Changes

D: That's right. That's one of our [[mota]].  

D: That's right. That's one of our [[mota]].  

S: On the same token, when you have a [[choice]] like that, how can you [[decide]] which is the better, which is the worse? Which [[consequences]], which would be better [[service]] to that person that you're helping? W: And that is where the [[wisdom]] comes in. I would like to just comment on what Scott and Mark have said. It is important to consider service from the [[perspective]] of the one being served. If you look at it from your perspective, you may not identify the important act for that person. The more you [[understand]] and get to know your [[brothers and sisters]], and their circumstances, the better you will understand what I say.  

S: On the same token, when you have a [[choice]] like that, how can you [[decide]] which is the better, which is the worse? Which [[consequences]], which would be better [[service]] to that person that you're helping? W: And that is where the [[wisdom]] comes in. I would like to just comment on what Scott and Mark have said. It is important to consider service from the [[perspective]] of the one being served. If you look at it from your perspective, you may not identify the important act for that person. The more you [[understand]] and get to know your [[brothers and sisters]], and their circumstances, the better you will [[understand]] what I say.  

L: I have a comment. Does anyone remember the night Norsen was here and he commented on what would you think if someone burst into a room and ran up to you and said "I love you, I love you" and started [[hugging]] you and grabbing your arms and [[dancing]] around the room with you? He said you would start looking at this probably as rather odd. He said it would be a bit overwhelming. And so you do, in your [[expression]] of [[love]] to people, you do have to temper this with some restraint or [[wisdom]] on occasion. One of my main [[problems]] with understanding service has always been [[motive]] behind it. There is only one [[statement]] in the [[Urantia Book]], it's under the Sanctities of Service, ([[28:6 The Tertiary Seconaphim|28:6.16]]) interestingly enough, that Stan mentioned, that at some [[stage]] we are judged for our [[motives]] of [[service]]. And so last night Mary and I got into this big [[discussion]]. How often have you said "Well, he meant well." You know the person's motive was all right. Somehow, sometimes, you do [[wonder]] whether the motive is ego or not. It's like Mark said, you can give service to someone, and often they don't recognize that you're trying to be helpful to them, from their point of view. It's happened to me. I know someone is trying to help me, but I just don't want that service at that time in that way. They're quite insistent about it, and it's uncomfortable. So you've got two things. You've got motive and then you've kind of got delivery of service. We got into the section on page l874 in which the word service is never mentioned in this entire section, "As Jesus Passed By" but it is the single best, most concise definition of service in the book. I know a lot of you are familiar with that.  

L: I have a comment. Does anyone remember the night Norsen was here and he commented on what would you think if someone burst into a room and ran up to you and said "I love you, I love you" and started [[hugging]] you and grabbing your arms and [[dancing]] around the room with you? He said you would start looking at this probably as rather odd. He said it would be a bit overwhelming. And so you do, in your [[expression]] of [[love]] to people, you do have to temper this with some restraint or [[wisdom]] on occasion. One of my main [[problems]] with understanding service has always been [[motive]] behind it. There is only one [[statement]] in the [[Urantia Book]], it's under the Sanctities of Service, ([[28:6 The Tertiary Seconaphim|28:6.16]]) interestingly enough, that Stan mentioned, that at some [[stage]] we are judged for our [[motives]] of [[service]]. And so last night Mary and I got into this big [[discussion]]. How often have you said "Well, he meant well." You know the person's [[motive]] was all right. Somehow, sometimes, you do [[wonder]] whether the motive is [[ego]] or not. It's like Mark said, you can give service to someone, and often they don't recognize that you're trying to be helpful to them, from their point of view. It's happened to me. I know someone is trying to help me, but I just don't want that service at that time in that way. They're quite insistent about it, and it's uncomfortable. So you've got two things. You've got [[motive]] and then you've kind of got delivery of service. We got into the section on page 1874 in which the word service is never mentioned in this entire section, "[[171:7 As Jesus Passed By|As Jesus Passed By]]" but it is the single best, most concise [[definition]] of [[service]] in [[the book]]. I know a lot of you are familiar with that.  

K: I'd like to comment on that a little bit because it almost seems as if your service to the person would be to let them do that service for you. (laughter) L: You would wish that instead of trying to serve you the way they are that they would serve you by kind of leaving. (laughter) Haven't all of us had that experience?  

