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<DIV><FONT face="GoudyOlSt BT">For what it's worth, the T/R's on this were
Gerdean and <EM>Hunnah<STRONG>,</STRONG></EM> not Merium.
Sorry.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="GoudyOlSt BT"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="GoudyOlSt BT"></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=gerdean@cableone.net href="mailto:gerdean@cableone.net">Gerdean</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=tmtranscripts@lectra.virtualbiz.com
href="mailto:tmtranscripts@lectra.virtualbiz.com">tmtranscripts@lectra.virtualbiz.com</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, December 26, 2006 10:22
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [tmtranscripts] Observe and
Discover (04-29-97.BUT)</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="GoudyOlSt BT"><B>
<P>DATE:</B> April 29, 1997<BR><B>LOCATION:</B> Butler, PA,
USA<BR><B>T/R's:</B> Gerdean and Merium <STRONG><BR></STRONG><B>TEACHERS TOMAS
and MERIUM<BR>TOPICS: Observe and Discover </P></B><B>
<P> </P>
<P>TOMAS:</B> Good evening, pilgrims. </P>
<P><B>Group:</B> Good evening, Tomas.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> I am Tomas. I am glad you recognize me. I have been enjoying
your presence, your individual presences in company with your personal
teachers, and I with my companion Merium have also been appreciating the
presence of other spirit helpers and, not to be excluded, are the voices of
the angels and of the birds.</P>
<P>I would like to speak briefly this evening regarding discovery, for as you
go about your day, you overlook so many of life's wonders that you could be
re-discovering in light of your new truth. You have become habituated to your
senses, your sensory perceptions. You are depriving yourself of much of the
joy of your human experience by not allowing yourself the thrill of discovery
of that which is around you.</P>
<P>It is a good time to bring this subject into focus, for Spring is here, and
there are new things each day to discover. The leaves have burst forth on many
of the trees, those same trees that were mere buds last week, and mere bare
branches last month; now there is the discovery of green, new life. And so it
is a good time to think of discovery, for there is much to discover, even if
you remain in the most obvious of realms.</P>
<P>It is a matter of taking for granted your life on one hand, and that is
fine, but you also take for granted many of the potentials in the human
experience that have become ho-hum by-products of your life. I would ask you
now to look at your material environment, your Urantia, and see its wonders
and discover its gifts anew.</P>
<P>The truth is that you become conditioned to follow a pattern, and although
occasionally something will catch your eye, you overlook so many of creative
gifts of the Creator Parent by not allowing the beauty to penetrate your
consciousness. For you are allowed to appreciate the wonders of your natal
sphere.</P>
<P>Indeed, it is one of the rights that you have as a human being, to enjoy
life's offerings in the material realm: the way a light will shine on the bark
of a tree, casting one side in deep shadow and illuminating the ridges and
valleys of the crusty bark; the many colors and hues that form the bark; even
to the life that circulates in and within this living tree. What cities and
citadels of activity and grandeur take place in one common square inch of
creation!</P>
<P>How long has it been since you have indulged yourself in a half an hour of
looking at Mother Nature, of giving her your full and undivided attention and
appreciation, of allowing yourself the experience of being enveloped in the
sanctity of your native sphere, touching upon the atoms of nature and becoming
one with nature, hearing the birds and the beasts, the insects, seeing how
they play one upon the other, hearing water, hearing wind? What an environment
you experience here! But you become so busy in your duties that you pass this
by, this treasure, and wonder why then you feel hungry for something and you
don't know what it is.</P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> Good evening. Tomas has brought forth great stimulus for me
because there are so many examples of appreciation here that I could touch
upon in Hunnah's records, and there is one especially that is an activity that
I feel would benefit many of you and it is to develop the appreciation of
discovering new ways to do something, alternate choices for solving a problem,
or for the use of some object. And when a challenge comes forth, to step back
and say, "Wait. I do not have to go with the immediate response. There are
many views of this situation and I am allowed to consider them all."</P>
<P>The answer that comes rapidly in from your intellect is frequently the one
that must be shelved to allow you an opportunity to see the many faceted
examples of how something may be solved or how you may respond to a given
situation. The versatility of this skill is like an all-purpose tool for you.
