Under grace-filled morning haze, the birds were quiet in the tree-lined neighborhoods around the 2101 Building in Santa Monica, California, where the “What Is Grace?” webcast class with John Morton would soon begin.
In the Brentwood Ballroom, Mark Lurie, one of the Presidents of MSIA ( Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness) welcomed everyone to the webcast class on behalf of Peace Theological Seminary and College of Philosophy (PTS). Using an invocation of Light, he called us all forward into our loving hearts, and after chanting the Ani-Hu (an ancient name for God), we extended our loving to all the world, the earth, and the people on it.
Next, Nathaniel Sharratt and Brad Pie performed a song called “The Way Is Love,” from their new CD, Walking in Paradise . What great music to attune us all to grace! The CD is available in MSIA’s online store at www.msia.org/store.
After their performance, Mark introduced a Moment of Peace video, from an Insight IV training, featuring John Morton on the topic of, “I love you just the way you are.” So far, grace was very present and the class content hadn’t even started yet.
On being introduced, John Morton mentioned that people were participating in the class via the Internet in places like Nigeria, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Colombia, Switzerland, as well many others. He then proceeded to read a very touching story sent to him by John-Roger, MSIA’s founder, which graphically illustrated the nature of grace. There weren’t many dry eyes in the room at this point.
John then described grace as being “unmerited favor,” and a “gift which cannot be earned.” He asked participants to offer statements of what grace is, and there were many different answers. He took out a dictionary, and its definition included “Virtue coming from God, kindness, making holy or free from sin.” John added that, beyond discussion or theory, it is a state that is answered by that One Who is grace. He asked, “Have we placed a restriction on grace in ourselves, in our lives?” He said that John-Roger once described grace as loving God.
John stated that (out of the infinite possibilities) there were four methods, or keys to Grace, he would be presenting in the class. The first key is a Light Invocation, or prayer. He led us in an on-going prayer, of breathing in grace, and breathing out grace, and grace all around each of us.
The second key is Tithing and Seeding. He encouraged us to invoke grace and a partnership as co-creators with God, that in grace we are never in lack.
The third key is, “I Love This!”, to be used as a vote, in and with grace, and he reminded us that if we don’t know grace, we can ask for it to come in.
The fourth Key is asking, “What is the Blessing?” The blessing represents Grace In Action and now is the moment, so take the vote that is grace. Claim grace now, don’t wait.
Then John explained several ways to know when we under the law, rather than in grace: when we are holding onto “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” which is cause and effect, leading to vengeance; when we are holding onto illusions; when we are labeling through judging; when we are binding (or blinding) ourselves to thoughts or feelings; when we are justifying negativity, manifesting as fear, anger, depression, or anxiety; when we are holding onto our past, jumping into the future, judging, worrying, or fearful.
John then led us in spiritual exercises, a tool to experience grace, and we softly chanted the Ani-Hu, which brought a deep, holy, peaceful energy to the room. We next began a partnership exercise, answering questions of each other regarding grace moments, and steps we can take to have more grace in our lives.
After reading from the book Forgiveness, the Key to the Kingdom by John-Roger, John led a short grace meditation, and then began taking questions and sharings. The first was from a participant in Colombia, asking for keys for keeping connected with grace. Another question was about differentiating between what I need, and what I want. From Australia (as well as from Pennsylvania), someone asked how to stay focused in grace in a negative situation at work. John reminded us that all situations are learning situations.
To complete the event, Mark Lurie came back to the microphone and directed those seeking further information to MSIA’s online store at www.msia.org/store. He suggested the tapes and/or CD packets Living in Grace, Inner Worlds of Meditation, and Creating Each Day Through Grace .
The next webcast class with John Morton is scheduled for Saturday, September 3rd at Noon pacific daylight time and is titled, “Loving Relationships.” Join us at 2101 Wilshire in Santa Monica or online at www.msia.org/live.
The archive of the “What Is Grace?” class is available online at www.msia.org/class. You can also find the handout and class evaluation form there.
