The Magic Word
James Wellemeyer and John
Gray
September 21, 1997 Glen Ivy, California
Jim
Wellemeyer — Our singing “A Door Is Opened In Heaven” leads
wonderfully into what I wish to say this morning. Sixty-five years ago on
September 16th, a door was opened in heaven—windows too—not that we might look
up from the dark world into the light of heaven, but rather that the light of
heaven might be known on earth. We are reminded of three ways by which the
light is revealed: The glory revealed
in man, and glory relates to life, that the spirit of life might be revealed; two, that honor might be revealed in man, which relates to the truth. If we are honorable we are
truthful. And third, that power might
be revealed in man, the power of love.
The triune spirit of God is revealed on earth through man. Uranda’s personal
revelation of these truths provided the basis upon which what became the
Emissary program was founded.
I thought it might be of
interest to you to go back with me into the past. Although I was not there—I
was on earth in 1932 but not with Uranda at that point—I would like to give
part of Uranda’s own version of his experience at that time. “Uranda,”
incidentally, was the pen name for Lloyd Author Meeker, who for many years
provided the spiritual focus for our ministry. He was born in Ferguson, Iowa in
1907, and then spent the good part of his boyhood in western Colorado, not far
from Grand Junction. He was the son of an itinerant minister who, according to
Uranda’s account, was very strict. If there was not obedience there were
whippings, perhaps even what we would today call “child abuse.” Uranda at the
age of 16 left home because of this, worked on a dairy farm for a couple of
years, and then hopped a midnight freight train to Fort Scott, Kansas where he
became employed in a construction firm and actually began to do quite well. But
then the crash of 1929 and the Great Depression came and he lost his home and
money in the bank. He moved on in that condition to Nashville, Tennessee where
he again questioned, as he had earlier in life, “Why am I here?” He looked for
a teacher. He investigated psychology. He began to read the Bible, something
which he had given up on years before due to his father’s fanaticism. In the
Bible he found wonderful insights. He also studied health and how our human
body functions and how it would be capable of expressing spirit. These
experiences led Lloyd to a particular event in 1932. I would like to read about
that event to you, in Uranda’s own words written from the standpoint of inner
being, speaking of Lloyd’s experience:
“Through this maze of
confused conflicts and outer world pullings this way and that, [Lloyd] came
blindly to the month of September, 1932, when he made a final decision to
ignore, with a clean break, all of the ideas he had contacted, and, it would
appear to the outer vision, gamble everything on his own perception of that
Something of which he was, as yet, only dimly aware. It was in this state of
consciousness that he retired on the night of September 11th, and on the
morning of September 12, 1932, he awakened at the break of day, which was very
unusual. After trying to go back to sleep he felt so restless that he arose,
and thought to read a story which he had started, but it held no interest for him.
He thought to read the Bible, but it, too, held no immediate interest, so he
put it down. Next he decided to just sit and think for a time, whereupon he
felt a great urge to write; but he did not know what to write. As far back as
he could remember he had wanted to write a book, but all his attempts had been
sad failures. Finally, in obedience to the urge, he took pencil and paper and
sat down at the table. Not knowing what to write he just relaxed for a time.
Shortly he became aware of a Presence, and he seemed to be enveloped in a white
cloud in which he felt a great peace. Then he began to write, a word at a time;
but as fast as he could get one word down, the next would appear in his mind as
if by magic. Without trying to understand it and without questioning or
rebelling, he wrote for about an hour. He still had no idea of my Presence in
him, therefore he concluded it must have been some being such as an angel from
heaven who had come to him, and he took no credit to himself for what he had
written. As suddenly as he had begun to write, he stopped. He simply had
nothing more to write about. Marveling at his experience, the day passed and he
retired as usual. The next morning he awakened again, but this time he at once
took pencil and paper and sat down to write, and again the white cloud
enveloped him. This time he wrote for about three hours, when the inspiration
ceased as before. As he read over what he had written he found the answers to
many of his own questions. The third morning the same thing happened again, and
at the close of his period of writing he had a strong realization that that
experience would not return, and it never has. There was no need that it
should. On the 15th he considered all the things that had taken place, and by
the 16th of September he had fully determined to give himself to the work of
revealing the truth to humanity. He had no worldly resources, and he was
without funds. He was unknown except to a few people in Nashville. He began to
devote himself to the work of healing, and gradually his work became known and
people began to call on him for help—physical, mental, and spiritual.”
