Greetings All –
IN THE WORLD YOU ARE A STUDENT—ALWAYS. Every day,
every hour and every minute you are learning and attempting to assimilate your
learning. You are either a student of Knowledge or a student of confusion. You
are either a student of certainty or a student of ambivalence. You are either a
student of wholeness and integrity or you are a student of conflict and war. You
can only learn from being in the world, and you can only demonstrate the result
of your learning.
THEREFORE, THERE IS NO CHOICE whether you will be a
student or not, for you will be a student even if you decide not to be a student.
If you decide not to be a student, you will merely study another curriculum. In
this, you have no choice, for to be in the world is to learn and to demonstrate
the result of your learning. Recognizing this, your decision, then, is to
determine where you will be a student and what you will learn. This is the
power of decision that is given to you. Knowledge will naturally guide you to
make the right decision and will lead you unto itself, for it is given to you
to give to the world. Thus, as you approach Knowledge, you will feel as if you
are engaged in a great homecoming. You will feel a great integration within
yourself, and you will feel your self-conflict and your war with yourself begin
to diminish and to fade.
BE A STUDENT OF KNOWLEDGE TODAY, for a student you
are. Choose the curriculum that has chosen you. Choose the curriculum that will
redeem you and through you the world. Choose the curriculum that fulfills your
purpose here and that exemplifies your life beyond this world, which wishes to
express itself here. Become a student of Knowledge.
REALIZE THE POWER OF TODAY’S IDEA and remember it
upon the hour. Always remember to read the day’s lesson prior to entering into the
world so that you may begin to utilize its practice for that day. Confirm your
studenthood in Knowledge. Strengthen your involvement as a student of
Knowledge. Follow today’s practices with greater and greater devotion.
IN YOUR TWO DEEPER PRACTICE PERIODS, actively
engage your mind in considering what it means to be a student in the world. Engage
your mind in understanding the message for today, and attempt to realize that
you are a student under all circumstances. Try to realize that you have no
choice here, for you must learn, assimilate and demonstrate your learning. This
is the foundation for true teaching. Realize that your purpose in the world is
to become a student of Knowledge, to assimilate Knowledge and to allow
Knowledge to express itself so that you may demonstrate Knowledge in the world.
In the simplest way, this is an expression of your purpose, and from your purpose
a specific calling will come forth to guide you in specific ways in the world
according to your nature and your design.
THUS, TODAY YOU WILL STRENGTHEN YOURSELF AS A
STUDENT of Knowledge. In your longer practice periods, actively engage your
mind in attempting to penetrate today’s idea and to recognize its absolute relevancy
to your life.
PRACTICE 290: Two 30-minute practice periods.
Hourly practice.
On 5/1/2000 I signed my name and wrote on the back
of a business card: “A Student of Knowledge” and
have carried this with me with in my leather calendar (UK = diary) ever since. Not
always the best student, but always a student.
On the Steps page, a simple notation: “True.”
Others may feel the same on this point: “Realize that you cannot comprehend Knowledge; you
can only receive it. You can only experience its extension through your life
into the world.”
In the journal, processing, processing, processing –
Steps related at the end bold :
12:02
a.m. May 1, 2000 – Alignment begins – again. Reading Beckworth I find that I
tried to do much correctly. I lost control of our details – and had active
enemies. I've learned much as a result. Knowledge will lead me – I read Knowledge
in Beckworth's words.
7:45
a.m. I live in a beautiful world. May
others awake to it and end their own conflict/war. The world is mostly still,
except for young children. Things don't move that much – though within it is
all moving.
10:58
a.m. At LFPDC – my brand "Tom Christoffel" is in the business of
developing "regional intelligence." The perspective needed is that
the region is local – it is my region; its assets are in my back yard. All
politics is local – make the region local. An inclusive name is an important
step – a geographic/historic base is also important. My region – a consumer
version.
→ the deal for
the PDC is to help, but remain invisible. If it's local, if there's juice, then
it has to be elected.
The
Regions Work Services Network.
My
brand name can't be sullied by the politics going on here.
6:52
p.m. On the back porch for practice #2. "Today I Am a Student of
Knowledge." It is windy – rain may be rolling in.
At
work I have spells of energy/no energy. Is it that I'm old or I'm depressed or
just feeling no stress. I'd like the world to see the opportunity I see.
Perhaps they do – but in a different way. It is good there's a mix of people in
the world – or 1 million jobs I couldn't do now. Perhaps I've always been too
idealistic? Too sensitive? Not well suited for this world – but I found a niche
& survive. Cindy and I are doing well. The weekend was nice. We'd seen
"Return to Me" with David Duchovny
& Minnie Driver. He loves his wife –she's killed in a car accident. It
makes you afraid to love someone too much. Cindy was late last night. I began
to worry – losing what you love – not an S2K thought – more human.
Still A
Student of Knowledge is what I am – what I choose to be. I don't know if it's
laziness or Knowledge that is slowing me down. The world goes faster –
10:27 p.m. I am a student of Knowledge. I'm
grateful to have this path – though it would have been nice to have had it
earlier when I had more energy.
Another day of being a student, significant in that
a commitment was made that remains today. “I am a Student of Knowledge.” Let us
continue.
NNC
P.S. At Step 216, 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.
