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<DIV><B>
<P>DATE:</B> September 11, 2005<BR><B>LOCATION:</B> Rio Rancho, NM
USA<BR><B>T/R:</B> Gerdean</P><B>
<P>TEACHER: MERIUM<BR>This World is Your Starting Place <BR>Doing God's Will
"On-the-Job"<BR>A New Look at Enlightenment<BR>Merium's Character Sketches </P>
<P>MUSIC:</B> Elena on Piano <BR>(1) "Abide With Me" with Chopin’s Etude Opus 10
#3; and<BR>(2) "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" with Mozart’s Alleluia, <BR>from
Exultation Jubilate (Music Arrangements by Marilyn Ham)</P><B>
<P>PRAYER:</B> (Elena) </P>
<P><I>Dear Heavenly Father and Mother and all of the spiritual beings who grace
us with your presence and your help in our lives. We greet you and welcome you
to this place, this afternoon of beauty, the sky and the clouds and the good
weather and the wonderful friends around us. We gather together to hear what you
have to say to us. We seek to do your will in all things and we seek the
guidance that we need to do that better. We are here in gratitude for one
another and for you all, so thank you for your being and help each one of us to
prepare our hearts, our minds and our ears to what you have for us today. Thank
you. Amen.</P></I><B>
<P>Group:</B> Amen.<BR><B>MERIUM:</B> Alleluia! I have died and gone to
heaven!<BR><B>Group:</B> (Laughter)<BR><B></B></P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> This is your friend, Merium, a teacher and baby sitter of some
repute. You may not know me well here but I have garnered myself somewhat of a
reputation in my experiential trek by the attitude I have bestowed upon those I
meet as a result of my mortal conditioning. </P>
<P>You may recall the story in the Urantia Papers that depicts the two friends,
one of whom came from a background which was not an effective means for him to
learn those qualities of character which would render him dependable as an
adult; and his friend, who was by contrast, a product of an environment which
was supportive and encouraging and of such an emotional character as to render
this child of nature able to readily assume those effects of such causes and be
responsible, dependable, reliable, loyal and cheerful … inherently, almost. </P>
<P>I was fortunate to have come from a world much like that. This early
enculturation into a world, which was virtually settled in light and life, is
such a contrast to those of you who come from Urantia, which is noted as being a
trouble spot - but certainly not a blight on the neighborhood; we just recognize
that those of you who will emerge from this realm of reality into the morontia
worlds (the mansion worlds) will bring with you certain characteristics as
naturally as an immigrant brings his culture or her culture to the new world.
</P>
<P>For some time you will bear the mark of the Urantian, simply because it is
your home base, your starting point. You will develop an odd fraternity in
eternity from having been alumni of this sphere of education. </P>
<P>I don’t want to impart the idea that those of you who come from a world such
as this are poor candidates for future service or that when you ascend you will
be regarded automatically as deficient or retarded in the same sense that you
understand deficiency and retardation in your common culture, for yours is based
on evolved ways and means rather than real enlightenment, and real enlightenment
is that which we have had – we who have come to teach you, to hold your hand and
assure you of your place in the universe. No matter what cosmic neighborhood you
come from, you are one of God’s own, as you have chosen to be one with him, and
we thus are thrust together as siblings in this happy, far-flung family of His
great grand children.</P>
<P>Any of you are able to rise above your environment sufficiently to serve, and
in faith of your appointment as ambassadors of the divine light of truth, beauty
and goodness to your world, you will always be blessed to have those
opportunities to serve and to praise, to bring peace into troubled waters, to
bring fresh air into the stultifying effects of rigidity and structure, to bring
