REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS A STUDENT—every day,
every hour and every moment. Therefore, as you become more conscientious, you
must select what you will learn. Here you are given a real choice, for you are
either a student of Knowledge or you are a student of confusion. Do not be a
student of confusion today. Do not be a student of fear today, for without
Knowledge there is uncertainty and there is fear. Without Knowledge there are
fearful pursuits which perpetrate greater fear and a greater sense of loss.
REALIZE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A STUDENT. Realize
this and accept this with relief, for you have a meaningful choice here—to be a
student of Knowledge or a student of confusion. Knowledge will cast its influence
upon you to enable you to make the right choice, to choose that which renders
you certainty, purpose, meaning and value in the world. Then, you may become a
force for Knowledge in the world to dispel confusion, darkness and fear from
all minds that labor under their oppressive weight.
DO NOT BE A STUDENT OF FEAR. Make this resolution
within yourself upon the hour as you recognize the fearful persuasions of the world,
the confusion of the world and its dark influence upon all who feel its
oppression. Allow yourself to be a liberated soul within the world. Hold the
jewel of love within your heart. Hold the light of Knowledge within your heart.
When you return to your two deeper meditation practices today, repeat the idea
for today so that you may enter into stillness and silence within your
sanctuary. Rejuvenate yourself in Knowledge and refresh yourself, for Knowledge
is the great light that you carry. The more that you come within its presence,
the more it will radiate itself upon you and the more it will shine upon you
and, through you, upon the world.
PRACTICE 304: Two 30-minute practice periods. Hourly
practice.
The day’s objective was to be: “free of the world’s persuasions.” This is accomplished by: ”the power of decision.” What are these persuasions? There is no list, but
we do learn they relate to: “your own
internal conflicts and from the conflicts that rage in the world.”
Stepping back is a good response in many
situations. The journal entry reflects confusion as well:
7:10
a.m. Monday, May 15, 2000 – Where am I? Physically – mellow – I enjoy stillness
– it is a sanctuary. It is when I'm in the world that I encounter trouble and
conflict.
8:09
a.m. – Out of the stillness. Nature is Still in a dynamic way. The built
environment is motionless – on the outside – trapped energy.
→ One size misfits all.
12:32
p.m. – 303 – "I will step back from the world's persuasions today."
If food is a persuasion – then I've not done well. Things were mellow at work.
Coming home at 7:30 p.m. I felt still as I walked through the still town. Along
Happy Creek @ the bridge I saw small songbirds I'd seldom seen before.
---
At
11:10 p.m. Sarah called. She said she wanted to thank me for being there for
her when she was it in with Lloyd and needed to get out. I told her I was
proud.
It
has been an OK day. I'm thankful to tears for S2K. I told Sarah we/M.E. and I –
stood on the sides and directed her where to go. When she was deep in a hole, we pointed to the ladder to get herself
out. Using S2K/GCW imagery.
This comes across as a mellow lesson. It is a
practice to be, perhaps, in the world, not of the world. In the last paragraph
there is a note of how I used Greater Community thought found in these readings
to assist my daughter in understanding a way to respond in her situation.
More effort to spread the New Message. Will there
be results? I will be unable to know for a great long time. Let us continue.
NNC
P.S. At Step 304, 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.