Greetings All –
Step 197 - Knowledge must
be experienced to be realized. (MP3)
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your Drive – Download folder or play from Drive – Step PDF also.]
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| “Knowledge must be experienced to be realized.” Step 197 |
TODAY I WILL NOT THINK THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND
Knowledge with my intellect or that I can conceptualize the greatness of life.
I will not think today that by a mere idea or assumption I can fully gain
access to Knowledge itself. Realizing this, I will understand what is required
of me and what I must give to my practices, for I must give of myself.
YOU MUST GIVE OF YOURSELF. You cannot merely think
of ideas and hope that they will answer your greatest need. Realizing this today,
repeat your practice upon the hour and in your deeper meditations give yourself
completely to the experience of Knowledge. Enter into stillness. Allow yourself
to be completely involved. With this you will exercise the power of your own
mind on your behalf. You will then realize that you have the power to dispel
distractions; you have the power to dispel fear; you have the power to dispel obstructions
because your will is to know Knowledge.
PRACTICE 197: Two 30-minute practice periods. Hourly
practice.
Yesterday: Step
196 - Review
From the Journal:
9:22
p.m. Saturday, January 29, 2000 – at the Albertson’s grocery store in Murphy.
I'd just come from dropping Sarah and Lloyd off at their trailer.
We’d
gone to the movie Galaxy Quest and afterwards, went to the Starbucks for a talk
– I said they shouldn't be getting married if they didn't get along better.
Driving
to their home – the talk kept going – and at the mobile home – the alcohol story
fell out.
I
told her about being hurt as a child, ACOA – and being mad at God and wanting to die. I told
her people drink, drug, eat to kill the pain and kill themselves. I told her
how that God is not responsible for that – he gave us freedom to live – and in
the middle of the bad, something good happens – and we stay living. That's our
spirit – the mind and body – we leave behind.
In
jail she prayed to God. I said that's why I took her and David to Church – so
that when they had nothing they would have God – we know God is real.
More
was said – I told her how kids from alcoholic families are drawn together…
I
encouraged her to go to 12 Step – saying in 12 Step you forgive. …
I
told them that knowing about dysfunctional families in the generations of
alcoholics would help us live better and be forgiving. …
Afterwards
it felt like I’d given Sarah and Lloyd – Knowledge about spirit – mind – body –
and the pain that we deal with. … This is all well as needed for current
healing.
11 p.m.
- The long review – Step 196 – begins. All is quiet – here in Texas – back at
David's. Review covers two weeks – Steps 183-196 – it has been within the last
few days – I've understood the wisdom of the use of the word knowledge.
My
results in the world have been improving markedly: and "regions work"
opportunities have been appearing.
Prior to finding Greater Community Spirituality, one
of my theories, as it became clear that somehow we had chosen to incarnate on
Earth, was that that there was a place somewhere in Heaven, like a café or
Starbucks, where we’d once sat around talking and said, “Let’s go to earth and
live in dysfunctional families; that will be fun.”
When I did the review July 15, 2014, it took
several hours as I wrote down each Step and perhaps a key phrase which was
striking. On January 29, 2000, things were quite different. I’ve included from
the journal some of the material recorded; just to show how Knowledge had
helped me navigate. How we get through life is a mystery. It is also a reason
we search for understanding.
NNC
Journal second time x2
Step 196. 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.
