Greetings All –
Step 34 - I am a
beginning student of Knowledge. (MP3)
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folder or play from Drive – Step PDF also.]
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I am a beginning student
of Knowledge. Step 34
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YOU ARE A BEGINNING STUDENT OF
KNOWLEDGE. Regardless of how intuitive you may consider yourself, regardless of
how mentally capable you may consider yourself, regardless of how emotionally
honest you may consider yourself, no matter what your recognized advancement,
you are a beginning student of Knowledge. Be happy that this is so, for
beginning students are in a position to learn all things and need not defend
their accomplishments. We do not belittle your accomplishments but instead wish
to shine the light of truth upon the greatness that waits to be discovered
within you, a greatness that will give you true equality in life and in time
will reveal what you have come here specifically to do.
IN YOUR TWO PRACTICE PERIODS,
begin by acknowledging to yourself that you are a beginning student of
Knowledge and by reminding yourself to make no premature conclusions either
about this curriculum or about your abilities as a student. Such judgments are
premature and rarely reflect the truth in any way. They are usually a form of
self-discouragement and thus serve no worthy purpose at all.
AFTER DECLARING TODAY’S IDEA TO
YOURSELF and reminding yourself not to judge, practice 15 minutes of inner
stillness in your two practice periods. Attempt to feel the truth within you.
Focus your mind on one point, either a physical point or an imaginary point if
necessary. Let everything settle down inside. Let yourself become as quiet as
possible, and do not be discouraged if there is difficulty. You are a beginning
student of Knowledge and thus can learn all things.
PRACTICE 34: Two 15-minute
practice periods.
This
is the beginning. We are beginning students.
Picture: Students
in the modern world are not necessarily in austere surroundings as they begin. Here
the upper level lounge of the Harmons City Creek grocery store, Salt Lake City,
Utah on October 18, 2015 – a Sunday.
Having been raised Lutheran in Wisconsin and, taking the
church seriously, I was listening for my call to service. I did not feel called
to the ministry, as some friends were, but it seemed I should be doing
something. After becoming 33, about the age Jesus completed his ministry, I
thought I might have missed my calling.
From the Journal:
4:50 A.M. August 18 - The Grand Cross is complete. Belief landmarks in time come and go. The earth is still here. So am I.
S2K 33 - I have a mission in my life to fulfill. (I hope it is easy).
2:35 p.m. late lunch. In the early mediation/thought there was nothing. The timer seemed to go off soon.
Late at work - "the mission is here." It was followed by several phone calls based on the relationships I've created.
6:45 p.m. Home to mediate S2K and eat.
I have a mission in my life to fulfill. What does that mean?Is it learning to acquire for use elsewhere? I've thought about this before.
My purpose could be to open one door at the right time, to get the donkey for Jesus to ride into Jerusalem, to encourage one person. ACIM says we are to do our small part.
A mission could be grandiose. Of huge importance to the entire universe. I don't seem to have the equipment for that.
My orientation since young had been to do things for others in worse shape. It was that motivation to make cities work that led to planning.
After so many years I'm burned out often, lacking the stamina perhaps.
I considered the ministry when young. Just this A.M. I thought it would be good to go to a monastery. There I'd be told what to do.
Is this mission self-directed?
I do not know. I'm dozing ...
The book says not to jump to a conclusion. I don't know what other reasons I could have for being here.
If my Holy Spirit/Knowledge connection grows, it will be clear, or so it seems from the emphasis on Knowledge. I would like that to become clear since I've no particular goals.
The thought, "Here am I; send me," comes to mind.
A half hour has passed. It is 7:15 p.m.
In two half-hour sessions, one could have many thoughts. I wrote down quite a few back then. Hopefully, you might see value in keeping your journal, as compared to thinking about the comments of others.
4:50 A.M. August 18 - The Grand Cross is complete. Belief landmarks in time come and go. The earth is still here. So am I.
S2K 33 - I have a mission in my life to fulfill. (I hope it is easy).
2:35 p.m. late lunch. In the early mediation/thought there was nothing. The timer seemed to go off soon.
Late at work - "the mission is here." It was followed by several phone calls based on the relationships I've created.
6:45 p.m. Home to mediate S2K and eat.
I have a mission in my life to fulfill. What does that mean?Is it learning to acquire for use elsewhere? I've thought about this before.
My purpose could be to open one door at the right time, to get the donkey for Jesus to ride into Jerusalem, to encourage one person. ACIM says we are to do our small part.
A mission could be grandiose. Of huge importance to the entire universe. I don't seem to have the equipment for that.
My orientation since young had been to do things for others in worse shape. It was that motivation to make cities work that led to planning.
After so many years I'm burned out often, lacking the stamina perhaps.
I considered the ministry when young. Just this A.M. I thought it would be good to go to a monastery. There I'd be told what to do.
Is this mission self-directed?
I do not know. I'm dozing ...
The book says not to jump to a conclusion. I don't know what other reasons I could have for being here.
If my Holy Spirit/Knowledge connection grows, it will be clear, or so it seems from the emphasis on Knowledge. I would like that to become clear since I've no particular goals.
The thought, "Here am I; send me," comes to mind.
A half hour has passed. It is 7:15 p.m.
In two half-hour sessions, one could have many thoughts. I wrote down quite a few back then. Hopefully, you might see value in keeping your journal, as compared to thinking about the comments of others.
NNC
Journal
2nd Time Step 33. 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 my first year 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.
