Changes

TOMAS:        I am also your good [[friend]] and I am here today for a review of [[our Master]]'s [[admonishment]] to "Be of good cheer" so I bring you good cheer and conjoin with you in good cheer.

TOMAS:        I am also your good [[friend]] and I am here today for a review of [[our Master]]'s [[admonishment]] to "Be of good cheer" so I bring you good cheer and conjoin with you in good cheer.

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

I would like to [[discuss]] being of good cheer. Indeed your [[discourses]] this afternoon give rise to a tendency, on the part of you [[mortals]], to take yourselves and your [[beliefs]] and your [[opinions]] so seriously as to preclude the possibility of genuine good cheer. [[Jesus]] also was known to be firm and to speak in strong tones on occasion, but even so, he was, as a rule, a man among men with uncommon [[grace]] and [[fortitude]].

I would like to [[discuss]] being of good cheer. Indeed your [[discourses]] this afternoon give rise to a tendency, on the part of you [[mortals]], to take yourselves and your [[beliefs]] and your [[opinions]] so seriously as to preclude the possibility of genuine good cheer. [[Jesus]] also was known to be firm and to speak in strong tones on occasion, but even so, he was, as a rule, a man among men with uncommon [[grace]] and [[fortitude]].

There is the [[manifestation]] of [[joy]] that is [[contagious]], and that [[embraces]] your fellows. This joy, this [[radiant]] good cheer is a result of a [[love]]-saturated [[soul]] and cannot cause dismay or chagrin to anyone. There is also a kind of good cheer which is artificial and "appropriate" but which is grating and activates a sense of [[irritation]]. When someone looks at you superiorly and suggests that you "Lighten up!" or that you "Don't worry. Be [[happy]]!" it is [[manifesting]] an [[attitude]] which is insensitive to the [[relative]] [[perfection]] [[attainment]] of that person with whom you would seek to conjoin in fraternity of spirit.

There is the [[manifestation]] of [[joy]] that is [[contagious]], and that [[embraces]] your fellows. This joy, this [[radiant]] good cheer is a result of a [[love]]-saturated [[soul]] and cannot cause dismay or chagrin to anyone. There is also a kind of good cheer which is artificial and "appropriate" but which is grating and activates a sense of [[irritation]]. When someone looks at you superiorly and suggests that you "Lighten up!" or that you "Don't worry. Be [[happy]]!" it is [[manifesting]] an [[attitude]] which is insensitive to the [[relative]] [[perfection]] [[attainment]] of that person with whom you would seek to conjoin in fraternity of spirit.

 

I would like for you all to think of an example or a situation that has occurred in your [[life]] that you are familiar with, wherein you have noticed an [[artificial]] good cheer. Perhaps employees who are ordered to [[smile]] cheerfully for "the customer is always right" even when they are dishing out [[abuse]]. Perhaps you'll think of the child who is unhappy and is [[admonished]] to "stop crying" and to get [[happy]] quickly or they'll "get something to cry about!"

I would like for you all to think of an example or a situation that has occurred in your [[life]] that you are familiar with, wherein you have noticed an [[artificial]] good cheer. Perhaps employees who are ordered to [[smile]] cheerfully for "the customer is always right" even when they are dishing out [[abuse]]. Perhaps you'll think of the child who is unhappy and is [[admonished]] to "stop crying" and to get [[happy]] quickly or they'll "get something to cry about!"

My cheerful daughters, how are you all this afternoon?

My cheerful daughters, how are you all this afternoon?

===Dialogue===

===Dialogue===

CELESTE:    Fine, thank you!

CELESTE:    Fine, thank you!