When the early Autumn fog rolls in, Santa Monica takes on a special light. In the beach-front mist, the traffic signals and street lights are hazy, and people start to pull their winter things from the top shelf of the closet. It isn’t cold by New England’s standards, but it seems cold to those of us in Southern California.
While volunteers at the 2101 Building were bustling about, setting up for the event, another kind of Light, the Light of Spirit, was starting to suffuse everything. And, anticipation being the best sauce, the evening looked delicious.
MC Leigh Taylor-Young brought her best loving, and called us forward into our hearts. She shared a Moment of Peace, made a few announcements, and then introduced John Morton, Spiritual Director of MSIA.
John enthusiastically announced that we had participants tuned in for the first time from Antarctica and from Uzbekistan (not to mention the dozens of other countries, states and towns). He asked NOW Productions to play an excerpt from an MSIA Seminar in which John-Roger (Founder of MSIA) states, “Where you place your focus, there will be your heart.” This was the theme for the webcast. John talked a bit about taking care of ourselves, taking care of others, and being care-takers of this world.
He led us in an exercise with a series of questions designed to help us become more aware of what is working in our lives, and what is not. He gave many examples at each step, offering various techniques for getting to answers by focusing the attention. He invited us to be more specific in what we want.
Then it was time for Questions and Answers:
The first was about how to hold the image of God more, and John addressed this by saying that we could (if we choose) get in tune, and start manifesting the un-manifest.
The next was about everything being perfect, then why do anything? John’s reply was about how we can become co-creators with God.
A question came from a young man, asking about taking care of self versus serving others. John reminded him that a ground rule in MSIA is: Take care of yourself so you can help take care of others; he added that honesty and integrity are keys to staying true to oneself.
Someone asked about the experience of failure. John urged them not to label, but to find the blessing in the experience, because experience leads to understanding.
Another asked how to bring more Light into the dark places inside. John related the internal selves to a family, and suggested that the person become their own Head of Household.
John Morton ended the seminar with a Light-filled blessing for all of us participating, and Leigh Taylor-Young made a few announcements before graciously calling the evening to a close. Participants and guests enjoyed refreshments and mingled with John and Leigh in the Lobby area of the building afterward. Light was everywhere.
