[tmtranscripts] Ham on the requirements of Love

[David Schlundt, Ph.D.]

05/15/2005

Ham: Greetings, children, I am Ham and I am glad to have this 
opportunity to speak with you each once again. Let us speak of the 
requirements of love. When you find your God-connection it will be in 
love and so to maintain this living spiritual bond requires remaining in 
love as much as possible. Remaining with love requires constant 
vigilance against those spirit poisons that destroyed love and so 
destroy they connection to the spirit.

None of you has trouble with hatred, but fear is more subtle and fear 
creeps in when you are not looking and suddenly that fear will spawn 
other poisons like resentment, envy, greed, laziness, and so on. Then 
you have a lot of little seemingly trivial attitudes towards things that 
must be removed one by one as you weed your garden and nurture the 
tender plants of vulnerability, helplessness, child-like faith, hope, 
and love for your self and your fellows coupled with forgiveness. These 
little plants are vulnerable and can be easily choked out by the weeds 
of selfishness and fear. They must be watered with truth, and fed with 
the bread of life, the Master's true spirit, so that through love these 
plants will grow strong and bear fruit in your maturing characters.

The old habits, the old reactions are gradually giving way to a new and 
better way of living. The way of living truth is never static, it is 
constant change, constant molding, constant realignment of your 
thoughts, feelings, and priorities. The fruits of the spirit will lead 
toward a natural service and a way of giving that is yours alone. Each 
of you has a unique contribution to make to the spirit and to the 
spiritual lives of others.

Each of you, as you bloom and grow into bearing the nutritious fruits of 
the spirit so that others can partake, gives something in actual 
substance to the God of experience in time and space, the Supreme Being. 
The God of experience is formed and created through experiential contact 
with the material world. This contact is made through material 
creatures, born of clay then reborn is spirit. Spiritual growth is born 
through giving. No growth can be achieved without the active giving of 
the spirit as well. You love because you are loved, this is the Father's 
spiritual circuit that then creates him in his experiential form, the 
trinity translated in time and space.

Each of you is finding that to grow toward God you must release the 
things of the world and you must release your attachment to the material 
world. This releasing has to be coupled with a growing faith. Faith will 
grow with the releasing of fear and attachment to the world. Faith will 
grow as you learn to feel, as a real part of your experience, the 
Father's love in increasing measure day by day.

The Master released all things to the Father's good keeping. Every 
moment he consciously released himself and all his worldly cares to the 
Father's hands. Every prayer was ended, nevertheless it is my will that 
your will be done. Though he walked in the lowly places of mankind, and 
though he knew the human feelings of fear, disappointment, and 
disillusion, through each individual trial after expressing his 
thoughts, he turned it over.

To follow him then, you must each learn to do the same. Whatever your 
human fears, desires, or feelings, you must release them in order to 
grow in the spirit. After you pray my children, and you ask for his 
blessings, remember, as the master did, to say "Nevertheless, your will 
be done" and then face reality as it is releasing that which you would 
want it to be.

What are your questions.

Q: I'm not sure I understand what you mean by releasing our attachment 
to the world. This is not to be confused with disengaging from the 
world? Are you talking about continuing to be engage but not being 
personally invested in the outcomes? But I think this does not mean we 
should necessarily be disinterested in the outcomes of our actions in 
the world. So could you clarify a little more please?

You are correct my son. The Master told the apostles, be in the world, 
but not of it. Be engaged, do your best, but after you have done you 
work, say nevertheless, your will be done. This will help you release 
your attachment to the outcome.

Q: Human beings often have very mixed motives, some positive and some 
not so positive. How does this relate to the way we motivate ourselves 
to act?

Ham: Yes, each of you pushes and pulls to get through the various chores 
of this life that are set before you. Gradually, though, as you grow in 
service, you can begin to release the negative motivational side, the 
"if I don't work who will pay my mortgage" type of motivation. Gradually 
you will be able to switch into positive service oriented motivation 
saying "Father, today I will serve you and I trust that you will provide 
for me". This is different and going from one side to the other is not 
like flipping a switch. It is not a matter of one single decision, but 
the cumulative effect of many decisions. The direction you can set 
through your conscious mind and through prayer you can ask for aid and 
comfort as you step out in faith as did the apostles of old.

Essentially my children, you are gradually realizing the truth that you 
were born into this world naked and helpless and so this is how you will 
eventually leave. Letting this sense of helplessness coupled with strong 
and strengthening trust will bring you correctly through this life and 
all its trials. Each of you is helpless to know what will befall you 
tomorrow. None of you knows when your last day will come. Most human 
beings resist these thoughts and the fear they inspire by keeping busy 
with things that you can control. But ultimately, you control nothing. 
This is the truth and to realize it takes faith and to realize it you 
must release the illusion of security that most humans cling to. The 
only thing you will take with you when you leave this world are your 
memories and your treasures in heaven, that is your growth in spiritual 
substance, that which is real because it is part of God. Everything 
else, even the body, is not real because it is not lasting. It is 
temporal and it is material. The material world is the shadow of the 
true substance that is spirit and that is all it is. Is this helping?

