Changes

==Session==

==Session==

===Opening===

===Opening===

Ham: Greetings, children, I am Ham and I am happy to greet you all this evening. Tonight, our discussion shall center around our choices.  

Ham: Greetings, children, I am Ham and I am [[happy]] to greet you all this evening. Tonight, our [[discussion]] shall center around our [[choices]].  

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

You each have in any time period certain choices or freedom of choice that you can exercise. These choices bring you into the next time period in which you have again a number of choices to make. These decisions, or choices, are limited in time and space and then within that limitation, you can work toward a longer range decision.

You each have in any time period certain choices or [[freedom]] of choice that you can [[exercise]]. These choices bring you into the next time period in which you have again a number of [[choices]] to make. These decisions, or choices, are [[limited]] in [[time and space]] and then within that limitation, you can work toward a longer range decision.

For example, you may choose to write a book. The choice does not materialize that book. Then within the time frame of a day, you may be able to choose to spend a certain amount of time working toward that goal. You may choose to lose weight, for example. Simply deciding to lose weight does not create the effect. You have within each time period a choice to eat or not to eat or what you decide upon when you do eat. Each one of these choices brings you closer to the realization of your greater choice.

For example, you may choose to [[write]] a [[book]]. The choice does not [[materialize]] that book. Then within the time frame of a day, you may be able to choose to spend a certain amount of time working toward that [[goal]]. You may choose to lose weight, for example. Simply deciding to lose weight does not create the [[effect]]. You have within each time period a choice to eat or not to eat or what you decide upon when you do eat. Each one of these choices brings you closer to the [[realization]] of your greater choice.

Each moment contains a choice about what you will do, what you will think, where you will be. Even the depth of your breath, the position of your body, the view which you are looking at or not looking at, everything is a choice. When you think about living eternally and all the responsibility that that entails, all the effort, all the time that you will be working and striving and living, it can seem to be overwhelming when you say "I must become perfect" and you see where you are, it can seem to be an insurmountable gulf between where you are and the perfection that the Father is drawing you toward.

Each moment contains a choice about what you will do, what you will [[think]], where you will be. Even the depth of your breath, the position of your [[body]], the view which you are looking at or not looking at, [[everything]] is a choice. When you think about living [[eternally]] and all the [[responsibility]] that that entails, all the effort, all the time that you will be working and striving and living, it can seem to be overwhelming when you say "I must become [[perfect]]" and you see where you are, it can seem to be an insurmountable gulf between where you are and the [[perfection]] that [[the Father]] is drawing you toward.

When tragedy befalls you and you feel that there is simply no way you can get through the next day, it can help you to break it down, to think of each moment as a decision, each minute as a choice and instead of being overwhelmed by the perceived threat of the day, or the future, you can begin by saying right now, "I will sit here", right now I will drink a cup of cocoa or something and connect with your living in the moment, connect with the decision which is before you right now. Usually if you can do this and get through the period of crisis when you feel overwhelmed and find that you have gotten through that hour or that day, the future tends to take care of itself and not be as difficult as you had imagined because it is made up of these moments, these moments just like right now.

When [[tragedy]] befalls you and you feel that there is simply no way you can get through the next day, it can help you to break it down, to [[think]] of each [[moment]] as a [[decision]], each minute as a choice and instead of being overwhelmed by the [[perceived]] threat of the day, or the [[future]], you can begin by saying right now, "I will sit here", right now I will drink a cup of cocoa or something and connect with your living in the moment, connect with the decision which is before you right now. Usually if you can do this and get through the period of [[crisis]] when you feel overwhelmed and find that you have gotten through that hour or that day, the [[future]] tends to take care of itself and not be as [[difficult]] as you had [[imagined]] because it is made up of these moments, these moments just like right now.

Yes, you will experience losses, you will experience suffering of various types. You will find yourself buffeted by the stresses of success and failure and each time when you feel overwhelmed, come back to the thought that what is my decision right now and it can be as simple as stretching your legs, scratching your nose, looking at the ceiling.

Yes, you will [[experience]] losses, you will experience [[suffering]] of various types. You will find yourself buffeted by the stresses of success and [[failure]] and each time when you feel overwhelmed, come back to the [[thought]] that what is my [[decision]] right now and it can be as simple as stretching your legs, scratching your nose, looking at the ceiling.

You must remember that you are just children and you are just learning and you will make mistakes, little errors of judgement that cause problems here and there, but that's part of life. Nothing in life is hard and nothing is easy. Existence is a gift. It is a wonder to be alive, to exist as the miraculous entity that you are. It is wonderful to have a body, even with its aches and pains, its malfunctions, it is a miraculous gift.

