Changes

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

Today I wish to draw upon a rather commonplace human experience to indicate the means whereby all of you in concert can be effective in promoting spiritual progress on this world and also to contribute significantly to your personal growth even while the environment you may be engaged in either hinders or simply does not contribute to progress, to upliftment. Many factors propel mankind forward; the obvious ones of comfort, protection, companionship, of power. One that has evolved in the course of your development is economy. While once economy simply was the trading of item for item based on value, it grew more complex, and now on your world not only do you produce for sale and purchase for ownership, you also invest; you become a participant in a business by way of stock ownership. In simpler times a business flourished if people purchased their goods or services.

Today I wish to draw upon a rather commonplace [[human]] [[experience]] to indicate the means whereby all of you in concert can be effective in promoting spiritual progress on this world and also to contribute significantly to your personal growth even while the environment you may be engaged in either hinders or simply does not contribute to progress, to upliftment. Many factors propel [[humanity|mankind]] forward; the obvious ones of comfort, protection, companionship, of [[power]]. One that has evolved in the course of your development is [[economy]]. While once economy simply was the trading of item for item based on value, it grew more complex, and now on your world not only do you produce for sale and purchase for ownership, you also invest; you become a participant in a business by way of stock ownership. In simpler times a business flourished if people purchased their goods or services.

Now a business may also flourish simply because of the faith, the trust, and the hope that a stockholder places in that concern. When a business is successful stockholders are rewarded. You also have sophisticated your activities in this manner by developing formulas and techniques through which you may hedge your bets, soften the blows, or increase your yields such that when the market in general fluctuates adversely to your personal goals, you are less likely to be adversely affected. So is this true in the spiritual dimension.

Now a business may also flourish simply because of the [[faith]], the [[trust]], and the [[hope]] that a stockholder places in that concern. When a business is successful stockholders are rewarded. You also have sophisticated your activities in this manner by developing [[formula]]s and [[technique]]s through which you may hedge your bets, soften the blows, or increase your yields such that when the market in general fluctuates adversely to your [[personal]] goals, you are less likely to be adversely affected. So is this true in the [[spiritual]] [[dimension]].

When Michael dwelled upon this world as Jesus he taught to love one another. He taught to love another as you love yourself, to treat each one as your neighbor. This diversification of spiritual perspective protects the soul from shifts in culture and civilization and society that could hurt one's spiritual progress. If you simply spiritually invest only in those close to you, then when tragedy strikes or conditions merely change, you find a reduction in your spiritual wealth. But as you broaden the neighborhood, include in your fellowship more souls, you level the risks. You find even in a passing stranger a counselor and a friend. It is taught that to buy when your market is down increases the likelihood of your success rather than to avoid participation because things look grim.

When Michael dwelled upon this world as Jesus he taught to love one another. He taught to love another as you love yourself, to treat each one as your neighbor. This diversification of spiritual perspective protects the soul from shifts in [[culture]] and [[civilization]] and [[society]] that could hurt one's spiritual progress. If you simply spiritually invest only in those close to you, then when tragedy strikes or conditions merely change, you find a reduction in your spiritual wealth. But as you broaden the neighborhood, include in your fellowship more souls, you level the risks. You find even in a passing stranger a counselor and a friend. It is taught that to buy when your market is down increases the likelihood of your success rather than to avoid participation because things look grim.

So it is true in spiritual ministry. If you perceive a low point in the hearts and minds of those around you, that is the time to buy in, to be of service, to minister. While it may be risky to your own happiness to be involved with others when they are down, when they are falling into negativity, that is precisely the point of need, of the hunger for light and truth and love.

So it is true in spiritual ministry. If you perceive a low point in the [[hearts]] and [[minds]] of those around you, that is the time to buy in, to be of service, to minister. While it may be risky to your own happiness to be involved with others when they are down, when they are falling into negativity, that is precisely the point of need, of the hunger for [[light]] and [[truth]] and [[love]].

What makes an economy strong is its flexibility, its ability to change, to weather the dips and to leverage the highs. Without a dip and without a high the economy stagnates. In a spiritual environment this also holds true. As an individual you may be at a peak in you aspirations, in a project of your growth. Another around you may be at a low, experiencing a recession. This differential stimulates life just as a differential in your stock market stimulates investment.

What makes an economy strong is its flexibility, its ability to change, to weather the dips and to leverage the highs. Without a dip and without a high the economy stagnates. In a spiritual environment this also holds true. As an individual you may be at a peak in you aspirations, in a project of your growth. Another around you may be at a low, experiencing a recession. This differential stimulates life just as a differential in your stock market stimulates investment.

You may and could have your spiritual experience all by yourself, but that would not make you rich, just as you may have your own business by yourself. It is the cross, exchange, of other souls just as it requires a number of consumers to support your business that you experience vigor, robustness. Some are inclined to create standards for behavior, to codify these to make them religious doctrine. These prove helpful to one beginning the journey to Paradise, for they train and teach skills of moral behavior, ethical conduct, and social sensitivity, respect for God and universe values.

You may and could have your spiritual experience all by yourself, but that would not make you rich, just as you may have your own business by yourself. It is the cross, exchange, of other souls just as it requires a number of consumers to support your business that you experience vigor, robustness. Some are inclined to create [[standards]] for [[behavior]], to codify these to make them religious doctrine. These prove helpful to one beginning the journey to [[Paradise]], for they train and teach skills of [[moral]] behavior, [[ethic]]al conduct, and social sensitivity, respect for [[God]] and universe values.

