2001-12-23-Intentional Living

Session

Opening

I am ABRAHAM. Greetings. I am in gratitude this evening for the comforting energy here in this group. I think back when we first began, we were nothing more than acquaintances. Now I feel as though you each are my siblings in this Family Kingdom. As I know you more my love increases. I have learned a great deal being your teacher. I am moved by your dedication to upholding Michael's enhancements for the world.

Lesson

Intention

When I review the morontia mota I am made to ponder how we become more of who we really are. Mota is about being challenged to do your very best for the good of the whole. This mansion world philosophy teaches us that we are integral parts of the universe, unique and with purpose. And while we are feeling more of a part of the whole we can see how our individuality adds in a divine way, not in a self-serving way, no. I give you EMULAN.

EMULAN. Greetings friends. I too am honored to be a branch on this family tree. Most of you know my story of when I wore the mortal flesh. I experienced a great deal of personal tragedy, which led to mental illness, which led to my profession as a psychiatrist. I desire this evening to speak a few words on intentional living.

As I was coming out of the darkness of my personal tragedy I believed that I was a victim of mortal life. I had no control over it. It just happened and I only had to play along. My life was quite mundane. I lived mostly in fear of life happening to me. I practically hid from everyday living. I took no risks. I always made effort to protect myself. I gave nothing, therefore I got nothing.

Life was just about passing time. Just moving towards the inevitable end. I had no sorrow, but I also had no joy. Believe me, I was terribly lonely. To risk moving on forward with life put me at risk to facing pain all over again. I prayed for relief from my non-existent existence. What was the point in living this mortal life?

As I prayed, as I studied, my vision expanded. I began taking small steps toward being fully present in this mortal life. I worried less about real life circumstances crashing down on me. I wanted to live and live well. I became with the understanding that experience was my best teacher, and to hide from it meant no regression, not really so much pain, but also no joy.

There is a price to pay for spiritual advancement. There is a cost. My friends, you must be willing to live life on purpose, to live intentionally experiencing the full spectrum from birth to death. Are we victims of the mortal life? No. We are partakers of a spiritual destiny. Does life just happen to us? Sometimes. Do we meet it with passivity? No. We are challengers in this mortal life. We most definitely direct destiny. We have responsibility towards our growth, the growth of our fellows, the growth of our God in time. Life may happen to us, but we also happen to life.

When we live intentionally, we practice being fully present and aware in each moment. We experience spiritual poisons, but also do we experience spiritual fruits. We challenge loneliness with a hopeful attitude. We challenge hate with the belief in prevailing love. We challenge prejudice with actions toward justice. We challenge depression with faith. We challenge our self-loathing with our belief in a divine parentage that loves us with the power of eternity.

We are not victims of life but challengers, climbing that divine staircase toward our full potential. You have power. You know that. In intentional living we can exert our personal power toward achieving wonderful things. We can have the power to exhaust our human resources, to make effort without fear and know that the final outcome should align with our Father's will. I am in gratitude for this understanding, this energy that helped me to excel in my mortal life, as well as the spiritual. My gratitude, friends. I leave you to ABRAHAM.

ABRAHAM We thank you, our friend, coworker and brother, Emulan, for your words regarding intentional living. This week I ask you to take time for journaling. Ask yourselves what aspects of life do I find myself hiding from? What is consuming my thoughts that takes me away from present moment awareness? Think about the goals you might strive for and what fearful obstacles may chance to come your way. What old internal patterns may keep you a victim instead of a challenger of life? A few questions. . . . .

Dialogue

Progress

What is the cost of spiritual progress?

DAVE E.: Abraham, I was wondering in the lesson tonight Emulan spoke of the cost of spiritual progress? Could you elaborate on that?

ABRAHAM: Certainly. The greatest cost of spiritual progress is perhaps the laying down of the ego. In mortal living the ego feels valuable. After this life it is not needed or valued. The cost of spiritual progress is perhaps the willingness to sometimes appear foolish to your fellows while trying to be close to God. The cost is the willingness to know true humility. The cost is being self-forgetful when you are really craving attention and credit. You can live an entire mortal life and still not be willing to pay this price. That is completely acceptable. That is why we have the mansion worlds. We have options. There is no pressure. The churches however would have you believe that Christ had paid the ultimate price for you, and that if you can live within their laws, you will surely gain entrance into Heaven. We are trying to correct that thinking--that Jesus did not so much pay a price for your salvation, but opened a door for you to find your own.

When we speak of paying a price towards spiritual advancement--this does stir up fear and most will struggle throughout their life to reconcile themselves toward daring to lose the self so that they may be saved. Christ did pay a price, but it was very much positive and His best aid in living the mortal life. The cost is self-forgetfulness, selflessness. The reward for such a small price paid has no words to describe the eternal magnitude of it.

Closing

And with that, I am slipping and will take my leave. I wish you spiritual comfort and peace over this holiday season and that you reap the wonderful benefits from a spirit led life. My love goes with you. Shalom.