laughter and silliness to situations which need to experience the antidote. </P>
<P>Come one, come all, let us play. We cannot be pompous in our business of
representing divine reality. Let us be done with the religions of authority,
which will presume to tell you how to believe, think and worship. Behold the
Child of God who lifts his and her voice to sing praises of life itself and
rejoice in this life through fellowship with other siblings in this family, be
they immediate, surrogate, extended or potential. </P>
<P>It is all a fairyland of love and delight, even as it is occasionally a vale
of tears. Let’s lift off, then, from the vale of tears for a lark in the realm
of light and life. Let us feel the peace that passes all understanding. Let us
laugh in the knowledge of our smallness, in the face of the greatness
surrounding us. Let this cool, refreshing breeze on your faces remind you of the
atmosphere we enjoy in faith of our family, that is brought to us by and through
our Eternal Parents and the many agents that serve throughout the many worlds of
time and space, as I serve in this new age of opening our windows to the
universe and letting the love pour in upon us, refreshing us and our
atmosphere.</P>
<P>We have here in this T/R’s filing cabinet a piece of litter, lying on the
top, that calls my attention to Leonard Skynard’s song about "… that smell. The
smell of death surrounds you." This is all too true. The smell of death <I>is
</I>all around you, but you are blessed today to be able to step outside that
truth to learn to grow in the other dimension, the other realm, the one in which
the resurrection, the rebirth, the re-encircuitment, the recharging of your
spiritual batteries, the remodeling of your construct, the refashioning of your
style of operation as a teacher, as a mentor, as a babysitter of the many
children who have no idea who their parents are or what "home" must be like</P>
<P>We know what it’s like to be home, don’t we kids? We are at home now<I>.
</P></I>
<P>We are at home in this morontia world, which we have created here in this
atmosphere of acceptance, in our willingness to allow peace to prevail and love
to rule in our hearts. </P>
<P>It delights me to be of the ilk that is allowed to befriend you from my
perspective, and allowed to always return to my original perspective, and there
will come a day when you too will be able to regard your early experience on
this world as something truly priceless. Even though it has been difficult, even
though it may seem you have been ostracized or alienated in this period of
disconnection, you have not lost in this struggle. You have gained so much, for
in time you will have your perspective as well as that which you learn in your
advancement, whereas I will only be able to know of your experience by and
through observation, since it is not a part of my experience to have known such
hardships as you have here. All the more reason we should have a party and
rejoice in the reality we have attained. No matter what route it took for us to
get here, we are truly "at home" in Him.</P>
<P>I want you to be advised that today we have with us another multitude of
celestial personalities who are hovering around you and rejoicing in your
lights, which are well lit, and as they combine together into one great light,
the beacon goes far and wide, helping to open the floodgates of divine affection
and allowing for greater passage of the spiritual pressures to fall like rain on
the just and the unjust in order to bring a resurgence of the living water into
the world in which you live. </P>
<P>This, indeed, is heaven on earth. Our goal is to allow this state of being to
prevail, to cover the globe like a yellow blanket of grace, bringing comfort and
security of the spirit to you and all you know. Thank you for your prayer,
Elena. Thank you for your presence, each of you. Let’s wiggle a little in our
chairs, then, shall we? And feel our feet on the ground that we might touch base
with the realm in which you live and which is the arena where you do the work.
