8-9-11 “He did deliver me from bondage” p. 58

8-9-11                 “He did deliver me from bondage” p. 58

“in the circles just outside that bull’s eye, those circles marked “church, home, family, spouse”

I am intrigued by this image of the bull’s eye.  The Spirit has revealed it to me over and over again in relation to priorities and also with relationships.  In her writing style here, it seems to me that she makes an assumption that others know this: that they already know what she’s talking about.  It would have been my tendency to explain what I had learned, but she does not.  As I read this, the thought popped into my head about Garden School lessons.  Perhaps I am complicating this much more than necessary.  Maybe the lessons themselves do not need to be anything great and wonderful.  It is my goal to facilitate learning in natural systems through the Spirit.  My mind caught hold on this thought and I have been hardly able to think of anything else: “The Spirit will reveal the same truths and images to their mind and heart, just as He has to yours.”   So there aren’t “lessons” at all that I need to create, only the environment.   I know there is a space between freedom to learn and structure that inspires thinking and connections.  How do I create this space?  There must be some structure else the mind wanders and has no thought to focus on.  Perhaps the journal questions are the lessons, and then to facilitate the learn and share discussions on those to see what comes about.  Oh this is beautiful ambiguity!  It does allow the Spirit to be in control and for us to learn through faith.  If they seek not it will fail, they will see no value here, and they will not learn.  It puts complete responsibility for the learning process on their shoulders where it should be.  Perhaps that’s the assumption I need to make, that they will, and they are seeking- just go on it like it’s a forgone conclusion.  They will.  They want to learn.  The Spirit is urging them to know the truth.  They know it’s their way out of their prison.  This is not a blind assumption.  This is a choice.  There may be exceptions, but as I speak to the group with this assumption, others will rise to the occasion if nothing more than to be like the others.  That ‘need to be included’ will override any fears or hesitations. 

Maybe this is what it means to love your neighbor as yourself- to make the assumption that they want the same things that I want based on the same basic four needs of every human heart.  Maybe we are not as different as the adversary would have us believe…  Maybe this is how to create my own world with my own rules like the guy on “Life is beautiful”.  Hum, very ponderous…

I suppose that if they do not seek and they will gain nothing from the Garden School, then I could recommend to them the 12 step class, as it will circumcise their heart and humble them to the dust to bring them to a place where they will be able to gain as they seek.

p. 62  Looking ahead to the next chapter:  Step Four seems to be a repeat of step 1.  That’s funny because just the other day I was thinking I need to go back and review the steps.  How quick I am to forget my own nothingness…