It can be a pleasure; it can be amusing. In Hunnah's recent experience she was
playing Scrabble and she was not able to use all the letters; she left the
scene and went about doing something else and came back and went to the board
and saw a fresh opportunity using the same number of letters that she
previously had but thought would not work.</P>
<P>And this is the way it is in life: you have in your hands certain
information or choices and if you struggle with that, you seem to deplete the
versatility of your ability to see new opportunities and I must say that you
can glean the pleasures of your environment around any given situation the way
my friend has brought to your attention, and especially with this time of
year.</P>
<P>Some people have the ability to see challenges as opportunities as a part
of their natural make-up. For others it is quite stifling, and it is a muscle
that they have not developed, and therefore I have brought this to your
attention in case you may be one of those who is simple-minded in
problem-solving, and if you develop diversity of problem-solving, then you
will certainly be able to develop diversity in your celebrating of your
environment and those who are around you. Thank you.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> Interestingly enough, my colleague and I have both suggested to
you a way of stepping aside from your routine to reappraise your approach to
life, and this was the practice that the Master used and that he encouraged
his apostles to use. Every Wednesday they would take a recess from their
teaching labors and go apart for relaxation and recreation; he himself would
partake of stillness and solitude with the Father to review his circumstances,
to return to the challenges and opportunities at hand refreshed and renewed,
and bringing with it then the inspiration brought about by the absence
itself.</P>
<P>When you return from a walk in the woods, or a walk by the pond, you
re-enter your environment with a new appreciation for your environment in the
large, and when you accomplish a new solution to an old problem, or find new
ways of going about routine efforts, you have brought refreshment to your soul
and delight to your mind. Our encouragement for you today, then, is to allow
yourself discovery, not only in your spiritual realms, in approaching your
personality and the personalities of others, but in the areas of your mind
where you can discover delight even in what you would have considered tedious
or in your environment where you can consider the miracle of creation where
once you would have only seen a common scene.</P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> I was thinking that I might send you on a treasure hunt, and it
would be not one of material goods, but one of observation. And on your
treasure hunt it will not require any effort. I would simply like to have you
be willing to observe how many times you are aware that a kindness has been
extended to you or that you have reciprocated, perhaps not to that person who
gave you some good gesture, but that you allowed yourself an opportunity to be
cooperative or helpful or perhaps simply appropriate in a light way and that
you can observe the results.</P>
<P>This is an embellishment. This will embellish your day, the routine. We
have talked about "lightening up," I guess you could say, Tomas. We are asking
you to carry your responsibilities in the lightest way possible. Therefore,
you will be able to be about the Father's business. At the beginning of the
evening Gerdean read in the transcripts about Christ Michael's acknowledgement
of the smallest deed. The smallest deed brings a smile to him because he
collects them like treasures. He knows that this is the magic of life; it does
not lend itself to heaviness, but it is a blending and development of
fellowship and silent celebrating.</P>
<P>And I hope that you will be able to come back next time and tell us about
the wonderful treasure hunt that you have been able to experience this week.
Thank you.</P>
<P>Are there any questions?</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> I am going to follow up, Merium, on your most excellent
suggestion and clarify that this lightening up is in appreciation of the joy
of being a companion of the Lord.</P>
<P>Your early appreciation for this very serious subject and for the very deep
suffering around you, caused you to carry this heavy beam, this cross, upon
your own shoulders and present yourself in a ponderous way, solemn and sober.
And there is certainly an element of importance involved, but there is also
the truth that his yoke is easy and his burden is light, and how can you
induce your fellow men into the companionship of this heavenly kingdom if you
present yourself so seriously that they cannot regard it as inviting or
enticing?</P>
<P>Remember that the Master himself recommended joyousness and happiness among
his followers. Not to the point of frivolity, perhaps, but light-heartedness
indeed. And when you are with each other in the understanding of his love, his
love for you and for your peers, your brothers and sisters -- the security of
knowing this should put you in fine humor. Not that you would gloat it over
those who remain unsure of their spiritual footing, but that you can envelop
them in your loving embrace, but lightly, that they may not feel threatened or
intimidated by your strength and by your courage. Indeed, it is a socializing
process, an extension into community, for all that is necessary to become a
member of the brotherhood is to acknowledge that God is the Father.</P>
<P>Tell me, children. How have you been? How have you been faring in
discovering your own personality?</P><B>
<P>Leah:</B> Well, I found that I'm a lot more judgmental than I thought I
was. But ... I had said this once before … but I just see something that
strikes me as distasteful in an individual, at least on the human plane, and I
come to the realization pretty quick that this is a holy son of God. And
instead of my humanness kicking into criticism, I just ... it's almost become
like a knee-jerk reflex to do a re-evaluation to say, "Bless you, holy son of
God" in my mind when I encounter something that I don't care for. I'm only
speaking of appearances, of course.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> You are in the process of changing a habit response, and
although these are time-consuming at first, eventually they will become second
nature and you will not find your fellow men so offensive. Indeed, you will
begin to find they are delightful, even in their ignorance; even in their
clumsiness, they are still endowed with an Adjuster and with personality.
