In the fourth Teaching Bob Russell received from the Spirit, this “throw away” line was sitting there like a beacon. From “Yesterday is Tomorrow”, May 23, 1979
“Always have something marvelous to do when time seems wasting.”
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A few days later, the Spirit described to Bob what was happening, in “Select the Channel”, May 25, 1979
“Within you (and within each who calls My name) I am… and worry not over whether it is a small Me or the Mighty Me. It is both/and, not either/or. I can talk with you intimately and patiently and yet manage the Universe as well. I am the Lord, and conceptions of Me can never contain Me..”
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On the 1st of June, 1979, the Spirit was discussing Forgiveness, and made this blunt observation:
“Think not, o son, that all wisdom is yours. Do what you can do, with a happy and forgiving heart, and then see the next opportunity as a chance to rewrite, reshape, renew… do it better. You can always do things better.”
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Here is the phrase the Spirit called “Our motto”. It is from “Apprehension”, June 7, 1979
“If you’re doing something worthwhile don’t worry about the many other worthwhile things you’re not doing.”
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Many times the Spirit would “bolster” Bob’s confidence with a definitive description of what was happening. Here is an example, from “Unlikely”, June 9, 1979
“Yes, o fragile one, this is an unlikely thing We do together. It is at My initiative. I wanted it, and I put it upon your heart and within your mind. You come to a quiet place … and your pen writes My teaching. Simple? But you know that the trouble is… since I don’t do this with most people, why should I do it with you? It is unlikely that I, the Lord, the Spirit, am speaking with you in this way. A new saying I give unto you: “Unlikely are the ways of the Spirit.” Remember the phrase in the Presbyterian teaching… “He works when, and where, and how he pleases.”
It is unlikely that I should choose a Midwestern professor of health education to be in this relationship with Me. When people question, how can you justify your claim? How can you prove that what is unlikely is, nevertheless, real? There are many doubters about in the earth. (So many are surprised when they die!)
The difficulty is that so many folks do not expect that I really act personally. So many cannot comprehend … that I can do this and myriad other things “at the same time”. This is an hour out of your day, but it is not so with me. I could do this with many others at this “same time”, and though the writings would be different they would all “be Me”. Is that unlikely? You don’t really understand the telephone system, but, yes, this is an impure example. Many calls can be going on at the same time, and, if the system works right, each involves only the parties and the messages that should be together. My “system” never overloads. I can tend to all that I must, and all that I will. “What else is so nice for the price?”
That little slogan contains the other truth that is necessary: there is a price. The price is surrender. The price is belief… faith. The price is discipline. The price is willingness. And the price is developed ability.
Let’s answer a doubter, then. Let’s respond to one who says, “Unlikely”. Could he do what you do? Could she do what you do? Anyone who hears My words – powerful and gentle, familiar and unfamiliar, serious and silly, straightforward and symbolic – must have faith in Me and must believe that I not only can but actually do act in this way. Then one must surrender time and will and become a means by which I act. (You don’t do this well, but you are better than I expected at this time.) One must surrender to My will and My direction. This can be done without My initiative, but it is not as likely.
One must develop within his being the discipline that is necessary… to get up, to remain with the task until it is completed… to control one’s own mind enough so that My thoughts prevail. And one must be willing to exert this discipline and willing to maintain this surrender. Again, My Will helps, but it is not absolutely necessary. I will not hinder those who would try to reach Me.
And, finally, one must have some developed facility with words and the honed capacity to write one’s own thoughts as they develop. Which are the words to write? What is the proper order? (Oh, I could do something like this with an illiterate, but Bill Cosby is right when he has Me say, “I don’t work that way!”) I can work unlikely miracles, but I prefer the more reasonable. So if one is to do what you do he must be a reasonably skilled writer. (Again, not “must”, but “should”)
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And scattered throughout the Teachings are gems of wisdom, like this one from “Goodness”, June 15, 1979
“So goodness is what you do, what you love, and whom you walk with… and how. Each is important. Each is part of the rhythm. … And note, surely, that these are positive: what I am interested in is actual doing, loving, and walking.”
