2005-04-17-Self Assuredness & Humility

Session

Opening

Lantarnek (Jonathan TR): Greetings to you, this is Lantarnek. I have observed your conversation and am going to input some considerations that will hopefully encourage as you undertake spreading truth.

Lesson

Assurance, Humility

While you have spent many years engaged in the active pursuit of truth, not merely waiting until it awakens you by surprise but truly seeking it perhaps even demandingly, you have undergone much growth and are possessive of an expanded comprehension of universe values and of your participation in the unfoldment of universe activities.

You have now a treasure-chest full of realizations and learning experiences that are available as gifts to others through teaching and through service. When an individual begins the sincere search for answers regarding spiritual nature and the realities of universe, its composition and function, one approaches the search with humility an emptying of self importance and a willingness to receive instruction, a desire to discover from without, to be fed, to be directed.

This emptying of self if given over one hundred percent causes one to rapidly grow, for the blockage of self-assurance is erased, thereby making the conditions for absorption easy. As one proceeds in attainment there begins to develop assuredness due to experience. In the natural course of growth the percentage of assurance increases while the percent of humble openness diminishes. It is healthy for this to occur, for the children of God do stand confident of their position in the universe and the love of the Father toward them. The ideal state is to reach the balance of equal percentage, 50-50, wherein you are strong in your being, assured of your status, all the while ever willing to receive new revelation, ever willing to question your perception and understanding.

When self-assuredness surpasses humility, then begins the possibility for error, even the distortions of evil, for the counterbalance of adjustment by other beings and even the corrective adjustments of life situations are prevented from having impact. You are at the most optimum state of balance when you can say, "I know whereof I speak. Now please teach me." These are my comments to you. I thank you for receiving them.

Dialogue

Evelyn: When you said humility would diminish I wondered where you were going with that. I can't imagine arriving on Paradise and not feeling an enormous amount of humility. Jesus was humble but also very assured, that 50-50 balance. Humility isn't gone, it's in balance. That was a good lesson.

Lantarnek: Indeed, humility is a virtue to be safeguarded in one's personality makeup. I do stress the balance of assuredness and humility, for if one were wholly humble one would continue to empty oneself of confidence to the extreme of preventing that self-assuredness which is the possession of truth and knowledge and understanding. The two do work in harmony healthfully. The extreme of either hinders one's growth and unfoldment.

Ginny: It reminds me of Thomas Aquinas quote "in medio stat virtus" ( In the middle is virtue). It doesn't mean mediocrity but balance like of the good of humility and assurance.

Lantarnek: Thank you for your contribution. I would offer the suggestion that when you are passionate in a particular pursuit, the example here being self-confidence or humble, that you ask yourself what is the opposite complement and work to adjust both for that balance, to find that middle. When pursuing one side, you will discover greater efficiency in attainment by also pursuing the counterbalance.

Balance

Mark: A couple weeks ago we were discussing that often we must decide whether we want to be right or kind, whether we want to be correct or whether we want to be happy. Could you address the distinctions drawn there?

Lantarnek: You have spoken of a dynamic that occurs between self and others, and it becomes a four-fold orientation, more complex than our simpler twofold balance; for, in correctness, in standing for truth, one is being the light, possessing of spirit. When in interaction two options occur, that of being accommodating and accepting of others or being confrontative in the promotion of truth to the corrective impact upon another. There develops the possibility of one of two things, your loyal allegiance to truth may kindle the fire to promote that truth regardless of acceptability to another, or you may bury that truth that the superficial relations may proceed smoothly, that you may preserve your possession of the truth without confrontation or challenge. All the while the other individual is either prevented from receiving your small revelation to them, or they may be allowed to stand for their own truth at their own stage of growth, which you have honored by being non-confrontational. The interactions become complex and highly specific to the personalities involved such that there is no real formula with which to approach this complex issue. The power of ego is involved. If two are sincere and open to learning from each other, then kindness may prevail regardless of agreement on the perception of what is true and right. But this is not the case frequently on Urantia. You are then in the more rigorous undertaking of finding balance in a four-plex manner.

Mark: Thank you. I see another layer involved and that more discretion is needed to grapple with the situation.

Lantarnek: If I may add further comment, we spoke of the simple balance within oneself of two extremes. With another individual the same function exists of a balance within that person. Picturing both individuals with these two points gives four, and then you are in the social dynamic of a balance between one of your extremes and the other individual's extreme and each of the opposites. Therefore you are in a juggle of extremes; seeking balance in oneself and seeking balance between two occurs simultaneously. If the other individual is actively pursuing the same you find harmony in your relationship.

Love

Elyon (Mark): I would greet you as well, and I would congratulate you once again for your attending this forum and for the lofty nature of your pursuits to grapple with these multi-layered dimensions of your interpersonal human experiences. These are indeed lofty challenges for you to embrace, as they are constantly in flux and undergoing change, as with each individual you come in contact with there is a complete new set of dynamics you must discover to effectively negotiate the relationship in question to its highest benefit.

There is but one overlying guideline to be used in your personal interactions with all, and that is to maintain your approach and your focus consistent with the desire to (do) good to others, the manifestation of love itself. If you come into any relationship with this perspective firmly in your approach, you will be granted insight into the direction of your interaction. When guided by love your actions may vary greatly from individual to individual but be consistent in their loving and genuine nature. True it is that you may need to go to your tool boxes and try a different angle and use a different method as you encounter distinctly different individuals throughout your journeys. But if you allow yourselves to be guided by the handbook of love and continually remind yourselves that this love is your overriding theme under which all of your other tools may then become serviceable, your opportunity at hand then becomes guided by this premise and becomes productive when used in conjunction with any other method you may find yourselves dealing with.

There are as many varied and appropriate approaches as there are varied individuals that you will come in contact with. But if you consistently remind yourself that the overall objective is to portray love in your actions and with every tool at your disposal, then will the end result reflect that overall premise. The details of the interaction will tend to take care of themselves. It is good and proper to strive for awareness at the different levels and the different balances required for more proper attunement, but when in doubt you may always retreat to the guideline of doing good to others. It is truly as simple as that and yet appears so complex when the many facets of the relationship are considered.

You may do your best with the tools at your disposal, but do all that you do with intent and purpose to portray love and the values contained therein. This is your ever present guideline and your ever productive direction. The more you grow as spiritual beings the more you identify with the underlying tone of love that is present throughout all, the more you can utilize this tone of love in whatever approach you may deem necessary and right at the time. But if your approach is one of love and your attempt is one of human nature, your success in having been involved in whatever interaction or relationship is guaranteed as long as the premise of doing good to others has been conveyed.

That one premise is both extraordinarily simple and simultaneously extraordinarily profound. You may always lean on that premise, and when that has been conveyed your message, your position, has been revealed. Thank you all, my friends. I appreciate every opportunity to engage with you. I particularly enjoy the opportunity to watch each of you unfold as the petals of a flower and become all that you will be. It is a glorious sight, and I consider myself extremely fortunate to enjoy this liaison position with you wherein I can be as close to you as I am and observe these changes in you as they happen, as your petals unfold. As the Father would have it be, then so be it.

Jonathan: I enjoyed your lesson on doing good to others. It's another aspect of finding balance in relationships and within oneself.

Closing

Elyon: That simple question if asked of your motivation, would you desire to be treated in this way? will provide for you great understanding of another's position and of your own motivations. I encourage you to avail yourself of that simple question when you are engaged with others, and it will resound within you to find your center and to bring you back to balance that you seek. It is there for the simple asking. Thank you.