[tmtranscripts] Elyon/Tomas Group 5/7/00

[Rick P. Giles]

Coeur d'Alene Teaching Mission Group
Topics: Olfana Visits, Self-examination, Non-threatening Reality of God,
Gratitude
Teachers: Olfana, Evanson, Tomas, Elyon

May 7, 2000
*	Olfana (Gerdean TR):  I am Olfana, good morning.  I ask you to envision my
embrace and my smile.  I radiate to you our Father's affections.  This is an
opportunity, indeed, for me to be here in your grouping, and I am delighted
to be
able to be the one who reminds you of the provisions which are provided those of
you who follow after Him.
	The Father provides all of our needs.  The needs of all the ascending and
descending and stationary sons of God are pre-established.  It is in the divine
plan as to what needs will be, and so when you alter your configuration, your
understanding of your growth and place in the universe, your relationships, your
needs are anticipated even before you are aware what they will be, much like
your
prayers are answered before they are even voiced.  It makes me happy to be able
to reassure you of the bountiful goodness of a our Creator who has seen to it
that your earthly needs are inherent in your physical existence and your
spiritual needs are provided by the spirit realm.
	When you come to the realization of this great gift you realize again how
well you are loved and how great are our universal Father and Mother to care so
tenderly for the needs of their children.  Those of you who realize this are
less
inclined to struggle and grapple for that which is inherent in your sonship.
You
can thus apply your energies to positive pursuits in service.
	We have a full house once again today, and I am glad to be in attendance. 
I will enjoy your gathering even as others share.  Be well.

*	Evanson (Jonathan):  Hello, Evanson speaking.  I have elected to comment on
self-examination today to place a positive or, more appropriately, delightful
spin upon it.
	You know that in your education an exam often brought feelings of
trepidation, worrisome thoughts that you might not measure up to a master's
standards, that perhaps your studies weren't thorough enough or that even though
you have studied hard there would be a trick that you would fail to perceive and
fall to the wrong answer.  Many times a mortal will avoid the examination of
self
for fear of the discoveries wherein you do not measure up to your own standards
dictated by your ideals and your hopes for who you would become.  I would
encourage you to not perceive examination as like an exam wherein you must put a
check in the right box to be graded as to your success or failure but more treat
it as an exploration.
	Let curiosity, the excitement of discovery, draw you to deeper
understanding of your own makeup, the complex integration of your behaviors and
thoughts and emotions.  There is a thrill to be had in discovering better
who you
are just as an athlete experiences when attaining a new goal of prowess and
ability.  To jump over the bar one inch higher reveals to the athlete an ability
sought for but until then considered a non-possession, yet all the while it is
the same physical body, the same personality training, even the same bar to
jump. 
What was considered not present beforehand becomes an attainment after the
fact. 
To examine yourself is to unfold more about you that is capable of being
revealed, and by that I mean expressed in your daily life.  So, fear not
that you
will find the flaws, but be intrigued that you will discover present yet dormant
aspects of yourself that you can activate.
	I have finished my comments, and I thank you for listening.

*	Tomas (Gerdean):  I am Tomas.  It is good to be with you on this brilliant
Urantia morning.  Spring is in bloom; hearts are young and gay.  It is the new
year, the new season, new beginnings after the frost and after the barricade of
the crossover into the new millennium.  Around the world there are those who are
stretching and reaching in order to attain new goals and, like the athlete,
attain new records of feats accomplished.  This wonderful attitude realizes the
human quality of hope.  This quality is available to all.  "Hope springs
eternal"
and in this time of year it is resplendent.  The joy to be found in the
appreciation of a hope which never dies allows a man, a woman, to be aware
of the
fact of the non-threatening reality of our God and His universe.
	Threats are not a part of our Father's nature.  Threat has to do with a
determination to survive instinctually.  It's part of your early heritage.
Is it
not true that your language incorporates the concept that a thunderstorm
threatens?  Yet is it not also true that a thunderstorm brings rain, feeds the
earth and thus feeds the people?  The human has for a long time assailed himself
with the perception of threat, threat of debt, threat of isolation, loneliness,
alienation.  These are ignoble beliefs basing themselves on the ghost cults and
beyond.  You who are modern men and women of sound religious inclinations are
risen above and overriding, overpowering, negative influence, for your compass
leads you unerringly back to the pure peace of new hope and new beginnings,
refreshing your day and your approach to life anew.
	Be aware of how your animal condition and even your social conditioning
have prepared you to be protective of yourself from threats or perceived
threats. 
As these perceptions are allowed to dissolve in the rain, the sun of clarity
will
radiate your new appreciation.
	It would seem we are having an afternoon of vignettes and anecdotes, and I
am so pleased to be a part of your community fragrance which is beyond reproach
in its fellowship effects.
	That is all from me today.

	Jonathan:  Could I ask a question?

*	Tomas:  I'd be delighted.

	Jonathan:  On the subject of gratitude, I realize at times I don't express
thank-yous where appropriate.  I have a vertical sense of gratitude expression
but lack the horizontal.  I thank people for favors and receive thanks for
favors
asked, yet I overlook them in the workplace or family life.  For example I don't
thank the drummer for playing in our band because we all agreed to play.  I'm
looking for your advice on how I can be more alert to that or how to change my
behavior.