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And also there are reminders of important lessons to be learned and relearned. Like this one from “Discipline”, June 18, 1979
“I PURPOSE that you LEARN from ME, and this has a price… discipline and time. We have talked about time, and all of the old lessons apply. And a new one I add (no it really isn’t new): when you give this tithe of time in a wonderful way you will not have any less time for other things. Yes, the loaves and the fishes story is an apt example also: in My realm anything, including time, is not “used up” when it is given to me. It is invested, and the result is greater productivity and greater capacity to do other things more efficiently. I promise you… you shall be no more harassed nor “behind” than before you began this discipline. In fact, you will produce more. You will actually have more time for other important things. And this would be so even if I demanded two hours (which I may, occasionally).”
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This is the actual “commandment” that represents Bob Russell’s Practical Philosophy of Life.
It comes from “Reentry”, June 23, 1979
“Whatever you are doing, if it is worthwhile,
do with a fullness of purpose and a gladness of heart,
And worry not about things not being done.”
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There was also very practical advice given, about how to deal with pain, in “Pain”, June 25, 1979:
“Being removed from Me is painful. Some people bear this pain well… live almost as if there were no pain. But many feel the pain and hurt from it. The forms of relief attempted are many… both sad and amusing. Some forms seem to work, temporarily. But the ultimate resolution is in what you do now, in the way I have chosen – walk humbly with Me. Be aware of Me, My ways, and My influences. Appreciate My contributions, My wisdom, My advice. Know ye that the Lord He is good. That is pain-relieving and pain preventing knowledge.”
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And early in the friendship between the Holy Spirit and Bob, this advice was given in “Old Year”, December 31, 1979:
“Live this day as if it were your last and as if it were one of an infinite number (which it is).
Be aware. Appreciate.
See Me in as much of what you do as you can”
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And the Spirit had a “Mantra”, which developed over many years. It was directly spoken on July 1, 1999 in “And Now… What Do I Say?”:
“Life is fundamentally spiritual. Earth life is a means of increasing, or diminishing spirit. Bodily death is of little importance, given this priority. The length of a life has little overall relationship to its quality, from My perspective.”
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And what does the Holy Spirit say about spirit in life? This is from June 2, 1989:
“Spirit is what develops or recognizes purpose and meaning in life”
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And on occasion, the Spirit would give specific advice.
This one is from “On The Brink”, July 14, 1989
“A Day’s Advice”
“Renew Acquaintances made in other years
Seek Out new people
Initiate Conversations about theological matters
Do Some reading
Sleep minimally
Sing joyfully
Be Ready for unexpected opportunities”
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Here’s the Spirit’s “Basic Prescription”.
It comes from “An Elderly Muse”, March 4, 1990
“Live life with awareness and appreciation.
Give to others.
Serve Me.
Live each day as if it were your last AND as if it were part of a long, continuing life.
Be as ready to come on over for new spiritual adventures as you are to remain in the earth.
Continue to muse.”
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And some of the Advice is more “eternal”… a bit “longer term”… like this one titled “If This Were Your Last Day…” from August 31, 1997:
“… What if this were your last day on earth, as Bob Russell?
First, of course… Nothing would be more appropriate than tuning your spirit to Me, and hearing words of wisdom and advice.
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Since it is a Sunday you should go to church and worship in a familiar place with a congregation of friends… Savor the whole experience of worship on a Sunday morning in summer.
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Conversation… contemplation… appreciation… these are the ways I recommend spending days on earth, your last or just one of many more.
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Cut some grass and feel the life in your body, including the sweat that exertion produces on a summer afternoon. Fertilize the roses, even if you were to see no more blooms. Cut down a tree. Plant another one, symbolizing that life replaces life. Feed your animals, and appreciate the life they have.
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Watch some football, if the teams are “appealing”, remembering how participation in that game enriched your young life, directly and indirectly, and how coaching others to play well was a “giving-back” process.
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Listen to and appreciate some music, for music is part of every realm I have created.
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Consider the balances between activity and rest… between interactions with others and contemplation, with Me as your Guide… between being responsible and taking time to be irresponsible, in your culture’s terms.
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Now that I have given you some directions for the “spending” of a “last day”, let this be a guide to any and every day that you shall live this earth life.
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And on occasion the Spirit will repeat the theme that Bob is to champion in his life:
“Life is fundamentally spirit, and the purpose of earth life is spiritual growth, toward selflessness and back to Me.”