How are things in your life?</P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> I got my new job! So I have changed my arena, definitely. Out
of the hospital and into the streets! So to speak.</P>
<P><B>Elena: </B>What do you mean "into the street"?</P><B>
<P>Reneau:</B> Going into people’s homes. I’ll be driving around from house to
house and visiting people in their homes and nursing rather than the craziness
of the hospital. Yea! So we’re all being like shook and sifted up into our new
places. My other girlfriend Debra has settled into Blue Hill, Maine, with her
mom and her sister and brother-in-law are going to be too, up in Blue Hill,
Maine. They love it. </P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> Well, let’s get back to your new job.</P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> Yes.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> You are going from institutional living to free lance?</P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> From taking care of hospital patients, institutional, yes, to
visiting them in their homes. They want a registered nurses that follows up on
their care at home for whether its medicines or wounds or hospice or….</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> So you are going out to play.</P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> Yes. Less stress.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> Less structure.</P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> Yes.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM: </B>How good of God to open the windows so that the fresh air can
come into your room. You now have personal ministry instead of public
ministry.</P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> Right. "Ask and ye shall receive!" "Knock and the door shall
be opened unto you." I have put on the apron of service in a whole new way, and
thank you, Lord, thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Yes, God-made in heaven, it
is.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> Alleluia!</P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> Absolutely. It's wonderful.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> Sing those songs of praise. You will have more intimacy. You
will have an opportunity to be of tremendous personal service.</P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> Yes. In a far less stressful situation.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> For you, perhaps. </P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> Yes. For me.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> For them, however, they may be even more vulnerable to the
real fears that face those who need someone to come to them to help them.</P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> Well, that's my assignment.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> I know you will do it justice.</P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> I'm sure I will have help along the way, too. And thank you in
advance for that.</P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> Always invite your entourage to come with you. Not only to help
you find a parking place, but to lead you to those assignments that will best
serve and bring the most satisfaction to all concerned. Having a good time is
not just being irresponsible; it is finding that which pleases you most and, in
my eyes, it is service.</P><B>
<P>Reneau:</B> Um-hum. Yes.</P><B>
<P>Paula:</B> Service has so many different colors, because I remember years ago
that the doctor I was with for so many years was a leading surgeon, an
ophthalmology surgeon. Nobody could top him, but he didn't know how to talk to
people. He just didn't; he just clamed up. He couldn't think of what to say, and
he said, "That's what I've got you for." And so I knew who was married to who
and how many children they had and who was expecting and all this, and I kept
him so busy talking about their families, they forgot to be scared of what they
were facing. And it worked out just fine all those years, and those people
stayed friends of mine long after I stopped working there.</P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> That would be because you had a genuine interest in those people
and you were not merely doing the job to supply the boss with the product he was
buying in you, but your genuine interest in their lives provided a personal
ministry and this, indeed, is where you all are the eyes and ears, the arms and
legs, the vessels and vehicles of service into the material world. There are
some who think that being a social butterfly is a shallow service to provide but
where would we be without the flitting insects and birds and bees that grace the
mouths of honeysuckle, corn and other of Mother's mysteries. </P><B>
<P>Elena: </B>You know, Merium, you mentioned the importance of having a genuine
interest in the people you are serving. I, like Reneau, have recently had a
change in position, one that is much more to my liking, and yet it is really,
horribly difficult. I'm very interested in the wellbeing of those I supervise,
and yet there is a real rough road to, I believe, to travel before we get to an
even playing field. I know that you haven't had much time to observe us, but any
comments that you have that would be helpful, I'd be just all over it. </P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> I'm going to stop in my desire to respond to your bigger
question, in order to advise you, or tell you, or share with you, or explain to
you, or express to you that I am not inexperienced as a teacher, and so while I
may be new with you, I have been on the job long enough to have worked with
others, and so I have some experience. </P>
<P>But to answer your question, or to respond to your situation, I have to tell
you, express, explain, that your situation is a professional one where the
structure is such that you are a supervisor to these people and in the capacity
of supervisor, you will never have that kind of personal relationship that will
permit social exchanges of the nature that Paula discussed. As an assistant, her
constraints were not the same as yours. You are not an assistant, you are the
boss. And these people need to know who's the boss but, even there, you are
still able to develop such a sensitivity to one another's work ethic (and so
forth) that you will know each other and work very personally, even though it is
not the same kind of "personal" as knowing about their babies or their husbands'
work or their bosses peccadilloes. You see the difference?</P><B>
<P>Elena: </B>Um-hum.</P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> Your job may take longer. It may be that your assignment is to
inject spirit reality into the professional world, at least in that paradigm, as
compared to the social paradigm you live in "after hours" but since that is the
one you brought to me, I have to say you will never have that kind of freedom
that is inherent in even Reneau's situation of patient and nurse, for that kind
of doctor-patient relationship has its own intimacy factor that is appropriate
for their relationship. You can only ask about their family on a cursory level
unless they bring it up. And you must not allow them to become too familiar with
you, as you must maintain your professional stance in order for them to respect
your professional authority.</P><B>
<P>Reneau:</B> Um-hum.</P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> So don't feel put upon to become chums. You won't. You shouldn't.