K: I'd like to comment on that a little bit because it almost seems as if your [[service]] to the [[person]] would be to let them do that service for you. ([[laughter]]) L: You would [[wish]] that instead of trying to serve you the way they are that they would serve you by kind of leaving. ([[laughter]]) Haven't all of us had that [[experience]]?  

B: One of the hardest things to do is to learn to receive. It's much harder to receive than it is to give.  

B: One of the hardest things to do is to [[learn]] to [[receive]]. It's much harder to receive than it is to give.  

M: I know that when my kids were little, we used to find a family that needed food for a couple days or something, we'd buy groceries and at 5 o'clock in the morning we'd leave the stuff by their door and pound on it, then run like crazy. The other night I was talking to my son and he remembered that. It seems like that's how I taught my kids what service was. I mean Anthony's learned it pretty good.  

M: I know that when my kids were little, we used to find a [[family]] that needed food for a couple days or something, we'd buy groceries and at 5 o'clock in the [[morning]] we'd leave the stuff by their door and pound on it, then run like crazy. The other night I was talking to my son and he remembered that. It seems like that's how I taught my kids what service was. I mean Anthony's learned it pretty good.  

D: And he still remembers that, so that had a definite impact on him. M: We were doing it just for the fun of it because we could never, ever tell where the groceries came from or what we had done.  

D: And he still [[remembers]] that, so that had a definite [[impact]] on him. M: We were doing it just for the fun of it because we could never, ever tell where the groceries came from or what we had done.  

D: But there was still the satisfaction of knowing you had helped someone. M: The most satisfaction that I got out of it recently was that my 25-year-old still remembers it and passes it on.  

D: But there was still the [[satisfaction]] of knowing you had helped someone. M: The most satisfaction that I got out of it recently was that my 25-year-old still remembers it and passes it on.  

K: I was just going to say that I had an experience and I can't go into it in full detail because it's very personal, but where I was in tune to someone's experience and made a petition for that person and saw my prayers answered and was able to facilitate an answer to that prayer and it was absolutely one of the most outrageous feelings I've ever felt in my entire life. I'll never forget it; I'll take it with me to eternity.  

K: I was just going to say that I had an [[experience]] and I can't go into it in full detail because it's very [[personal]], but where I was in tune to someone's experience and made a [[petition]] for that person and saw my [[prayers]] answered and was able to [[facilitate]] an answer to that [[prayer]] and it was absolutely one of the most outrageous [[feelings]] I've ever felt in my entire life. I'll never [[forget]] it; I'll take it with me to [[eternity]].  

M: When you look back at your life, there are just endless things that people have done for you. I was thinking of one of them that will stick in my mind. One time I was not married, living on my own, and I was real sick; and this fellow came over and he saw that I was real sick and just offered to take me to a doctor. He was kind of an acquaintance, somewhat of a friend; but we were never all that close. And another time I think of this guy who gave me the Urantia Book and it was sort of in a disdainful tone. He never really became a reader or anything like that. So I'm trying to think why do those stick out in my mind; and I think the reason is they didn't give me what they thought I needed, they gave me what I needed. I needed someone to take me to the doctor and that's what he did. I'm sure he didn't walk in the door thinking "I'm going to go over there and do this service for this person." He just came in and saw that that was what was needed and just volunteered right on the spot to do that. And the other guy probably didn't have a clue as to what he was doing, but somehow he was led where it just worked out or something. Then he did that. My point in all that was to go back and think what was earlier said that when we look at someone else, Jesus did much of his service I believe it states in the book, by listening. He could expound on things better that anyone; he could teach anybody anything. But what did he do? He let them talk, he drew them out, and then he ended by listening and allowing them to vocalize and to grow and by hearing what they're saying or by maybe something they would say, maybe he could see what it was they really needed. It makes me think that instead of us planning so much in our interactions with people, just listen to them and you will hear what it is that they really need or want.  