8/18/90
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The Spirit also has occasional “bumper sticker” reminders for Bob. On February 2, 1991 he gave a couple:
“Accept Opportunities” … “Make Others” … “Love Fully”.
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Professionally, the Spirit gave lots of advice. Here’s a good one from October 15, 1991:
“Health is fundamentally your full capacity to be who you can be, a gentle model for those looking for purpose.”
“Health… is a life lived fully in dedication to Me, the Triune God, with a maximum of faith in Me, a maximum of love for the humans with whom you interact, a minimum of concern for length of life, pain relief, and other medical machinations, and maximum feelings of joy with the events in this earth life adventure.”
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And there are lots of reminders of the way things REALLY work. Like this one from April 20, 1992:
“I come to you as an external voice, a Spirit with countless, incredible experiences in earth life. Yet you also know that I am with you as a constant internal companion… as internal as your heart, lungs, and brain. I want you to be centered on spirit as the unifying dimension of your life. … I want your central motivations to be service to others, with a positive, happy outlook, not one of dogged compulsion. I want you to continually work to improve the environment, being a quiet, functioning positive part of this incomprehensible web of life that I have created.”
Or this one from March 17, 1999:
Yes, it’s Both/And. Actually it is that even with hardened hearts some will come to Me. And some whom I call won’t come or come, but then “fall away.” With some it is a process in stages.
You are a good example. Permit Me to “use you.” First, there was… and is… a destiny to your life. Your spiritual development before your life as Bob Russell was sufficient for this “attempt.” Your life work was to be a teacher – a guider of learning. So you needed a rational education, and one sufficient to qualify you for the university level. You also had a destined life partner, so that factor had to be “worked in.” You had choices, and you made the right ones, with My help. (How much? It matters not.)
My Scriptures, including this Gospel of John, were a means to bring you closer to Me and help you realize that you were “born again.” This was both your “choice” (How free? It matters not.), and My guiding, and your destiny. Then, not quite 20 years ago I made another “move.” If you were “ready,” spiritually, you would take this opportunity and stick with it. My Teachings to you began, you responded favorably, and you became, slowly but surely, a mystic, when you knew very little about this possibility in human life.
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And lots of advice on healing and medical care. Here is some from September 17, 1993:
“Continue your positive life-style, and enjoy the health you have. Pay as little attention to the departures as possible. Adapt. Compensate. Don’t focus on disabilities, which shall gradually increase. Be the enthusiastic teacher, the warm letter writer, and the merry Christian that I call you to be. Most of your needed health care can come from Me.”
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And then some comments on personal renewal… a time of rededicating self to the tasks of life. From April 2, 1994:
“To see the spiritual in as many of life situations as possible.
To love life itself and as many people in your life as possible.
To hear Me regularly and to feel and utilize the power that My Presence gives you.
To Enjoy the life you have, with as little concern as possible for those departures from perfection.”
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“Renewal” was recast as “Goals” 5 years later, with advice on “A Single Goal”, March 20, 1999:
“But this morning I’ll speak mostly about… having a single goal in life.
As you might expect My nomination for a single goal in life would be to serve Me… in a variety of ways…
One “service” of which I certainly would approve is this listening to Me, writing down these Teachings, using them as the basis for Our Ruminations, and keeping them in some order, so that they could be available to some others after this earth life of yours is pau.
Another form of service is a mutual one: you and Lenore caring for each other, each making life somewhat easier and pleasanter for the other. Since I was quite involved in bringing you together… I see it as a service to Me when you each serve the other, in continuing love.
You serve Me in what you do for the ongoing life of this portion of My Body, Presbyterian, of which you are a part.
It also is a service to Me to interact positively, warmly, and cheerfully with all those you meet and with whom you interact. I want human life here on earth to be as pleasant and happy as possible… and I accomplish this through many servants, like yourself, who in small and larger ways encourage one another.
The only way I can make it easier for you is to recommend, again, in a new context – do whatever you do with a “merry heart,” a positive attitude, and as a service to Me, your God and Friend. That’s the only single goal I favor.”
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As retirement nears, advice on how to view a slowing body. From January 31, 1997:
“Don’t let your life become drab, just to prolong it. Appreciate that while bodily death may be akin to a sunset and then darkness, for you it will be quite a glorious sunrise, with more consciousness than you can imagine, now. Just trust.