Unrealistic? I think not,
because I know that each of us has some experience, perhaps not as dramatic as
that, but we too know that urge from within as something is called to our
remembrance. As I read this I thought, “Well, that was a wonderful experience
for Uranda, but how does this relate to me?” I also wondered, “What was it he
wrote on those three occasions?” Does that intrigue you too? As far as I know
the content of his revelations at that particular time is not written in a
book, but I am sure if we were to read the services and class presentations he
gave we could begin to surmise what he wrote. In The Triune Ray, for example—a book Uranda wrote in 1936—are found
many of the basic principles of the Emissary ministry. At the very beginning of
the book Uranda makes the point that great changes are required in the human
state: complete spiritual regeneration. Obviously if there is a need for regeneration,
at some point there was degeneration. I don’t think we have to look too far around
us in the world to recognize some of the poverty that is present at every
level. I remember traveling by a train in India and seeing extreme physical
poverty. I know of mental poverty and spiritual poverty. In the midst of God’s
abundance, we suffer. What does it take to come to the point where spirit moves
so easily and freely in us that we know what it is to actually live and to
share in the activities of creation here on earth?
Uranda often said that
one of the basic principals to which he adhered and to which we may always
orient, was and is the One Law, which he described as positive action and negative
reaction. Just as the sun is the central positive point of the solar
system, around which the planets revolve, and in the atom there is a positive
nucleus around which the electrons revolve, so within ourselves there is a
positive spiritual center around which the form aspects orient. That positive
is always there, and in his writings Uranda urges us to relate to the One Law
constantly, to square to that law. This gives us reference for everything we
do. The positive center in a human being is the incarnate being within the
form. Uranda spoke quite a bit about incarnation—not reincarnation, as if to come into the world to grow and then come
again to grow—but incarnation in a
flesh body. He described the purpose of incarnation as “saving the flesh.” Why
should the flesh be saved? Somewhere in the Bible it says that unless the time
is shortened no flesh will be saved. This is crucial, because without the
flesh, without the human form, God has no direct means of expression on earth.
The spirits of life, love, and truth are not revealed without flesh. We may
say, “But what about nature?” Yes, God is present in nature, but I am speaking
of this human form which each of us inhabits. Being incarnates so that flesh
might be saved to reveal the Lord here on earth. This is no little thing; it is
spiritual regeneration.
Almost all of the
philosophies in the world speak of a former and now lost state of paradise on
earth, and many hope to return to it somehow, someday. Uranda referred to this
loss as “the fall,” and said it happened mainly because human beings, having a
conscious choice, chose to let their centering be in the creation, the material
world, rather than in God. Now in order for spiritual regeneration to take
place the reverse needs to happen, restoring centering in the divine once
again. As this is done there begins to be an expression of the reality of what
Uranda called the triune ray: love, truth and life.
All of this of course
leads to what Uranda so fondly called service.
In some of his literature he emphasized the fact that leaders are wanted.
Uranda was interested that there be those in the flesh who gave expression to
spirit and thus allowed for union to take place so that heaven and earth may be
known to be one. Uranda stressed service. In 1952 he initiated what he called Servers Training School, and I was part
of that first class session. In those classes Uranda taught about how we could
begin to reach people, to begin to let them have an awareness of some of these
principles which are at work in their lives. We began to know ourselves as
leaders, in service to mankind. At a certain point it becomes a matter of
forgetting self, of “losing one’s life that one might find it.” To me this is
what service is about. It’s not that we neglect ourselves or that there is not
going to be anything left for us. No. There is the flowing force of spirit through
the doors and windows of heaven. There is plenty. I know the grace and wonder
and love of God in this regard, and I am deeply thankful.
Uranda exemplified
constant appreciation to God. He often used the phrase, “In all things, give
thanks.” Whatever comes to you in your circumstances in life, give thanks.
That, for me, is one of the hardest rules to acknowledge and practice. But all
sorts of things seem to come, and I can really be thankful for them. See all
circumstances in the light of things evolving and not as the end of something,
and we can let the spirit of thanksgiving fill our whole being.
These are just a few of
the basic principles on which our program was founded. There is so much more
that can be said, but as we remember this anniversary of 65 years ago I want to
honor Uranda, this particular man who in spite of all the obstacles revealed
leadership in ways not at all common in the world today. I knew Uranda
personally. I spent three to four years with him. I think Pamela Gray is the only
other one here this morning who met him personally. But just looking at his
photograph you cannot help but be aware of the penetrating gaze in his eyes. I
felt that gaze penetrate to my innermost being. Uranda was a man of great
integrity, a man who in spite of his challenging mission had a great sense of
humor. His laughter could shake the rafters. He was a wonderful man who exemplified
that of which he spoke, and he was a wonderful leader. And now is just the
beginning of something greater to appear on earth as we individually and
collectively share in the spiritual regeneration of the consciousness and the
body of mankind on earth.
