Sunday Pep Talk: Manuel For Teachers #4 continued: Honesty, Tolerance, Gentleness, and Joy

  Honesty: All of the other traits of Teacher’s of God (TOGs) we will be discussing rest on trust. Trust in God, in Jesus and the plan, everything else stands on this foundation. Once you have achieved that, meaning that you’ve gone through all six stages of trust, then all of the other traits follow. Only the trusting can afford honesty because only they see its value. I am as God created me, perfect, sinless, and holy. I am all in for my role in the atonement. There is nothing that I want to make myself into. God is the author of me. Then Jesus goes on to talk about honesty. Honesty means consistency, in agreement with the holy trinity. When we look at honesty in terms of being consistent with the vibe of the holy trinity, this involves more than just what you say. 

-Nothing you say contradicts what you say or do.

-No thought opposes any other thought.

-You never act in a way that contradicts your word.

-You never talk out of two sides of your mouth, nothing that you say lacks agreement with any other.

          Such are the truly honest. Jesus sets the bar very high here. You would be saint like if you could accomplish this. At no level are they in conflict with themselves. So it is impossible for them to be in conflict with anyone else or anything else. This seems nearly impossible to do in a body. Jesus sets the bar really high here. 

          At no level are they in conflict with themselves. So it’s impossible for them to be in conflict with anyone or anything else. This seems nearly impossible to do in a body. Jesus sets the bar really high here. 

          The peace of mind of advanced TOGs is because of perfect honesty. When we are in the “I am that” territory, there is no wish to deceive. We don’t want to be anything other than what God created us to be or the job he created us to do. The wish to mislead causes war. You are never misleading when you are following the plan. If you are at one with yourself in that, “I am that” territory, you can’t even think of conflict. Conflict is the result of hiding the truth from yourself and that is dishonest. There is no challenge to a TOG. Challenge implies doubt and the bedrock of trust makes doubt impossible to a TOG. Trust is the foundation of all of the other traits of TOGs. TOG’s can only succeed in their part of the plan  and what else are they doing? What else matters? Remember- you will be happy when this happens. They are sure of their choice. 

          Tolerance: TOGs do not judge. We are not here to judge. To judge is to assume a position that you do not have. Judgement and self deception go hand in hand. Judgement implies that a brother has deceived you. That means that you have been deceived about yourself. This projection connotation, judgement is a grim sword that you stab yourself with. Judgement implies a lack of trust and trust is the bedrock of the TOG’s thought system. If you lose the bedrock, the whole house collapses. There is no judgement in Heaven. Without judgement all things are equally acceptable. Without judgement we are all brothers because no one stands apart. Everyone is a part of the one human family. 

          Gentleness: Harm is impossible for TOGs. They can’t harm and they can’t be harmed. Harm is the outcome of judgement. An act that follows a thought, a verdict of guilt on a SOG and on yourself. When you condemn your brother you condemn yourself. It is the end of peace and learning when you judge. God’s curriculum has been replaced by madness. TOGs must learn early into their training that harmfulness obliterates your function from your awareness. Harm makes you confused, fearful, angry, and suspicious. It makes the Holy Spirit’s lessons impossible to learn. TOGs can be heard by those who have realized that harm accomplishes nothing. No gain can come from it. 

          So TOGs are completely gentle. They need the strength of gentleness because from this strength the function of salvation becomes easy. To those who would harm, the function of salvation is impossible. If harm has no meaning to you, to function for the atonement is a natural outcome. Who would choose Hell when you see a pathway to Heaven that ACIM points out? Weakness comes from harm, gentleness leads to unfailing all encompassing and limitless strength. There is no choice here. The strength of TOGs rests on their gentleness because they understand their ego thoughts do not come from SOGs or God. SO TOGs join their thoughts with the source of Love, God. Our will, which has always been his is freed. We free ourselves. ACIm points the way.

          JOY: So these things build Joy. Joy is an attribute of the kingdom and it rests on gentleness. Gentleness means that fear is impossible and nothing can disturb joy. The open (not grasping) hands of gentleness are always filled. The gentle have no pain, they can’t suffer of course they are joyous. They know that they are safe and loved. Joy comes from gentleness. Grief comes from attack. TOGs trust him and they know his teacher (Jesus) goes with them. So they know that they walk with the Holy Spirit and Jesus, so no harm can come to them. They hold his gifts and follow his way because they follow the call of God. Joy is our thanks to God. He wants us to be happy. Bliss is an attribute of the Kingdom and Jesus thanks us as well. He needs us as much as we need him. It is joyous to follow the purpose of salvation. We are happy when we are on the right path.