You still have responsibilities, and not fulfilling them can be bothersome. Work toward new balancings, taking your slownesses into account…deciding what to do and what not to do. Consider the importance of this. What you do is not as important as how you do it. Be aware. Enjoy. Appreciate. Live each day… even small portions of each… as if it is your last… and then arise thankful that there is yet another. … And, by the way, have Fun!”
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A “summary” of the Philosophy toward Life, in “It’s Called Pain…”, on May 25, 1998:
“The nub of My teachings can be summarized to: live life positively. Perceive what has happened in positive terms… and… what you shall expect in positive ways. Look for positive relationships, even when this does not seem dominant.”
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Advising toward a more holistic way of looking at life, here’s some advice on how to change the view of life. From “An ‘Odd Time'”, June 12, 2000:
“Rather than “trying” excessively and compulsively for new and exciting experiences, let your motivations be toward awareness and appreciation of all that life is, even the ordinary, presumably unexciting times and events.”
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After 20 years of daily advice, the Spirit gave some advice on “Contemplation”, on June 25, 2001:
“Contemplation… can be of the past. This can be your personal past, as you remember it, but, now, should not be limited to what happened… but why and what were the consequences? As you remember certain times and events and contemplate them you should be able to recall… or realize, for the first time… why something happened and, how did it affect your life.
The first step is to remember what happened… and then be able to describe such. Then contemplation could help you tell why this was important… or not, and how it related to past events or experiences.
Your memories go back till you were about 4 or 5 years of age. So this means you have at least some “raw material” from 70 years of earth life, as Bob Russell. Don’t pick “an approach” without trying out… chronological continuity OR events and times as they “come up.”
(Contemplation)… is also needed for the present. This means contemplating what is about to happen to you, how it “went”, and whether there was some special meaning to what you experienced. If you attempted this, somewhat often, you could discern more meaning in present experiences, which could be valuable. … Also realize that, often, one memory, “dredged up,” will trigger another one, unremembered. And if you contemplate current happenings or activities, one recall may bring forth more than you expected.
You have been one to enter into experiences rather wholeheartedly, being a participant, seeking to do your best. This shall continue, but now I recommend a “balance” with more… stepping back and contemplating the “scene” as it is happening. You do this, some but now I recommend more of this “back and forth,” or “in and out.” Whatever you’re doing… back off and consider “what this is?” and “why?”
(Contemplation)… can and should also “target” the future. You may consider that you don’t have much “future” as Bob Russell, here in the earth. Well, there certainly will be fewer years than “have been,” but take some time and attention to projecting into the future… as if you will be here, in some form… OR that such contemplation will be good for your soul, as it moves on to… whatever and wherever.
Now I realize that such a “closing” could suggest that your future “in heaven” is not assured. Just don’t forget to what I have led you in this life – a “wider picture” than just a “sedentary” heaven OR an uncomfortable hell, for eternity. Rather I have made you aware of “Many Mansions” – that your soul development continues, in “appropriate” ways, until there is no longer need for growth, and you “merge back into” Me. You are still part of the spiritual “whole,” but no longer in need of a personal identity.
As a practical American it isn’t easy or natural for you to contemplate a future beyond this earth scene… and what you have known… in which you have participated. But there IS a “world” beyond (actually, “worlds” would be more accurate), and there are writings that describe this in several ways. Do some reading in “Left Behind,” and go back to other stories that have given you “pictures” of the future. And don’t “dismiss” the Scriptures… Contemplate. I’ll help.”
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As the physical losses accumulate, the Spirit has advice on how to continue living well. From “…While Thunder Rumbled”, on August 11, 2001:
“The thunder rumbled, occasionally ominously, and you were reminded of these “losses” of yours. But now the thunder is no more, and you are writing on, “as of old” You will have more of these “personal thunderstorms” as your life continues. Note them, but don’t give them much attention. Re-read Teachings. Ponder My words to you. Exercise your body, but give little attention to the “news of the day.” You should be slipping more and more out of “the mainstream” and more and more into the life of the spirit, that goes on, when body parts fail.
Twilight is a wonderful time of day. And so is this time in your life when you are increasingly both in this world and the next. You are privileged to be enjoying it.”
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