1993-10-12-Fostering Groups

Session

Opening

Aaron: From the beginning of this effort I have been truly amazed at the levels of kindness in those who are truly seeking for something within. I extend welcome, I am Aaron. Thank you for being here tonight. I would ramble on but for our friends to speak. I have previously given a message that can be distributed. Welcome to my friends, Nolus and Jeremiah. Hello, Sheila. And the rest of you are old hat. (laughter) So, now I would allow. Welcome.

Lesson

Elyon: This is Elyon. I greet you tonight and come to say hello, for we have been engaged before. I would offer you, Nolus, my appreciation for your courage and strength in giving us so long ago, but not so long, the catalyst for my group becoming willing to see and to hear the message that I would deliver. I only come to express this appreciation and my thanks to both of you for your bravery and your outreach...

Dialogue

Criticism, Communication

Student #1: May I ask a question? Last year when we were coming around we were able to give, but this year we are more in need of receiving. Do you have any words of encouragement that would help our group this year?

Elyon: This is necessary. This growth that is occurring now, it seems frayed and somewhat worn to some. In your willing parting there is a disenchantment, a frustration, for there are many ideas for continuing positively, but there is no one that can decide. As a group of people, I would recommend that you define your levels of willingness openly in a conversation, this is not the time to hold back. You need to decide where your effort is going to be, and the time for judgment and distrust must be set aside. Speak what you want to happen within your group. If a parting must occur for the sake of continuing forth, then to postpone this would do no one any beneficial help. But communication I see as being the most important area of focus. Does this answer?

Student #1: It does answer. It is what was on a lot of people's minds but we were timid to do it. From our travels we have received confirmation that this should be our focus. It helps to hear it from an outside teacher. Thank you.

Elyon: Do you feel that you would lose something by stating your feelings freely and honestly and calling on everyone else to do the same?

Student #1: I think everyone has expressed their feelings, but I don't think everyone has addressed the aspect. We have so many people who feel that it is their right to criticize and be negative. There's another faction that feels the opposite. Those things have been stated. It seems like the people who are positive are pulling away and not going. The negative are staying in their criticisms. Things are being held back that way. I hear you saying that we need to outright say we need to have a group on the premise of positive and another group on the premise of criticizing.

Elyon: This is where my expression is focused: That somehow you feel that is necessary or committed to staying combined even though your true underlying feelings tell you that it may not be positive for those who are willing to go forward to do this. And this is my word to you that those who are of a positive nature must truly express and go forth with what their hearts tell them is right already. Is this clear?

Student #1: Yes, thank you.

Student #2: Teacher Elyon, from the beginning with the teacher groups, the lessons are on different levels so that those who are on different spiritual levels can be accommodated. New people can enter in and those who have been going for awhile can all get lessons there. So it's best to keep the group together in the beginning. Later people are differentiating. Likes have tendency to go to likes. This divergence of views, differentiating on different commitments, different levels of spirituality, seem to bring on the question of splitting into separate groups. Could you talk about dynamics of when it is best to form separate groups and when to keep the groups unified in both time, in the beginning and later, and also according to different types of personalities that are involved in these groups? Could you discuss that please?

Elyon: What I cannot do is to tell you what to do.

Student #2: Yes, I understand. Generalize for the other groups to learn and go by.

Elyon: When the level of doubt reaches to a point when personal affronts occur, when people choose on the basis of who tells the most appealing message, when you are so willing to love and be tolerant, yet in your own being you know that through this willingness a solution cannot be achieved that is desirable, then you must formulate a new goal. I would like to speak in great detail about these dynamics of fostering working groups, for truly that is the goal of the initial stages of this mission. Sometimes you have to know what is right, and you have to decide to do something strong to support what you believe in; and if you see that there is no salvable solution, then you must seriously consider what you can do to keep your inner peace. Does this help?

Student #2: Yes, it does. Thank you very much, teacher.

Elyon: I would gladly share my thoughts with you anytime that you would want; and feel that it is no burden to call for advice and understanding. I hold you dearly to myself, and if you see what can happen when those with like desires work together then your decisions will be eased. Don't feel that stress needs to be a major part of your goals. This outreach is not supposed to be difficult. It should be held with joy also. I thank you for coming here.

Student #2: Thank you. We will be happy to call on you when we are back home in Utah. We enjoy you very much, and we've known you now, actively, for over a year.

Elyon: And I will see you tomorrow, hopefully.

the Supreme, Unity

Machiventa: Good evening. I am the Melchizedek you know well. I come on this completion of the cycle of your group's activities to salute you. You have all extended in commitment to the degree that you have all gained success in the mission activities. I recognize that commitment within you that you individually place before our God of all. I see in this grouping the bonding of a social commitment. I would encourage all to seek this togetherness and to trust in the supremacy of such a grouping even when the external circumstances do not simply portray the case. The beauty of our universal makeup is that individuality is maintained while we all experience the uniting, the one family quality of the Supreme. And in this individual-and-all interplay, doubt and confusion may arise in regards to what appears as fragmentation. Trust that all is working in harmony toward this unfoldment, and that the individuals that move about seemingly independently are very much co-ordinated.

