Changes

A: In purely spiritual teaching, yes.

A: In purely spiritual teaching, yes.

==FORTITUDE==

==Session 33==

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

This evening I wish to begin with a lesson on fortitude. Yes, there are many times when the road is rocky and difficult to pass over. In these times of difficult trials, it is easy to forget our true and lofty goal as we climb this mountain of living. When it seems the road is impassible, it is sometimes incumbent upon us to wait and be still, patient, for in time, the way is shown. It may be we must climb up into the heights of spiritual ecstasy which will show the way very clearly. Then there are times when it is incumbent upon us to pass another way below and into a way where the path is not clear. There is undergrowth of cares. There are rocks and obstacles of worry and darkness and fright. These ways are difficult to pass through, and many times we must stop. We must carefully watch each turn to be certain of our path. It is very difficult during these times to remember the high mountain top when the path was clear.

This evening I [[wish]] to begin with a lesson on [[fortitude]]. Yes, there are many times when the road is rocky and [[difficult]] to pass over. In these times of difficult [[trials]], it is easy to [[forget]] our true and lofty goal as we climb this [[mountain]] of living. When it seems the road is impassible, it is sometimes [[incumbent]] upon us to wait and be still, [[patient]], for in time, the way is shown. It may be we must climb up into the heights of [[spiritual]] [[ecstasy]] which will show the way very clearly. Then there are times when it is [[incumbent]] upon us to pass another way below and into a way where the [[path]] is not clear. There is undergrowth of [[cares]]. There are rocks and [[obstacles]] of [[worry]] and [[darkness]] and fright. These ways are [[difficult]] to pass through, and many times we must stop. We must carefully watch each turn to be certain of our [[path]]. It is very difficult during these times to remember the high [[mountain]] top when the [[path]] was clear.

In these days when things are dark and troublesome, the path is obscured and the way unclear, it is necessary to maintain an attitude of strength and fortitude to keep your courage about you and forge ahead through uncertain territory. The path of light lies just ahead, just around the next corner. The way you saw before, you are still upon. Even though it may seem you are lost, you are not. Strength, spiritual strength, will keep you. Integrity and self respect and, yes, even some pride is necessary for your survival in these times.

In these days when things are [[dark]] and troublesome, the [[path]] is obscured and the way unclear, it is [[necessary]] to maintain an [[attitude]] of [[strength]] and [[fortitude]] to keep your [[courage]] about you and forge ahead through uncertain territory. The path of [[light]] lies just ahead, just around the next corner. The way you saw before, you are still upon. Even though it may seem you are lost, you are not. [[Strength]], spiritual strength, will keep you. [[Integrity]] and [[self]] [[respect]] and, yes, even some [[pride]] is necessary for your [[survival]] in these times.

Keep your spiritual armor with you. The shield of truth, the sword of righteousness will protect you in these times of difficult trouble against the real and unreal dangers of life. Yes, fortitude and then, when the way is clear and when you see that you have gone on the correct path, you will be satisfied in your innermost self that, yes, you saw the way and you progressed through it.

Keep your spiritual [[armor]] with you. The shield of [[truth]], the [[sword]] of [[righteousness]] will protect you in these times of difficult trouble against the real and unreal [[dangers]] of life. Yes, [[fortitude]] and then, when the way is clear and when you see that you have gone on the correct path, you will be [[satisfied]] in your innermost self that, yes, you saw the way and you [[progressed]] through it.

Wisdom. The fruits of wisdom ripen most readily in the dark. It is difficult of understanding, but I tell you this is truth. Our most stable parts of our inner being are made so by this difficult passage. Our trustworthiness, our faith, is strengthened. Our wisdom is ripened and our souls are made more perfect, even in these times of trial. Our Father has not created these worlds for your lazy enjoyment. They are roads of trial, and the trial is hard, is steep, is difficult. It is purposeful.

[[Wisdom]]. The fruits of wisdom ripen most readily in the [[dark]]. It is [[difficult]] of [[understanding]], but I tell you this is [[truth]]. Our most stable parts of our inner being are made so by this [[difficult]] passage. Our [[trustworthiness]], our [[faith]], is [[strengthened]]. Our [[wisdom]] is ripened and our [[souls]] are made more [[perfect]], even in these times of [[trial]]. [[Our Father]] has not created these worlds for your [[lazy]] enjoyment. They are roads of [[trial]], and the trial is hard, is steep, is difficult. It is [[purposeful]].

Strength of character is not built on a bed of ease, ever. Strength of character is built brick by brick in the toils of adversity. When you are enjoying the fruits of your labor, when you have reached a plateau on your journey where you may enjoy the sun, enjoy the beauty of life, the fellowship, you remember you are and have been made who you are, your character has grown mostly through times of difficulty. You have learned patience. You have learned forbearance. You have learned tolerance. You have learned understanding forgiveness. You have learned to accept your lot to make the best of what you have. You have leaned not to whine about the future nor regret the past but to carry on in the face of all that is coming to you. Fortitude is the watchword for this day.

[[Strength]] of [[character]] is not built on a bed of [[ease]], ever. Strength of [[character]] is built brick by brick in the toils of [[adversity]]. When you are enjoying the fruits of your [[labor]], when you have reached a [[plateau]] on your [[journey]] where you may enjoy the [[sun]], enjoy the [[beauty]] of life, the fellowship, you [[remember]] you are and have been made who you are, your character has grown mostly through times of [[difficulty]]. You have learned [[patience]]. You have learned [[forbearance]]. You have learned [[tolerance]]. You have learned [[understanding]] [[forgiveness]]. You have learned to [[accept]] your lot to make the best of what you have. You have leaned not to whine about the [[future]] nor [[regret]] the [[past]] but to carry on in the face of all that is coming to you. [[Fortitude]] is the watchword for this day.

===Dialogue===

===Dialogue===

Q: Teacher Ham, thank you for a beautiful lesson. I have a question about fortitude and adversity. Why is it that some people here on Urantia seem to live lives of relative ease while others seem to have trial after trial of difficulty and adversity? I realize that it is through difficulty that we grow, but it seems to be so imbalanced. Could you enlighten me, please?

Q: Teacher Ham, thank you for a [[beautiful]] lesson. I have a question about [[fortitude]] and [[adversity]]. Why is it that some people here on [[Urantia]] seem to live lives of [[relative]] ease while others seem to have [[trial]] after trial of difficulty and adversity? I [[realize]] that it is through difficulty that we grow, but it seems to be so imbalanced. Could you [[enlighten]] me, please?

A: Yes, this life is filled with inequality and inequity at every level. There are extremes in this world which are not the product of the individual's self will, but more the product of planetary mismanagement. You see there has been no one to administer this world for many, many, years. Your Planetary Prince has been extinguished, your Adam and Eve have defaulted, your Bestowal Son was short lived. You have had no planetary organization of any kind, really, and this is the inevitable result of natural evolutionary tendencies among peoples, nations and races.

A: Yes, this life is filled with inequality and inequity at every level. There are [[extremes]] in this world which are not the product of the [[individual]]'s self will, but more the product of planetary mismanagement. You see there has been no one to [[administer]] this world for many, many, years. Your [[Planetary Prince]] has been extinguished, your [[Adam and Eve]] have [[defaulted]], your [[Bestowal Son]] was short lived. You have had no [[planetary]] [[organization]] of any kind, really, and this is the [[inevitable]] result of [[natural]] evolutionary [[tendencies]] among peoples, [[nations]] and [[races]].

==TOLERANCE==

==TOLERANCE==