Greetings All –
THE POWER OF KNOWLEDGE WILL EXTEND ITSELF from you who
are receiving Knowledge. At first this will be very subtle, but as you continue
to develop and apply yourself, the power of Knowledge will become stronger and
stronger. It will be a force of attraction for some. It will be a force of
rejection for others who are unable to respond to it. It will influence all. That
is why you must learn to be very discerning in relationships, for
as you progress as a student of Knowledge, your influence over others will be
greater. You must not use this influence for selfish purposes, or your
activities will be destructive to you and to others.
KNOWLEDGE PROVIDES THIS RESTRAINT that we have
spoken of, and you must exercise it on your own behalf. If you are ambitious with
Knowledge, you will pose very great risks to yourself and to other people, for
Wisdom, compassion, restraint and self-control must accompany the development
of Knowledge. If you attempt to use Knowledge for your own selfish gain or for
what you think the world needs, you will lead yourself astray and Knowledge
will not accompany you.
ACCEPT THE RESTRAINT AND DEVELOPMENT that are
called for now, for they will protect you and enable you to render your gifts
with a minimum of discord and personal risk. They will guarantee the wholeness
and worthiness of your contribution, for it will be untainted by selfish
motives. Practice upon the hour and enter deeply into meditation twice today.
Repeat your idea for the day and enter into stillness once again. Allow this to
be a day where Knowledge is strengthened.
PRACTICE 269: Two 30-minute practice periods. Hourly
practice.
This is a big Step, in that it is telling us about Complexity in the world, compared to
Step 267 where we were just dealing with our own problems. The tool is the same
– Knowledge, and the apparent complexity of greater world problems is something
that may take several stages. We do not use Knowledge, but follow it. The text
concludes: “A mind at peace is not deceived
by the world.” Having a mind
at peace is a worthwhile goal that the Steps are intended to help us reach.
From the Journal:
Monday,
April 10, 2000
6:13
p.m. 2nd practice – came out @ 24 minutes. What problems am I trying to solve
other than my own little life problems? I need to solve my investing problem;
my writing of an article and presentation problem; my exercise problem.
Steps…
The house is quiet – I've been sore today – getting along at work – moving
things forward.
9:20
p.m. This book is nearly done. Where am I? Many Steps to go. I've probably made
mis-steps. I'm confused.
---
Purpose
– promote cooperation; meaning – this reflects the greater community –
Direction
– find what works – look at it differently –
The
journal is limited this day. I am trying, it looks, to define my meaning,
purpose and direction, yet I note: “I’m
confused.” The Teachers, in other messages, essentially give us permission
to be confused, as that is part of the path to learning. If we were always sure
of everything, we’d be unable to recognize error and the need for change.
NNC
P.S. At Step 269, we are into Part Two of Steps, so
if you’ve found this and find some appeal in this or other Steps, you should
really go to the beginning blog post. From here you learn about Steps to Knowledge and
can begin it on the day that makes sense and 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 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.
