As You Make Decisions, Consider…

TUES., OCT. 7, 1997, 2:50 PM
OFFICE, PULLIAM

This is a hard process for you, deciding what to keep and what to cast away, from all that is here in this office. It has seemed hard, thus far, but deciding in relation to the file drawers will be even harder. You have enough “pack rat” tendency… and enough uncertainty about future teaching possibilities… to consider many possibilities. You’ll have to decide whether what I suggest in this teaching is of help… or not.

Consider… your priorities for possible teaching in the future. Death Education, your first choice, seems not to be available, now or later. Alcohol and Drug Education has some appeal… and you have lots of resources for that… but you imagine there are others who are interested in developing this course. (Joyce just indicated she will have it as an assignment next semester).

The two courses that you would most like to direct are Environmental Dimensions… and International Health. These both lend themselves to considering the spiritual as an important dimension of health, and with either you could develop this even more than you have in the past. So, until some decision is made, one way or another, it would be best to keep those files relatively intact, fairly ready for use.

It was good judgment to keep the many student papers that you packed up today. As you noted, in the small sample you re-read today, these shall give you much pleasure and insight over these next years. You’ve already selected these as being the best from many assignments. You’ll eventually decide which are “the best of the best”… and these may stimulate you to some further writing for publication.

But what I want most for you to consider is: what shall be the main focus of your life? Now of course I realize that one legitimate way to approach retirement to reject the notion of having any focus at all. Do what you feel like doing. Let each day develop as it will, with a minimum of pre-planning and consideration of priorities. Consider how you’ve done your garden this summer and fall… you haven’t planned it well or done what you should have to have “good crops”. Maybe next year is a reasonable response to lack of “production”.

So I’ll say that I’m not entirely opposed to such a style for retirement years. I don’t want you too organized and too over-committed. For example, you are approaching this required move from this office just about right. You make a little progress each day, but you’re also just enjoying the unique beauty and comfort of this room and its “view”. (If you do get to have Mark’s office, without windows, you might should consider that upper story in the library as a better “secondary, in-town” site for these Teachings. It was good for you in earlier years…

Be sure and keep all of the materials relating to Human/Spiritual Interacting so that you know where these are… probably in one drawer of your file at the Farm. For I do want you to have, as your most compelling focus (still considering what I just told you) this spiritual dimension to health… and to life itself. You mused recently on the concept of yogas and recalled, happily, that action and service are not the only ways to develop and exercise your spirit. Contemplation can be just as rewarding, particularly after the busy life of service, from which you are retiring.

You can still learn more about spirit by reading and listening, but the most relevant advice I can give you is to be aware of spirit –yours, those of others (even your animals), and Mine – in whatever you are doing… or not doing. Be more aware. Appreciate how spirit is a factor in much that you do… or attempt. Pertinent to this… be sure that this moving from this office is as spiritual an experience, each day, as possible.