M: When you look back at your life, there are just endless [[things]] that people have done for you. I was [[thinking]] of one of them that will stick in my [[mind]]. One time I was not [[married]], living on my own, and I was real sick; and this fellow came over and he saw that I was real sick and just offered to take me to a [[doctor]]. He was kind of an acquaintance, somewhat of a [[friend]]; but we were never all that close. And another time I think of this guy who gave me the [[Urantia Book]] and it was sort of in a [[disdainful]] [[tone]]. He never really became a [[reader]] or anything like that. So I'm trying to think why do those stick out in my mind; and I think the reason is they didn't give me what they [[thought]] I needed, they gave me what I needed. I needed someone to take me to the [[doctor]] and that's what he did. I'm sure he didn't walk in the door [[thinking]] "I'm going to go over there and do this service for this person." He just came in and saw that that was what was needed and just [[volunteered]] right on the spot to do that. And the other guy probably didn't have a clue as to what he was doing, but somehow he was led where it just worked out or something. Then he did that. My [[point]] in all that was to go back and [[think]] what was earlier said that when we look at someone else, [[Jesus]] did much of his service I [[believe]] it states in [[the book]], by [[listening]]. He could expound on things better than anyone; he could teach anybody anything. But what did he do? He let them [[talk]], he drew them out, and then he ended by listening and allowing them to vocalize and to grow and by hearing what they're saying or by maybe something they would say, maybe he could see what it was they really needed. It makes me think that instead of us planning so much in our interactions with people, just listen to them and you will hear what it is that they really need or want.  

D: So that it's an attunement to them, so to speak, so that you can find how you can best help them so that even if it was just a small thing, that would still be giving them the kind of assistance they needed. It kind of brings us down to the next section..  

D: So that it's an attunement to them, so to speak, so that you can find how you can best help them so that even if it was just a small thing, that would still be giving them the kind of [[assistance]] they needed. It kind of brings us down to the next section..  

W: May I interject something? I wish to highlight this point, for after all, in your career, what you are seeking in the long run is to be attuned as you said to others in such a way that there is a unity among individuals. This is a process that will last much of your career as you meet the infinite number of individuals from many locations in all of the universes. As this unity and attunement to one another grows, you ascend towards the Father. Thank you.  

W: May I interject something? I wish to highlight this [[point]], for after all, in your [[career]], what you are seeking in the long run is to be [[attuned]] as you said to others in such a way that there is a [[unity]] among [[individuals]]. This is a [[process]] that will last much of your [[career]] as you meet the [[infinite]] [[number]] of [[individuals]] from many locations in all of [[the universes]]. As this unity and [[attunement]] to one another grows, you [[ascend]] towards [[the Father]]. Thank you.  

D; Let's just maybe go on to the next segment and how to apply that service in daily living. As I mentioned earlier, a lot of times we always think about doing the great deeds; but when it really comes down to it, as Michael said, it's just something small that happened to him that had a very profound impact on his life. Taking him to the doctor, or the Urantia Book was little larger impact; but it's just those small things that are done that people may not even realize the depth of what they do for you when they do those small things. Does anyone have anything to add?  

D; Let's just maybe go on to the next segment and how to apply that [[service]] in daily living. As I mentioned earlier, a lot of times we always [[think]] about doing the great deeds; but when it really comes down to it, as [[Michael]] said, it's just something small that happened to him that had a very [[profound]] [[impact]] on his life. Taking him to the [[doctor]], or the [[Urantia Book]] was little larger impact; but it's just those small things that are done that people may not even [[realize]] the depth of what they do for you when they do those small things. Does anyone have anything to add?  

G: In raising my children, I've come in contact with lots of other people and children; and you'd be surprised sometimes how just some little thing like making cookies...I used to be a room mother and I used to make all the Christmas cookies, Valentine cookies and made real pretty ones for them. And one year, Tommy White came to you, Marva, and said "Tell your mother I still remember her cookies. If you haven't seen someone since they were young children and here they are in high school and they still remember you for your cookies...  

G: In [[Parenting|raising]] my [[children]], I've come in [[contact]] with lots of other people and children; and you'd be [[surprised]] sometimes how just some little thing like making cookies...I used to be a room mother and I used to make all the [[Christmas]] cookies, Valentine cookies and made real pretty ones for them. And one year, Tommy White came to you, Marva, and said "Tell your mother I still remember her cookies. If you haven't seen someone since they were young children and here they are in high school and they still remember you for your cookies...  

D: And that had an impact on him?  

D: And that had an [[impact]] on him?  

