Non-Attachment, In Your Life

TUES., MAR. 14, 2000, 2:25 PM
FARM, STUDY

I, Holy Spirit, has offered you several Teachings over Our years together which deal with this not-so-American concept of non-attachment. So here is another one, on a day that seems not quite Spring, even as you see blooming forsythia (a bit “humbled” by the recent cold night).

I will say first that non-attachment can be a virtue, a desirable condition… AND… it can be an excuse for not being involved in human life. But the distinction I want to emphasize today is “What time is it now?”, or, more specifically, “what age are you now?” (and, “what have you done with your life?”) And one more: “be sure and distinguish between involvement and attachment.”

The time and age distinction is that when you are young you should be both involved and attached. In your own life, from junior high on you were much “involved” and also attached. As an athlete, you wanted to win. You remember that relay on the Wilson track in your senior year… you were the anchor, running against another Bob, who was faster than you were. But not that day! You wanted to win, and you did. Yet some of your Comus brothers, from Wilson, were cheering you on. It was a committed experience, but to What were you most attached?

You were very attached as a coach, hating to lose. If you had continued in coaching you would, probably, have become less attached to victory, while continuing to be committed to your coaching opportunities and to your boys. Though you gave up coaching for a better career as a professor, there is still some acceptable attachment to Punahou School, more so than for Stanford, where you were for more years. You needn’t try to understand all of this. Just accept it as your balance of attachment and non-attachment. (And, of course, consider that you would be quite less committed to Punahou if your sister and her family had not come and stayed there.)

You were strongly committed to teaching, here at S.I.U., exhibiting and encouraging spirit in your classes. You could not be “attached” to students, for they did come and go… on to their own careers. Yet you are pleased when a few of these “alums,” like Rick, do show forth some attachment to you, after these many years. And you have some favorites, many of whom receive Our Ruminations.

So, yes, you were committed to your position, as a professor, but you were not so attached that you stayed on “too long.” You admit that you still have some attachment, for you continue to have your small office there in Pulliam and do frequent those halls several times a week. When will it be time to give that up? Not quite yet, but… how will you feel?

Now, as I’ve told you before, I want you to continue both committed and attached to Our relationship and to these Teachings, which tangibly represent Our Friendship. As you continue to age you will find it easier to have non-attachment as almost a way of life. You can still be attached to Lenore, of course, but not to all that she does. You can be attached to this place, and you hope you can finish out this earth life here, but… that would be a tough decision. You have a special attachment to son John Patrick now, and I see that as quite good, for both of you.

You have given up two of your “attachments” to your Church, and thus you shall continue to attend there, but with fewer continuing responsibilities. (Continue to contemplate the visits to other churches with which you have some connection, or these are part of the Church Universal).

And, of course, be less and less attached to this present earth life. Have no fear (and you don’t, I discern) of life ending when you drop this not-quite-fully-functioning body. For I want you to be attached to Me, as Holy Spirit, and in My many “Forms.” This is the attachment that transcends this life and carries you on (and also back) to the spirit realm of My choice for you.