Changes

 

North Idaho Teaching Mission Group

 

===Group: [[N. Idaho TeaM]]===

 

 

 

Elyon (Jonathan TR): Greetings to you, my friends. This is Elyon once again. I am going to continue our discussion from last week by picking up the topic “conviction”.

* Elyon (Jonathan TR): Greetings to you, my friends. This is Elyon once again. I am going to continue our discussion from last week by picking up the topic “conviction”.

 

We spoke about spring cleaning, and that naturally implies removal of unwanted items and the necessity to reevaluate worth or merit of a possession, in this context we were addressing conceptions that bear upon your spiritual being. There is also another side, and that is the choice to retain a condition in yourself because you have reevaluated it and deem it worthwhile that you will continue to possess it. Your word “conviction” is interesting, for it in one regard describes loyalty and yet in another regard indicates a judgment, a form of condemnation. So, I will use these two to fill the lesson.

We spoke about spring cleaning, and that naturally implies removal of unwanted items and the necessity to reevaluate worth or merit of a possession, in this context we were addressing conceptions that bear upon your spiritual being. There is also another side, and that is the choice to retain a condition in yourself because you have reevaluated it and deem it worthwhile that you will continue to possess it. Your word “conviction” is interesting, for it in one regard describes loyalty and yet in another regard indicates a judgment, a form of condemnation. So, I will use these two to fill the lesson.

I desire now to receive your input.

I desire now to receive your input.

 

Ginny: Sometimes it’s hard to give yourself some breathing room to consider another side. We cling so stubbornly to what we believe in, we don’t put ourselves in another’s place to understand why they believe the way they do.

Ginny: Sometimes it’s hard to give yourself some breathing room to consider another side. We cling so stubbornly to what we believe in, we don’t put ourselves in another’s place to understand why they believe the way they do.

* Elyon: Pride is an issue in this respect, for there is great weight in conviction, much investment. To begin to adopt another’s viewpoint implies that your prior viewpoint was possibly wrong, that you are viewed as convicted of error. This fear, pride, response causes one to avoid the struggle required to refine your beliefs. Strong personalities are able to try on the garments of another’s opinion and from that perspective better perceive the thought patterns that make up the viewpoint and choose whether to discard those garments as unfitting to their situation or adopt those items that do fit well. Also, the reluctance to entertain contrary viewpoints often touches the sensitive nerve of a deep down feeling that perhaps your convictions aren’t sound or truly believed by yourself. In reality, reflecting upon varied viewpoints strengthens your understanding and allows you to maintain a rooted connection to truth even while your mind is shifting in the winds of viewpoint.

Elyon: Pride is an issue in this respect, for there is great weight in conviction, much investment. To begin to adopt another’s viewpoint implies that your prior viewpoint was possibly wrong, that you are viewed as convicted of error. This fear, pride, response causes one to avoid the struggle required to refine your beliefs. Strong personalities are able to try on the garments of another’s opinion and from that perspective better perceive the thought patterns that make up the viewpoint and choose whether to discard those garments as unfitting to their situation or adopt those items that do fit well. Also, the reluctance to entertain contrary viewpoints often touches the sensitive nerve of a deep down feeling that perhaps your convictions aren’t sound or truly believed by yourself. In reality, reflecting upon varied viewpoints strengthens your understanding and allows you to maintain a rooted connection to truth even while your mind is shifting in the winds of viewpoint.

My final comment to your statement is that love creates curiosity and the desire to understand another’s convictions. Love of oneself allows you to remain firm in your viewpoint even while another believes differently. Love for that other individual allows them to continue their investigation into truth even if it does not align with your perspective.

My final comment to your statement is that love creates curiosity and the desire to understand another’s convictions. Love of oneself allows you to remain firm in your viewpoint even while another believes differently. Love for that other individual allows them to continue their investigation into truth even if it does not align with your perspective.

Tom: From our discussion today there’s a great deal of evidence both pro and con this war. From e-mail I grow weary of trying to discern the correct view. I’m reminded that Jesus grew up under Roman authority. The best way to deal with this is to practice his gospel, not so much to focus for or against but to see how to apply this gospel to both sides. That’s what your lesson was about, wasn’t it?

Tom: From our discussion today there’s a great deal of evidence both pro and con this war. From e-mail I grow weary of trying to discern the correct view. I’m reminded that Jesus grew up under Roman authority. The best way to deal with this is to practice his gospel, not so much to focus for or against but to see how to apply this gospel to both sides. That’s what your lesson was about, wasn’t it?