You must [[remember]] that you are just children and you are just [[learning]] and you will make mistakes, little [[errors]] of [[judgement]] that cause problems here and there, but that's part of life. Nothing in life is hard and nothing is easy. [[Existence]] is a gift. It is a wonder to be alive, to exist as the miraculous [[entity]] that you are. It is wonderful to have a [[body]], even with its aches and pains, its malfunctions, it is a miraculous gift.

Many of you have noticed that often the big decisions in life are not ever really made, they simply occur as an accumulation of many small decisions. Then you find yourself in a position to make a decision that may seem like a large one, but is really just another step. The Father helps you to prepare for each eventuality that he sees coming to you. His plan for your life is so much greater than anything you could imagine for yourselves that often times, his angels have to nudge, nudge, nudge to get you to open your eyes to look and see what is right in front of you.

Many of you have noticed that often the big [[decisions]] in life are not ever really made, they simply occur as an accumulation of many small decisions. Then you find yourself in a [[position]] to make a decision that may seem like a large one, but is really just another [[step]]. The Father helps you to [[prepare]] for each [[eventuality]] that he sees coming to you. His plan for your life is so much greater than anything you could [[imagine]] for yourselves that often times, his [[angels]] have to nudge, nudge, nudge to get you to open your eyes to look and see what is right in front of you.

If there is one disease that is common to you all, it is the disease of wanting to map out your lives and then to fulfill all the landmarks that you think you should do. Often you resist the leading of the angels because it is difficult to imagine yourself in a different situation than you had imagined in your mind before. You tend to suppress yourselves by thinking, "I'm not that I am this, I can't do that because I don't do that" for whatever reason. So, you artificially limit your choices.

If there is one [[disease]] that is common to you all, it is the disease of wanting to [[map]] out your lives and then to fulfill all the [[landmarks]] that you think you should do. Often you [[resist]] the leading of [[the angels]] because it is difficult to [[imagine]] yourself in a different situation than you had imagined in your [[mind]] before. You tend to suppress yourselves by thinking, "I'm not that I am this, I can't do that because I don't do that" for whatever reason. So, you artificially [[limit]] your choices.

The Father always seeks to expand your lives, to open you up to new possibilities, to new things and new ways of seeing yourself in the world. Often times, if you see yourself in a role of being the rebel or the upholder of whatever flag you are flying, you define yourself that way and forget about things like contentment, happiness, love. Sometimes your intelligence can work against you because you imagine yourselves as seeing all the angles and plotting out exactly what must be done to achieve this or that goal that you forget that you are more than that.

[[The Father]] always seeks to expand your lives, to open you up to new [[possibilities]], to new things and new ways of seeing yourself in the world. Often times, if you see yourself in a role of being the [[rebel]] or the upholder of whatever flag you are flying, you define yourself that way and forget about things like contentment, [[happiness]], [[love]]. Sometimes your [[intelligence]] can work against you because you [[imagine]] yourselves as seeing all the angles and plotting out exactly what must be done to [[achieve]] this or that goal that you forget that you are more than that.

Every person living had tremendous, tremendous potential. Each one has the potential to be absolutely incredible and individual. You are all the creators of your lives. You are creating something new every single day and as you create this new you every morning, a little bit of the old you has to be put down.

Every person living had tremendous, tremendous [[potential]]. Each one has the potential to be absolutely incredible and [[individual]]. You are all the creators of your lives. You are creating something new every single day and as you create this new you every [[morning]], a little bit of the old you has to be put down.

People fall into little traps of thinking they have to have things a certain way in order to be comfortable and this usually draws some kinds of antagonism with someone somewhere because every body else has the same idea. They have to have things a certain way also. So, there are often needless antagonisms between you that tend to draw energy and create mild unhappiness for no reason.All of you are doing well and are beginning to adapt to the changes that are coming about in your lives. Life, as I said, isn't hard and it isn't easy. But it is both. I perceive that there are questions. Go ahead.

People fall into little [[traps]] of [[thinking]] they have to have things a certain way in order to be comfortable and this usually draws some kinds of [[antagonism]] with someone somewhere because every body else has the same [[idea]]. They have to have things a certain way also. So, there are often needless antagonisms between you that tend to draw [[energy]] and create mild unhappiness for no reason.All of you are doing well and are beginning to adapt to the changes that are coming about in your lives. Life, as I said, isn't hard and it isn't easy. But it is both. I perceive that there are questions. Go ahead.

===Dialogue===

===Dialogue===

Q: Talk about the balance between planning and making choice in the present moment. If you spend all of your time in the present moment, you can't seem to see opportunities and set goals. If you are too worried about the future and spend too much time trying to make things turns out the way you fantasize you think they should be, you miss the opportunities in the moment.

Q: Talk about the balance between planning and making choice in the present moment. If you spend all of your time in the present moment, you can't seem to see opportunities and set goals. If you are too worried about the future and spend too much time trying to make things turns out the way you fantasize you think they should be, you miss the opportunities in the moment.