Alcohol And The Spirit

JUNE 24, 1981, 5:35 AM
PORTLAND, GLEN’S STUDY

You have experienced previous teachings about this theme, o son, but you have not brought them with you. Today, particularly, when you are focusing on drinking by youth you should inject some of the concept that alcohol and spirit have an important relationship. You are here, sleepily, but I did urge you to come. I would like you to do this for Me today.

Alcohol deserves to be called a “spirit” because I arranged for its creation in the earth… and it does reveal the spirit of the person who consumes. Alcohol diminishes the functioning of the mind… and also reduces its dominance. This means that the rational mind has less control, BUT the control is not just lost… it becomes that of spirit. When there are no obvious, marked changes in demeanor as alcohol is consumed it signifies that the spirit and the mind are in good relationship, but, generally, that the spirit is not particularly well developed. This may seem strange, but consider what happens, after some drinking, when the spirit is highly developed… and the mind is also strong in its functioning.

As the dominance of the mind recedes, the concern for self and for what is rational and logical to do diminishes. The spirit thus becomes more evident… in concern for others, in generosity, in thoughtfulness, and in uninhibited praise or thanks to and for others. The desire to meet and know other people is unleashed, and friendliness becomes obvious. Others, who are more sober, may react in like fashion, if their spirits are strong… or may be “put off” by this “drunken behavior”… all of which is evidence of the dominance of rational mind over spirit. Sometimes, then, the drunken one can show more positive spirit that the sober one… which should be a “sobering” – or an enlivening – thought.

Those who make the best abstainers are those in whom spirit is naturally so strong and developed that it coordinates and facilitates the total self and can easily and readily come to the fore and meet the spirits of others, those sober and those less so. (You can see that “sobriety” is a term developed by the mind; its implication is one of quiet and reserve rather than one of outgoingness and joy. We need to work on that.)

A few words about nasty drunkenness, even though this may be obvious. First, the less developed or undeveloped spirit shows forth as just self-centeredness… mild jibes at others and behavior that tends to benefit self. However, as spirits have developed, but in concert with evil spirits rather than with positive spirits or with My Spirit, the result is often violence against others, against things and the earth, or against self. The raging, destructive drunk shows forth a negatively developed spirit that the mind may overcome when alcohol is not present.

Not drinking allows the mind to have its dominance, but the retarded spirit is still there. Treatment must thus have a large component of spiritual development of the positive sort… of opening self to others, even to Me… of serving others and considering others more than self.

Some people with highly developed spirits, aligned with Mine, inhabit bodies that become addicted to alcohol. Some of these many actually enjoy drunkenness, because it is an experience in unfettered spirit. Coming to sobriety may be socially more approved, but is always spiritually superior?

Ponder this: Use this if you wish.

Amen
6:28 AM
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