G: It did, and it makes you feel good. Well, when I do something then someone else is going to enjoy it too. T: It seems to have like a domino effect. When you do a kindness for somebody else, or a service that makes them feel good, just like when someone does something for you and then you want to do something for someone else.  

G: It did, and it makes you [[feel]] [[good]]. Well, when I do something then someone else is going to enjoy it too. T: It seems to have like a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domino_effect domino effect]. When you do a [[kindness]] for somebody else, or a [[service]] that makes them feel good, just like when someone does something for you and then you want to do something for someone else.  

G: Just like going to the funeral home the other week. The mother of this boy that was killed, she never had many neighbors that were very friendly and her husband was on the road a lot. Well, when her children got sick or they got hurt, she would call me because my sons were real friendly with her sons. I'd go over and check and see what they needed, a doctor, or to be sutured or for a sickness or whatever and I was always glad to be there. They still remember this. The kids remember when one of them grabbed a knife out of the other one's hand and cut their fingers, and he said "You're the one who took us to get them sutured." You don't even think about these things as being a service, you're just being there when you're needed. A lot of that is service.  

G: Just like going to the [[funeral]] home the other week. The [[mother]] of this boy that was killed, she never had many [[neighbors]] that were very friendly and her [[husband]] was on the road a lot. Well, when her [[children]] got sick or they got hurt, she would call me because my sons were real [[friendly]] with her sons. I'd go over and check and see what they needed, a [[doctor]], or to be sutured or for a sickness or whatever and I was always glad to be there. They still [[remember]] this. The kids remember when one of them grabbed a knife out of the other one's hand and cut their fingers, and he said "You're the one who took us to get them sutured." You don't even think about these things as being a [[service]], you're just being there when you're needed. A lot of that is [[service]].  

M: It seems to me that this particular sense, how to apply service, is for me the most challenging, the most difficult for me to work out. Perhaps it is because of the group of people that I work with. I so much want to help these people that I work with. Every day I deal with all the same things myself, but I feel that I'm making good progress. But they're so full of frustration, anger, resentment, unhappiness. Trying to figure out what to say to somehow communicate with them is very difficult. I think something that Mike said really hit home to me. I think most of the time it's just simply listening to them, letting them vent those frustrations and those portions of their anger that they feel. Maybe it's not necessarily that beneficial, but it seems to make them feel better. It is really hard. You want so much to help this type of people, but you have to be very cautious of how you attempt that; because if they're not ready or if they don't have the receptivity that you'd like for them to have so that you could really help them, you just get very stuck as to what to do.  

M: It seems to me that this particular sense, how to apply [[service]], is for me the most [[challenging]], the most [[difficult]] for me to work out. Perhaps it is because of the group of people that I work with. I so much want to help these people that I [[work]] with. Every day I deal with all the same things myself, but I feel that I'm making good [[progress]]. But they're so full of [[frustration]], [[anger]], resentment, unhappiness. Trying to figure out what to say to somehow [[communicate]] with them is very [[difficult]]. I think something that Mike said really hit [[home]] to me. I think most of the time it's just simply [[listening]] to them, letting them vent those [[frustrations]] and those portions of their [[anger]] that they [[feel]]. Maybe it's not necessarily that beneficial, but it seems to make them feel better. It is really hard. You want so much to help this type of people, but you have to be very cautious of how you attempt that; because if they're not ready or if they don't have the [[receptivity]] that you'd like for them to have so that you could really help them, you just get very stuck as to what to do.  

P: Another way to look at that would be to draw them into communication. would be are we talking with someone or are we talking to them? If we're talking with someone, we're listening. If we're just talking to them or at them, we're allowing them to just talk to or at us. Who's doing the listening?  

P: Another way to look at that would be to draw them into [[communication]]. would be are we [[talking]] with someone or are we talking to them? If we're talking with someone, we're [[listening]]. If we're just talking to them or at them, we're allowing them to just talk to or at us. Who's doing the [[listening]]?  

M: What I try to do is with all the complaints about their daily lives that I hear from these people, I just try to impress upon them "Hey, you're healthy, you have a good mind.." I try to give them some things that are positive for them to think of because they dwell so much on the negative.  

