Superior Index Go to the next: Chapter 2
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To purge or not to purge, that is the question. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." The pruning of the tree of individual life is accomplished, most gracious ones, that greater fruit may be manifest. It is difficult, however, for mankind, balanced as they are in time, to hold at a given moment perspective of the entire spectrum of being. The aperture through which men behold the frail stream of mortal life is too narrow to permit full viewing. And thus, men should not expect too much of themselves, even when they pursue the path Godward, until they have expanded their spiritual faculties beyond the dimension of their own opinioned progress to where the voice of God can clearly be heard saying, "Come up higher!"
Men often do not distinguish between karmic law, acting to return to them for balance `ancient sendings' misqualified with imperfection and those pruning `tests' whereby God seeks to expand the qualities of the soul. As a new year is now beginning for all in the vast cycles of mortal life, it is the wish of the Brotherhood to show forth the fact that men are often overly concerned with that to which they ought to give but partial concern or merely a fragmentary glimpse, whereas the important directional concepts of life which mold and shape destiny and bring life into consonance with the divine pattern are often neglected for some temporary personal advantage.
Having ourselves been embodied upon the planet for many a year, we are well able to understand such trends of human experience and we can view with compassion the turmoil generated by men who, while pursuing God, are also haply pursued by their own emotional menagerie. We do not expect an immediate reform overnight, although I am certain you will grant us that, if this were possible, it would be quite desirable from your standpoint as well as from our own.
Now, the question usually arises with the breaking of the yearly cycle as to whether or not vows are in order, and then the question becomes "To vow or not to vow." There is a certain value, of course, in a worthy, determinate effort stemming from the heart and its natural desire to serve the will of God. A proposed idea, when examined in the light of illumination's flame, will be better understood in terms of the individual's capacity to incorporate it into daily experience.
If an individual knows in advance that the vow he is making cannot be affirmed by right action but will almost certainly be broken, then it is perhaps best not to make it at all but rather to make an alternate vow, one to consult with God and with the ascended masters in holy prayer and communion for further assistance in amplifying faith, determination, the will to do, and the qualities which will overthrow undesirable habit patterns. Then, when the enemy is on the run, perhaps a vow is in order. This is like training to pole-vault over a high hurdle. Men would not enter such a contest before trial and error, but once the limbs are tested, the nerve firmly secured, and the skill manifested through a number of experiments, there is far less hesitation to enter the lists and to emerge victorious.
We would like to point out that to attempt the scaling of the stars when men are unable to overcome small conflicts within their own domain often focuses energy and attention away from the direction of greatest need. Therefore, the wise and the foolish of the world would both do well, if they truly seek expansion of the soul, to accept the teaching that encompasses areas of human problems rather than those of curious and questionable phenomena. Seek to liquidate those debts, which will enable you to tackle higher responsibilities and thus not only hold your ground but also move forward in the light.
Some among mankind seem to regard honest appraisal as denying them access to higher ways of attainment. Not so, precious ones, for as Saint Paul long ago declared, "If any man build upon the foundation of Christ gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
The portal of this year is one of acute need for planetary assistance. The problems of the world are multiplied both within from an invisible standpoint and without. The complexities of this generation and the strands of entanglement have created aspects of both mass and personal confusion. Mere escapism will not suffice to solve these problems, neither will involvement in fear of the future. Past victories serve to move mankind forward; but the world itself, having obtained crucifixion upon the cross of Matter, needs to experience release from the agonies of imperfection which plague the social order and man's relationship with man.
Those who perceive clearly, recognize that the many upon this planet are positioned in different strata of attainment. Some teach that none ever sink backward, yet this is not wholly true. The law of man's being indicates that passivity and self-interest wedded to inertia and the desire to attain the greatest personal advantage with the least expenditure of time and energy cannot be expected to produce the same yield as that of an ordered mind and heart that in full faith perceives the goodness of God, extending to all generations and giving to every man the fruit of his own labor, and to each and all the opportunity to let that labor become team work with Almighty God and the heavenly host.
Inasmuch as many new souls will be coming into an awareness of the spiritual hierarchy this year, to understand that God alone does not minister from the realm of potentate, but makes of spiritual men and women who ascend joint-heirs and rulers with him in his kingdom, to assist the mankind of earth to find their freedom, to work with the forces of nature and the elements - to harmonize, to heal, to purify, to bless - so, then, men will begin to understand that while all of heaven is one, it is the fold to which the many servants of God, ascended, are joined. Those who seek a `living master' will find in the ascended realm a goodly number of living masters who serve the commonweal of spiritual ministration and, as teachers of good faith, bring to the feet of all the treasures of the Christ.
Bring, now, to every heart the balm of more lustrous knowing, the essence and fragrance of those flowers which adorn the bowers of life, which blunt the thorns that misguided effort has planted on the human byways. Our gratitude flows forth this year, as always, to all of our chelas. The Buddha and the Christ amplify with your beloved Saint Germain the flame of freedom, the pulsation of liberty.
Now, let us be up and doing. Let us be about our Father's business. Let us run and not faint. Let us go forward and not be weary. Let us know that our strength is in God who is the keeper of all that Is real. By his stripes, by his symbol, by his reality, we are healed of all that which is not real, and established forever in that which shall make all men free!
Lovingly, I AM for an adventurous year of progress,