Changes

Only bit by bit by living [[experience]], [[gradually]], as tribes became [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_state city states], then [[Nationalism|nation states]] and [[empire]]s, right up to the [[present]] day; more and more are [[societies]] able to afford greater [[individuality]].  As you look around your world today, still, here in 2010, you can see almost this entire [[spectrum]] on the [[planet]], from [[primitive]] near-[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic stone-age] [[tribes]], up through [[autocratic]] [[societies]] in which only a small amount of [[individuality]] is [[tolerated]]; up to the point where, in some of the more [[technologically]] developed, [[democratic]] [[cultures]], you have what you might call a blossoming--I could even say--a [[flamboyance]] (Michael chuckles)--a flamboyance of [[individuality]] in all aspects of peoples’ lives: [[homes]] and furnishings, [[personal]] [[possessions]], [[social]] class and standing, [[physical]] presentation through [[dress]] and [[style]], [[mind]] and [[creative]] [[spirit]] presentation through [[invention]] and [[art]]; on and on…

Only bit by bit by living [[experience]], [[gradually]], as tribes became [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_state city states], then [[Nationalism|nation states]] and [[empire]]s, right up to the [[present]] day; more and more are [[societies]] able to afford greater [[individuality]].  As you look around your world today, still, here in 2010, you can see almost this entire [[spectrum]] on the [[planet]], from [[primitive]] near-[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic stone-age] [[tribes]], up through [[autocratic]] [[societies]] in which only a small amount of [[individuality]] is [[tolerated]]; up to the point where, in some of the more [[technologically]] developed, [[democratic]] [[cultures]], you have what you might call a blossoming--I could even say--a [[flamboyance]] (Michael chuckles)--a flamboyance of [[individuality]] in all aspects of peoples’ lives: [[homes]] and furnishings, [[personal]] [[possessions]], [[social]] class and standing, [[physical]] presentation through [[dress]] and [[style]], [[mind]] and [[creative]] [[spirit]] presentation through [[invention]] and [[art]]; on and on…

===='''''[[Maturity]]''''', '''''[[Character]]'''''====

===='''''[[Maturity]]''''', '''''[[Expression]]'''''====

*(Soulful maturity and character)

*(Soulful maturity and character)

   

   

Soulful maturity has always been a determining aspect from the earlier tribal stage, on up through medieval times, or even today when you  have--concurrently on the planet--nearly the full spectrum.  In early civilizations it is difficult for individuals to express themselves wisely and their relative immaturity comes out more as license; in the group, more as social chaos or simple anarchy.  Consider the various episodes of this all through planetary history and today when societies relax their grip--so to speak--in certain bacchanal, high feast celebrations, and individuals are not mature enough to keep from harming themselves and others in orgies of irresponsibility.  Societies only mature as the people within them find ways of expression which are peaceful, creative, positive, and mutually respectful of other individuals.

[[Soulful]] [[maturity]] has always been a determining aspect from the earlier [[tribal]] [[stage]], on up through [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages medieval times], or even today when you  have--[[Simultaneous|concurrently]] on the [[planet]]--nearly the full [[spectrum]].  In early [[civilizations]] it is [[difficult]] for [[individuals]] to [[express]] themselves [[wisely]] and their [[relative]] immaturity comes out more as [[license]]; in the [[group]], more as [[social]] [[chaos]] or [[simple]] [[anarchy]].  [[Consider]] the various [[episodes]] of this all through [[planetary]] [[history]] and today when [[societies]] [[relax]] their grip--so to speak--in certain [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacchanal bacchanal], high feast celebrations, and [[individuals]] are not [[mature]] enough to keep from harming themselves and others in [[orgies]] of irresponsibility.  [[Societies]] only [[mature]] as the people within them find ways of [[expression]] which are [[peaceful]], [[creative]], positive, and [[mutually]] [[respectful]] of other [[individuals]].

