A message channeled during a group session on July 7, 2024, by Rev. Jeff Munnis to help us overcome the darkness that we see and feel in the world today.

Transcript

This is a time when we have to be very cautious about the appearance of things in the world. We know that what we see in the world is often a reflection of our inner state of being, but the world can also be full of illusion, meaning that what we see is not the true nature of things. So, when we see the world as it appears to us now, there may be times when you feel disappointed or let down; there might be times when you feel hopeless by what you see happening in the world, but this is that time when those things are generated by our own inner condition, and that if we can have hope, and that if we can see opportunity, we’ll understand that we are living in a period of rapid change. The rules that used to inform how we did things have changed. It used to be that some things would take a year or 9 months, and that is still true of natural things like a pregnancy or the gestation period of animals, but that is not true anymore about the effect of human beings on each other, so that things can change from week to week and month to month in much more dramatic ways. What seems late, what seems early can actually be the reverse. Those things that seem too soon can be too late, and those things that seem too late can be too soon. The things that seem the darkest can also carry the most light. And we have to understand that those things that we attribute to the world around us, to the way we’re governed, the ways that we respond to each other in business, the way we see our health, all of these are changing rapidly. So, the premium is on patience. The premium is on not overreacting, and remembering that the values that we have, the things that we love still make the greater difference in our lives and in the lives of people around us. It’s going to be easy to get caught up in things external to us, and yet there are so many things that no matter which way the world seems to be going, for us spiritually, we can still maintain ourselves on the path that we have chosen; that there are things that we do that still bring to us an understanding of truth, an understanding of what it means to love, and an understanding of what it means to grow internally, and to grow in our recognition of the presence of God around us and inside of us.

Everything that has been said by Christ and by others inspired in the same way as he was inspired will continue to say to us over time and through time, that heaven is at hand, that paradise is here within reach, and that our understanding of ourselves is a pathway to understanding God. These things will remain true, and it is up to us to bring these things forward in our consciousness as we live through the next year.

The world around us will look the same. There will be war. There will be political change. There will be those in great need and those with great suffering, and at the same time, there will be a large gap between those who have security and comfort in this world and those with very little security and almost no comfort. Those kinds of conditions are not always visible to us and is part of that appearance of things of which I speak. The most important way to engage this world is by going inward and getting in touch with that part of our heart, that part of us that is intelligent, that is not conditioned like our mind, that part of us that is more aligned with love and truth, and to see from that inner condition, and to see with that lens all the ways that we encounter each other individually, and from within our family to other families, from those that are friends around us and creating a bridge to those that are different from us in the way they think and go about their lives.

So, in the conflict that we see in the world, as difficult and as damaging as it appears, there is the greater opportunity for healing, and large strides are made when we make those bridges between people. The trust that is built between us is step by step, in some ways, brick by brick as it is built, and the foundation that we work from is remembering the presence of God, not only in ourselves but in those around us and in those we see. And that if we can see through the illusions that are presented to us, if we can see through the stories that are created to influence us, if we can see past those into the hearts of other human beings, we’ll have a chance to take advantage of the opportunities that exist to be agents of change in the lives around us but also in the world.

The things that happen in the world happen in cycles. They are like waves of emotion that pass through our body; they are waves of thought and understanding, of influence, and many of them pass and cycle through very rapidly, and it’s easy to get carried away. Remember that we’re not like any reed in the wind that always goes the way the wind goes. Our roots are deep in our spirituality. Our roots are deep in knowing who we are, and that by turning our whole being to the light that we know exists inside of ourselves and even in this world, we will feel the strength of truth, we will feel the power inherent in love, and we will help co-create a better world.

So, we will need to understand that the light will penetrate the darkness that we sometimes see, and that the darkness is not going to overcome the light that is inside of us. Each of us is sitting in this moment aware of that part of us that is seeking; aware of that part of us that wants to know not just about ourselves, but about how our lives will move forward, and we need to remember that we have free will, that we have the ability to respond in different ways. We need to understand that those around us also have the ability to choose and to respond, and it is in that context that our awareness is most important. That the small movements required of us, even hour by hour in the course of the day are all that are required of us ever. We don’t have to be responsible so far out into the future. Our responsibility rests within our ability to have influence and to make a difference within the sphere of our influence. It is not always as far as our concern, so in a way we bring our concern down into the present moment, knowing that the changes that we make in the present moment, by responding to truth and by responding to love, these are what shape the future. These are the ways that we contribute to the future, and these are the ways that we are meant to live our lives, and it is the way that we are prepared best to respond to the opportunities that come to us.