John
Gray — At this mid-September anniversary time we commemorate Lloyd
Meeker’s individual awakening in consciousness to his spiritual identity and
purpose as Uranda. As Jim reminded us, Uranda was charged with that purpose.
The potential for awareness of spiritual purpose and the principles by which
reality functions has been available to the general consciousness of humanity
for as long as memory goes back, but except for the rarest of people, human
beings customarily ignore it. Notwithstanding our ignorance, I believe that
spiritual purpose and the principles of reality are the genetic code of
humanity. Uranda was one who realized this. His attunement in and with the
spiritual genetic code—the means by which we are made in the image and likeness
of God—opened his consciousness to marvelous wisdom and an innate ability to
express it in words and deeds.
The true nature and
purpose of humanity, what we are and what we are here to do as human beings—very
basic questions that live in many human hearts and minds—these Uranda addressed
insightfully and inspiringly. He was a spiritual entrepreneur, a visionary,
with a clear goal and intention. He had what in today’s vernacular might be
called enormous intellectual capital. But while his vision, insight and understanding
were inestimably valuable, he had very little outer means. As he said more than
once in tape recordings of addresses many of us have listened to, he realized
what needed to be accomplished, but how
to actualize that noble vision was up to him. This is just as true of each of
us, for we each have some vision; I don’t mean a dream or fantasy but a real,
lasting, active vision of reality. Vision is absolutely essential, and vision
alone is not sufficient to be a complete, authentic human being. Lots of people
have lofty aspirations, great desires for how the world might be and wishes
about how they might be in it, hopes about how things might be different, or
how we might have a world of love, a world that works for everyone. These are
ideals that probably many people would profess to hold in some way, but how is
such a world caused to be?
Whatever the goal, the means by which we move toward it are
absolutely vital. The Machiavellian notion that the ends justify the means is
completely wrong. The means we use—how we do what we do—determines the end. Means are how we get where we are going, after
all. The road you take is what gets you to where you end up. It is never true
that the means are justified by the ends. It simply isn’t valid that if the
ends are noble then anything goes to achieve them, because if anything goes, it
all goes and we don’t get anywhere. How many generations of human beings have
proven this thoroughly? The means produce
the ends.
As Jim was speaking about
Uranda, I thought of his meeting the challenges of the how? question: how to bring this noble vision into actual
manifestation. Like all of us, Uranda confronted many obstacles, as Jim
related. For one, the depression years of the 1930's were tough economic times.
Survival was a basic issue for many people in those days, and if people are
hungry, don’t have work, and feel insecure, it is all the more difficult to
encourage them to see and share a lofty vision and to work toward it. It is
hard to want to serve an idealistic vision if you feel like you have very
little. But whatever the obstacles Uranda faced, whether the external factors
of the times or internal factors of his own human heredity and upbringing,
whatever the apparent barriers, he always found a way through. He always found
a way to open an aperture to let the light shine through.
He knew the Magic Word.
Do you know what the Magic Word is? I’m sure you do. It is abracadabra! I read somewhere that abracadabra, a phrase in Arabic, translates into English as I create as I speak. That is the Magic Word. When spoken, abracadabra opens
even invisible portals. The Magic Word: I
create as I speak.
Of all living creatures
on this earth, human beings have the ability to speak. Other life forms
communicate in other ways, but speech in the manner that we know it is unique
to human beings. This is at the core of the how we emerge, how we come into the
world, how we actually embody divine identity. What we say and how we say it
and why we say it, are motive forces; they are what push us, determine what
happens, what we create. I create as I
speak. It doesn’t say maybe.
That’s the way it is. According to our speech, we create. And if we think our
circumstances differ from what we would like them to be, then we should examine
what we are creating as we speak. Abracadabra.
As I deeply understand the truth of this I become responsible for my life in a
way I cannot escape. This is not a very welcomed thing for many people, because
human beings habitually want to blame somebody else or hold someone else
responsible for their experience. “It isn’t my fault that things are the way
they are.” We can rationalize for as long as we can fool ourselves, but
ultimately we must get down to our own personal internal experience and admit
that abracadabra!—what I create is
all around me. The evidence of the quality of the word I speak is right here.
Mahatma Gandhi was a
person considered by a large portion of humanity to be a leader of transcendent
quality and character. A biographer described him as “an unlikely little brown
man in a loin cloth” who had the ability to move the hearts and minds of
millions of people in ways that brought about significant creative change by
nonviolent means. I recently heard a quote of Gandhi’s which perhaps refers to how
he as a leader found himself treated, but I think there is a more profound
message in it as well: “First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then
they fight you. Then you win.” That to me also describes God’s patient view of
the changing consciousness of human beings. We can ignore God, laugh at God,
fight God—and God wins. Gandhi evidently knew the Magic Word.
