6/20/15

Step 171 - My giving is an affirmation of my wealth. (MP3) Entry for Step 170 - I am following the ancient rite of preparation today.


Greetings All –

Step 171 - My giving is an affirmation of my wealth. (MP3) [Open in Drive or copy to your Drive – Download folder or play from Drive – Step PDF also.]

“My giving is an affirmation of my wealth.” Step 171
YOUR GIVING IS AN AFFIRMATION OF YOUR WEALTH because you give from your own wealth. It is not the giving of objects that we speak of here, for you may give away all your possessions and then have none left over. But when you give Knowledge, Knowledge increases. And when you imbue your gift of an object with Knowledge, Knowledge increases. That is why when you receive Knowledge, you will want to give it because this is the natural expression of your own receptivity.

HOW CAN YOU EXHAUST KNOWLEDGE when Knowledge is the power and the Will of the universe? How small your vehicle, how great the substance that expresses itself through you. How great your relationship with life, and how great, then, are you who are with life. There is no conceit here. There is no self-inflation here, for you realize that you are small and great all at once, and you acknowledge the source of your smallness and the source of your greatness. You acknowledge the value of your smallness and the value of your greatness. You acknowledge all life, then, and nothing is left out of your great evaluation of yourself, which is born of love and true understanding. This, then, is the understanding that you must cultivate over time, realizing again that your efforts to do so are embellished by the efforts of others, who are also students of Knowledge in your world. Even students in other worlds embellish your efforts, for in Knowledge there is no time and distance. Thus, you have great support available to you now, and in this you realize your true relationship with life.

PRACTICE UPON THE HOUR and in your deeper meditations, allow the word RAHN to take you into Knowledge. Silently and in stillness, as you sink into the depths of Knowledge, receive the peace and the confirmation that are your birthright.

PRACTICE 171: Two 30-minute practice periods. Hourly practice.

While the Step says it isn’t about the giving of objects and money could be an object, I am struck by those who do give money willingly to many causes in the world. As Steps students we could imbue our monetary and object giving with Knowledge. Seeing others in the act of giving, is watching a teaching act, if that motivates us or others to do the same. Thus, today's picture.


From the Journal:

6:37 a.m. Monday, January 3, 1999 – Work today – tackle the mess – simplify – create order –

8:25 a.m. Just completed GCW-I for the 2nd time. Since I’ve been doing S2K I got more out of it. It is consistent with many, many of my thoughts & experiences. Gaps are filled in – it does not over promise. Earthlings need lots of help …lot to break through the spell of matter. I really don’t want to go to work – but there is no choice.

Short entry. Reading Greater Community Wisdom I and II, as well as Greater Community Spirituality, provided me a framework for understanding the Steps. More materials are available now, but just using these might be enough for the first time through. The notion that: “YOU ARE UNDERTAKING AN ANCIENT RITE in the reclamation of Knowledge,” did not have a recorded response in 2000, but even today it remains a big thought to consider about the nature of our existence. Let us continue.
NNC
 

Journal second time x2 Step 170.  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.