M: What I try to do is with all the [[complaints]] about their daily lives that I hear from these people, I just try to [[impress]] upon them "Hey, you're [[healthy]], you have a good [[mind]].." I try to give them some things that are [[positive]] for them to think of because they dwell so much on the [[negative]].  

T: You know, with work on the phones and talking with people from all over the country, sometimes people would call in and they would be mad about something, and I would let them do that. I would just let them air it all out. And then I would validate what they said, "Yes, you're right." or whatever so that they knew that I heard what they said. Then if you try to interject something positive about themselves, even "You have a nice sounding voice." or whatever, that really brings them out of a lot of it. People really seem to cheer up when you do that.  

T: You know, with work on the phones and talking with people from all over the country, sometimes people would call in and they would be mad about something, and I would let them do that. I would just let them air it all out. And then I would [[validate]] what they said, "Yes, you're right." or whatever so that they knew that I heard what they said. Then if you try to interject something [[positive]] about themselves, even "You have a nice sounding [[voice]]." or whatever, that really brings them out of a lot of it. People really seem to cheer up when you do that.  

D: I don't know if we necessarily see immediate results of our service either. I think a lot of times in a situation that you've described, the most that you can hope for is that you live the life true to yourself and that through your life others may see some benefit in that regard. You will have been of service to them. They may not realize it for a year or l0 years. They may not realize it until the mansion worlds experiences; but if we set ourselves up for immediate response to our service, then I think on this planet we set ourselves up for a significant amount of disappointment and frustration, which if not controlled, can set ourselves up for discontinuing to do service to others.  

D: I don't know if we necessarily see [[immediate]] results of our [[service]] either. I think a lot of times in a situation that you've [[described]], the most that you can [[hope]] for is that you live the life true to yourself and that through your life others may see some benefit in that regard. You will have been of [[service]] to them. They may not [[realize]] it for a year or 10 years. They may not realize it until the [[mansion worlds]] [[experiences]]; but if we set ourselves up for [[immediate]] [[response]] to our service, then I think on [[this planet]] we set ourselves up for a significant amount of [[disappointment]] and [[frustration]], which if not controlled, can set ourselves up for discontinuing to do [[service]] to others.  

L: I think it could be indirect service by just reinforcing your prayers for these people and their problems. They don't seem to have any solutions and you really can't solve them for them.  

L: I think it could be indirect [[service]] by just reinforcing your [[prayers]] for these people and their [[problems]]. They don't seem to have any solutions and you really can't solve them for them.  

M: Oh, I do. I pray for them, but I'm self-conscious of repeating the same prayers over and over for people. I guess the funniest question I've been asked since being in this group and learning to deal with that situation myself, because I can sit back and see myself as one of them not too long ago, maybe one of the worst ones for that matter. The common question asked of me now is "What are you so damn happy about?" (laughter) I wish I could just expand on everything that has made the change in me. They're just not ready for that. I guess maybe like David said, just them witnessing thefact that I'm happy, that I'm dealing with it, that I'm making the best of it is maybe the best I can do.  

M: Oh, I do. I [[pray]] for them, but I'm self-[[conscious]] of repeating the same prayers over and over for people. I guess the funniest question I've been asked since being in this group and [[learning]] to deal with that situation myself, because I can sit back and see myself as one of them not too long ago, maybe one of the worst ones for that matter. The common question asked of me now is "What are you so damn [[happy]] about?" (laughter) I wish I could just expand on [[everything]] that has made the [[change]] in me. They're just not ready for that. I guess maybe like David said, just them [[witnessing]] the [[fact]] that I'm [[happy]], that I'm dealing with it, that I'm making the best of it is maybe the best I can do.  

S: One of the things, too, we're talking about how you can be of service in daily living. For those of us that work, and even volunteers, do the best job you can do. You may be getting paid a wage for what you're doing, and it may not be enough, it may be too much, but just do the best job that you can do, almost to the point where they would feel bad about letting you go. They don't want to see you leave at the end of the day because you did such a good job for them. The reward for doing a good job, and I know from my own experience, I've seen the effects from working extra hours, as opposed to not. The job I have now, going one way or the other, I slip backwards and back forward again and things like that, the attitude the other people have toward me is such an amazing difference. The rewards I get in terms of thank you's, you're doing a great job, is so much different as opposed to when I was just there with "Well that's not my job." kind of attitude. "Well, I'm only here to do this and this and I'm not going to do anything else." kind of attitude. That's a very positive area to strongly provide service on a day-to-day basis.  