U.S. Vice President Al
Gore said, “A leader is someone who others follow.” Before we write that off as
impossibly obvious, let’s consider again: “A leader is someone who others
follow.” Al Gore is an intelligent gentleman, and there must be something more
to his statement. “A leader is someone who others follow.” The “others” might
be other people, of course, but “others” might be more broadly construed too,
including the plants in your garden and your accomplishments at work, for
examples. Whether as an individual, a company, an organization, a nation, we
should ask ourselves the question, “What is my following?” We are each leaders,
and the qualities of our leadership are reflected back to us by our followings.
What is our following? Is it “goodness and mercy,” as the Twenty-Third Psalm
says? “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” Is
that a hope for the future, or is it presently true? “A leader is someone who
others follow.” By our fruits we are known, the Bible suggests. By the results
of our actions, by what appears around us, by our following, we are known.
Since the fruits are determined by who is really present, that is the
compelling question: Who is really
present? Is it an authentic, whole person, or a surrogate, a substitute,
something less? Our fruits tell the story. What occurs around us tells the
story. A genuine, authentic human being is guileless, has no ulterior motives,
is not using ends to justify means, is assured of life’s purpose and lives in
alignment with it.
By his following, by his
fruits, we may know that Uranda was an authentic human being. What kind of
following did he gather? His human following was an eclectic grouping of rather
extraordinary people who were willing regardless of their inner and outer
obstacles and difficult circumstances to be true to a high, noble and accurate
vision and to devote their lives in service to seeing it come into form more
fully. Authenticity begets authenticity. Authentic character attracts authentic
character to it. Daniel Goleman, author of the U.S. bestseller, Emotional Intelligence, said,
“Authenticity invites and encourages intimacy.” To that statement I add “and
not vice versa.” It isn’t through intimacy—getting along, feeling close—that we
elicit authenticity. It is by only by being authentic that we experience real
intimacy, real connection, and indeed oneness. Many human beings believe or
hope that humanity might function as a global community with cooperation,
mutual love and respect. We probably all hold something of that belief or hope
ourselves. Our personal authenticity is our own contribution to actually
bringing that about. Trying to get something together by any other means
ultimately does not work. Authenticity is the basis and foundation for human
community. Of course the challenge of authenticity is a personal one. We can
help and encourage one another—and indeed we should and must—but ultimately
being authentic is up to each of us. What is our following? Apply the Al Gore
test to your life: Is what is occurring around you genuine and authentic? Does
it have the ring of reality, the sound of the tone, in it? Is it created by the Magic Word? To apply the test requires, I believe, tremendous honesty. It is
easier than most of us would care to admit to fool ourselves about whether we
are being honest. But what our following is tells the tale.
Being authentic we have
deep and abiding assurance in the Magic Word. We also have understanding of
life’s purpose and principles; we know the spiritual genetic code which is
every human being’s birthright. With inner assurance and understanding we can
walk the middle way through the circumstances, challenges and paradoxes of
life, not needing to judge anything good or bad, right or wrong. A person
exhibiting his or her authentic spiritual stature is wise and knows how to
live. And like Uranda’s life, the lives of such people are inspirational to
others, and their following reflects that. The Lord of Lords invites us to be
all that we can be. May we let the spiritual genetic code, the gift of God,
govern our lives. Let that be our motive, moving us in everything we say and
do. Then we can rest and work assured that what follows will be truly fine,
aligned with the ultimate goal. If we don’t do that then the results in our
lives won’t be aligned with our ultimate goal no matter how fervently we
believe that goal to be true. But everything does move in an aligned way if our
awareness of the goal is constant and true and every means we use to get toward
it emerges out of that character and not from any lesser motivation. If we live
that way it may seem at times that our circumstances, that other people, may
ignore us or laugh at us or fight us, but ultimately we win. This is the
victorious life that Uranda often spoke about. God wins. The authentic person
expresses God’s victory and then shares in it. “All things work together to
perfection for those who love and serve the Lord.”
So at this time of our
mid-September anniversary I think of Uranda and I think of leadership and I
think of the challenges that are before me and before each one of us, and the how? question. And I know that we each
know the Magic Word. Say abracadabra, I
create as I speak, and doors open. Even when it seems impossible, even when
it seems no door is there, speaking the Magic Word opens the path of life
before us in ways that are aligned in what is highest and true, and fulfilling
our birthright. Let the genetic code for humanity have its full way. So we play
our parts in letting the goal which Uranda and others envisioned—a revitalized,
regenerated, restored humanity functioning as a community, serving purpose and principle, aligned in God—come true on earth.
