A message channeled during a group session on February 4, 2023, by Rev. Jeff Munnis to help us understand changes, in and around us, and the temporary nature of the world.

Transcript

There is a strong movement for change in everyone that’s present here right now. And so, as we look at that change in each other and around each other, we can see that there is that time where we anticipate the change, we feel the change coming, but it’s not yet visible to us. We don’t quite hear the words that come with it. There’s a time where that resonance inside of us seems to need to incubate, to sit for a while. And so, it is with our spiritual journey. There is that transformation we seek that always seems to come a little bit different than what we hope. A little bit different from the life that we currently have, and always a little bit different from the world around us. Know that it’s okay to embrace these differences; that you can be in that ambiguous place, even for many days before understanding the change that has occurred within you. Know that you can be yourself and be different from the world around you, and you’ll be held by love and by peace, but most importantly you will be held by the truth, knowing that the truth isn’t something that you can create on your own. It’s something that arrives in you. It’s something that’s part of the fabric of the universe around us. We find ourselves resting in it. We find ourselves moved by it, and ultimately, it is something that owns us, not something that we own. So, while we anticipate the change, the transformation, that change that brings us into an awareness of oneness, of that connection that exists between all of us, and then the ability to carry that awareness out into our relationships, out into our work, out into our purpose as it becomes manifest in the world, there is such a strong link between our purpose and our identity. There’s such a strong understanding that everything that we do at this place in time, because of our intention to be transformed, we’ll find that all of our purpose can be expressed in the care and nurturing of our soul, and in our relationships, even if it is not explicitly expressed. It is in the care and nurture of the soul of those around us—our family, our friends, those we love—and even those with whom we have conflict, that the seeds dormant in that conflict are seeds of love and kindness, seeds that point to an acceptance of a different kind of truth that has to be learned in our relationship. And that in that relationship, both within us and around us is our relationship to God. We feel this manifestation of God as presence, as if we are being touched. At the same time, we feel that urging in our heart, a movement inside of us, sometimes it speaks to us, sometimes we feel that movement, and it’s our work just to take that one small step, following that urge or that movement with faith, knowing that we’re going to be moving from a place of shadows, or obscurity, into a place of clarity and light. We’re not judging the place that we come from. We’re not giving up our heritage or our history. Those energies and powers are moving us into this new place as well. They are help that we receive as we go and make a transition into a new sense of being, remembering that all that Jesus spoke about is about how to be in the world, not about what to believe. So, we’re free from having to know everything. We’re free from having to engage every kind of practice. Yes, we can find useful tools to help carry us along our journey, but we must remember that we have everything that we need within us. The wisdom is within us in our hearts; and when we sit together, just as we sit right now, that wisdom emerges. And we may not have the words for it right now, we’ll feel the movement. We’ll feel the anticipation, and we’ll remember that this process for us is giving us a different kind of knowledge, a different kind of wisdom with how to use that knowledge—a wisdom that is grounded in our being rather than being from something outside of us. Though we might be prompted by what we read, it is deep in our relationship with our own selves, our own soul that we are possessed by the truth of who we are. And in this possession, you are not constrained. There’s no burden. You will be free. And this truth that holds us, holds us in freedom, allowing us to find our way, trusting us to learn and know our hearts; trusting that we already know that we are part of this most essential, deep connection with God, with the universe, within all things. The world will be changing around us constantly. The highs and lows that come with our emotions will be like waves that pass through us, but these don’t own us in the same way that this inner truth owns us. And in knowing ourselves, we remain free. We know what belongs to us, what is true to who we are, and what does not come from that truth, we let go and pass it on. We release it.

Everyone knows here in this moment that the world is temporary. Everything changes. There is growth. There is death. There are the seeds slowly emerging, There’s the fruit that falls from the trees, and there are the tides that come in and then recede. All of this world is within us, just as we in this world rest within God, within the consciousness of eternity. So, it is in a time like this in the present moment, when we have the perspective that allows us to be flexible and adjust. Allows us to be capable and strong, while at the same time remaining open and accepting, knowing that the world is there to teach us, knowing that we give and contribute what the world has to give and teach, and then step into the change that we finally see with clarity; and in that step, we feel our strength, we feel the wisdom within us that is grounded in us and strong. And our hearts are filled with compassion for ourselves and the things that we bear in this world, but also for the people in the world around us. We are another day on our journey together, and each moment expands into a new consciousness. Each moment becomes an opportunity for us to express who we are, not just outwardly to the world, but inwardly to ourselves, finding strength in that identity, and remembering to nurture and care for our souls, just as we care for those we love.

