4/29/15

Step 119 - Review ~ GIVE YOURSELF TO THIS REVIEW so that you may understand how you learn. (MP3) Entry for Step 118 - I will not avoid the world today.


Greetings All –

Step 119 - Review ~ GIVE YOURSELF TO THIS REVIEW so that you may understand how you learn. (MP3) [Open in Drive or copy to your Drive – Download folder or play from Drive – Step PDF also.]


IN THIS SPECIAL REVIEW, review the past two weeks of practice, reviewing each instruction and recalling each day of practice. Try to remember how seriously you thought about each day’s practice and how well you utilized that practice. Do not think you can complain rightfully about this preparation unless you are utilizing it to its fullest extent. Your role here is only to follow the steps as they are given and not to alter them according to your preferences. In this way, you place yourself in a position to receive, which is the position you now need to acquire for yourself.

IN YOUR TWO LONG PRACTICE PERIODS TODAY, each one given to one week of practice, review the past two weeks. Try to be very kind with yourself, but recognize if you are falling short of the requirements and do not deceive yourself in this regard. Rededicate yourself to deepening your practice and your resolve, reminding yourself of the simplicity of your life and the true value that is being given to you. In this way, you will learn a new way of living. You will learn how to receive and how to give, and your life will be free of the darkness of complexity. For simplicity must always be of the light; it must always be of the good.

THEREFORE, GIVE YOURSELF TO THIS REVIEW so that you may understand how you learn. These Reviews will demonstrate to you your own learning faculties and your own learning predispositions. They will teach you the necessary things that you will need to know in the future when you will be able to help others learn as well.

PRACTICE 119: Two long practice periods


From the journal:
7:36 A.M. - Friday, November 12, 1999 – The world expects a lot – and I am tired. Spirit expects a lot – and I am tired. My children need a lot – and I am tired. I am here to serve – I seek/am willing to be guided by KNOWLEDGE.

8:42 A.M. Bathroom time - I am here to serve the world. I will not avoid the world.

Sarah is back at home. Lloyd locked her out. The Sheriff’s deputy took her to Starlite.

Pain, pain, pain …

3:49 p.m. – I will not avoid the world today. Where will I get the energy?

2001 A Space Odyssey – the movie ended with Keir Dullea in a bedroom – almost a nursing home – old age situation. It was culturally – earth based/Western civilization projection – for a distant future – yet still a probable end. As I lay in bed writing this – It is a probable future for me. 

Really, could not avoid the world that day. Step 118 page has notes in green, 1999, blue 2000 and then there’s an entry form 2009. That says: “Knowledge is the true companion of the mind.” This is a useful recognition. It only took ten years to achieve, and another four now in 2014, to remember it. This Practice has continuing, long term benefits – so stick with it; that’s my recommendation.


Here’s a picture of the scene in 2001 that I reference. That movie was released in 1968 – the year I graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. I studied film and was going to make a movie that saved the world. Isn’t idealism a wonderful motivator? This film did stick with me and remains an important vision/test of vision. Some of that future has been realized, but not as much as we wanted way back in 1968.

The only difference between this and the movie scene is that the monolith has Greater Community Spirituality written on it in many languages.

NNC
 

Journal second time x2 Step 118.  This is for those who have completed Steps once. Doing Steps with only the texts, messages and your life experience, including what you may have studied and practiced is your journey. I’m showing Step comments after the Step, so as not to influence you in advance. It is a wilderness trek to be left to your own wits, but then you can also listen more closely for guides, angels and teachers, always first saying: “I surround and protect myself with the Love and the Grace of God.” Thankfully, I was taught this practice in 1989.

P.S. If you’ve some interest due to this or other Steps, you should go to the beginning blog post. From here you will learn about Steps to Knowledge and can begin it on the day that makes sense; then progress as needed. You can use the posts on this blog as a companion if it helps. They will remain in order in the archives - one post per Step.

Often it takes 18 months to get through the Steps once. For this blog, the pace is one-a-day, but it really makes no difference how fast you do it, only that you begin, persist and repeat. Posts here provide a trail that may let you have a virtual companion when and if you want one. One may have to study alone, as I did in the beginning. There are other Steps students blogging their experience and you might find a person more like you as a companion, or use a number of such Steps journeys. There are options as well through the Free School of the New Message.