You needn't. Your level of intimacy with them will be of a working nature. And
this is exciting in its own right. It is a viable level of ministry. It is a
babysitting job, too, in that you are able to help mold these individuals, not
only to do the job that needs done, but to work effectively as a part of a team,
which, in the farther view, is a family. </P><B>
<P>Elena:</B> That helped, Merium. Merium, let me ask you one other thing, too,
because my first comment about the observation deal? I didn't mean it in a
disrespectful way. But it stems from the fact that, at first I figured that
every one of the spiritual beings that we got to listen to … at first I thought
they knew everything about us, just because they were in the spirit world? And
then I realized, by picking up from some things, "Well, maybe they don't hear or
know everything about us," so my comment there was just toward … I hadn't had an
opportunity to get to know you very well, was what I kind of meant.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> You are absolutely right. Yes. </P>
<P><B>Elena:</B> So I didn't mean it disrespectfully.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> I didn't assume it was; and I hope my response was not
offensive.</P>
<P><B>Elena:</B> No.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> I did want to interject that I had some experience, perhaps as
an opportunity for you to say, "Oh, really, Merium! Where do you come from? What
is your experience on Urantia?" (Group laughter)</P>
<P><B>Elena: </B>Oh, excuse me. We missed a cue there. Sorry. (Laughter) Do we
get a second opportunity? Okay, all right, backing up. Take two, eh? Actually, I
did kind of wonder about the part where you were saying: "enlightened." I don't
know. Maybe now isn't the time, but in the next week or the next time we get
together, because you said … I'm curious about what you meant by those of us who
had been enlightened, and I'd be interested in hearing more about that at a
later time, if not now.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> I would rather show you what enlightenment is than try to tell
you what it is because I get bogged down in words when I try to explain things.
Because you are looking for answers and your cerebral mind puts forth the
question that you think will satisfy your curiosity but it only creates more
questions,…</P>
<P><B>Elena: </B>Oh, okay.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM: </B>… and therefore you throw in the towel and say, "Oh, forget
it!"</P>
<P><B>Thoroah:</B> We do. We do that. (Laughter)</P>
<P><B>Elena: </B>That's true! We say, "oh, gee, it's boggling my mind. I don't
get it!"</P>
<P><B>Thoroah:</B> But showing us is perfect. Show us.</P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> If you can see enlightenment, you will have it as a frame of
reference inherently. And already you do. I know you do. I know you have had
many experiences in enlightenment as you are an inherently enlightened woman!
You are intelligent, for starters, and it doesn't take much more than
consciousness to experience enlightenment.</P>
<P>If you get up in the morning and see the sun shining through the blinds and
the dust is dancing on the air currents, you are enlightened. Just by being able
to see, you are enlightened. The fact that you can see is an aspect of
enlightenment. And to the particles of dust in the air, in the light, add the
mountains, add the dimension of sunshine, feel the dimension of the breeze,
listen to the dimension of tonal qualities, touch the dimension of your tactile
senses, taste the dimension of the light in refreshment and pleasure. It is
enlightenment that makes life life. </P>
<P>That's where you begin. You begin with enlightenment, and then be wary of
those who would try to strip your enlightenment away from you, who would take
your natural vision of perfection, your own eye for truth, beauty and goodness
away from you, who would try to conform your perspective to suit their needs or
purposes, who would seek to take away from you that which you are, a child of
God, a daughter of divinity. </P>
<P>This is along the lines of the popular saying that you are a spiritual being
having a material experience, and if you can assume that reality without
assuming any pretensions about your importance in the universe, it is this
consciousness of consciousness that affords you superconsciousness, which is
enlightenment. It is the joy of living, before anyone comes along and piles on
you political correctness or socially acceptable behaviors -- mores. It is you.