© Emissaries of Divine Light
Special Focus Of Significance
Martin
Cecil Grace Van Duzen Lillian Cecil September 16, 1981
During this month, September 16 to be exact, the forty-ninth birthday of this ministry occurs, completing the cycle of seven seven-year periods [eighty-fourth birthday in 2016—twelve seven-year periods]. I am sure we all have some sensing of a climactic point being reached, the point which declares whether this Emissary ministry is to be characterized by victory or failure. I never like to contemplate failure—my whole concern, and I trust yours also, centers in this matter of victory. Victory, however, is not something that occurs through wishful thinking, just because we might like it to be so. There must be the fact to back it up. These things will prove themselves out. It is well, however, that we should all have an awareness of what it is that needs to prove itself out. The question might be put, “Can we individually, and consequently together, be counted upon?” This does not only relate to those of you who are here gathered this morning but to many others as well.
It is good that we are all together on this rather special evening,
September 16, 1981. We have chosen this particular day as a beginning point, in
outer form, of this ministry forty-nine years ago. It might perhaps have been
one of several days but this one is fitting.
It is not just a matter of celebrating a birthday but of participating
in a creative cycle which rises to a special focus of significance at this
time. Celebrating birthdays is not particularly important in and of itself but
if a particular anniversary does relate in a specific way to the unfoldment of
a true creative cycle, then we have opportunity to play a part in what it is
that is in focus in the present moment. This has come out of the past, quite a
lengthy past, so that we are here now, and there is movement into the future by
reason of this creative spirit which has been moving throughout. So we are
indeed thankful to the Lord that He has seen fit to receive us in this present
assembly, that we might fulfil the purpose for which we are here now in this
moment, and continue to move in that which unfolds in the days to come.
During this hour there will be those who play particular parts in the
sense of providing special focus, but of course it is true that all who are
here present are responsible for very special parts to be played, and I trust
all are keenly conscious of this fact and this responsibility. In the first
instance Grace will be offering something to you, and I would invite her to
come to this particular position.
Grace Van Duzen — I would share some words with you tonight, by
Uranda, written September 14, 1936. This would have been practically in the
middle of the first seven-year cycle and here we are at the climactic point of
the seventh of these cycles. As always, the word of the Lord is timeless, and
these words are timeless. Particularly toward the close of the passages I’m
reading you will recognize that they could have been said last Sunday, or the
Sunday before, or the year before, or the cycle before. The word of the Lord is
timeless.
I came upon these, and chose these, because of my recent sojourn in
Egypt, and these are Uranda’s words with regard to those great symbols that
were established in the earth—the sphinx and the pyramid—so long ago. We could
be reminded that when these were established the earth was a different place;
man was different. We find ourselves at this wonderful point, on the eve of
what Martin has called the golden year, when the gold is refined in the fire.
Very specifically we have a sober and joyous responsibility. So I would share
these words.
I have shared pictures of these symbols with you. The miracle is that
they are still in the
earth. Regardless of what has happened to it, regardless of the fact that they
are in the center of a vast desert—nothing grows—still they stand, symbols of
the earth and of man. When they were established it was a beautiful place, a
garden. I will read The Sphinx Speaks.
In the desert within thyself, I AM. From out the sands of time, I
speak. My Voice hath been sounding from within thee always, but thou hast not
heard because My Voice is the Voice of the Silence. To thee I have been the
Sphinx. Thou hast sought to understand and thou hast failed. Thou hast listened
for My Voice and it hath not been heard by thee, not because I did not speak,
but because thou didst not know how to listen. I AM the God of the earth, and the Sphinx in the land of Egypt is a
symbol of Me, prepared in the days when mankind knew Me as I AM. Turning within
thine own earth, thou hast found thy land of Egypt, and it hath been dense
darkness unto thee, and in the darkness of that desert place thou hast but
dimly seen the outline of My Presence, and I have been unto thee a great
mystery.
It hath not been my will that I should be a mystery unto thee, for I
have revealed Myself to thee in all the experiences of thy life, and I have
made known My Presence in all that thou hast seen during the period of thy
manifest form upon the earth.
My mystery is now revealed in the earth because of the faithful ones
who are turning to see the Voice that speaks with them, and they are beginning
to know the One Who I AM, and having turned they find that I AM not afar off,
neither am I difficult to understand.
