Changes

== Session==

== Session==

===Opening===

===Opening===

Ham: Greetings, children, I am Ham and I am grateful that you all have joined me this evening. Tonight our lesson will concern the spirit as home. The image of homecoming, welcoming, is consistent with the idea of the spirit's un-judgmental, always welcoming, attitude. The parable of the prodical son is so powerful that it lives strongly in the modern mind though it was planted two millennia ago. The concept of dying as a homecoming is strong and very prevalent in your society.

Ham: Greetings, children, I am Ham and I am [[grateful]] that you all have joined me this evening. Tonight our lesson will concern the [[spirit]] as [[home]]. The image of [[homecoming]], welcoming, is consistent with the [[idea]] of the spirit's un-judgmental, always welcoming, [[attitude]]. The [[parable of the prodigal son]] is so powerful that it lives strongly in the modern [[mind]] though it was planted two millennia ago. The concept of [[dying]] as a homecoming is strong and very prevalent in your society.

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

So often human beings spend a lifetime running from themselves, denying their own inner truth and separating themselves from the core spiritual identity which when embraced completes the journey. People in their lives leave their spiritual home to journey in the land of illusion to try on different masks, different ways of being which are not always conducive to happiness though they may seem to be at the time. Then, disillusionment begins, sometimes early, sometimes later in life and this process being disillusioned with the world can continue for some time as well as the personality goes from one illusion to another only to be disillusioned at each step.

So often [[human being]]s spend a lifetime running from themselves, denying their own inner [[truth]] and separating themselves from the core spiritual [[identity]] which when [[embraced]] completes the [[journey]]. People in their lives leave their spiritual [[home]] to [[journey]] in the land of [[illusion]] to try on different [[masks]], different ways of being which are not always conducive to [[happiness]] though they may seem to be at the time. Then, [[disillusionment]] begins, sometimes early, sometimes later in life and this process being disillusioned with the world can continue for some time as well as the [[personality]] goes from one illusion to another only to be disillusioned at each [[step]].

The prodigal son loses everything. He becomes disillusioned with the allure of the world outside and then seeks his return. The remarkable thing about his return is the father's attitude. The father does not censure the wayward son, he does not judge him, he does not require penance. The father has forgiven the boy completely and his attitude is one of celebration. And so it is with your inner spirit, the Father who wait patiently as you disillusion yourselves time after time out in the world.

The [[prodigal son]] loses [[everything]]. He becomes [[disillusioned]] with the allure of the world outside and then seeks his return. The remarkable thing about his return is the [[father]]'s [[attitude]]. The father does not censure the wayward son, he does not judge him, he does not require [[penance]]. The father has [[forgiven]] the boy completely and his attitude is one of [[celebration]]. And so it is with your inner [[spirit]], [[the Father]] who wait patiently as you disillusion yourselves time after time out in the world.

The Father knows that the child will not return until their disillusionment is completed. The things of the world are fleeting, evaporate, dry up as dust and blow away. Riches take themselves wings and fly off. Youth fades. Everything that is earthly is fickle and fleeting. So, when you set your heart upon it, your hearts are bound to be broken.

[[The Father]] knows that the child will not return until their [[disillusionment]] is completed. The [[things]] of the world are fleeting, [[evaporate]], dry up as dust and blow away. [[Riches]] take themselves wings and fly off. [[Youth]] fades. Everything that is earthly is fickle and fleeting. So, when you set your [[heart]] upon it, your hearts are bound to be broken.

The spirit is patient and will wait until finally the child turns his or her face back to the spirit source, that source of original love, complete acceptance, absolute forgiveness. The spirit knows that the child will return. The spirit waits with patience and understanding. The child upon return is secure again. The hopes and dreams, the ambitions truly worthwhile are valued by the spirit and elevated in truth. The child is revered, valued, sheltered, celebrated just as he is. That which the world has rejected, the spirit embraces.

The [[spirit]] is patient and will wait until finally the child turns his or her face back to the spirit source, that [[The Source|source]] of original [[love]], complete [[acceptance]], absolute [[forgiveness]]. The spirit knows that the child will return. The spirit waits with [[patience]] and [[understanding]]. The child upon return is secure again. The [[hopes]] and [[dreams]], the [[ambitions]] truly worthwhile are valued by the spirit and elevated in [[truth]]. The child is [[revered]], valued, [[sheltered]], celebrated just as he is. That which the world has [[rejected]], the spirit [[embraces]].