Always look deep within yourself to the Father source for your own stamina, direction, energy, motivation, commitment; and look with the eye of discernment toward the God Supreme as you reach out to those around you and seek to gain the harmony of brotherhood. In Her you will gain the trust of togetherness, of fraternity, of a unity in spite of individuality, of a cohesiveness that maintains your sovereignty and the sovereignty of all.

I thank you, my children, for working with me and our Sovereign Son. The faith that you have extended in this outreach program is a noble faith, and it is a good mark in your ascension achievements.

On this occasion I would receive from you comment. I would be willing to dialogue, as this year has brought you to the point of accepting the many surprises that occur.

Criticism

Student #1: Could you tell us what part criticism plays in the dynamics of a group?

Machiventa: Criticism on its own is neutral, however as it gets applied becomes polarized rather immediately. A good critic is one who can discern the flaws or frailties of a situation and guide those involved toward building and strengthening and achieving a good result, much like your skilled art and music critics. Yet, as you are aware, there is a form of criticism that drives wedges, splits and cleaves, destroys, halts the momentum underway. You have in your culture many an artist who sits with uncompleted projects due to careless criticism. Criticism can shine light on a situation if extended with the eye of help, with the arm of upholding. Perhaps a better word is needed to differentiate. As you recall this evening the phrase "wise as serpents, harmless as doves". That applied to criticism would be bonding and building. Would you like more?

Student #1: Yes. What I would like is a role model right here. I would love it if we had a Melchizedek to emulate. I am just waiting for that.

Machiventa: Agreed. Our efforts at assigning teachers to you all is, in a way, to bring this about; though, having walked with you, I realize the difficulty, standing on your end, the requirement of faith, the lack of physical abilities to discern the morontia companions. Where there is no emulator, no example, I encourage you to become that example, to provide your brothers and sisters with the very thing you desire. And this may cause a chain reaction amongst you all and an upliftment of this planet. I would be very happy.

Student #2: Prince Machiventa, I have a question. Some groups when they split up, split up harshly. Could you give some guidelines on when they do decide to split up the best way to do this. Is it best to do by outright discussion with everybody, to start small groups on the side? Should there be secrecy? Some groups that's brought troubles, though when you do bring it up with the entire group, a lot of times people are reluctant to talk that way or share their full honest intents. Could you give some guidelines on how groups could pursue such topics?

Consensus, Flexibility

Machiventa: In a word, flexibility. At greater length, the ideal is for the entire group to come to a consensus. However, you have done well in expressing some of the avenues of approach when consensus is not attainable. The Master would often draw the apostles off by themselves for private consultation and group strengthening before engaging even with the disciples or evangels who traveled with them. These were a circle within a circle. You do need to take into confidence your trusted friends. And through the seeking of group wisdom come to a decision as to how to approach the larger mass, but it is the path you must traverse on your own.

You must be flexible. Try all avenues, since this planet has been disrupted in the normal progress of evolution and much of society's skills are lacking in co-operation. You may need at some point to simply "kick off the dust" and begin anew. But I would encourage you to seek to bend and flex with all in attempt to provide the grounds for everyone to be nourished. Use your discernment in what may be simply personality hunger for power and manipulation. This need not be tolerated. This has gone on too long here. Always provide the counter truth of co-operation, of harmony, and of placing truth high above any gain toward self. Has this been helpful?

Teaching Mission, Materialization

Student #2: Yes it has. I also get the impression that since this planet has been mismanaged and really had no planetary government in the past, it seems like a lot of things that we are used to doing in a traditional way, do not necessarily mean they are right. Is there truth to that? Would the Teaching Mission be trying to teach normal ways that we should be on if we were in a normal planetary situation?

Machiventa: Yes. Our mission here is to discern how best to educate the forward- looking souls. One day we will be amongst you to facilitate the process directly. I know the hardship that is experienced in the seekers who hold to the high ideal. I would recall to your attention the portrayal of my good friend, Abraham. When we were together in the flesh, he would charge into the next city to spread the message by sword and by force. This illustrates that the zeal, though misdirected, did not harm him in his ascent, as he stands with me today in service. The amazing spectacle of Urantia is that this planet was able to grow in spite of the difficulties. It will be corrected over time, more rapidly as we undergo this process. The traditions, the conceptual frameworks, the social organizations you have will change. Much is changing today and causes distress amongst the factions of your societies. Let us work together toward the inevitable.

Group: Thank you for being here.

Closing

Machiventa: I thank you for being with me. I will be with you again. Farewell for now.