In My symbol thou hast seen the face of a man lifted high above the
desert sand, the face of a man set upon the body of a beast. The beast is the
animal expression of man that hath been rampant in the world, the animal
expression of man which hath thought itself to be greater than I AM, and the
world hath forgotten even the face of the man that is on the beast. Having
forgotten this which it could see, it likewise forgot Me Whom it could not see.
My symbol was established in its appointed place beside the symbol of
the God of Heaven and earth, who is known to the people of the world as the
LORD of Lords and KING of Kings, that My symbol might be a key to His symbol
and an entrance thereto, yet hath the world failed to understand His symbol or
My symbol, for the two are One. Even as I AM the Lord, thy God within thee, the
God of the earth, even so am I the Way whereby thou mayest enter into the ALL
and become aware of the God of Heaven and earth, the LORD of Lords and KING of
Kings. His symbol hath the world known as the Great Pyramid, and His Place,
even the Secret Place, hath the world known as the King’s Chamber, and He hath
revealed Himself to the world through the ages as the invisible Capstone of His
symbol. Even so, I have revealed Myself to the world through the ages as the
Soundless Voice of the Silence, which the world hath not heard nor understood.
As the world hath failed to hear My Voice directing it in the Way, so also hath
the world failed to see His Presence as the Capstone of His symbol in the
earth.
Oh man, look at thyself and thou shalt see the stone symbol which the
world calls the Sphinx. As the face of the stone Sphinx is broken, so also is
the face of man, for it can hardly be seen that man hath the face of man, for
man hath contented himself to be the beast.
Behold, every man who shall harken to these, My Words, and who shall
become the living Sphinx, shall know what it means to stand with the LORD of
Lords and KING of Kings in the earth made new, where Heaven and earth are One,
under His direction and filled with the Flaming Fire of His Love.
Beloved of the Lord, Reality is ever coming forth, and its coming
cannot be stayed nor its manifestation changed.
Look out upon the earth, Beloved, and thou shalt see that it is a
melting-furnace wherein the Fire of My Love brings all to that white heat of
transformation. The gold of Being, responding to My hand, comes forth pure, and
ready for the shaping of a higher realm.
Now it is ordained that all self-consciousness shall be removed from
the realms of the dross, that consciousness may be only in the realms of
Reality; and so it is that the Flaming Fire of My creative Force shall work its
Will in Peace and all Tranquility, changing the dross to purest gold until the
whole world shall shine forth as a Sun of glorious Light in the Universe where
it is ordained to be.
Lillian Cecil placed a picture of Uranda on the altar, then stood at
the lectern
Lillian Cecil — I too would share a
few moments with you in this very special hour. It is, of course, a man-made
picture of a man who walked on earth; and yet we all know, very particularly,
of that spirit, that glorious, beautiful spirit that filled this form on earth.
And I think my own contribution tonight would simply be to speak briefly of
Uranda.
He was the opening door, the focus of the awakening, at this very
special moment in eternity, forty-nine years ago. And I am deeply thankful—and
I know everyone is—that he let this happen in his consciousness. Grace spoke of
those symbols in the earth today that represent the Lord. And they still stand,
after how many centuries? I wonder how good a symbol we each are of the Lord on
earth. Surely Uranda brought this to focus living, vibrant symbol.
Some of us met him within the framework of the
first seven years; others have met him in the later seven years. But it doesn’t
really matter, as long as we all know the spirit, the utter, beautiful spirit
of this precious Being who walked the earth. I suppose the world, if they
really actually knew about him, would say, “Well he was just another human
being.” But we all know differently. I met him at very tender years and I
didn’t have to be told that he was special. The joy of meeting a person who is
vibrantly full, who is vibrantly shining, radiating with the spirit of God on
earth, is priceless: and here was this beautiful man.
How thrilled Uranda would have been to hear this
gorgeous organ sound in this beautiful building. And yet he was never daunted
by the fact that the forms around him were quite less than we know: a little,
old pump organ, in a small building which we now call the Ranch House. But it
was the same, wasn’t it? It was joyous because the symbol of God was on earth
and there were those who were awakening to that fact. And as we have all awakened,
and share this in our hearts, and as we produce it—the living example in our
living—his life was not in vain. Indeed it was the most glorious thing for
thousands of years!
Maybe my words are simply, this evening, Martin, to
offer our collective tribute to the truthful, the special, life which Uranda
portrayed. Some of us heard him speak many times, in person. He could be very
serious, he could be witty, he could drive the point home so that you squirmed,
but you were glad to wake up and see the truth of being, available. He spent many
happy hours on earth and perhaps a few sad ones too, but he lived life to its
fullest. And I know in my own living, that has been a right example to follow.