It is up to each person to distinguish what is real from what is illusion. The spirit unfailingly testifies with your spirit to those things which are real. Love is that which is most real. Imagine yourselves as the prodical child returning to the Father's hearth and home. The Father removes the old rags which you were wearing, the torn and battered self-esteem. He replaces these with wonderful new robes, garments of the richest fabric. The Father has a great celebration prepared because he has waited so long and is so very happy that his child has returned. In this your spirit celebrates with the Father and feels secure and complete with his love. The hardships of the world are forgotten. The dust of the road is washed away and you are made clean and warm and whole and secure in the Father's house by the Father's fire.

It is up to each person to distinguish what is real from what is [[illusion]]. The spirit unfailingly [[testifies]] with your spirit to those things which are real. [[Love]] is that which is most real. [[Imagine]] yourselves as the prodigal child returning to the Father's [[hearth]] and [[home]]. [[The Father]] removes the old rags which you were wearing, the torn and battered [[self-esteem]]. He replaces these with wonderful new robes, garments of the richest fabric. The Father has a great [[celebration]] [[prepared]] because he has waited so long and is so very [[happy]] that his child has returned. In this your spirit celebrates with the Father and feels secure and complete with his love. The hardships of the world are forgotten. The dust of the road is washed away and you are made clean and warm and whole and secure in [[the Father]]'s house by the Father's [[fire]].

Sometimes this revelation of value comes on a death bed and a person realizes they have spent their entire life in toil and trouble over valueless things. For what is it that is real and lasting outside the Father's love? Nothing. The Father's gentle love is the source from which you spring and the home to which you will return when your live's adventure is run. Return home as early, as quickly, as you can. Return home to your true selves. Rejoice in that inner truth which is sometimes lost under layers of self-protection. But these rags are not you. Not at all. What is it that is deepest within your hearts.

Sometimes this [[revelation]] of [[value]] comes on a [[death]] bed and a person realizes they have spent their entire life in toil and trouble over valueless [[things]]. For what is it that is real and lasting outside [[the Father]]'s love? Nothing. The Father's [[gentle]] love is [[the source]] from which you spring and the [[home]] to which you will return when your live's [[adventure]] is run. Return home as early, as quickly, as you can. Return home to your true selves. Rejoice in that inner [[truth]] which is sometimes lost under layers of [[self]]-[[protection]]. But these rags are not you. Not at all. What is it that is deepest within your hearts.

You yourselves, your very spirits, your very souls are truly a reflection of the Father's love in your unique little corner of time and space. The Father is you and you are He. You are one in purpose. Embrace the Father as he reaches out embracing you. Love him as the very source of your being, your Father it truth and in complete, total reality. Allow the Father's spirit to wash clean the dirt of the world and to remove the humble rags of contrition. The prodigal son was not only reinstated in his proper place in the family, he was reborn, remade. He found in the Father his own completion and the Father found His.

You yourselves, your very [[spirits]], your very [[souls]] are truly a [[reflection]] of [[the Father]]'s love in your unique little corner of [[time and space]]. The Father is you and you are He. You are one in [[purpose]]. [[Embrace]] the Father as he reaches out embracing you. [[Love]] him as the very [[source]] of your [[being]], your Father it truth and in complete, total [[reality]]. Allow the Father's spirit to wash clean the dirt of the world and to remove the [[humble]] rags of [[contrition]]. [[The prodigal son]] was not only reinstated in his proper place in the [[family]], he was reborn, remade. He found in the Father his own completion and the Father found His.

When the world becomes complex, vexing, and difficult - remember your home. Return to it, not later, not when it's more convenient, do so in the now. Then when you go back out in the world, you go as the Father's representative and your struggles are also the Father's struggles. You are He and He is you.

When the world becomes [[complex]], vexing, and difficult - remember your [[home]]. Return to it, not later, not when it's more convenient, do so in [[the now]]. Then when you go back out in the world, you go as the Father's [[representative]] and your [[struggles]] are also the Father's struggles. You are He and He is you.

The troubles and difficulties of the world aren't much when you walk with the Father nor is he overwhelmed by the flood tides of adversity that can break the human spirit alone like a dry trig. The Father is stronger than all these things.

The troubles and [[difficulties]] of the world aren't much when you walk with [[the Father]] nor is he overwhelmed by the flood tides of [[adversity]] that can break the [[human]] spirit [[alone]] like a dry trig. The Father is stronger than all these things.

