Greetings All –
Step 144 - I will honor
myself today. (MP3)
[Open in Drive or copy to
your Drive – Download folder or play from Drive – Step PDF also.]
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| “I will honor myself today.” Step 144 |
HONOR YOURSELF BECAUSE OF YOUR HERITAGE, because of your
destiny and because of your purpose. Honor yourself because life honors you.
Honor yourself because God is honored in God’s Creation in you. This eclipses
all the evaluations that you have made upon yourself. This is greater than any
criticism that you have levied against
yourself. This is greater than any pride that you have used to offset your
pain.
IN SIMPLICITY AND HUMILITY REMIND YOURSELF upon the
hour to honor yourself. In your two deeper practices today, allow yourself to experience
the presence of Knowledge, for this honors you and honors Knowledge as well.
Honor yourself this day so that Knowledge may be honored, for in reality you
are Knowledge. This is your True Self, but it is a Self that you are only now
beginning to reclaim.
PRACTICE 144: Two 30-minute practice periods. Hourly
practice.
Honoring oneself with a hot fudge sundae – is this
picture appropriate for Step 144?
GCW – I, Chapter 21 Enduring Happiness, page 145:
“It does not mean
that you become an ascetic and give up all things .That is ridiculous. That is only for very
specialized individuals.”
GCW-II, Chapter 23 Becoming Wise, page 147:
“What does it mean to become wise? How do you
discern Wisdom in another? What are the results of achieving this state of mind
and readiness? Of course, people have many images associated with Wisdom. It is
often associated with asceticism
or self-sacrifice, loneliness, suffering, mystery or an inexplicable quality in
others. It is often held in very high regard, but in such a way that people
feel that it is quite remote from them and quite beyond their reach or grasp.
Treating oneself well is a way to honor oneself. Of course, you need the
resources for it. But when it is not an excuse to indulge, well it isn’t
prohibited. This picture is from Prague, a spring day in 2008. I did enjoy the
moment.
Yesterday: Step
143 - Today I will be still.
From
the journal:
Tuesday,
Dec 7, 1999 – “Today I will be still.”
…
8:05
p.m. At work preparing for my second meditation. I was going to shop for Sarah,
but that didn’t work. …
8:40 p.m. Time completed – not a time
where being still came easy. Work issues bouncing about.
What is needed are vibrant central
cities leading the hinterland benevolently. It is central city wealth/ benevolence
of the countryside. The growing together from separate loci and blending is
needed – as in the Netherlands.
…
Please remember that I am working as a regional
planner and as director of the agency. It is frustrating work, but necessary
for human unity and cooperation. It is “greater community” at smaller scales
and the challenges are instructive. As you consider your work in the world, it
may be the profession you are in now, or may be something your soul is taking
you to in the future. For this reason, Step 144 is as it is.
NNC
Journal second time x2 Step 143. 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.