And we remember the Master’s words, “Follow me”—and in everything Uranda did
and said he issued that word also, to all peoples on earth, “Follow me.”
So I am thankful to have these few moments in the
Lord’s house to express my heart thanksgiving that he walked the earth, that
Uranda was indeed in form with us and that his spirit continues, as it ever
shall.
Martin Cecil — The way of salvation,
of restoration, has been established on earth ever since the original failure
on the part of man. The way of restoration is the same now as it was anywhere
back along the way. The worldly circumstances may have changed but the way by
which the restoration occurs is the same as it ever was—exactly the same thing
is required now as was at the point of the original failure. That requirement
has been outlined in many ways over the ages.
Recently I have been speaking of failure, because
unless the fact of failure is seen for what it is and is honestly
acknowledged—not merely in a general sort of way but specifically by each
individual—the way of restoration is prevented from being experienced. “Repent:
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The true state is as available in this
moment as it was twenty thousand years ago and all through the centuries in
between. If it has not come on earth it is indication of the continuing failure,
which includes the failure to repent. So I emphasize this matter of repentance because
it is crucial at this particular time.
Human beings suffer their ups and downs. This all
relates to the emotional realm, doesn’t it? Sometimes a person feels up; if he
does then he presumably says of himself he feels good. Other times he feels
down; then he feels rotten. The question always is as to whether, because of
what is so experienced, one is going to prove to be unstable, undependable.
Dependability has nothing to do with these ups and downs. It only seems to have
something to do with them when emotions are the god. Repent. Acknowledge the
fact of failure—those elements which are very specific. If there has been a
failure of some kind, acknowledge it without excuse, without attempting to
explain it away, to yourself particularly. Acknowledge it as failure, without
excuse; and there is no possible explanation which would cause it to cease being
failure, one’s own personal failure.
I spoke recently about a certain toughness. Here is
an indication of it: if you do not feel that you have to explain anything,
because there is nothing to explain. If there was failure, that was failure for
which one was personally responsible. The human mind is a little crafty, isn’t
it? “Yes know I was responsible, but...” No buts!
If there has been failure, one is personally responsible for it in one’s own circumstance,
and there is no excuse, and no valid explanation. So why look for one? One must
come to a point of absoluteness in this regard, so that there is an
acknowledgment of failure when there has been failure, without any equivocation.
That begins to be repentance; and it opens the door for what emerges out of the
state in which that failure was the experience. Something is to emerge out of
that, because the spirit of God is still moving. And as there is a direct
participation in what does creatively emerge, that
is forgiveness.
Most people are looking for forgiveness to come
from somewhere: “Oh will you forgive me? Oh Lord, will you forgive me?” Well of
course. He offers the opportunity to participate in the creative cycle and that
is forgiveness when you do it. But nobody can do it, in fact, without first repenting,
so that there may be a releasing of what gave evidence of failure relative to
the creative cycle as it was moving before. Unless that is done, so there is an
absolute cutoff—what is now moving cannot be shared and therefore there cannot
be forgiveness. That is forgiveness. That movement in the creative cycle as it
now emerges is the experience of forgiveness. It isn’t something that the Lord
is going to plaster on people! It is what comes forth through oneself. One is
for giving expression to the creative cycle, according to one’s own particular
responsibility in the matter.
Now here is a central core element which has been
offered lo these many, many years but which has been turned aside so much by
continuing human emotions and the figuring of the mind. It can find excuses; it
can find reasons as to why it’s impossible to do what is really quite natural.
The way of restoration has been made available countless
times but we have very specific record in particular places: in the Bible, for
instance. We have the story of that day of Pentecost long ago, when the
disciples were all gathered in the upper room. They were all with one accord in
one place, it says. They didn’t stay that way long, but sufficient to allow the
way of restoration to begin to emerge. We are aware that there was failure;
that was spoiled. We are also aware of what happened before that at the time of
the children of Israel. There is one very clear-cut description of the way of restoration;
you know it because we have considered it many times. It relates to that story
of Elijah’s contest with the prophets of Baal. Let me read this, part of it at
least.
The prophets of Baal had been given their innings,
which they enthusiastically accepted and really went to it, anticipating that
the answer would come that way—just as human beings in the world have done and are
doing now in this day, and the answer doesn’t come. There are more people
awakening, it seems, in these days to the fact that the answer isn’t found
along those lines; but there are still vast numbers in the population of the
world who imagine that the answer is going to come that way—they can’t see the
possibility of any other way.
