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Dear Friends,
I am using a story as the anchor for my message: A hard working and very
generous farmer had several lazy, greedy sons. On his deathbed he told them
they would find his treasure if they were to dig up a certain field.
Directly after the old man’s death, the sons hurried to the fields and they
began to dig from one end to the other. There was no gold! They were most
frustrated and upset and assumed that their father, in his generosity had
given it all away during his lifetime. They also realized that since the
land was now prepared through their enthusiastic digging they might as well
plant crops. Soon they had an abundant yield of wheat, which they sold at a
very good price. They decided that they might just have missed the gold the
first time around, so dug over the land again with the same result. Well,
they planted a new crop which once again produced an abundant yield,
bringing them much prosperity. They then began to realize the real treasure
that their father had left them; they had become honest, hardworking,
contented, wealthy farmers with respect for the land and seasons. They no
longer felt the need to hunt for a hoard of gold.
Now there are many ways to interpret this story, but in my message
encompassing the ‘True Measure of Life’, we consider that Life, in Truth,
cannot be measured at all. All measurements relate to limitation. In his
book, “Song of the Stars”, Credo Mutwa states: (and I paraphrase) “When
people discovered God, they discovered a shapeless, featureless, endless
entity with which no-one could cope, and so in order to handle the mystery
of God, man reduced that mystery to a shape that he could recognize and
understand. (he continues……) Again and again in the bible we learn how the
people of Israel very often turned their backs upon the Lord of Abraham and
started worshipping false gods. (Mutwa says…) and it was because these
people were not capable of dealing with a concept of God without a shape.
They could not conceive such a deity, nor could they come to terms with this
shapeless entity.”
I find this quite interesting; and of course it brings us back to this
seeming need to box things in, or define by confining to a specific shape or
size – according to human standards. When we know who we are in Truth, and
that in Truth we are all equal, then we will find ourselves uplifted in
conscious acceptance, ready to experience a way of life that is promised to
us. “I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly…”
Throughout scripture we have these promises and statements emphasizing our
oneness with the Source of all Life, and the treasures that are ours: “You
therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” “The kingdom
of God is in the midst of you.” “The spirit of truth dwells with you, in
you.”
We have examples in scripture of individuals who discovered the treasure of
their true identities and overcame human limitations. One who comes to mind
and with whom we are very familiar, is, Job. Every truth in spirit is
already established, awaiting our recognition and acceptance. We teach that
God is omnipresent, but it is only through our spiritual consciousness that
we will realize and experience this Presence that is with us always. It is
only through our spiritual consciousness that we will recognize and discover
the kingdom. We dig for the treasure of Life, in the world, sometimes
putting our limiting ideas onto what it should consist of, or how it should
be. And this ends up as a futile search for something that does not even
fulfil or satisfy us. Yet, we have already been given the kingdom, with all
its spiritual treasures and gifts – it requires though, that we connect with
it, and experience it through conscious communion with God.
We speak of being the offspring of God: I and the Father are one – and while
this is true in the absolute sense, it is not true in our experience until
we realize it and embrace it for ourselves in consciousness. The farmer gave
his sons so much more than merely a hoard of gold buried in the land. And we
have been given so much more than many of us believe, but we have to turn
within to find it.
So next time you begin to measure your worth, stop, and remember your true
worth. As a child of God, your worth and inheritance are immeasurable. Had
the farmer’s sons found a chest of gold, it would have been limited to just
that, and in time it would have been used up, but the lessons they learnt
about life were invaluable. The kingdom that each of us has inherited is
filled with a treasure that has no comparison; a treasure that is infinite
and eternal; worth more that all the gold to be found on earth.
DIVINE SCIENCE CLASSES:
The class in Basic Principle which was scheduled to begin on 02 March, has
been postponed due to insufficient numbers.
Please remember that the class in Meditation is scheduled to begin on
Wednesday 03 March, at 7:00pm, with Helen Penfold. There is a list for names
on the board in the hall.
This course will focus on “The Lord’s Prayer” as a guide to the practical
application of meditation in our daily lives. It will also teach Meditation
and Concentration Techniques that quieten and focus the mind.
Investment is R400.00 per student.
SPIRITUAL CINEMA – Friday 19 March at 19:00
Feature film: 2012 – Science or Superstition.
What will happen on December 21, 2012 – the end of the Mayan calendar? Will
the doomsday predictions come true? Is it just another “Y2K” scare? Or could
2012 represent an evolutionary leap in our consciousness? Explore these
questions and more with this month’s feature film, one of the most important
Spiritual Cinema films of the year. This informative documentary features
top experts on astronomy, global change, Mayan culture, physics and
shamanism providing a balanced view of the 2012 phenomenon. See it and
decide for yourself. 78mins.
Short film: Interview with Greg Braden
Greg Braden is a New York best-selling author who is internationally
renowned as a pioneer in bridging science and spirituality. Once a
successful computer geologist, Braden found his true passion visiting high
mountain villages, remote monasteries and forgotten texts to uncover their
timeless secrets. Don’t miss his interpretation of the 2012 prophecy. 22min.
Cost: R25.00 per person
ACT SOCIAL COMMITTEE WALK:
The next walk will be on 27 March 2010. We will be going to Humble Ways on
the Stukens estate in the Lovemore Heights area, with its peaceful
atmosphere and wonderful views. As it is a restricted access area, we will
meet next to the water reservoir on the corner of Melsetter Avenue and
Edmonds Road in Lovemore Heights. Wear comfy walking shoes and a hat – don’t
forget sunblock, water and a snack to eat at the halfway stop. For further
information please call Marlene on: 076-3093781.
ENNEAGRAM WORKSHOP:
By now many of you will have benefitted from the presentations on the
Enneagram, given by Sylvia van Zyl. Should you be interested in
participating in the workshop, please contact Sylvia on: 083-7082857, for
all details.
ACT DINNER CLUB BRING & BRAAI:
This notice may be too late for those who are not on e-mail, but just to
inform you all that the Bring & Braai will take place at the ACT Pool
Garden, this coming Friday, 26 February 2010 at 19:00.
All welcome: bring your friends, family, drinks and picnic baskets with own
braai tongs, cutlery and crockery etc. Please be sensitive to guests from
other religions – do not braai pork products. Vegetarians; separate fire on
request. Bring bathing suits and enjoy a swim. Seating and fires will be
provided. Your hosts for the evening are: Jo-Ann, who may be contacted
on:072-8820402, and Louise on: 082-2285595. Donation: R20-00 per person /
R15-00 each for couples.
A Common Thread:
Sandra Ritchie will be presenting a monthly forum - A new interfaith way of
understanding the Divine – the first of which will take place on Thursday 11
March, at our Centre at 19:30 – A talk on the Kabbalah, presented by Crystal
Kushner. Please see attached for details.
In closing……………….
I share with you some words from Rabbi Joseph H. Gelberman, from his book,
The Quest for Love.
WHO AM I?
I am the reality of things that seem
I am the waking who am called the dream
I am the utmost height there is to climb
I am stability all else will pass
I am eternity encircling time
Kill me, none may, conquer me, nothing can
I am God’s soul, fused in the heart of man.
Bountiful blessings ……..
Bountiful Blessings
MALLORY
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