February 2, 1986
God has spoken to each of you today in this group.
The dilemma, if it may be called that, which was shared is something that each of you experiences. You must remember that growth is never steady in pace. It takes time. It changes. It changes because your lives change. Your lives take on shape, they take on perspective, both of which change practically on a daily basis. We have met with you as a group when you have been up emotionally and when you have been down. But just as you accept the changes in the emotional dynamics of the group, so must you also recognize that such changes are of course a natural outgrowth of all that occupies you in your daily lives. For a period of time one focuses on one area of importance, and at another time that focus changes. It must change because needs change. Those changes should be welcomed.
Life would be tedious and at times unbearable if whatever direction you found yourself in were unchanging. It is through the very act of changing that you grow. You grow through your responses to that change. Such response is affected by your relationship to those around you and also in your relationship to God. We emphasize almost parenthetically that it is your relationship to God which changes, but never God’s relationship to you.
So often when you have met, one or another of you has been upset by setbacks, frustrations, seemingly unsolvable problems or issues. When these events have occurred, you have all attempted to provide help through an expression of love and support. That is indeed a strength of this group, and it is the direct application of many of the teachings you have received. It is one vital reason you are together in such meetings. The opportunity to collectively reach out and give loving support united together does not occur often. Your gathering provides such an ongoing opportunity.
When you experience an awareness of a change in your concept of God, such awareness never occurs within a vacuum. It is always the result of something which takes place within your life. When your perception changes, it is because of events in your life which affect your perception. Such change may be a heightened awareness of God, but it is generally precipitated by some event which brings God into concrete focus. When one’s vision of God is diminished, it is because the influence of one’s life stands in the way.
Frequently we have mentioned and emphasized the importance of setting priorities. Such an activity must never be done once, for priorities are always fluid. What was important last year may not be so essential this year and may be nearly meaningless the next. It is not correct to sit down with yourself and in a soul-searching way determine the major priorities in your life and thereafter proceed blindly in the direction indicated by such priorities. You must be willing to accept that because your lives change, priorities change. That is a part of growth also.
What is important is that each of you is honest with yourself, that each of you is willing to recognize what is important at the moment and then act with that knowledge, recognizing that such priorities must and will change. It is fine to say that the single priority which must be first is an abiding love of God and the commitment to living as God would wish. It says nothing about action. When we speak of setting priorities which change, we are talking about priorities of action.
If you accept the undeniable need for a relationship with God that would carry your soul forward in growth, the determination of how best to achieve that will result in changing goals. You can recognize the importance of God in your life and proceed for days and weeks with never a thought. That in itself is not wrong, but what is important is what transpires in those days and weeks. How can you best set those priorities of action? The most efficient and effective manner is looking back upon your own life in the recent past and reflecting upon the question of whether what you have done is in some manner reflective of God. If you can find God in your past actions, your priorities are appropriate. But if, as you look back, you find selfishness and not a trace of God, then a change is needed.
What we wish to impart to each of you is a recognition of the need for flexibility. There is no one correct way to live a life. The direction of priorities governing the actions of a scientist cannot be the same as a miner. Their lives are different. They must take different directions. Their lives have different character, different shapes. Priorities are chosen which best fit those characters, those shapes.
All of you are growing. Whether you see God clearly every day or not, growth is taking place. It is only for you to have the courage to look back seeking evidence of God. That is what you must do.
Events of the past week in your nation have been felt deeply by many, but in our plane we find it unfortunate that a nation can be brought together through grief when such tragedy is within the public view, and yet react only with curiosity when headlines tell of the far greater suffering. It is our hope and should be your prayer that such events bring humanity to a greater recognition of the true value of life, human life. The shuttle disaster was indeed a disaster, but disasters affecting far greater numbers occur daily. They occur hourly and humankind gives such little thought. If as a result of your nation’s mourning you are brought to a more intense recognition of the value of people, the value of someone else in the world whom you have never met, then you will be drawn closer to the willingness to respond to all people with greater love and compassion.
Life is important. That sounds like a shallow statement, but it is indeed vital, for we are talking about the value of human life, all human life. Life is no more valuable after it has been lost than before. Those who respond in grief to the loss of one whom they never met, rarely respond to another who is living with equal love and compassion, but that you must do.
Give attention to others—what they say, what they mean. Recognize the value of their lives among the lives of the multitude. Respect all life. Be willing to accept that all who live are valuable, are worthy of life and deserving of all love. We talk about all people, even criminals. Life is to be valued. It is to be shared. It is to be preserved whenever possible. It is to be enhanced. Rejoice that you are a part of life, and recognize your potential for increasing its power and strength through the offering of love and your peaceful presence.
We bless each of you with God’s peace.
Amen.