My children, you must learn to have the ability to keep one part of your heart always in the Father's house and in this way you are protected from the heartbreaks that devastate so easily and quickly the hopes and dreams of humanity. Take this image with you into your daily lives. Let your hearts be always warming by the Father's hearth, even while you're bodies do work and your minds worry in the material world of mankind. And when your day is done, take your mind back there as well and remember how much you love the Father and how much he loves you.

My children, you must learn to have the [[ability]] to keep one part of your [[heart]] always in the Father's house and in this way you are [[protected]] from the heartbreaks that [[devastate]] so easily and quickly the [[hopes]] and [[dreams]] of [[humanity]]. Take this image with you into your daily lives. Let your hearts be always warming by the Father's [[hearth]], even while you're bodies do work and your minds worry in the material world of [[mankind]]. And when your day is done, take your [[mind]] back there as well and remember how much you love the Father and how much he loves you.

What are your questions at this time?

What are your questions at this time?

===Dialogue===

===Dialogue===

Q: Is this a normal part of growing as a mortal on an evolutionary planet, this process of losing our illusions or is it particularly bad here?

Q: Is this a [[normal]] part of growing as a [[mortal]] on an [[evolutionary planet]], this process of losing our [[illusions]] or is it particularly bad here?

Ham: I would say it is normal. All mortal beings go through this process in one way or another. The things that make it worse are the selfish natures of mankind. These childish attitudes are very prevalent here. But, life in general is meant to be somewhat harsh in terms of moving the mortal away from an attitude of complete selfishness to one of selfless self-forgetfulness. Of course, there are always those who entrench themselves in selfishness refusing to grow. They are to be pitied rather than despised.

Ham: I would say it is [[normal]]. All mortal beings go through this [[process]] in one way or another. The things that make it worse are the [[selfish]] natures of [[mankind]]. These childish [[attitudes]] are very prevalent here. But, life in general is meant to be somewhat harsh in terms of moving the [[mortal]] away from an attitude of complete selfishness to one of selfless [[self-forgetfulness]]. Of course, there are always those who entrench themselves in selfishness refusing to grow. They are to be [[pitied]] rather than despised.

Q: Is it all or nothing, or do we have illusions in degrees? Is this an ongoing process where we have to make our way through these layers of illusion one at a time.

Q: Is it all or nothing, or do we have [[illusions]] in degrees? Is this an ongoing [[process]] where we have to make our way through these layers of illusion one at a time.

Yes, correct.

Yes, correct.

Q: World is full of illusion. People are actively trying to engage us in these illusions. How do we stay engaged in this world without falling victim to its many traps?

Q: World is full of illusion. People are actively trying to [[engage]] us in these illusions. How do we stay engaged in this world without falling [[victim]] to its many [[traps]]?

Ham: Yes. Well said my son. I will return to the concept of keeping your heart by the fire. When you have a secure place to go home to - a place where truth beauty and goodness are the supreme values, a place where you yourself are valued more highly that you can possibly imagine it to be - then the allure of becoming something other than that is very much lessened. You heart's home is with the Father and so your mind dwells in peace without the fear and worry and stress of perhaps putting your faith in an illusion. Fear, worry and stress are all tied up with the world of illusion. In that world, nothing is secure or real and truths are only partial and fragmentary, beauty is fleeting and goodness is under fire. Return then frequently to the citadel of the spirit where nothing can assail you and no robber may enter. Is this helping?

Ham: Yes. Well said my son. I will return to the [[concept]] of keeping your [[heart]] by the [[fire]]. When you have a [[secure]] place to go [[home]] to - a place where [[truth, beauty, and goodness]] are the supreme [[values]], a place where you yourself are valued more highly that you can possibly [[imagine]] it to be - then the allure of [[becoming]] something other than that is very much lessened. You heart's home is with [[the Father]] and so your mind dwells in [[peace]] without the [[fear]] and worry and stress of perhaps putting your [[faith]] in an [[illusion]]. Fear, worry and stress are all tied up with the world of illusion. In that world, nothing is secure or real and truths are only partial and fragmentary, [[beauty]] is fleeting and [[goodness]] is under fire. Return then frequently to the [[citadel]] of the [[spirit]] where nothing can assail you and no robber may enter. Is this helping?

Q: Even if we have this home, we still have to venture out into the world to work and navigate the mine field of illusions?

Q: Even if we have this [[home]], we still have to venture out into the world to work and [[navigate]] the mine field of [[illusions]]?

Ham: Yes.

Ham: Yes.