VOLUME 16, Number 2                                                                                          January 14, 1994

Beloved Friends, 

I AM grateful as I look upon your efforts of the week past! You have regarded your progress with honesty and integrity, and have set goals which are worthy of the Light you express! Thank you! 

I would like to explore with you, exactly what I mean when I say, "I AM grateful!" Gratitude is often mistaken for mere sentiment, when in fact it is an instrument of at-one-ment. 

Among the unawakened masses, gratitude is usually considered to be an effect - that is, "something nice happens to me, and then I feel grateful." As with all misunder­standing of energy, this belief puts the lifestream at the seeming mercy of outer conditions. In Truth, gratitude has great power to bring manifestation into alignment with Divine Will, if it is drawn into the realm of cause or creative action.

Among our chelas, gratitude is often thought to be an attribute of the Third Ray, a child of Divine Love and Joy. In fact, gratitude is an attribute of the Second Realm, for it is born from the understanding of the true nature of life and experience. 

As you are enlightened as to the depth of illusion, and the nature and activities of the lower bodies, you begin to regard every experience as an opportunity to grow into your God nature. Thus, the gifts of the First Ray are brought to fruition through the Second Ray. Here, the total reality of Unity, Faith, Order and Power is recognized and understood, precipitating an intense humility in the uplifted consciousness. Then, gratitude becomes the natural activity of your elevated vibration, paving the way for the full expression of Divine Love and Joy. 

Since gratitude is a natural effect of the Flame of Illumination, the path to gratitude begins when the chela calls forth the activity of the Second Ray into the lower bodies, attuning them to the vibration of perfect Wisdom. As enlightenment blooms within your consciousness, you begin to understand the Divine nature of all experience and the Unity of all life. Then, as you look through the immaculate Vision of your Inner Christ, you begin to see the world as it is: healed, peaceful, loving and forgiven. When you can say of your life experience, "I AM grateful!" -  your Vision precipitates the reality! 

Beloved ones, this is how we see you: healed, peaceful, loving and forgiven! This is not emotion, but Truth! I AM grateful for you! Share this gift of understanding now - within yourself, and with one another. 

In loving brotherhood,

I AM John, the Beloved

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