On Saturday, August 22nd, we gathered for a live webcast featuring John Morton, spiritual director of the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA), and Emmy Award winning actress Leigh Taylor-Young.
Some members of the NOW Productions team appeared at the 2101 Building in Santa Monica a few hours ahead of the webcast. They set the stage, rolled out the video cameras, and checked the sound levels for the microphones. They turned on a vast array of electronic equipment which sends the webcast out on the Internet.
An hour before the webcast goes “on air,” the Assisting Team arrived, and they made ready plates of food, as well as placed informational flyers on chairs; a NOW assistant also puts out a number of small radios, for use by those who wanted to hear the webcast more clearly, or who wanted Spanish translation of the proceedings. There was a beehive hum as the NOW crew and the assistants went about their assigned tasks, with lots of loving and laughter.
Just before the doors opened, Leigh Taylor-Young gathered the team and called in the Light, asking God’s presence to be with all of us through the webcast.
The theme of the webcast was “Serving Whatever Spirit Allows,” a topic based upon the new book by John-Roger, DSS, and Paul Kaye, DSS, Serving and Giving: Gateways to Higher Consciousness, that is due out in November. The program was sponsored by MSIA and by Peace Theological Seminary and College of Philosophy (PTS).
At the appointed time for the webcast to begin, Leigh called everyone forward into the Light, and welcomed the communities participating via the Internet as well as those of us in the room. We chanted the Ani-Hu, an ancient name for God coupled with the frequency of empathy, and a loving peace filled the space. John Morton, DSS, was introduced.
John spoke about Spirit as our Servant, that we can ask for a healing or clearing of a situation or condition, and Spirit can allow the releasing. We must assume, he said, that whatever Spirit allows is coming at the highest, and best rate possible. Trust, cooperate, and accept that God is serving us in every way. He reminded us that we can align with the laws of Spirit: acceptance, cooperation, understanding, and enthusiasm.
John stated that when we are disturbed or in pain or resistance, we can move to a buoyant, child-like, open and playful state, in which there is no self-judgment. He demonstrated this by inviting everyone to sing a nursery rhyme along with him.
Leigh and John talked for a bit about their recent experiences in Tanzania, working on a service project brought about by Teen Insight participants, in which they worked to refurbish and complete portions of a village school. They described the loving, caring, touching, joy and affection that was present, along with the willingness to receive. John went on to elaborate on how we can serve by giving it up to a Higher Source, by asking Spirit for guidance, and by letting go of our own limitations. By knowing that God is directing it all, we can be of higher service.
The Question & Answer portion began with a question about dealing with negativity. John described it as experiencing weather today versus the seasonal climate, and recommended becoming neutral, staying clear of it, and releasing negativity. The next question dealt with how to hold on to a joyous life. John sees it as breathing in and out, without resistance, and doing the best we can.
In response to another question, John stated that God is in the redeeming and restoration business, that all of our needs are being supplied, and that spiritual wealth cannot be corrupted. He also quoted a song by Elton John, saying, “Love is the opening door.”
In closing the webcast, John spoke a powerful, direct and truth-filled blessing for us all. Leigh Taylor-Young concluded with a few announcements, including the date for the next webcast, Saturday, October 24th, 2009, at 1:00PM pacific time at www.msia.org/live and at 2101 Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica, CA when the theme will be “Harvesting the Blessings.”
You can watch the archive of “Serving Whatever Spirit Allows” at www.msia.org/archives.