Q: Could I have a message please Ham?

Ham: Of course my son. My son, you are doing very well. You are growing 
in faith and in the true righteousness of the spirit. Differentiating 
what is real from what is not real is the task of all human beings. But 
there are those who can discern the spirit and describe it. This is the 
aim of art and what gives art its meaning. The Father's spirit lives 
through each of his children and only the spirit can discern the spirit. 
All your work will mature as you grow in spiritual maturity yourself. 
Follow the Master's loving presence as he gently guides your steps and 
leads you into truth. Rejoice then, give thanks in humble spirit for the 
gifts he is giving you every day. The way opens, you are doing well.

Q: Do you have anything for me this evening Ham?

Ham: Yes my daughter, be at peace. You are finding it is not that 
difficult to take the big steps if you hold tightly to the Master's hand 
as you do. Have faith that he has placed you, have faith that you are 
learning the lessons he wants you to learn. Have faith that you can 
cling to him through the difficult times and you can cling to him then 
through times of ease as well. Rejoice, you are set upon the pathway my 
dear. You have been tested and found not wanting. Gradually he will 
place greater burdens upon you but not before you can carry them. This 
week place one foot before the other. Do each days chores to the best of 
your ability and then release them to the Father's care come nightfall. 
Rejoice my daughter, be joyous through all things. Be joyous and 
trusting and gentle. Be gentle with yourself first, then you can be 
gentle with others as well.

Q: I have gone through lots of changes and challenges these last few 
years. Am I on the right path now?

Ham: My daughter, you have truly overcome great difficulties and it is 
these things that are the most valuable teachers. No one becomes wise 
when things are too easy. No one develops character without being 
challenged and so the greatest adversities become in the end our 
greatest blessings. Walking in the spirit is not the easy way, but it is 
the only way to move toward God and one's ultimate destiny. Truly my 
daughter you are giving of yourself and this giving is also what you 
need. Rejoice then and be exceedingly glad. All things are becoming new 
and though you will have difficulties in the future, your growth in the 
spirit will equip you to meet these challenges with ease and grace. Be 
at peace my daughter, all is well.

Q: Do you have anything for Rebecca?

Ham: Yes my daughter, before you are many challenges but you are meeting 
them from a safe place and you must understand the great support you 
have around you. Each piece of work will be given. As you find these 
steps placed before you, you must trust in the spirit ever more 
completely. Trust, trust, trust, this is your watchword and your way. 
Let your work develop for then you will be used more fully as you grow 
strong in this safe place. Give thanks then and be at peace. You do well.

Q: Jarad?

Ham: My son you are also growing very much in the spirit. The way of 
gratitude and humility is your path ahead. Little do you understand the 
power of your blessing and your gift. To receive, you must be a child - 
innocent, humble, helpless. To find this ever growing gift you must 
embrace those three. Rejoice and be glad my son, you are doing just fine.

Q: Do you have a personal message for Wendering?

Ham: Yes, my daughter, have peace. Realize there are many things that 
are not controllable by you in this life. Each step is a test of faith 
and faith is tested more by letting go that through grabbing on and 
doing. Rejoice, move toward the spirit in humility and gratitude. All is 
well.

Q: Katie wants to know if you can tell her anything about Vern?

Ham: My daughter, do not fear. This is an opportunity for you to 
distinguish what you can control and what you cannot. There will be 
challenges, as always, for you in this relationship. You have handled 
many situations and problems concerning this man before. What is ahead 
will be no less difficult but your faith is stronger, even though you 
may not perceive it to be and you will not have the deep emotional 
difficulties that you have gone through before. Use each challenge to 
strengthen your faith. Have no fear, all is well.

Q: Do you have a personal message for Charlie B?

Ham: Certainly. My son, you do well. You are meeting the difficulties of 
the hour with strength born of the spirit, a strength that includes 
grace, tolerance, and ultimately love. Let love dominate your mind and 
permeate your soul so that all things reflect this awareness. Let your 
actions be dedicated to him. All is well.

Very well then my friends, until next week my love and my prayers are 
with you. Farewell.

-- 
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David G. Schlundt, PH.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
301 Wilson Hall
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN  37203

Phone: (615) 322-7800
E-mail: David.Schlundt at Vanderbilt.Edu

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Belief has attained the level of faith when it motivates life and shapes 
the mode of living. The acceptance of a teaching as true is not faith; 
that is mere belief. Neither is certainty nor conviction faith. A state 
of mind attains to faith levels only when it actually dominates the mode 
of living.... Faith does not shackle the creative imagination, neither 
does it maintain an unreasoning prejudice toward the discoveries of 
scientific investigation. Faith vitalizes religion and constrains the 
religionist heroically to live the golden rule. The zeal of faith is 
according to knowledge, and its strivings are the preludes to sublime 
peace. ---The Urantia Book, Page 43
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