* Elyon: Yes, and you have expressed an important approach for all to take. Infusing every perspective with the elements that make up the gospel of Michael greatly clarifies each perspective, avoids many of the conflicts, and orients according to value. Along with Michael’s message of the gospel he also stated to become like a little child. Part of being a little child is curiosity in discovery, the willingness to pass from one phase to another as the child grows. So, less conflict would be experienced by human beings if you all could understand the broad spectrum of human spiritual awareness, experience, and maturity; that no position is absolutely right, for in order to be a living creature you must be always moving physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Elyon: Yes, and you have expressed an important approach for all to take. Infusing every perspective with the elements that make up the gospel of Michael greatly clarifies each perspective, avoids many of the conflicts, and orients according to value. Along with Michael’s message of the gospel he also stated to become like a little child. Part of being a little child is curiosity in discovery, the willingness to pass from one phase to another as the child grows. So, less conflict would be experienced by human beings if you all could understand the broad spectrum of human spiritual awareness, experience, and maturity; that no position is absolutely right, for in order to be a living creature you must be always moving physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Tom: One of these childlike qualities is joy. Humor is a category of joy. When you have two opposing factions and you tell a joke, they drop their guard in order to get it. That approach favors something lighthearted, a sub-section of the gospel. Does that make sense?

Tom: One of these childlike qualities is joy. Humor is a category of joy. When you have two opposing factions and you tell a joke, they drop their guard in order to get it. That approach favors something lighthearted, a sub-section of the gospel. Does that make sense?

* Elyon: Yes, for, as the master said, “Be of good cheer.” This is illustrative of the difficulty of conviction, for it entails loyalty, devotion, and these conditions can foster negative outcomes such as aggression, manipulation. Humor does break that barrier. It can cause opposing parties to lift their heads out of the fray to see the whole context. But it must be used wisely, for personality can react against humor if it is perceived as a barb, as a method to tear down their stronghold. While the content of humor must be wisely evaluated before being disseminated, the encouragement of laughter discharges pent-up aggressions. Choose your content well, for it is the lighthearted reaction that heals and creates bonding.

Elyon: Yes, for, as the master said, “Be of good cheer.” This is illustrative of the difficulty of conviction, for it entails loyalty, devotion, and these conditions can foster negative outcomes such as aggression, manipulation. Humor does break that barrier. It can cause opposing parties to lift their heads out of the fray to see the whole context. But it must be used wisely, for personality can react against humor if it is perceived as a barb, as a method to tear down their stronghold. While the content of humor must be wisely evaluated before being disseminated, the encouragement of laughter discharges pent-up aggressions. Choose your content well, for it is the lighthearted reaction that heals and creates bonding.

Tom: Hearty laughter would be the conviction, wouldn’t it?

Tom: Hearty laughter would be the conviction, wouldn’t it?

* Elyon: Much of the laughter response in a human being is due to a sense of reality and a sense of what is false, and the juxtaposition in the context of a joke illustrates the points. Without conviction there really is no humor, for you must stand firmly in a position in order to find humor in comparison. When a comical situation is presented that allows laughter, it presents the opportunity for those engaged in laughter to perceive the other viewpoint without threat. While it may not convince in the moment, it may bear upon the mind at later times.

Elyon: Much of the laughter response in a human being is due to a sense of reality and a sense of what is false, and the juxtaposition in the context of a joke illustrates the points. Without conviction there really is no humor, for you must stand firmly in a position in order to find humor in comparison. When a comical situation is presented that allows laughter, it presents the opportunity for those engaged in laughter to perceive the other viewpoint without threat. While it may not convince in the moment, it may bear upon the mind at later times.

We who have different forms that we inhabit than you who inhabit the human body experience mirth, jubilees, joy. Our mechanisms do not laugh as yours do, but the inner response is the same. It is also quite difficult to restrain. This is one of the safeguards built into your human form by the Life Carriers so that when your mind becomes tied up in knots, quandaries, aggravations, and the like, laughter can break that all up, and it can do so virtually without your ability to suppress it. And this brings healing. It allows you to pause for a moment and consider worth, importance.

We who have different forms that we inhabit than you who inhabit the human body experience mirth, jubilees, joy. Our mechanisms do not laugh as yours do, but the inner response is the same. It is also quite difficult to restrain. This is one of the safeguards built into your human form by the Life Carriers so that when your mind becomes tied up in knots, quandaries, aggravations, and the like, laughter can break that all up, and it can do so virtually without your ability to suppress it. And this brings healing. It allows you to pause for a moment and consider worth, importance.

Ginny: Is our planet inclined to war for all its history? I know we suffered defaults, but is it typical of an evolving planet to go to war, or are we an anomaly of some kind?

Ginny: Is our planet inclined to war for all its history? I know we suffered defaults, but is it typical of an evolving planet to go to war, or are we an anomaly of some kind?