In this understanding of you, say, "I am." I am. Just to say "I am" is being in
a state of enlightenment. "I am!" Then, when you begin to add to it, I am this,
I am that, I am cold, I am tired, I am hungry, I am pink (laughter), you are
adding dimensions to yourself that take away from the inherent "I am."</P>
<P><B>Elena:</B> Are you pink?</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> I am every color, and I am no color. But, you being who you
are, I am blonde, I am pink, I have a ponytail. In fact I used to date the Fonz.
(Laughter) If that helps you ….</P>
<P><B>Elena:</B> Are you serious?</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> Of course not! Have you no imagination?</P>
<P><B>Elena:</B> Well, yeah, but an imagination and belief that you could have
done it!</P>
<P><B>Thoroah:</B> She looks kind of like Olivia Newton John, is what she's
saying.</P>
<P><B>Group:</B> Ooh! How about that!</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> I look like you. I am the same as you.</P>
<P><B>Elena:</B> Well, Merium, I've been looking forward to your being here and
looking forward to this afternoon with you.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> I did, too. I love meeting with my pupils, but I also enjoy
hanging out with the kids.</P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> Um-hum. "The kids."</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> I see you as my children. Not mine personally! I'll let
Nebadonia keep them. I'll just be your Aunt Merium.</P>
<P><B>Group:</B> Yep.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> So if I am 18, I will tell you what I see in you, if you'd
like to hear my play. This one here, to my left, that you know as many things,
many names: Men-O-Pah, Wayawahili, Carl Stafford -- is an oak tree. His roots go
deep into the earth. His arms are massive branches. He is old and yet there is
so much more life for him to live. He is in no danger of toppling. I see no
decay in him. He is healthy, robust.</P>
<P><B>Paula:</B> Super!</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> You like him, too, I see. </P>
<P><B>Paula: </B>(Giggling) More than a little!</P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> You are the nest of bluebirds in his hair. Not just one bluebird
… (Laughter) … but a flock of warbling, twittering bluebirds. You fly out from
him, flitting, gathering, dropping your seed, and his, and returning to the
security of the nest he provides. You are a wonderful team. I cannot say I
baby-sit the two of you, but I rest under you and I enjoy you, and in this way I
am not responsible for you nor are you responsible for me, but we are able to
appreciate each other</P>
<P>I will be the pretty girl in the swing. And that fellow over there, with the
curly locks, I'd like for him to be the boy who pushes me. (Group laughter; much
delight) I told you, Gerdean, you would like this fellow.</P>
<P><B>Thoroah:</B> Long before, huh?</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> I suggested they consider celebrating their nuptials in
Vancouver, BC, at the what you call "IC99" thereby planting in their
consciousness and removing from their subconscious, the idea of becoming
partners in the matrimonial union.</P>
<P><B>Thoroah:</B> Yeah, you started it.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> I did. </P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> Merium did?</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> I did. I admit it. </P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> A matchmaker, huh?</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> I confess. And I have been the brunt of Gerdean's fury more
than once.</P>
<P><B>Group:</B> (Laughter)</P>
<P><B>Thoroah:</B> Is that a reflection on me!?! (Laughter)</P>
<P><B>Paula: </B>Well, these men don't really have a chance, you know, once we
decide that's what we want.</P>
<P><B>Thoroah:</B> You're right.</P>
<P><STRONG>Men-O-Pah:</STRONG> Careful. Careful. </P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> I have no such experience. Not because it isn't true, Paula, but
because I have never had a spouse. I was transported from my world when I was
18, you see. I was never in a position to take courtship seriously or to follow
up with a mature partnership. I never had my own children. However, I have never
wanted for parental experience, and I have not been without most constant and
most charming male companionship. It's just that it would be hard for me to
assume certain things about the marriage state from a mortal's perspective since
I haven't got that experience. </P>
<P><B>Thoroah:</B> Well, whatever you might assume probably would be wrong. You
