Sharing

FRI., OCT. 19, 1990, 7:56 AM
SHORELINE PARK, LONG BEACH

This title represents one of the great spiritual practices that I encourage here in the earth. One of the great examples of the struggle between spirit and the emotional/intellectual combine in the human is that of sharing. When you have something that is yours, particularly if you feel that you’ve earned it, there is a strong tendency to keep it, to enjoy it, to deny any need to share it. Yet the spirit is saying, “Share… give… think of the needs of others.” It is a constant struggle, and, overall, I’d like to see more sharing.

This morning you read a piece in the paper on the power of the elderly. It is true that the elderly in your culture have formed into a powerful lobby that has much political influence. This has some value, for the elderly in your culture, when they no longer produce, could be neglected. Thus, those with political energy, and oftentimes plenty of money and property of their own, are assuring that many of the non-affluent elderly are able to live with some dignity and receive medical care they need. Without the power and energy of the haves, the have-nots would be in trouble. I am not entirely happy with this, and you shouldn’t be either, even though it is benefitting your parents and soon will benefit you.

Taxation is a form of forced sharing. It is necessary because the willingness of people to share as is needed by all is insufficient. If people would look at taxation in this way, there could be less turmoil in response to needs to raise this level of sharing. Taxes represent a level of sharing. Then comes the struggle to determine who or which groups, agencies, and institutions receive more than others. I have told you previously that the elderly sometimes are too selfish. It would be better for their spiritual development if they were more concerned about school children and youth and about the need to protect and maintain a healthy environment beyond the time of their own lives. I still say this, but I’ll moderate it with the thought that all must be willing to share.

You, as a professor, cannot be rewarded more each year. There are many needs for tax monies, and the sharing must be balanced. Sometimes you shall receive little more recompense, because other persons are doing other important tasks for society. It is somewhat like unto the body… but, yes, you may finish this later.

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The body is a functioning whole of many systems, organs, tissues, and cells. Even in a healthy body all parts do not befit equally. Systems are making adaptations, and this is another representation of positive health. With little food intake, as you are now, there is a certain rationing of energy, which won’t be necessary after the lunch you shall soon consume. Yet health is represented by a sharing, so that full functioning continues. In ill-health there often is a breakdown in sharing, and when certain aspects of body function dwindle, the whole functioning is impaired, and illness or disability is apparent.

Many of the sessions that you have attended are, fundamentally, times of sharing. Some of what has been shared has been valuable to you… and some not. You realize that when you don’t make the effort to get a spot on the program you don’t have the fun of sharing… and you prevent others from benefitting from what you have to share. Accept this as a gentle push to at least try for a place.

I know that there are instances where sharing is not beneficial and may even be dangerous. It is well known that one way in which the HIV is shared is through the sharing of a needle for a drug fix. Among drug users, who still are creations of Mine and still loved, the sharing of a needle can be a wonderfully caring act, given the circumstance of their lives. I don’t approve of the actual behavior, but I love all voluntary sharing.

Sharing is partly learned, and children in your culture learn this, along with the opposite – selfish possession and retention. The other “part” of sharing is just a natural response by the spirit of a person. The more developed the spirit the easier and more natural sharing is. When love is felt, in the spirit and not just as an emotion, sharing is done without effort. In fact, it takes effort not to share.