*	Tomas:  The decorum of fraternity is at issue here, and it has to do with
yearning to acknowledge divinity in all its aspects.  In your culture you have
thank you notes, formalities, please and thank yous that accomplish the purpose
of manifesting good manners.  When you step on someone's foot you say, "excuse
me" regardless of the relationship, friend or foe, spouse or stranger.  But your
query encompasses a greater realm of value than mere manners.
	You understand, each of you, in your relationship with our Father that He
is mindful of your attitudes and feelings, your expressions of appreciation for
your peers.  Even though you may not voice these expressions to them you know
that your Father has registered your gratitude and acknowledged that it is
provided by Him and His vast family.  Yet, as you say, it is seemingly difficult
for you humans to express genuine appreciation to each other for much of the
satisfaction that you garner in life through your association with them.
But the
essential truth is in that your relationship with your Adjuster, your Father
within, is such that its reality in constant contact with other indwelling
Adjusters has not only garnered that truth and that appreciation for the other
but has already launched it upon a new plateau of realization for the
relationship between the humans.  Thus, whether it is spoken or unspoken, all
benefit from your attitude of gratitude.  The fact that you don't automatically
or often effuse about your appreciation for each other is in many ways made up
for by the benefits accruing as a result of the association.
	When you find yourself fed spiritually, socially, even emotionally or
financially you tend to respond affirmatively, and this is fodder for growth
which, perhaps above all things, we have observed the human dislikes and that is
boredom.  If you help to keep another alive and from being bored you have
been of
service and have spoken loudly to their souls that you care about them and that
their lives mean something of value to you.
	I guess I am saying it is not necessary to contract for more social forms,
but it is never redundant to remember on occasion and to make so bold as to
express to your fellows unbidden what a fine fellow you think they are.

	Jonathan:  Thank you.  I assume it's implied when actually another might
benefit from an overt expression.  I tend to recoil from turning a cooperative
thing into a subservient thing, asking for something.  I fail to realize that
expression horizontally is like team spirit.  We need one another's rally of
appreciation.

*	Tomas:  Yes, this can be shown through your attitude as well or better than
through phraseology.  Remember the master's life was a prayer.  He lived his
life
as a prayer.  You know too that a prayer which is an expression can be
rejoicing,
supplicating, communing, pondering, or any number of different qualities.  It is
the attitude that is at the heart of the question.
	Those of you too who are sensitive to the yearnings of those in your range
of influence are aware, or will be made aware in communication with your
Adjuster, that when an individual has a soul-need to have acknowledged his
value,
it will come to you to bring that forth in some manner appropriate to feed the
sheep.  Again it is a matter of trusting this beneficent circumstance of sonship
such that you allow for these moments to become real.
	Not everyone needs to be incessantly acknowledged.  It is sometimes the
better part of valor that any relating is unnecessary.  It will depend on the
configuration of the circumstance.  As a faith-son in desire of being of service
it will be made clear to you what course of action is deemed appropriate.
	You are seen by us to be such wonderful wildflowers.  We find great delight
in your countenances.  Nothing is lacking in you.

	Jonathan:  You've given me much to ponder.

*	Tomas:  Pondering is good.  I am given a picture of a bovine animal
masticating in a grand field under a mighty tree.  This is pondering, as
distinguished from the picture of self-examination which somehow conjures up
visions of microscopes and scalpels.  Ponder away.

*	Elyon (Ginnie):  This is Elyon.  I would like to add a brief comment on
your consideration of gratitude, encouragement, whether it is given or received.
	You all know very well how much children need to be encouraged, validated. 
As children of our Father you also benefit greatly, as we have observed when you
are presented with loving words from our Father and from those of us who can see
beyond your scope.  We all understand and realize thoroughly how much you enjoy
our company and our words of encouragement.  You as children, especially on this
planet that has been blighted with choices which plunged your kind into a
tailspin, we realize how much it matters that you be frequently encouraged and
supported by us.  So we recommend highly that you also adopt a habit of
verbalizing your gratitude.  It certainly will not cause any harm.  You are a
race that needs this kind of support.
	We again encourage you to be physically able and willing to convey your
gratitude.  No one here can say that they do not appreciate an accolade now and
then.  I would encourage you to do it more frequently than now and then.  It is
much easier to proceed on a path of spiritual growth with help from wherever you
can get it.  Again, your early training, the early history of your culture, has
put a damper on your willingness to accept and believe that you can have these
things and that you are somehow in default if you desire them.  You are
children,
and I mean that kindly.  So you indeed benefit tremendously by encouragement
from
each other or from us who give you this often, because that is our main purpose
for connection with you now: to support you and encourage you to continue on
your
path.
	So, I end this gathering by giving you my support, and I heartily suggest
you make a habit of acknowledging your appreciation of your fellow
travelers.  It
is fine to feel good when you receive this.  It is okay.  We want you to be
happy
and joyous and comfortable.
	That is all.