Practice And Patience

MAY 29, 1979, 6:15 AM

I sent you two word themes this morning, o son, before you were even up and ready to write. You knew it was time, and the words had “promise” as themes for instruction. (I’m sorry to have jostled you so early… not a show of patience on My part… rather a desire to see you practice!)

Practice has about it a dreary sound. Repeat, repeat… until you do it better. And then repeat. This task has some of that quality, but remember also, o son, that though the process is repetitive the messages are ever new. True, there will be some repetition for emphasis, but in the midst of repeated themes will come a new one. And you couldn’t achieve it without going through the practice process. You haven’t tired of this yet, and I purpose it to be a regular part of your life. I want you to feel the pull to sit and write… to take the hour (however I define it) and patiently hear what I have to say.

It is in the nature of a tithe. Whenever possible you shall give me the first hour of your waking day… the first fruits of “another day of life” as your Dad expresses it in his regular prayer. (By the way, I liked what you purposed to say when he finally comes to Me. He’ll like that, too!) As with a tithe the first is the most symbolic. If you give to Me first, it shows the highest value. But if that isn’t possible, but you still give, this is better than not giving at all. Some people have made Me out to be an all-or-none Person (the phrase you recalled yesterday in the garden – “it’s either all true, or none of it is true”) Well, I am. But I’m also the Supreme Relativist. As the Lord I am the Supreme at everything!

That’s a digression. The point is that I can be demanding but I can also be patient. I can let you go see if the cow is chewing the garden, but I can keep the words in your mind so that the instruction proceedeth. Your practice is good thus far, o faithful one, but it shall improve yet more. And, of course, this practice shall improve your other writing as well. Writing is one of the main tasks of your art-trade. By patiently investing in this daily practice you shall learn a great deal (certainly more than without it!) and you shall be able to write your professional works with greater skill and speed.

Again, this is the principle of the tithe: you give to Me, without strings and with love, and, without guarantee but almost inevitably, you shall get in return more than you invested. Objectively you are a busy person. Objectively you could not “spare” an hour for such practice. (Remember the thought, “What if nothing comes? What a waste!) But in the midst of your busiest time you began the practice, and the rest of your life surely has not suffered!