(M.C. – It’s just a comment and a gratitude of the reminder of staying present and being in the small moments, I think is how you put it, Jeff. This past week, I’ve been. . . I just moved back to CA from being in MA for a year, and the living situation I’m in is not what was described to me. I’m working on focusing on what is right about it, as opposed to what is not right. I’m just trying to be open to the next place where I can move and feel peaceful. I’m feeling a great deal of anxiety about several things, and it’s manifesting in my physical being, which it always has. I really appreciate the reminder to not try to plan the whole week. Just to take things as they come; try to maintain a lighter attitude about it. I have a tendency to get a little bit too deep and make things, perhaps a little darker or more difficult than they may be. I try to stay in reality in the process, whatever that is. Thank you, Jeff. I found many of the things that you shared very helpful, and as always, your voice and presence is very calming. Thank you.)

And I would also like to say to you that, be really strong about caring for yourself, and not worrying about caring for anybody else’s feelings or anybody else’s needs as you navigate that process.

(M.C. – Wow. That was so spot on because I’ve been a caretaker all my life, and I just left Boston trying to oversee the care of my mother and so I promised myself that I would come back here so I could focus on myself. And this situation, this person should be in assisted living, and the person that cares for her has gone away for three weeks, and I don’t know what that means. But thank you for reiterating that feeling that I have that I’m not responsible for anyone else’s life, only my own. It’s not that I can’t be compassionate and thoughtful. So, thank you. Thank you so much. Boy, that hit the target. Thank you.) You’re welcome.

(J.C. – Since we met the last time, I went on an 11-day journey, June 6th to 16th, East, three of my four sons, six of my seven grandkids, my wife’s son, and family. So, all but one son who lives in Knoxville. I was there on the 4th of July. I just got back at 4:30 this afternoon. And in that time, I had been to a retreat, and the teacher compared Chronos, the Greek word, to Kairos, the Greek word in the Bible. Chronos is how we keep time, our watches, and our schedules. Kairos is a God-moment, it might last a little longer. And I kid you not, that whole time, including those last four days, including today, it’s amazing how often Kairos moments occur if you just are quiet and patient. In one of them today, I stopped to get gas, which I got, I wanted to go in and use the bathroom, and the door was locked. And it was locked because they had only one employee, and if he had to go to the bathroom, he had some stomach problems, they had to lock the door and they had a sign on it. And it took about 5 minutes. There was this man sitting out there. So, we just get to talking. Well it’s this homeless man living in the woods. We talked about a half an hour. And, I ended up giving him a little money. His story was constant, and you knew that God was there. And even today, I go into Mcdonald's, there’s this African American man coloring, and I got a cup of coffee. I go to sit down and I’m drinking. I don’t know if you can see this, maybe it doesn’t show, but this man colors. So, he showed me all these books, and I bought that thing for $7, and we talked, and this man described how he does it. You can tell, he’s not fully, what you call, developed. He has some learning thing, but he does that as art. But that’s Chronos, that was Kairos. God’s there. And it’s just a matter of an urge. Do I sit there and drink my coffee or do I go and sit down with that guy? And it’s amazing how they occur. I mean I thought I was driving home, stop and get gas, and use the bathroom and keep on going. There must have been four events today on my trip that were God moments. And part of it is just being aware, and letting it happen. Watching. It makes your day wonderful, really when that happens. I mean, there’s a wreck, and finally, you can get off the interstate and get into another McDonald’s and wait an hour for it to break up, and you get a phone call from a friend, which results in a phone call back to your son, which results in another phone call. If you have that patience for a God moment, they occur quite frequently during the day.) Thank you.

(A.R. - I’ve been wrestling with trust. How do you know what to trust? How do you know what energies to trust? By their effect in the body? If the god-like energies of peace and love originate/are being sent by one known to be manipulative, are the energies themselves trustworthy?)