can't take anything for granted in marriage.</P>
<P><B>Men-O-Pah:</B> Truer words were never spoken.</P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> Especially about what the other person wants.</P>
<P><B>Paula: </B>Tell me about it! I had two that were terrible. I just keep
going around marrying them until I hit the jackpot. </P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> Trial and error, eh? Well, what other choice is there?</P>
<P><B>Thoroah:</B> That's true.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> Until you learn, you practice. And even then, after you learn,
you practice. It is sometimes referred to as "chop wood, tote water." </P>
<P><B>Men-O-Pah:</B> Fish or cut bait.</P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> And this is true in any relationship. It is not limited to the
matrimonial kind. It is true, however, that the intimacy factor of marriage, or
the same could be said for roommates, there are certain aspects of that kind of
intimacy that is not be found in occasional occurrences, as if having lunch with
your lady friend were to provide the same kinds of intimate contexts as you
would find at home in such close contact with someone in the same environment
and breathing the same air, in particular when the windows are not opened. And
yet, occasional or periodic relationships, such as having lunch, have their own
kind of intimacy, just as Elena's intimacy with her employees will be definite,
but based on a part-time situation; it's not one she lives with night and day.
</P>
<P>That's another thing that is different about my experience from yours. I
cannot recall my nuclear family. I have barely any remembrance of my parents. I
remember, however, being the eldest. </P>
<P><B>Elena:</B> Is that just because it's been so long ago that you forget?</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> I had little contact with my initial and original parents.</P>
<P><B>Elena:</B> Oh.</P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> Along the lines of "it takes a village," I was raised by the
village. My parents were not there after I was nurtured. I was a part of the
community at a very early age, and being very gregarious and knowing I was in a
very safe environment, I naturally gravitated to where I could, where I was
always accepted, and thus I grew up with many parents, many aunts and uncles,
many cousins. Nuclear families on my world of nativity were much more open than
the structured, even cloistered, family units that you have here, or that you
feel is the ideal. </P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> It's too bad our children can't go out and play anymore, or go
from house to house. Or stay where they feel more comfortable.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> It's not that they can't do that anymore! They haven't been
able to do that yet!</P>
<P><B>Elena:</B> Good point.</P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> Yeah.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> You are not fallen from grace. That is a mental paradigm that
stems from evolutionary understanding; it is not from enlightenment. [Silence] I
hope you don't feel I chided you. </P>
<P><B>Group:</B> No!</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> I have to be careful. Some of you are so sensitive!</P>
<P><B>Group:</B> (Laughter) Not us!</P>
<P><B>Elena: </B>Well, partly, it's curiosity, too. I mean, wanting to know more
about you and in being curious about what it was like for you.</P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> You really want to know how it is that you are limited. This is
wonderful. This is, indeed, a socializing process. To find out how other people
live, relieves you of the isolation of self. You can live vicariously in and
through the lives of others. At least for a little while, you can escape
yourself. Getting outside of yourself and your constant frame of reference is
opening the windows and letting in the fresh air. Unless, of course, Leonard
Skynard is singing his song!</P><B>
<P>Elena:</B> Yeah, that was an uplifting thing, wasn't it?!?!?</P><B>
<P>Gerdean:</B> (Cracking up.)</P><B>
<P>Elena:</B> The smell of death! Oh, yeah, well, great! (Laughter) </P><B>
<P>Gerdean:</B> (Laughing) Excuse me.</P><B>
<P>Thoroah:</B> She said that was litter that was hanging around the T/R's
desktop, so…</P><B>
<P>Gerdean:</B> Throw that away, Merium.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> Well, it was me who went into her little pile, wasn't it? I
have only myself to blame. And you can hold me responsible. </P>
<P><B>Men-O-Pah: </B>Well, that's the only way you can find out which is litter
