The Fall Season

TUES., SEPT. 13, 1983, 5:43 AM
FARM, STUDY

The coolness that marks the fall season has arrived rather suddenly, o son, which must remind you that, yes, summer shall wane, and autumn shall be your season of experience. In one sense it is a season of “wrapping up”, or the coming to an end of the hot, leafy summer. The garden plants shall die, one by one… even the grass and weeds shall go toward winter’s inactivity. In another way it is a season of preparation, for now the wood must really be cut and certain repairs must be made… a time of activity as well as less activity.

Your classes have commenced well, and even though they are familiar they shall be demanding. Neglect them as little as possible, for teaching is still your major task. You shall have an active fall season professionally, so you need to become a bit more efficient. Don’t wait until the last minute to do important tasks. Your Survival lectures, for example, should not be approached without some preparation and practice. These are familiar now, but you must do them well, and this requires some attention.

You saw yesterday that when you make the effort to focus your attention on a task, like devising a workshop theme for next summer, you can accomplish, but focusing attention in this way is not simple and easy. It does make for efficiency, however, for when your attention is focused you can accomplish maximally. These Teachings can come in a rather efficient manner if you will but concentrate on this task and not let your mind intrude. It is being used for a noble purpose. It is being “rented out”. It is not free to pursue other thoughts (except in emergency situations). Use this discipline for other responsibilities also. It need not be confined to this spiritual walk.

Each of your workshop themes represents a worthwhile experience. Naturally, I prefer one of them as more directly related to Our work together, but each has potential for spiritual considerations. Develop the descriptions this week.

Yes, I do want an issue of Ruminations during this Fall season. You have let the “easy time” slide away, so, again, you shall have to write it in the midst of other pressures. Let the theme be My comments on books and films and My use of these experiences as teaching/learning approaches. Get the possible Teachings together in printed form and then decide which ones to use and in what order. The idea of printing the whole teaching and then commenting on portions rather than from selected excerpts has merit. Try it, using numbers for the paragraphs. It may not be exceedingly better, but it would be different, and it would give readers a feel for the nature of complete Teachings. Start that soon.

Your letter writing has not been bad… just insufficient. Within this week clear those reminders of notes and letters due from your list. You know you will feel better when you do. Each letter is an offering, and you are being too stingy. I have told you before, and I tell you again… the letter is a special form of communication, and I want you to carry this message to others and carry it out yourself. The ones to Mabel and to Bill are particularly important.