We’re not called as human beings to have blind trust or to trust everything that comes to us. We’re asked to have discernment, and that discernment originates inside of us. And so, the bigger difficulty is when we don’t listen to the voice inside of us that is taking care of us, that is raising our own awareness, that is calling us to be ourselves and to trust our own feelings, and to trust our own understanding of any situation. And to know that we can have a boundary that says it’s okay to ask for more information or to even turn away from a situation if we don’t feel that trust within ourselves about the situation. And, these things, if we can get in touch with that part of ourselves, and in that few seconds or even a few moments that maybe stretch out to 10 or 15 seconds, we need to allow ourselves at least that much time before we respond, and then understand that if this is a real opportunity for something good to happen, that if we turn it down because of our own inner sense of the moment, that that’s okay. And, that if we need that opportunity, it will come to us again. We’re not compelled to do anything against our own inner sense of what is true or what is happening around us. We can rely on that voice inside of ourselves that’s part of our being. And just remember that we’re not required to have blind faith; that we can wait for more information. Sometimes information will relieve the anxiety and we can see a clear path, but if there is not enough information there for us, to know that we don’t have to respond—and that’s a place where the patience that we have been talking about can be important. I’m happy to follow up more if there’s more that comes with that question.

It's always important to understand that we don’t have to be compelled by other people. When we are compelled to do something, to respond, to do good, it’s always more important that it be a yes coming from inside of us, rather than a yes to somebody else’s need or somebody else’s desire. Even when we’re loving each other, to respond to someone else’s love is always going to be more authentic and stronger when it comes from the yes of the love that’s inside of us. We’re not and shouldn’t be compelled even by someone else’s love, except to receive it with humility, but it doesn’t require us to act.

(AR - Is it wise to accept energetic “help” from someone that is not advertising themselves as a teacher?)

It’s wise to ask about intention and motivation. It’s wise to ask about one’s own inner state of being around other people and to follow the thread of knowledge within yourself, to your own wisdom. Whether someone advertises as a teacher or not is not necessarily an indicator. There are many people who do a lot of talk, and a lot of advertising, so to speak, and they don’t have the depth or the presence or the embodiment of what we need. So, even with someone with credentials, if we can say that someone has credentials in this area, sometimes the timing can be off or the opportunity is not there, and to respond, to be patient, to wait. And if you don’t know yourself, meaning you don’t know the answer for yourself in the moment, and you have someone else who you do trust, remember that we can help each other when the help is for us to ask or interrogate or inquire about our own discernment with someone that we know cares for us.

If that’s not clear what I said, let me know and we can, I can rephrase some of that.

(A.R. - What about someone who has the depth and presence, but also can be manipulative/untruthful?)

The discernment has to exist within you. It’s not going to come from me in this moment. I’m not aware of the other person’s energy or intention, and they’re not across from me. It’s a matter of one’s own inner state, not the state of the other person. If you’re not receptive, if you don’t feel receptive, if there’s something about the situation that would cause you to ask this question, then I would say you’re not ready. And that’s not saying anything about the other person. It’s more a matter of where you are in that moment that the question arises.

(J.C. – I’m interrupting again, but that moment today where the car wreck pulled me off the road into a McDonalds, the phone call that I got was from, the phone call prevented me from doing something wrong. And the phone call was from a friend, a new friend who was somewhat aware of my getting close to investing in something financially, and this person, she asked me to call my son that I just visited, which I did and talked it over with him. And then I ended up calling the person I was going to invest with and said, “no, I’m not.” Sometimes I think God just, if you want, “Lord, don’t let me go down the wrong path, whatever it is.” God will send somebody outside of you to stop you. I’m just grateful. I’m grateful that it happened. I was prevented from making a mistake financially today.)

The value of discernment that can be aided by someone that we know cares for us, and in this case, someone that cared for you.

There are things that the heart sees and knows that the intellect can’t see and know—and trusting that is important.

I know that some of you are feeling a certain kind of heaviness in the world immediately around you. And I think even though your circumstances might be different from each other, it’s important to remember that no matter what our circumstances are, that God is present, that we don’t have to call and feel that God is having to move some great distance to be fully present for us, to be invited in. It’s more that we understand that that presence is already there and that it’s a matter of how we turn toward that presence with our attention. How we turn toward that presence with the things that we give value to. It’s as if we do the work of being so fully present that when the right opportunity comes to receive an answer, to receive confirmation of something that we know inside of us, but that needs to unfold or be uncovered, to know that that is there and that the heaviness we feel, it’s a temporary feeling that we can and will eventually break through that sense of heaviness or feeling of heaviness into a more balanced, a more equitable feeling within ourselves, not only outwardly toward the world, but especially toward ourselves, our own self-esteem, our own worth, our self-worth. And don’t let that sense of what is either dark or overshadowing to us, don’t let that overcome your sense of your own value, your sense of the light that is already within you, and if you can, just open up to that light and to know that that is enough in the moment. And that opening to that light will let more light in.