* Elyon: It is not unusual on an evolutionary world like yours for these violent actions to follow disagreement. The subject matter that causes war evolves from the possession of territory to the promotion of ideologies. What is different about your planet is that, while this development of the subject of war shifts, you have yet to develop new methods for your promotion of ideologies. You may fight over land, but to fight over ideology destroys the worth of the ideology fought for. What is lacking on this world are techniques for conflict that are non-violent. The tendency for mankind to rally behind a cause is good; even to die for your cause has spiritual value. What is lacking is improved techniques to resolve your differences. You are still using century old methods for new and more complex problems.

Elyon: It is not unusual on an evolutionary world like yours for these violent actions to follow disagreement. The subject matter that causes war evolves from the possession of territory to the promotion of ideologies. What is different about your planet is that, while this development of the subject of war shifts, you have yet to develop new methods for your promotion of ideologies. You may fight over land, but to fight over ideology destroys the worth of the ideology fought for. What is lacking on this world are techniques for conflict that are non-violent. The tendency for mankind to rally behind a cause is good; even to die for your cause has spiritual value. What is lacking is improved techniques to resolve your differences. You are still using century old methods for new and more complex problems.

One day on a global level civilization will evolve. Gone will be the shouting matches, as they have transitioned from screams to heated argument and eventually into calm debate. While you admire that in the individuals who make up your world, there is much work to do for your societies en masse to evolve to that same level of dignity in behavior.

One day on a global level civilization will evolve. Gone will be the shouting matches, as they have transitioned from screams to heated argument and eventually into calm debate. While you admire that in the individuals who make up your world, there is much work to do for your societies en masse to evolve to that same level of dignity in behavior.

Evelyn: You spoke of convictions we may have acquired that don’t belong to us, ones we have taken on. I think how I have habits and social skills I picked up from my parents. I am often like my mom. I could defend these behaviors. Is that anywhere near what you are talking about?

Evelyn: You spoke of convictions we may have acquired that don’t belong to us, ones we have taken on. I think how I have habits and social skills I picked up from my parents. I am often like my mom. I could defend these behaviors. Is that anywhere near what you are talking about?

* Elyon: Yes, it is. I will repeat that discerning the source does not imply that your conviction is no longer valid. An adopted conviction is good if you are truly convinced. If it is adopted blindly, unreasoningly, then you stand on fragile ground and may be surprised when it shatters. I ask you merely to arrange your understanding of what is truly a conviction that you have and discern those which are adopted accidentally, not recognized as your own possession and make a decision if you wish to add them to your convictions list or wish to discard them, whether or not they be adopted later or be found worthless for evermore.

Elyon: Yes, it is. I will repeat that discerning the source does not imply that your conviction is no longer valid. An adopted conviction is good if you are truly convinced. If it is adopted blindly, unreasoningly, then you stand on fragile ground and may be surprised when it shatters. I ask you merely to arrange your understanding of what is truly a conviction that you have and discern those which are adopted accidentally, not recognized as your own possession and make a decision if you wish to add them to your convictions list or wish to discard them, whether or not they be adopted later or be found worthless for evermore.

Ginny: On a national scale, our tendency is to believe that the world is mean and we have to stockpile weapons for protection. On the other side, believing that the world is a friendly place, that we are all neighbors, would bring us into another way of thinking and believing. Conviction is important to change our habits.

Ginny: On a national scale, our tendency is to believe that the world is mean and we have to stockpile weapons for protection. On the other side, believing that the world is a friendly place, that we are all neighbors, would bring us into another way of thinking and believing. Conviction is important to change our habits.

* Elyon: It can be said that convictions lead to conflict, for opposing convictions stand unyielding. So you have your many battles. What you speak of steps above that polarity to a conviction held by all, more appropriately a paradigm, as you speak of that the world is an ugly place, threatening, dangerous. If the message of Michael were to be adopted or, in the spirit of my lesson, truly a conviction of all, the paradigm would shift, and your conflicts would find smooth resolution, where you would approach your differences knowing full well that the other party is a brother or a sister worthy of your love and of equal value in the eyes of God. Approaching your differences in this manner would bring peaceful resolutions. I guess you know your assignment.

Elyon: It can be said that convictions lead to conflict, for opposing convictions stand unyielding. So you have your many battles. What you speak of steps above that polarity to a conviction held by all, more appropriately a paradigm, as you speak of that the world is an ugly place, threatening, dangerous. If the message of Michael were to be adopted or, in the spirit of my lesson, truly a conviction of all, the paradigm would shift, and your conflicts would find smooth resolution, where you would approach your differences knowing full well that the other party is a brother or a sister worthy of your love and of equal value in the eyes of God. Approaching your differences in this manner would bring peaceful resolutions. I guess you know your assignment.

I will depart. I enjoy your engagements with me. It is a delight to have souls such as you who seek to discern the thread of spirit through all peoples of your lives, whether it is the conditions found between you and friends or the conditions existing between the nations. Even more it is a delight to witness you discuss conditions between your planet and others and your relation to the Father of all on Paradise. Until next time, farewell.