The Desire To Have

SUN., JULY 24, 1988, 12:46 PM
FINE ARTS, HANOVER COLLEGE

There are two connotations to this title, each related to each of the morning courses. You know that I am “participating,” as you are teaching and as you are not. My observations will be helpful to you, and you shall have to decide how to share these, if you do. You’re welcome, o son!

The desire to have positive health is one of which I approve. However, I am not in favor of all of the ways that are utilized to fulfill this desire. I shall say again that health, seen holistically, is a lot like spiritual maturity (which is an important aspect of health, of course). You can only achieve limited success by trying for better health or working for maximum functioning. For most people, life is such that trying too hard to improve one aspect of health results in diminished functioning in other areas.

Here now you are quietly listening and writing, an excellent use of time for spiritual health… and for mental/emotional balance. In this process you are depriving yourself of potentially good food (not just calories), of some social interaction, and some contact with your grand daughters, eager to tell about their morning. Later, should you play volleyball or practice with the choir? Each can contribute to health. Or should you frantically try to do both? You showed good adaptability this morning in rendering the song as a story. But what is being healthy? What is healthy teaching about health?

Fundamentally, you cannot have good health solely from what you do or don’t do. A certain portion of health is given by Me, mystically, and comes from unplanned interactions and what you do, just as you. Thus, the healthy person becomes healthier, with rather little effort, while the less healthy person finds that even the good things she does do not always make for better health.

The second connotation is the desire to have land, for whatever use you wish to make of it. In your culture relatively few people own the land, even when this is one supposedly critical difference from communism. Choice, rich farmland can be bought and developed into a suburb, a shopping mall, streets and stores and places of technological amusement. Other land can be purchased for continued agriculture, but using long-term harmful techniques. The seller most often desires money, and feels no right to say how this sold land shall be used. The buyer typically sees the land only as a means to making more money. Some money can be accumulated and used wisely. Other accumulations can only be called greed.

Changes in the system will not necessarily bring better results. Changes rarely bring benefits not accompanied by detrimental results for some. This is a characteristic of earth life that I knew about as creation was occurring. The earth simply cannot be the arena that it is for spiritual growth without this “feature.” Thus, some systems of thought have favored little change. These have been challenged by those that push for change… and then more change, designed to right the wrongs wrought by change. Neither is ideal. Both are necessary, as well as combinations and compromises, say I.

You desire to have land, but you don’t care for all of it well. That would be costly, in money or in time (or both). You desire to spend money wisely. Is giving money to Matthew an investment? Is it better than correcting erosion or managing your woods in better fashion?

You desire to have health, but your willingness to balance exercise with food intake is diminishing. Can this be restored? At what cost, in other aspects of health? Would it be wholly desirable? Is time in the sun healthy? Could the time be better used? Would you feel as good about yourself if you were without some tan? Oh, there are so many such difficult questions to pose and try to answer… with actions.