Changes

==Session==

==Session==

===Opening===

===Opening===

Tomas (Gerdean TR): I greet you this morning on behalf of the teaching corps. I am Tomas and we are many. We are jubilant in your company. Your sharing is filled with opportunities to commend you for your involvement in life, your commitment to that which gives you joy and which in turn gives joy to others.

Tomas (Gerdean TR): I greet you this [[morning]] on behalf of the [[teaching corps]]. I am Tomas and we are many. We are [[jubilant]] in your company. Your [[sharing]] is filled with [[opportunities]] to commend you for your involvement in life, your [[commitment]] to that which gives you [[joy]] and which in turn gives joy to others.

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

The subject of service is always an interesting subject, for it is different things to different people, even people of differing beliefs. There are those who don't understand the variety of ways in which you may serve and how it is possible that you serve in simply being. The world loves mother Teresa for her unselfish service to humanity. The youth enjoy Whitney Houston for her service, while we appreciate the faith that you put forth in waking up to commune with our Father. All of these are services because they ease suffering.

The subject of [[service]] is always an interesting subject, for it is different things to different people, even people of differing [[beliefs]]. There are those who don't [[understand]] the variety of ways in which you may serve and how it is possible that you serve in simply [[being]]. The world loves [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Teresa Mother Teresa] for her [[unselfish]] [[service]] to [[humanity]]. The [[youth]] enjoy [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitney_Houston Whitney Houston] for her service, while we appreciate the [[faith]] that you put forth in waking up to [[commune]] with [[our Father]]. All of these are services because they ease suffering.

Suffering is a relative concept. If we all waited for the audience such as Mother Theresa found, we would not feel that we were being useful to our Father for the poignancy of our service would seem pale by comparison. Easing the suffering of your fellows is much of what service is about, and many of your fellows suffer in peculiar and quiet ways. The comfort and presence of our Father is gentle, caressing, tender, meaningful because His presence alleviates your suffering of being alone in the universe. All you need to do is feel the touch of the master's hand and know that you are loved and a part of all that is. In many ways your camaraderie is the same as our Father's love and service to you, in that when you are with one another you recognize that you are not alone and that you are loved, and thus you are of service to each other even in your social contact. I have spoken of this in other lessons as to how it is human to judge what one service is over another. Each of you has the capacity and each of you has a path to walk.

[[Suffering]] is a [[relative]] concept. If we all waited for the [[audience]] such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Teresa Mother Teresa] found, we would not feel that we were being useful to [[our Father]] for the poignancy of our service would seem pale by [[comparison]]. Easing the suffering of your fellows is much of what [[service]] is about, and many of your fellows suffer in peculiar and [[quiet]] ways. The [[comfort]] and [[presence]] of [[our Father]] is [[gentle]], caressing, tender, meaningful because His presence alleviates your suffering of being [[alone]] in [[the universe]]. All you need to do is [[feel]] the [[touch]] of [[the Master]]'s hand and know that you are loved and a part of all that is. In many ways your [[camaraderie]] is the same as our Father's love and service to you, in that when you are with one another you recognize that you are not alone and that you are loved, and thus you are of service to each other even in your [[social]] [[contact]]. I have spoken of this in other lessons as to how it is human to judge what one service is over another. Each of you has the capacity and each of you has a [[path]] to walk.

In your discourse today it was touched upon that you are all here for your own experiential purposes. Your faith paths are all that you can acknowledge and have authority over. It was discussed that there is very little you can do to determine what another's path will be. Indeed, it is true only the spirit can truly prevail and influence a person's life, and only as that person will allow themselves to be influenced by the spirit will the spirit prevail and be effective. So, in many ways it is for you to gambol on and experience your life as it is presented to you and as you co-create it with our Father.

In your [[discourse]] today it was touched upon that you are all here for your own [[experiential]] [[purposes]]. Your [[faith]] [[paths]] are all that you can acknowledge and have [[authority]] over. It was discussed that there is very little you can do to determine what another's path will be. Indeed, it is true only the [[spirit]] can truly prevail and [[influence]] a person's life, and only as that person will allow themselves to be influenced by the spirit will the spirit prevail and be effective. So, in many ways it is for you to [[gamble]] on and [[experience]] your life as it is presented to you and as you [[co-create]] it with [[our Father]].