S: One of the things, too, we're talking about how you can be of [[service]] in daily living. For those of us that [[work]], and even [[volunteers]], do the best job you can do. You may be getting paid a wage for what you're doing, and it may not be enough, it may be too much, but just do the best job that you can do, almost to the [[point]] where they would [[feel]] bad about letting you go. They don't want to see you leave at the end of the day because you did such a good job for them. The reward for doing a good job, and I know from my own [[experience]], I've seen the [[effects]] from working extra hours, as [[opposed]] to not. The job I have now, going one way or the other, I slip backwards and back forward again and things like that, the [[attitude]] the other people have toward me is such an [[amazing]] [[difference]]. The rewards I get in terms of thank you's, you're doing a great job, is so much different as opposed to when I was just there with "Well that's not my job." kind of [[attitude]]. "Well, I'm only here to do this and this and I'm not going to do anything else." kind of attitude. That's a very positive area to strongly provide service on a day-to-day basis.  

D: So it sounds like from a lot of things we've said, that the way that we go about our daily business has a lot of impact as far as how we can start to apply this in our daily living. When people see that we are happy, are motivated, have the love of the Father flowing through us, that we can begin to share that with other people. Those who are receptive are drawn into that. The importance of the next component is something that I'd like to explore now and why is this so important? I think we all know why it's important, it's obvious, but we'll just take a few minutes to just kind of expand on that concept and see what the gifts, the fruits of the spirit are on the importance of the service in our daily living.  

D: So it sounds like from a lot of things we've said, that the way that we go about our daily [[business]] has a lot of [[impact]] as far as how we can start to apply this in our daily living. When people see that we are [[happy]], are [[motivated]], have the love of [[the Father]] flowing through us, that we can begin to [[share]] that with other people. Those who are [[receptive]] are drawn into that. The importance of the next component is something that I'd like to [[explore]] now and why is this so important? I think we all know why it's important, it's obvious, but we'll just take a few minutes to just kind of expand on that [[concept]] and see what the gifts, the [[fruits of the spirit]] are on the importance of the [[service]] in our daily living.  

A: It's kind of a thought about what Scott said. It's kind of like the old attitude is contagious. So if you can concentrate on trying to have a good attitude, then you're bringing the Father into your life and it helps others to be uplifted.  

A: It's kind of a [[thought]] about what Scott said. It's kind of like the old [[attitude]] is [[contagious]]. So if you can [[concentrate]] on trying to have a good attitude, then you're bringing [[the Father]] into your life and it helps others to be uplifted.  

D: And then what kind of a ripple effect will it have?  

D: And then what kind of a ripple [[effect]] will it have?  

A: I think it can have a good effect if they want to. But I think that sometimes people don't want to be around people that are happy because they want to stay kind of caught in a rut. But that's their choice for the moment. You hope that later on they'll change. I think it does have a ripple effect.  

A: I think it can have a good [[effect]] if they want to. But I think that sometimes people don't want to be around people that are [[happy]] because they want to stay kind of caught in a rut. But that's their [[choice]] for the moment. You [[hope]] that later on they'll [[change]]. I think it does have a ripple effect.  

K: I think too, that our goal is that our will be the Father's will; and I believe that including service in our daily lives is truly acting on the Father's will. And so that brings us closer to His will on a constant basis.  

K: I think too, that our [[goal]] is that our will be [[the Father]]'s will; and I believe that including [[service]] in our daily lives is truly acting on [[the Father]]'s will. And so that brings us closer to His will on a constant basis.  

D: If you didn't have this in your life, this feeling of wanting to provide the service, what difference do you think it would make in your daily activity? K: I think you'd be very self-centered, very "What can I do for me?" "Poor me." I think I've been there before. I think we've had some problems where it's "Poor pitiful me." But I think that working for others helps you realize just how really great your life is. It helps us to see all the positives that you have; and you're helping someone who's less fortunate than you or whatever, it really helps you to open your eyes to see the great things you have in your life.

D: If you didn't have this in your life, this [[feeling]] of wanting to provide the service, what [[difference]] do you think it would make in your daily activity?  

S: There but for the grace of God go I.  