Elijah
“And it came to pass, when midday was past, and
they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that
there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.” What a very
pathetic situation. It is the exact situation of the world now. “And Elijah
said unto all the people, Come near unto me.” Here was the prophet of the Lord,
the representative of the Lord, opening the door to the way of restoration,
provided that those concerned would repent and leave behind, cut off, the state
in which they had previously been involved, acknowledging failure.
“And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near
unto me. And all the people came near unto him.” I am thankful to see all of
you who are quite closely together in the physical sense. You’re not scattered
all over the Chapel. The invitation was offered to come near unto me, and
presumably you heard it and did so. Of course it isn’t a matter just of coming
physically near—although this may be a symbol of something—but coming near with
open hearts, open repentant hearts, that there may be participation in the
experience of forgiveness.
“And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken
down.” This seven periods of seven years, which brings us to this day, has been
a time when the altar of the Lord was in the process of being repaired. Seemingly
it has been rather a slow process. It depends on what time frame one might put
it in. If we’re thinking of thousands of years then I suppose it’s been quite
rapid. If we think of it in our rather limited life spans then it has taken
quite a while.
“And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the
number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came,
saying, Israel shall be thy name:“And with the stones he built an altar in the name
of the Lord.” Here is indication of representation from all the tribes of the earth.
I think that has happened, pretty well, insofar as our own experience of
rebuilding is concerned. We have, within the range of our awareness, people
from virtually every land.
“And he made a trench about the altar, as great as
would contain two measures of seed.” There has been a hedge about this development,
what has been taking place by reason of this ministry and those who have been
associated with it. There has been a hedge of protection, which also is the
facility by which something may be achieved. The hedge of radiance does provide
protection but it also provides the means by which seeds are planted; something
is brought forth in this way. “And he put the wood in order, and cut the
bullock in pieces.” That has something to do with our physical, emotional,
mental facilities being put in order.
“He put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in
pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and
pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.” Well, you know that something
of the sort has been going on over the years. The water of truth has been
freely offered. “And he said, do it the second time. And they did it the second
time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.”
Twelve barrels—quite a soaking of body, mind and heart. “And the water ran
round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.” All was
permeated by the truth. At that point the truth was somewhat dormant, just wet,
sitting there—which has at times been the condition experienced by those who
have been associated with this ministry. They’re sitting there like wet rags.
“And it came to pass at the time of the offering of
the evening sacrifice.” This was occurring at the same time as the other
situation with the prophets of Baal. The cycle is drawing to a close, to allow
whatever is to come next to emerge. “And it came to pass at the time of the
offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said,
Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou
art God in this body (Israel), and that I am thy servant, and that I have done
all these things at thy word.
“Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may
know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back
again. Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the
wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the
trench.” Here is a very different state of affairs to the state of a wet rag.
What of your hearts? Are they really turned back again? The very moment that this
is so the fire of God does fall from heaven. We may see and know this in this
moment. We also see and know and understand it as relating to this particular
aspect of the creative cycle that opens before us: the fire of God falling from
heaven, pouring forth to consume the lives of those whose hearts are turned
back again, so that they cannot help but allow the glory of the Lord to be
revealed on earth in the oneness of His body.
“And when all the people saw it, they fell on their
faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.” Is
that really what is being said by all those present in this Chapel this evening—“The
Lord, He is the God”? Are there in fact no other gods before Him? The Lord, He
is the God in fact, whether anyone acknowledges it or not. But only with that
acknowledgment, because there has been repentance and participation in the creative
cycles of forgiveness, does this truth have creative effect in the world.
This evening we share an hour when these things may
be brought to focus in our consciousness, that as individuals we may
acknowledge the fact of failure, obviously so heretofore, and repent. No
excuses whatsoever offered for anything that has happened in which we have been
involved in times past; no explanations needed, but simply a willingness to
repent, to let it be cut off, that there may be full and free and wholesome
participation in what is now emerging. We see this casting its shadows before—so
that what is of this creative cycle now emerging may be allowed to take form
because there are those present to let it be so. The Lord, He is the God; the Lord, He is the God.
What say you?
The congregation answered, “The Lord, He is the God.”
Upon a further
listening stance from the Bishop, it was repeated, “The Lord, He is the God.”
That’s
better! There is a tendency, isn’t there, to do things partially because we
have lived in a partial world. I rejoice in this hour very greatly, to the
extent that in speaking those words you in fact told the truth. That will reveal
itself, won’t it? Woe unto those who do not speak the truth. “Rejoice, ye
heavens, and ye that dwell in them,” for the truth is revealed and made
manifest because you live.
© Emissaries of Divine Light