Jesus' life here was for his own purposes, and yet in the process he was able to be of service to a universe. You in your ways can go about doing good simply because you are being yourself in your sincere and real relationship with our Father. In being joyous in your life, in being of good cheer, in loving graciously as you pass by, you alleviate the suffering of others by your spiritual fragrance. If that is the extent of your ministry, so be it, for who am I to say what your service will be?

[[Part 4|Jesus' life]] here was for his own [[purposes]], and yet in the [[process]] he was able to be of [[service]] to a universe. You in your ways can go about doing [[good]] simply because you are being yourself in your [[sincere]] and real [[relationship]] with [[our Father]]. In being [[joyous]] in your life, in being of good cheer, in loving [[graciously]] as you pass by, you alleviate the suffering of others by your spiritual [[fragrance]]. If that is the extent of your ministry, so be it, for who am I to say what your service will be?

Those are my words for today.

Those are my words for today.

It is indeed a good [[idea]] for you to [[organize]] more strictly your time with [[our Father]] as you tend to be so [[immersed]] in [[practical]] matters every minute of the day. That is a good thing for [[development]] of your [[training]]. Setting aside a special time is commendable, and you can be [[assured]] that we all know what these are and are waiting to help you to reconnect with our Father. Do not [[forget]], however, as Tomas has mentioned about [[service]], that your [[connections]] with [[our Father]] can take place also in other ways. Each time you connect with your [[companion]], you at that moment also make a connection with our Father. If your [[intent]] is indeed to serve and to serve with [[sincerity]] and [[honesty]] and [[love]], then you do make a connection with our Father who is present in your contacts. You tend to forget that there is connection with our Father through another, not just between you and your spirit... So, think of each [[service]] contact as a way of [[communing]] with [[our Father]] as well as your [[private]] time. [[Service]] is worship and [[worship]] is service.

 

It is indeed a good idea for you to organize more strictly your time with our Father as you tend to be so immersed in practical matters every minute of the day. That is a good thing for development of your training. Setting aside a special time is commendable, and you can be assured that we all know what these are and are waiting to help you to reconnect with our Father. Do not forget, however, as Tomas has mentioned about service, that your connections with our Father can take place also in other ways. Each time you connect with your companion, you at that moment also make a connection with our Father. If your intent is indeed to serve and to serve with sincerity and honesty and love, then you do make a connection with our Father who is present in your contacts. You tend to forget that there is connection with our Father through another, not just between you and your spirit... So, think of each service contact as a way of communing with our Father as well as your private time. Service is worship and worship is service.

Thank you for hearing me. There are others waiting.

Thank you for hearing me. There are others waiting.

I do not [[intend]] to [[force]] you to feel that you must have your head in a [[book]] in order to follow my request, but rather to be ever sharpening your [[ability]] to [[observe]]; to observe not only in the sense of [[perceiving]] but to go an extra [[step]] and [[integrate]] what you observe into what you [[understand]]; to note [[truth]], to recognize need, to [[discern]] what you can give. [[Michael]] [[studied]] [[mankind]] without ever taking a [[psychology]] class, and he grew in [[wisdom]] as to how to instruct his fellows in the ways of [[the kingdom]] and the [[path]] of [[light]].

 

I do not intend to force you to feel that you must have your head in a book in order to follow my request, but rather to be ever sharpening your ability to observe; to observe not only in the sense of perceiving but to go an extra step and integrate what you observe into what you understand; to note truth, to recognize need, to discern what you can give. Michael studied mankind without ever taking a psychology class, and he grew in wisdom as to how to instruct his fellows in the ways of the kingdom and the path of light.

Through service you will minister to your fellows' needs. Through stillness the Father will minister to you. You are the integrator of these experiences and your insight will deepen, your horizons will broaden, as you learn to connect and factor into an enlarged vision all your multitudinous experiences of daily life. There is no event which stands as disconnected from other activities that you live through. It is the studious eye that is able integrate these events, to find meaning.

Through service you will minister to your fellows' needs. Through stillness the Father will minister to you. You are the integrator of these experiences and your insight will deepen, your horizons will broaden, as you learn to connect and factor into an enlarged vision all your multitudinous experiences of daily life. There is no event which stands as disconnected from other activities that you live through. It is the studious eye that is able integrate these events, to find meaning.