Changes

*(Physical stretching)

*(Physical stretching)

   

   

One further thing I wanted to mention tonight, we’ve talked about only briefly before, and that is the notion of stretching not only mentally but physically too.  Think of physical stretching as a necessary activity simply because your body, all by itself through your activity and even more as you get older; your body left alone to its own devices will slowly lose its freedom of motion.  Muscles and ligaments shorten; all the joints all over your body get little deposits of calcium around them.  So it’s good to stretch and expand whatever range of motion you find yourself stuck with, at any age.

One further [[thing]] I wanted to mention tonight, we’ve talked about only briefly before, and that is the notion of stretching not only [[mentally]] but [[physically]] too.  Think of physical stretching as a [[necessary]] [[activity]] simply because your [[body]], all by itself through your [[activity]] and even more as you get older; your body left alone to its own devices will slowly lose its [[freedom]] of [[motion]].  Muscles and ligaments shorten; all the joints all over your [[body]] get little deposits of [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium calcium] around them.  So it’s good to stretch and expand whatever range of [[motion]] you find yourself stuck with, at any [[age]].

   

   

You notice that as you reach the limits to which you are used, you encounter pain.  At first it’s just a slight ache, and then a heavier one.  If you impatiently rush into the area with some notion in your mind of how much you are going to stretch that leg--or whatever, today--you will notice little tingly pricks of muscle tearing: that’s too much.  Physical limits require patience and pure attention to really get down deep into that ache and let those muscles relax and lengthen, to feel those joints moving more than they have lately.   

You notice that as you reach the [[limits]] to which you are used, you encounter [[pain]].  At first it’s just a slight ache, and then a heavier one.  If you impatiently rush into the area with some notion in your [[mind]] of how much you are going to stretch that leg--or whatever, today--you will notice little tingly pricks of muscle tearing: that’s too much.  [[Physical]] [[limits]] require [[patience]] and [[pure]] [[attention]] to really get down deep into that ache and let those muscles [[relax]] and lengthen, to feel those joints moving more than they have lately.   

   

   

This takes enormous patience and attention. You can’t be somewhere else; your mind can’t be some where or some other time else.  Your body is here and now.  This is going deep, deep into that ache to let those muscles relax and let those joints move more.  You have to really love yourself to be gentle enough.  You really have to get out of your ego ambitions about how flexible you want to be, and be here and now in what’s happening.  And so the earlier you start, or--this is a hint to all you parents--the younger children start, the better.  The younger and more flexible the body--to begin with--makes it easier to learn.  Then too to have this youthful experience--for comparison throughout your life--is a bonus.

This takes enormous [[patience]] and [[attention]]. You can’t be somewhere else; your [[mind]] can’t be some where or some other time else.  Your [[body]] is here and [[now]].  This is going deep, deep into that ache to let those muscles [[relax]] and let those joints move more.  You have to really [[love]] yourself to be [[gentle]] enough.  You really have to get out of your [[ego]] [[ambitions]] about how [[flexible]] you want to be, and be here and [[now]] in what’s happening.  And so the earlier you start, or--this is a hint to all you [[parents]]--the younger [[children]] start, the better.  The younger and more [[flexible]] the body--to begin with--makes it easier to learn.  Then too to have this [[youthful]] [[experience]]--for comparison throughout your life--is a bonus.

   

   

For you older folks there can be nothing more critical to your quality of life.  These are not abstract notions at all, but right down-to-earth qualities like flexibility, suppleness, coordination.  In stretching you are literally learning and re-learning yourself from the inside out.  It’s a spiritual activity, my children, that has to do with value.  How much do you value this body of yours?  How much do you value flexibility and suppleness?  How much do you value being able to move around, get out in the world and take a walk through the woods--which is sadly and needlessly off limits to so many?   

For you older folks there can be nothing more critical to your [[quality of life]].  These are not [[abstract]] notions at all, but right down-to-[[earth]] qualities like [[flexibility]], suppleness, [[coordination]].  In stretching you are [[literally]] learning and re-learning yourself from the inside out.  It’s a [[spiritual]] [[activity]], my children, that has to do with [[value]].  How much do you value this [[body]] of yours?  How much do you value [[flexibility]] and suppleness?  How much do you [[value]] being able to move around, get out in the world and take a walk through the woods--which is sadly and needlessly off limits to so many?   

   

   

And so this stretching is with your mind simultaneously: putting your mind into your body; bringing your body into consciousness.  For now, let your mind stretch with these concepts we are feeding you.  In your spirit, my children, be unafraid to let your values be challenged.  Be unafraid of the spiritual energy it takes to constantly re-evaluate your life.  This is how you stretch your spirit: by having the courage to explore, and question, and wonder.

And so this stretching is with your [[mind]] [[simultaneously]]: putting your mind into your body; bringing your body into [[consciousness]].  For now, let your mind stretch with these [[concepts]] we are feeding you.  In your [[spirit]], my [[children]], be unafraid to let your [[values]] be challenged.  Be unafraid of the [[spiritual]] [[energy]] it takes to constantly re-evaluate your life.  This is how you stretch your [[spirit]]: by having the [[courage]] to [[explore]], and question, and [[wonder]].

   

   

Physical stretching means going into that ache with your mindfulness, and so, simultaneously, to stretch your mind this way you have to be willing to have all your precious, hard-earned notions of your body be challenged and expanded.  You are not who you were yesterday.  You have to let Michel’s Spirit of Truth orient you, orient your spirit towards truth, and orient your willingness to seek wherever the truth may be, from whatever source.

[[Physical]] stretching means going into that ache with your [[mindfulness]], and so, [[simultaneously]], to stretch your [[mind]] this way you have to be willing to have all your precious, hard-earned notions of your body be [[challenged]] and expanded.  You are not who you were [[Past|yesterday]].  You have to let Michel’s [[Spirit of Truth]] [[orient]] you, orient your spirit towards [[truth]], and orient your willingness to [[seek]] wherever the [[truth]] may be, from whatever [[source]].

   

   

This is our spirit gift to you this evening--these notions, these concepts about stretching, teasing you to let yourselves go and follow along where your own creative imaginations recognize what we offer.  For our part--Michael and I: we enjoy these journeys with you.

This is our [[spirit]] gift to you this evening--these notions, these [[concepts]] about stretching, teasing you to let yourselves go and follow along where your own [[creative]] [[imaginations]] recognize what we offer.  For our part--Michael and I: we [[enjoy]] these [[journeys]] with you.

   

   

Let me ask if you have any questions or comments this evening.  Let’s do that too.

Let me ask if you have any questions or comments this evening.  Let’s do that too.

===Dialogue===

===Dialogue===

Student:  I have a question and I’m sure you can clarify this.  I remember that Michael once stated that if you have seen the Son you have seen the Father.  Would it be accurate to say if I see Nebadonia I’ve seen the Infinite Spirit?

Student:  I have a question and I’m sure you can clarify this.  I remember that Michael once stated that if you have seen the Son you have seen the Father.  Would it be accurate to say if I see Nebadonia I’ve seen the Infinite Spirit?