Greetings All –
Step 160 - The world is
poor, but I am not. (MP3)
[Open in Drive or copy to
your Drive – Download folder or play from Drive – Step PDF also.]
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| “The world is poor, but I am not.” Step 160 |
THE WORLD IS POOR, BUT YOU ARE NOT POOR. Regardless
of your circumstances, this is true because you are reclaiming the wealth of
Knowledge. Understand, then, the meaning of impoverishment. Understand, then,
the meaning of wealth. Do not think that those who possess more objects than
you are in any way wealthier than you are, for without Knowledge they are
impoverished and will acquire things only to offset their misery and
uncertainty. Thus, their impoverishment is compounded by their acquisition.
THE WORLD IS POOR, BUT YOU ARE NOT, for you have
brought Knowledge with you into the world where Knowledge has been forgotten
and denied. Thus, in the reclamation of your own wealth, the world will reclaim
its wealth as well, for you shall stimulate Knowledge in all, and their wealth
will begin to reveal itself in your presence and in the presence of Knowledge
which guides you.
THEREFORE, DO NOT ASK ANYTHING OF THE WORLD save
what few material things you need to fulfill your function. This is a small
request in light of what you have come to give. And if your demands are not in
excess of what you need, the world will gladly render them to you in exchange
for a greater gift which you possess.
CONSIDER THE IDEA FOR THE DAY UPON EACH HOUR. Do
not let any hour pass without this recognition. Strengthen your resolution to use
each practice in all circumstances of the day so that your life may be
meaningful in all of its events. In your two longer practice periods today,
enter into stillness and peace to learn more of the wealth that you possess.
PRACTICE 160: Two 30-minute practice periods. Hourly
practice.
Today’s practice says: “In your two longer practice periods today, enter
into stillness and peace to learn more of the wealth that you possess.” In time, this becomes a practice that can be done
whenever needed. Sometimes it will occur spontaneously.
It is not too difficult to find a picture that shows
part of the world being “poor”. This is a building along a railroad line in
Italy near Milan. The rails look new, but this perhaps old station building is
on the decline and showing graffiti which is very common in urban environments;
that a sign of poverty as well when people deface their own environment.
Understanding the poverty and wealth of the world is what will be an outcome
for Steps students.
From
the journal:
12:28
a.m. Wednesday, Dec 23, 1999 – Yesterday Tue Dec 22 – a few hours ago - @8:15 –
9:15 p.m. – I was in the woods for the solstice – bright moon – white dusting
of snow snow reflecting moonlight. …
8:45
a.m. … late to work, no practice time. What am I learning – need to keep
schedule. I was encouraged by an e-mail from Germany and responded to that.
In
the woods, on the path last night, it was still and quiet, except for the leave
crunching as I walked, the babbling of the creek where there was water, and the
highway and jet engine noises of passage.
10:
15 p.m. Tired today? Tonight – Tomorrow Christmas Eve. Time for practice #2 – I
need more silence? Perhaps.
Holidays do make life busy. These are the Holy
Days. The Meaning of Christmas is a message that is of note for this time. You
might be interested here in June. A few underlines on the Steps page.
Let us continue. In the first year of Steps there
is much to experience and other things to let go of. It all takes time. Good
thing we are not destitute.
NNC
Journal second time x2
Step 159. 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.