and which isn't, is to get in the litter pile.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> Indeed, and much litter has value or it wouldn't still be
hanging around. It would be in the trash already.</P>
<P><B>Men-O-Pah:</B> Yeah, you can compost it.</P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> I have taught in the Butler group and in the Pittsburgh group. I
have taught at … I put quotes around the word "taught." How can I teach you
anything? I can only share what I know and if you learn from me, fine, but I am
not a teacher in the same way Tomas was a teacher. There is nothing cerebral or
scholastic or academic about me particularly. If so, it's something I have
learned by osmosis and not something inherent. I am not a student type. Where
was I? Oh yes. I have been around. I have taught at conferences, and I am a part
of the Teacher Corps. I am friends with Lester, the hedonist who I know
...</P><B>
<P>Reneau:</B> (Chuckle) The party animal.</P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> … and you know as well, yes, the party animal who was allowed to
be a part of the Teacher Corps in order to illustrate that even pleasure-seekers
are accepted into the mansion worlds, that your hedonistic nature is not
sufficient to shut you out of the kingdom, neither is your gender preference.
Just thought I'd add that.</P>
<P><B>Elena:</B> That's a good one, too. But Merium, you stopped … I mean, I
think you stopped on Paula how you see us.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM: </B>Oh, yes, of course! Let me focus on you, then. You!</P>
<P><B>Elena:</B> No, no! You were to Reneau.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> This is the little red-haired girl who is so cute, so
mischievous, so irritating, so bright, so independent and so difficult to
corral. You know what they say about redheads. That's our little darling here,
Reneau.</P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> It's dyed.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> You think? You didn't know your name was Reneau, either, until
someone told you. (Group chuckles) </P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> Pollyanna Clueless is my alias.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> Who gave you such an alias?</P>
<P><B>Elena:</B> Yes, who?</P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> I did.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> That is … </P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> Pollyanna is definitely my middle name.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> … I can't find the words in this filing cabinet. (Don't worry
Gerdean, you won't lose points in Vocabulary.) I will find out what the phrase
is. But it's somehow putting yourself down. It is good-naturedly intended
to…</P>
<P><B>Thoroah:</B> Self-deprecating?</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> Self-deprecating. That's the word, yes. Thank you, my prince.
</P>
<P><B>Paula:</B> You prince. Oh, bless his heart.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> That is a self-deprecating title that you must abandon. </P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> The Pollyanna?</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> Pollyanna and Clueless. You are hopeful and optimistic! You
have "undying hope"! You appreciate the mysteries of life, and assume not to
control your own Mystery Monitor. Of course you are clueless, because you are
open to the adventure of the eternal existence. You must be happy within
yourself and not feel you need to make excuses for yourself. Think of yourself
as the little red-haired girl. In truth, everyone wants you, but you can't be
had! And so just enjoy that, and be unique and original. You will have many
friends along the way. As you do! And there will always be those -- in
particular the little boys…</P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> Where?</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> … who will sulk and pout because you will always be your own
person. They will never be able to have one over on you. That's why you don't
have one. You don't want one! If you did, you would lure one in within fifteen
minutes.</P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> (Laughter) And then they wander off again.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> Well, it's not like you want them under foot anyway.</P>
<P><B>Reneau:</B> Really. (Chortle, chortle)</P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> It is so good to hear your laughter. Gentle laughter is like the
summer breeze. Then we have Elena. </P>
<P>Elena, you are in your pubescent years. You are perhaps 11. You have so many
aspirations. You are so well intended. You are so bright, so sincere, earnest
