Changes

==Session==

==Session==

===Opening===

===Opening===

TOMAS:      Good afternoon, students. I am Tomas, your teacher.

TOMAS:      Good afternoon, [[students]]. I am Tomas, your teacher.

GROUP:        Good afternoon, Tomas.

GROUP:        Good afternoon, Tomas.

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]].

Let us look at your culture, at your place in your culture, in terms of good cheer. I am reminded of our early lessons long ago having to do with character, and how it is in your society that you perhaps comprehend character as being characteristics of a witty fellow ("What a character!") instead of the more deep and genuine quality of true character which is developed as a result of your on-going efforts to spiritize your thinking and your way of life.

Let us look at your [[culture]], at your place in your culture, in terms of good cheer. I am reminded of our early lessons long ago having to do with [[character]], and how it is in your [[society]] that you perhaps comprehend character as being characteristics of a witty fellow ("What a character!") instead of the more deep and genuine [[quality]] of true character which is developed as a result of your on-going [[efforts]] to spiritize your [[thinking]] and your way of [[life]].

Now let us look at good cheer and ascertain what that means in terms of your culture and your society, and is it not true that, generally speaking, someone who is of good cheer has a constant and steady smile pasted upon their face and/or one who is filled with biting wit, a constant jokester, alleviating any hope of seriousness or of sincerity. In your culture many times he who is of good cheer is a bore, and yet you subscribe to the machinations of such a personality, indeed you pay him or her great sums to entertain you in the hope that you will feel as if you belong to this value level which has become skilled and adept at avoiding that which will in fact create bona fide good cheer.

Now let us look at good cheer and ascertain what that means in terms of your [[culture]] and your [[society]], and is it not true that, generally speaking, someone who is of good cheer has a constant and steady [[smile]] pasted upon their face and/or one who is filled with biting wit, a constant jokester, alleviating any [[hope]] of seriousness or of [[sincerity]]. In your culture many times he who is of good cheer is a bore, and yet you subscribe to the machinations of such a [[personality]], indeed you pay him or her great sums to [[entertain]] you in the hope that you will [[feel]] as if you belong to this [[value]] level which has [[become]] skilled and adept at avoiding that which will in [[fact]] create bona fide good cheer.

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!"

It is no wonder that you on Urantia find it difficult to accept that Our Father is so loving, for how have you been able to discern this truth from your perspective? It is vital that your perspective be enhanced and enlarged to realize, from deep within you, the genuine good cheer of the association of that which is true and beautiful and good. In having that confidence of being a part of divinity, no matter how small, your immediate fruit is to feel enervated and exuberant and of genuine good cheer in your good fortune to be breathing the breath of life as it is inhaled in and through the fragrance of the divine and perfect Rose of Paradise.

It is no wonder that you on [[Urantia]] find it difficult to accept that [[Our Father]] is so loving, for how have you been able to [[discern]] this [[truth]] from your [[perspective]]? It is vital that your perspective be enhanced and enlarged to realize, from deep within you, the genuine good cheer of the [[association]] of that which is true and [[beautiful]] and [[good]]. In having that [[confidence]] of being a part of [[divinity]], no matter how small, your immediate fruit is to feel enervated and exuberant and of genuine good cheer in your good fortune to be breathing the [[breath]] of life as it is inhaled in and through the [[fragrance]] of the divine and [[perfect]] Rose of [[Paradise]].

In the aura of this Flower of Perfection, you can well afford to be loving, to be gracious, to spread beauty. In being a Rose in the Father's garden, in giving of a genuine fragrance of good will, you will always understand, as will they who know "a rose is a rose is a rose" also has a thorn, and there is a purpose therein. But you do not have to lead with your thorns, you do not have to threaten or demand that others look good and deny their own thorns. No, I am not talking politics. I am speaking of a quality of being of good cheer, knowing you are protected and loved and nourished and fostered by a loving God in a loving universe.

In the [[aura]] of this ''Flower of Perfection'', you can well afford to be loving, to be [[gracious]], to spread [[beauty]]. In being a Rose in [[the Father]]'s garden, in giving of a genuine [[fragrance]] of [[good]] will, you will always [[understand]], as will they who know "a rose is a rose is a rose" also has a thorn, and there is a [[purpose]] therein. But you do not have to [[lead]] with your thorns, you do not have to threaten or demand that others look [[good]] and deny their own thorns. No, I am not talking [[politics]]. I am speaking of a [[quality]] of being of good cheer, knowing you are protected and loved and nourished and fostered by a loving [[God]] in a loving [[universe]].

In that knowledge is great joy. And it is in that perspective that Jesus went around doing good and admonishing his followers to "Be of good cheer". When you are of good cheer, now, and when you are in a situation of being pricked by thorns, look to see if you have gotten too close to someone's rose. Withdraw into the fragrance of the Stillness and the sustaining power of creation, for your own poise and your own fragrant effervescent manifestation of Father's beauty, Mother's love, Michael's mercy.

In that [[knowledge]] is great [[joy]]. And it is in that [[perspective]] that [[Jesus]] went around doing good and [[admonishing]] his followers to "Be of good cheer". When you are of good cheer, now, and when you are in a situation of being pricked by thorns, look to see if you have gotten too close to someone's rose. Withdraw into the [[fragrance]] of the [[Stillness]] and the sustaining [[power]] of [[creation]], for your own [[poise]] and your own fragrant effervescent [[manifestation]] of Father's beauty, Mother's love, [[Michael]]'s mercy.

My cheerful daughters, how are you all this afternoon?

My cheerful daughters, how are you all this afternoon?