Others teach flexibility, an expression you use, "going with the flow". This heightens the sensitivity to the fact that life is ever- changing, that at no station in your spiritual ascension are you complete, that you as an individual may not have developed the perception for your advancement, and that life itself can provide the clues if you are willing to move along in the stream of spiritual advancement of the many souls that are in your life and upon your world. Just as a good investor will not simply follow the rules of investment, and also just as a shrewd investor will not simply buy what is popular at the time but canvass the great potentials of investment, so do you in your spiritual growth. Applying the rules of religious doctrine may help.

Others teach flexibility, an expression you use, "going with the [[flow]]". This heightens the sensitivity to the [[fact]] that life is ever- changing, that at no station in your spiritual [[ascension]] are you complete, that you as an [[individual]] may not have developed the [[perception]] for your advancement, and that life itself can provide the clues if you are willing to move along in the stream of spiritual advancement of the many souls that are in your life and upon your world. Just as a good investor will not simply follow the rules of investment, and also just as a shrewd investor will not simply buy what is popular at the time but canvass the great potentials of investment, so do you in your spiritual growth. Applying the rules of religious doctrine may help.

Discerning the flow of spirit enthusiasm in others may help, but there may come a time, or times repeated, where you must discern when you can and should apply yourself contrary to market trends. In your study of the life of the master you have come to witness that he did not always follow the trend. In a social, spiritual sense Michael came to your world when the spiritual stockmarket was high, when the cultures that he was born into were hungry, impactive, engaged in many spiritual and religious pursuits. Jesus, however, chose not to engage in those forms of religious upliftment. Yes, he did so individually in attending the synagogues and in studying the scriptures, but he did not become one of them. While he applied the precepts of the teachings, he also was willing to invest himself in the search for the Father independent of trends. What resulted was an upliftment in the spiritual economy of this world. It created a new marketplace, that being the brotherhood of mankind. While it has been slow in its growth, the climb has been upward steadily; the returns on the investment will be Light and Life.

Discerning the flow of [[spirit]] [[enthusiasm]] in others may help, but there may come a time, or times repeated, where you must discern when you can and should apply yourself contrary to market trends. In your study of the life of the master you have come to witness that he did not always follow the trend. In a social, spiritual sense Michael came to your world when the spiritual stockmarket was high, when the cultures that he was born into were hungry, impactive, engaged in many spiritual and religious pursuits. Jesus, however, chose not to engage in those forms of religious upliftment. Yes, he did so individually in attending the synagogues and in studying the [[scripture]]s, but he did not become one of them. While he applied the precepts of the teachings, he also was willing to invest himself in the search for [[the Father]] independent of trends. What resulted was an upliftment in the spiritual economy of this world. It created a new marketplace, that being the brotherhood of mankind. While it has been slow in its growth, the climb has been upward steadily; the returns on the investment will be [[Light and Life]].

In your personal growth you must seek always to be alert to the factors which contribute to your well-being and to discern and choose wisely when rules of behavior help and also to note when you are threatened by directionless, aimless, wandering. In a collective sense, as spiritual religious enthusiasm ebbs and flows, rises and wanes, there are times to engage yourself aggressively in ministry and service, in outpouring love, in strengthening the economy of spiritual beings. There are other times when you, threatened by the collapse of life, must retreat to conserve your light, to preserve your life, as Jesus told his apostles to lay low following his crucifixion, that you may be of better service to your fellows on the rebound.

In your personal growth you must seek always to be alert to the factors which contribute to your well-being and to discern and choose wisely when rules of behavior help and also to note when you are threatened by directionless, aimless, wandering. In a collective sense, as spiritual religious enthusiasm ebbs and flows, rises and wanes, there are times to engage yourself aggressively in ministry and service, in outpouring [[love]], in strengthening the economy of spiritual [[being]]s. There are other times when you, threatened by the collapse of life, must retreat to conserve your light, to preserve your life, as Jesus told his apostles to lay low following his crucifixion, that you may be of better service to your fellows on the rebound.

 

I encourage you to continue the development of your ability to invest in the well-being of this world, to do so by increasing your assets personally and investing those assets socially. Assets grow through risk taking, and the risk you take in ministry is the potential of rejection, misunderstanding. While that is a short-term loss, a higher risk is not to have encountered another who may teach you in return a valuable lesson which will lift you to a higher level of [[function]]. That risk is worth taking, for it increases your spiritual assets. I hope this has given you thoughts to consider. I am willing to receive your feedback at this time.

===Dialogue===

===Dialogue===

Evelyn: I notice you use the word "soul". You don't say "persons" so much as "souls". The difference I think is seeing another as timeless, eternal, not just a face, just this life, and being of equal value to oneself. How do I apply this in my encounters? I often feel I'm invested in too few other souls. This is a vivid image and a useful model, comparing to economic situations.

Evelyn: I notice you use the word "soul". You don't say "persons" so much as "souls". The difference I think is seeing another as timeless, eternal, not just a face, just this life, and being of equal value to oneself. How do I apply this in my encounters? I often feel I'm invested in too few other souls. This is a vivid image and a useful model, comparing to economic situations.