and yet so terribly serious. You seem to carry with you, in your psyche at
least, a great responsibility, as if you were Atlas. Your appreciation for play
is not daunted by that aspect of your inherent nature, fortunately, for without
your ability to laugh and enjoy that which you love, life would indeed be a
burden of existence. </P>
<P>And thus your enlightenment, darling girl, is in your love for your dog, your
cat, your home, your garden, your things, your mother, your world, as you must
create it. You have created your world. You do not allow your world to create
you. And so you have, oh, … perhaps what they might call "an old soul" … but you
are truly just a pubescent girl who has all the mysteries of your life ahead of
you. And it gives me great joy to be your elder sister in this passage for you
from childhood into adulthood. </P>
<P>I love your music! It is in your music that the depth of you and the depth of
your expression are allowed to come out. Not just your capacity, your strength
and your power, but your joy and your … what's that word? It's French. </P><B>
<P>Paula: </B>Joie de vivre! </P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> That's it. </P><B>
<P>Thoroah:</B> That's the one.</P><B>
<P>Reneau:</B> The joy of life.</P><B>
<P>Thoroah:</B> My mouth won't go that way.</P><B>
<P>Paula: </B>Four years of French.</P>
<P><B>Elena: </B>Well, I'm glad you are going to be there with me to make this
transition because I appreciate that. Thank you.</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> You would. You're a good girl. You really do love to please
your elders. You love approval. You like to be liked. Your girlishness in this
is not unlike the others here, even Gerdean. </P><B>
<P>Elena:</B> Thank you, Merium. Very much.</P><B>
<P>Paula: </B>This was great. </P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> Yes, well, I've come up to Gerdean and I might find this a bit of
a challenge for her to transmit my impressions of her. Gerdean is not too
difficult. She is a lot like you, Elena. She has a seriousness, and yet she
loves nothing more than being a silly child. To play is her delight. Taking life
seriously all the time is such a bore. But hardly anyone enjoys the depths of
emotional experience more than Gerdean. She loves her emotions and uses them as
her instruments in being her own one-man band. (Laughter) </P>
<P>I see no reason to focus more on her than that. I am sure you all have your
own appreciation for our fellow-sojourner here. She is well loved and is
loveable, as are you all. It is my preference to think about how loveable you
are as compared to other views I could take. In the jargon of the Urantia text I
could say that when necessary I can go to the Ancients of Days and ask to have
your character reflected to me, that I might see <I>all</I> of you, but I am not
always granted permission for that. I tell you that because I could suggest you
might want to learn from your elders that you can keep the godly perspective…
</P>
<P>(Let me back up. Delete that word "godly." It's too big for you. It's too big
for me, right now. Let's stick with "cheerful.") </P>
<P>… the cheerful approach to your fellows -- that almost naïve appreciation for
their vulnerability and sensitivity that has no doubt been buffeted in their
existence, inasmuch as how could it not have on such a planet as Urantia? But
unless and until I need to know about those things, that would garner me a
deeper look or a necessary perspective for my work as a teacher, as a mentor,
would I go get that information. And you can too, but only as it is deemed
necessary for you to have it. And truly, whether you are mature enough to handle
that information, will it be given to you.</P>
<P>The envelope I just sketched is sometimes stretched, but it will never be
stretched so far as to let me see you naked -- as you are seen by the Ancients
of Days and their reflectors. I cannot judge <B>you</B>; I can only judge
certain perceived qualities, and in that, it behooves me to know <I>why those
qualities are evident</I> before I rule out anything, and so that I can keep my
affirmative approach to our relationship, which is born of our fraternity in
God, otherwise it would not exist. </P>
<P>It would seem Barney [Elena's dog] wants to play. (Laughter)</P>
<P><B>Thoroah:</B> See? He's enlightened!</P>
<P><B>MERIUM:</B> Perhaps we should all go play also, and I mean outdoors in the
fresh air as children. Don't fall out of the tree. And stay out from under that
bluebird of happiness. (Laughter) It has been a pleasure, a joy and a delight.
I'll see you next time. Bye-bye.</P>
<P><B>Group:</B> Thank you. Bye, Merium.</P>
<P> </P>
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