K: I think you'd be very [[self]]-centered, very "What can I do for me?" "Poor me." I think I've been there before. I think we've had some [[problems]] where it's "Poor pitiful me." But I think that working for others helps you realize just how really great your life is. It helps us to see all the [[positives]] that you have; and you're helping someone who's less fortunate than you or whatever, it really helps you to open your eyes to see the great [[things]] you have in your life.  

S: We've been talking about helping somebody less fortunate. There's nothing wrong with helping someone more fortunate too. K: Well, I know, and I'm not saying that there is; but I'm just saying that there are a lot of times that you look at someone in their situation and you're helping them and it makes you very grateful for your situation, not that it's better or worse or whatever.  

S: There but for the [[grace]] of [[God]] go I.  

D: Scott's point is well-taken. I would ask the members of this group do you know of any people that you would consider more fortunate than we are? Here we have a book of revelation, we have involvement with this teaching mission and all of this information. Sure, there's people who have more money than we do. There's people that may on the surface level have life easier than we do; but when it gets down to the real important aspects of what Urantian life is all about, I don't really know too many people that I would consider more fortunate than us. It leads me to my point that service is a very humbling experience that we all encounter because again, if we take Christ literally which I believe he meant it to be that way, if you consider living at the time of Jesus and he needed something and you know what you know now, you would do it without hesitation. You would do it in a very loving and kind way. It would be as, who was it, Mark, who wanted to carry his food with him when he went up to the mountain. We would all maintain that attitude all of the time. I also believe that in serving others we learn more about ourselves. If you're going to grow, not only spiritually but emotionally and intellectually, you grow by a sharing of experience with others. Specifically for myself, the opportunity to share with those of you that had private sessions with Welmek that I was involved with in the mechanism of voicing them, I learned a lot about myself. It was a very rewarding experience for me to be able to participate in that. As a result of that, I wish to formally thank all of you who allowed me to do that. Had it not been for you, I would not have had that opportunity to not only serve, but to gain that experience. So by serving another, we really should take that attitude of actually thanking them for the opportunity to serve them rather than wondering if they're in appreciation for what we're doing.  

S: We've been talking about helping somebody less fortunate. There's nothing wrong with helping someone more fortunate too.  

D: That's the component of the service being a privilege that was mentioned earlier. M: I was thinking about what Mark said earlier. You know you see there are so many people that are so lonely. And you see them all sort of trapped within themselves. I think of our current phrase we use now about "Get a life." and you want to add "Get a spiritual life." The thing that occurs to me about all that is . .  

K: Well, I know, and I'm not saying that there is; but I'm just saying that there are a lot of times that you look at someone in their situation and you're helping them and it makes you very [[grateful]] for your situation, not that it's better or worse or whatever.  

A: (Whispered) What are you, some kind of nut? (laughter) M: You know the book says if you want to have friends, you must...we all know that the more love you give, the more you receive. It seems like what happens with people, they put themselves first, so they take an attitude of "I will love if I'm loved first." Always the other person has to do it first. "Give it to me and then I'll be okay." "If I just find somebody who will love me, I'll be all right. If I just find someone who will be my friend and do what I want them to do for . ..(tape turned, words lost) The more you feel the Father's love, the more you just naturally want to give them, and the more you give, the more it's going to come back to you. The problem is, our world is like it's just starving spiritually because people don't feel that Father's love. So they want someone else to give it to them instead of them finding it within themselves first. As long as they have that attitude, the best that we can do is to try to show them that love in the hopes that they will in turn want to go find it within themselves.  

