getting into a psychological situation. At first, you are usually afraid of joining a new group, new social situations.
Q: But that is because of low self esteem.
Ham: No it is instinctive, an instinctive fear of those who are different, of other groups.
Q: What you are saying is that as we learn to recognize all people as our brothers and sisters, even those who are different, that we will begin to transcend our instincts?
Ham: Yes.
Q: I am reminded of that passage in the Urantia book that says our task is not to learn to love everyone all at once. but to learn to love one person one day at a time.
Ham: Exactly.
Q: I've been thinking about this this week. I forget exactly what you said that triggered it, but I was thinking about getting up each morning and facing each day with enthusiasm because there are so many wonderful things to do. What you said puts it together, the real wonderful thing to do is to interact with people and experience the wonder of love.
Ham: Yes exactly.
Q: Is that how it is when we get past the first couple mansion worlds, life is filled with enthusiasm and wonder instead of all of this anxiety?
Ham: Yes, Fear is like a trap, and as you peal off the layers of it, your freedom is greater and greater.