There is always something intriguing to observe. Even when an individual is
distasteful, they can be appreciated for <I>some</I>thing.</P><B>
<P>Leah:</B> This is a fact. This is true.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> I would ask you, Leah, to not be so judgmental even of yourself,
for when you embarked upon your response to my inquiry about your study in
personality, you judged yourself as being judging. I would like also for you
to begin to find qualities that are fragrant. I will invite an intermission
and a temporary assignment for your pleasure this evening. I would like for
you to essay the individual to your left and tell them what one quality you
ascertain is apparent in them and that you find delightful.</P>
<P>Remember that these fruits of the spirit are part of each of you, and that
besides those fruits of the spirit that we discussed at length, there are many
characteristics of a personality that you understand in normal terms that will
apply. Express to your neighbor, then, how you enjoy them, what it is about
them that you enjoy and appreciate and find of value.</P>
<P>As you are told this, believe it, for it is how you are perceived and it is
true that sometimes you do not perceive yourself as others perceive you, and
so allow yourself the discovery of how you are perceived by your siblings. Let
us then recess.</P><B>
<P align=center>[recess]</P>
<P>TOMAS:</B> Again we greet you. This study of personality, this observation
of personality, is an observation of the gift of God -- in which you are and
in which you are unique --your personality. What you have been discussing this
evening, as aspects of personality, are <I>characteristics</I>, are character
facets of the personality.</P>
<P>Like in [Welmek's] analogy of the personality being the Christmas tree and
the character aspects being the decorations upon the tree, some of you as a
Christmas tree have an abundance of blue lights and silver foil, and this is
how your personality presents itself. While another of you might be white
flocked with red ribbons, and this is how your personality manifests itself
through your character of white flock and red ribbon. And each of you as a
personality is unique, depending upon your characteristics, your character.
And you are in large part responsible for how your personality is decorated,
for you have free will in choosing many of your characteristics.</P>
<P>If, for example, you discover that you are big on judging others, you can
recognize that and do something about it. You can eliminate those branches,
those ill-formed branches, from your tree. Prune your tree of the ill-formed
branches. And those of you who find that you have an abundance of one
ornament, and seek another, can allow that other to impress your life that you
may develop yet more characteristics and qualities. Even so, you will always
be your own personality. There will be never another personality quite like
yours.</P>
<P>But the character traits, the characteristics, the fruits of the divine
spirit, are such that you can develop them, polish them* and to a great extent
decorate your own tree. When you behold a personality who is decorated
differently than you choose to decorate yourself, observe them as if you were
making a new discovery. Allow yourself to appreciate how they have opted to
present themselves … how the Father has opted to present Himself through that
personality. And even though indeed there may be branches that need pruning,
observe the character of the tree <B><I>as it is</B></I> and see if you cannot
find beauty and potential in that tree that the Father has made.</P>
<P>This exercise in observing qualities about each other is trust-inducing. It
enables you to accept each other and to testify to each other what you love
about each other, and this is acceptable behavior. You can freely enhance
another's existence, not by saying, "Oh, I love your dress!" or "My dear, how
becoming is your hair-do," but rather by taking that deeper and saying, "Your
tenacity is admirable" and "Your patience is inspiring" and do that with true
sincerity and give your peers, your brothers and sisters, a new look at
themselves. Allow them to hear their value that perhaps they have not heard
before.</P>
<P>Merium, did you opt to add to our discourse?</P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> No, I think everything has gone really well. I'm pleased with
the evening and I trust that all of our suggestions will be passed out into
all those who have gathered and will be read in the transcripts.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> We have been discussing the community for several weeks now and
there was some trepidation that we would no longer focus on the individual,
but that the individual would be swallowed up in the socialization aspects of
the community. This is an on-going enterprise, for, as you understand, indeed,
your personality becomes more and more fine tuned, but even so, you become
more and more of the greater whole. You begin to operate as a part of an
organism, more than as a separate entity, your separation syndrome vanishes as
you ascend.</P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> I would like to comment. Perhaps in our next session or in a
session in the future, I would like to have us talk about ways that we may
initiate change when it is appropriate. Change that resists the community as
an extension of the individual, of development.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> Very well. One moment. And so you see that our embarking into
community, into teamwork, has not at all put you in a position of
non-involvement, but rather, your involvement becomes even more acute, for it
is now not a singular isolated personality, but a personality which conjoins
and commingles with its peers. And indeed we shall venture into how change can
be brought about through the cooperative living organism of a vital and
vibrant community, particularly a community of believers. There are, of
course, other projects that can be accomplished, social services, cultural
events, merciful ministries and so forth, but we will broach these areas in
due course.</P>
<P>It has been appropriate for today and for these several days, that we
discuss the relationship that you share in your community with each other, for
as you learn to love each other, to acknowledge the strengths that you have
and that you appreciate in each other, the trust and the faith in each other
is augmented and cemented.</P>
<P>It becomes easier, then, for you to pray for guidance for your fellows and
for yourself and for your relationship when there is difficulty. You have the
sensitivity of the guidance of Michael to help you when your communications
falter, for we yearn to return to the fellowship of sons and daughters of the
living God in human community such as we experience when we see you
experiencing these moments of genuine friendship.</P>
<P>And so we will leave you for the evening, having a replete agenda under our
belt. A full repast has been presented and digested. Continue through your
days and your observations of personality, the marvelous discovery of
creaturehood. Enjoy and farewell.</P>
<P><STRONG>Group:</STRONG> Thank you. Farewell.</P>
<P> </P>
<P> </P>
<P align=justify> </P>
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