D: Scott's point is well-taken. I would ask the members of this group do you know of any people that you would [[consider]] more [[fortunate]] than we are? Here we have a [[book]] of [[revelation]], we have involvement with this [[Teaching Mission]] and all of this [[information]]. Sure, there's people who have more [[money]] than we do. There's people that may on the [[surface]] level have life easier than we do; but when it gets down to the real important aspects of what [[Urantia]]n life is all about, I don't really know too many people that I would consider more fortunate than us. It leads me to my point that service is a very [[humbling]] [[experience]] that we all encounter because again, if we take [[Christ]] [[literally]] which I believe he meant it to be that way, if you consider living at the time of [[Jesus]] and he needed something and you know what you know now, you would do it without [[hesitation]]. You would do it in a very loving and kind way. It would be as, who was it, [[177:1 One Day Alone With God|Mark, who wanted to carry his food]] with him when he went up to the [[mountain]]. We would all maintain that [[attitude]] all of the time. I also believe that in serving others we learn more about ourselves. If you're going to [[grow]], not only spiritually but [[emotionally]] and [[intellectually]], you grow by a [[sharing]] of [[experience]] with others. Specifically for myself, the [[opportunity]] to share with those of you that had private sessions with [[Welmek]] that I was involved with in the [[mechanism]] of voicing them, I learned a lot about myself. It was a very rewarding [[experience]] for me to be able to [[participate]] in that. As a result of that, I wish to formally thank all of you who allowed me to do that. Had it not been for you, I would not have had that [[opportunity]] to not only serve, but to gain that [[experience]]. So by serving another, we really should take that [[attitude]] of actually thanking them for the [[opportunity]] to serve them rather than [[wondering]] if they're in [[appreciation]] for what we're doing.  

S: I suspect that when you provide service in a loving attitude, that even though you may not be consciously aware of the other person's appreciation of this service, that this very act tends to integrate your personality completely, even on an unconscious level and heal you, little by little.  

D: That's the component of the [[service]] being a [[privilege]] that was mentioned earlier.  

M: I'll expand on what Mike and Stan had to say about what service does for you. We've heard the teachers tell us this and I believe I've had the personal experience that by involving yourself in service and giving to somebody else that that redounds to your own benefit, your own spiritual benefit, by increasing your capacity to hold love. That is, by giving God's love to somebody else, projecting it outwards in the form of service, you increase your own capacity so that when that love flows back to you, you have more than what you had before. So if you continually involve yourself in this process, you will be more interested in doing service all the time because you obtain more of God's love. That is, your capacity for experiencing and holding God's love is increased in direct relationship to your giving service.  

M: I was thinking about what Mark said earlier. You know you see there are so many people that are so lonely. And you see them all sort of trapped within themselves. I think of our current phrase we use now about "Get a life." and you want to add "Get a [[spiritual]] life." The thing that occurs to me about all that is . .  

D: I think that's a point that's very crucial to the aspect of service we're trying to understand and the teachers have been trying to convey to us. If you take it at an individual level and expound on to a level in the group, and we as a group know that we are being prepared for the future so that not only are we providing service in small deeds and even perhaps in larger deeds throughout the day or the course of our lifetime as events progress, that this group is going to be providing acts of service. I'd like to take a couple minutes to think about the concepts of group service, what that will mean to us as a group, the kinds of spiritual fruits that we will receive as a group when we are unified and providing service. Does anyone have any comments on that?  

A: ([[Whispered]]) What are you, some kind of nut? ([[laughter]])

M: It occurs to me that that's the essence of the curriculum the teachers have given us. We all say we want to go out and provide service to others, and those opportunities will come; but we have to be prepared first. How are we prepared? The more we worship, the more we do the things that the teachers have told us, the more we feel that love, it is not our words that are going to impress people so much. It's what they see in us. You know, it's the old saying, it's not what you say, it's how you say it. The love that flows through the words is what's going to attract them. They won't even remember the words half the time until they later study all these things themselves. The opportunities will come, but we have to prepare, we have to be ready.  

 

 

 

 

M: It occurs to me that that's the [[essence]] of the [[curriculum]] [[the teachers]] have given us. We all say we want to go out and provide [[service]] to others, and those [[opportunities]] will come; but we have to be [[prepared]] first. How are we [[prepared]]? The more we [[worship]], the more we do the things that the teachers have told us, the more we feel that love, it is not our [[words]] that are going to impress people so much. It's what they see in us. You know, it's the old saying, it's not what you say, it's how you say it. The [[love]] that [[flows]] through the [[words]] is what's going to [[attract]] them. They won't even [[remember]] the words half the time until they later study all these things themselves. The [[opportunities]] will come, but we have to [[prepare]], we have to be ready.  

D: What else can we as a group..we know what we have to do on an individual basis, the things we can prepare ourselves as a group in order to have the ability to provide the service in a unified manner.  

D: What else can we as a group..we know what we have to do on an individual basis, the things we can prepare ourselves as a group in order to have the ability to provide the service in a unified manner.