   

   

So think about this, my children.  Think about: how capable you are of being a mature individual yourself, expressing your individuality in a way that does not offend or threaten others, but seeks a loving response?  This touches upon the theme of response-ability, your ability to respond to others.  As you and others around you become ever more mature, so you can afford to allow each other greater latitude of individual expression.   

So think about this, my [[children]].  [[Think]] about: how capable you are of being a [[mature]] [[individual]] yourself, [[expressing]] your [[individuality]] in a way that does not offend or threaten others, but seeks a loving [[response]]?  This [[touches]] upon the theme of [[response]]-[[ability]], your ability to respond to others.  As you and others around you become ever more [[mature]], so you can afford to allow each other greater [[latitude]] of [[individual]] [[expression]].   

   

   

This is the glory of an advancing civilization and we’ve teased you with the notion that in the next, Morontia phase of your life, stunning will be the fact of having survived and now living in a more soulful kind of reality, a more transparent kind of reality where you can perceive each others’ souls and character so much more clearly, so much more spiritually.  Yet you can touch so much of this here and now.  This is one reason we’ve given all these lessons on your uniqueness, my children: so you can feel this in yourselves; and having felt this in yourself, you can begin to see and feel it in others.  You can let others be more and more who they are.  You can welcome their character.  You will be mature enough, strong enough inside to be able to see individuals, not just stereotypes and prejudices.  This is the growth of personality abilities--your abilities.  This is the growth of the soul.  This is just another evolution of mature individuals living in an ever more mature society.  Another name for it is freedom, freedom with responsibility.  They grow together.

This is the [[glory]] of an advancing [[civilization]] and we’ve teased you with the notion that in the next, [[morontia]] [[phase]] of your life, stunning will be the [[fact]] of having [[survived]] and now living in a more [[soulful]] kind of [[reality]], a more [[transparent]] kind of [[reality]] where you can [[perceive]] each others’ [[souls]] and [[character]] so much more [[clearly]], so much more [[spiritually]].  Yet you can [[touch]] so much of this here and [[now]].  This is one [[reason]] we’ve given all these [[lessons]] on your [[uniqueness]], my [[children]]: so you can feel this in yourselves; and having felt this in yourself, you can begin to see and [[feel]] it in others.  You can let others be more and more who they are.  You can [[welcome]] their [[character]].  You will be [[mature]] enough, strong enough inside to be able to see [[individuals]], not just [[stereotype]]s and [[prejudice]]s.  This is the [[growth]] of [[personality]] abilities--your [[abilities]].  This is the [[growth]] of the [[soul]].  This is just another [[evolution]] of [[mature]] [[individuals]] living in an ever more [[mature]] [[society]].  Another name for it is [[freedom]], freedom with [[responsibility]].  They grow [[together]].

   

   

So consider these things, my children.  Think of how much equanimity and balance and a kind of tough openness you have--to welcome others and encourage them to be more who they are.  This is what feeds your soul.  This is how you will grow more and more on into eternity as you come into contact with not only with other human beings, but with other whole orders of personal beings.  This is definitely part of the way God has set up the creation for you and everyone else.  Welcome it with a joyful heart.  Welcome home.

So [[consider]] these [[things]], my [[children]].  Think of how much [[equanimity]] and [[balance]] and a kind of tough openness you have--to [[welcome]] others and [[encourage]] them to be more who they are.  This is what feeds your [[soul]].  This is how you will grow more and more on into [[eternity]] as you come into [[contact]] with not only with other [[human beings]], but with other whole orders of [[personal]] [[beings]].  This is definitely part of the way [[God]] has set up the [[creation]] for you and everyone else.  [[Welcome]] it with a [[joyful]] [[heart]].  [[Welcome]] [[home]].

   

   

Now if you have any questions or comments this evening along these lines or any other, I certainly welcome the character you show.

Now if you have any questions or comments this evening along these lines or any other, I certainly welcome the [[character]] you show.

 

===Dialogue===

===Dialogue===

Student:  Thank you once again, Father Michael, for all your support and love and understanding and patience with all of us.  

Student:  Thank you once again, Father Michael, for all your support and love and understanding and patience with all of us.