There is so much movement in this group right now, the energy as if we are in the same room—an awareness of presence, not just of those that are here, but even those whom we love. They are present, and everyone is waiting to hear from us.

(A.R.: “What is the biggest barrier to letting things go?”)

With just about everything that we experience in this world, there is a part of us that wonders, and this is an ego-based wondering or questioning of ourselves, that can take many forms. It can be, “If I let go, will I lose control of myself?” Or “If I let go, will I lose something valuable?” Or “If I let go, can I regain control?” and all of these are based on a fear that we are not enough ourselves. So, whatever it is that we have, whether it be knowledge or material possessions, resources, relationships, all of these things, we can hang onto out of fear, even against our own well-being. And so, going deep in to examine any fears that we might have, going deep and seeing how much we identify with what it is we wish to let go, and then understanding if we value something that we can’t let go of and to explore that value, and ask if it’s contributing to our well-being. These are part of the process of that letting go, but they are all based in us. We become our own barrier to letting go, and it is usually rooted in fear. And it should be recognized deeply, to understand that it’s okay to be afraid. It’s okay to not understand. To be able to allow yourself to be yourself, but yet be curious about that fear; to find a way through it rather than to deny it or try to release it prematurely without some understanding. But making the attempt to understand is so very important, and to be persistent. Give yourself credit for being honest and truthful with yourself and try to be fully aware of those attachments that prevent us from releasing what we’ve become identified with. We might also say that these things that we release that we don’t like, we have identified with them in some ways, even if it is an aversion or a revulsion to certain aspects of our own life or to the life of another person whom we’re in relationship, but even in these instances, there is the need to understand. Something there can be the separation of physical distance or maybe a period of shutting off communication if that is necessary, but whatever is necessary to gain perspective, to let go, allow yourself the freedom to be curious and explore, and trust yourself that what you need is there within yourself.

(G.B.: “In accepting the change, does what we want and what we need always need to be at odds?”)

Well, the short answer is no, but the answer to this is similar to the other, is what part of us is identifying with what we want, and what part of us is the best expression of our true need? Deep underneath, our need is really, simply God. That is our source of sustenance, our nourishment, the provider or the providence of the world from which we live our lives. So that is understood deep within every soul, even if it is not acknowledged. And what we want, we must understand whether that want or desire is driven by love, meaning, seeking something to manifest because of what we love, or whether that desire is coming about because of a selfish need that is exclusive, or in some cases, an understanding of a scarcity or a competition between ourselves and others. How do we want to be in relationship to the other primary relationships in our lives, the other people who are near us? And what do we want with our life? Do we want security? Do we want shelter? Do we want to be seen or acknowledged? What is the origin of our want and our love because we eventually become what we love, and so our desire and our need can sometimes be very intimately joined together. So they are not always in conflict with each other but we find that our growth and our awareness changes over time, and what was desirable at one point in time becomes less desirable or undesirable. So just as we spoke about how all things are temporary, earlier, one thing to remember is that our desire is going to be temporary, but our need will always be present because it is God—our oneness in God, our presence, our love rooted in God that is both our need and what fulfills our need. But if there’s something more specific that we desire, or want, versus what we need, that can also hold a clue to the conflict and to the resolution of that conflict.

S.G., I just know that you’re wondering how everything is going to get done. And I know that you’re worried about your journey. And even though that concern is there, and even though you have so much faith, you can still feel that concern. And I just want to tell you that it is going to be okay. And that you’ll make it, both there and back, and beyond. (S.G.: “Bless you, my dear.”)

G.B., I know you’ve got to feel your mom. (G.B.: “Yes.”) I can feel her.

(Jeff: “And I guess if there’s any other questions, We’ll just have to work on them out in the open now. It’s so good to see all of you.”)