how is he sized and how does he get where he is meant to go
Larry Krantz, Alan Jonas and Christine Jonas
Larry Krantz: It is a privilege to be part of this esteemed company, to consider what is right and true, today joined by Allan and Christine Jonas.
Joyce and I were in Denver this weekend enjoying the “big city,” with its fine restaurants and the bustle of people. Like the out-of-town tourists we are, we walked by Larimer Square and along the 16th Street mall and stared up at impressively tall buildings. Our hotel room was on the 37th floor and had a panoramic view of the Front Range; the Rockies were covered with snow and looked magnificent. While in Denver, we attended a concert at the old Paramount theater, to hear Justin Hayward—the lead singer and songwriter for The Moody Blues. I suppose it was a bit of a trip down memory lane. More than a few years have passed since these songs were recorded, but Justin Hayward sounded quite good and was backed by very talented musicians. I admired The Moody Blues because their songs weren’t trivial, but about their search for meaning, to which we can relate.
These lyrics stuck in my mind, from Nights in White Satin:
Beauty I’d always missed with these eyes before
Just what the truth is I can’t say anymore.
These words indicate a change in consciousness, an awareness lifting above what is commonly accepted as true. It’s an in-between state, out of the old but not yet knowing what is true. Generally, those who look for meaning—as many do at some point in their lives—are directed into long-held beliefs, especially religious ones. They are told to live a certain way, how to dress and pray, and that if they follow these rules something nice will happen after they die, or in their next incarnation, when the wheel comes around again. So, their search is deflected and rarely finds meaning. Those in leadership positions, including spiritual leaders, do not know the truth themselves, and therefore have no idea how to direct those who seek greater understanding. Hardly anyone tells people to live with integrity and nobility in the present moment.
When the chaos in mind and heart begin to still, the world looks differently. Beauty is seen that was overlooked before, which goes beyond appreciating colorful flowers and the wonder of birds in flight, to sense the meticulous design behind the forms of things—which is ineffably beautiful. Truth reveals the intricate design of heaven and adds layers of understanding. What was before hidden, comes into view, and is awe inspiring.
In this world, the truth of God is not manifest and seems unknowable. Yet, the divine may be known when the tone of life is expressed at the level of form. Without an external representation of God, people are left to their imaginings, and opinions and dogma compete with other views, even leading to wars—religious and otherwise. Some people speak of “my truth,” and others are said to have “their truth.” These contradictory views tend to be little more than human opinions that lack understanding. There is only one truth, which has many perspectives, but all are complementary, not at odds with one another. Truth is like a river with many currents, all moving in the same direction, part of one flow, harmonious. Truth is now, and everywhere, available to be known when we listen to our inner selves.
Another lyric we heard is from Tuesday Afternoon:
Something calls to me…
Those gentle voices I hear
Explain it all with a sigh
What are those gentle voices? When the mind and heart quiet, one may hear the voice of the inner guide, which had always been there but was drowned out by the raucous noise of this world. It is our inner, divine selves that speak to us. It is who we are, eternal and wise, on earth to express the beauty of truth through our human forms. We may trust that inner direction, the voice that speaks to us, for it speaks in harmony will all voices, part of the One Voice. Each of us is an essential piece of the whole, the way all the squiggly parts of a giant jigsaw puzzle need all the pieces to complete the picture. Many voices, yet together they compose the One Voice.
Allan Jonas: Thank you so much Larry for this opportunity. Christine and I haven’t spoken this way for some time and it’s all just wonderful and fine, we’re ready. Out of our gathering a few weeks ago we knew we were going to speak at this time and of course you start moving with the current of what was presented and the essences. A little tune started playing in my head that I was familiar with and it turned out to be the song One Voice; which Christine and I love. I said to Christine, “What about that song, One Voice, couldn’t we maybe use that in our time?” She was in agreement so I went online to check out the video and this is the song originally written and sung by the Wailin’ Jennys, who are from Winnipeg Canada. As I was looking on YouTube, I also saw there was a version by The US Air Force Band and I thought to myself, well that could be interesting, and wow it really is something. It’s wonderful to have music that carries the tone. It’s even more compelling when you have both music and lyrics carrying the tone together. To me that’s a “home run.”
Here is a link to the song: Watch the Video
Christine Jonas: So wow! Didn’t you just love that conductor’s expression when everybody started to come in and he was so filled with joy? That’s how I imagine our Creator beaming when we sing together and hopefully I’ll sing with you this morning with whatever comes out today. I just want to say thanks Larry for this invitation to speak. It has been a little bit of a growing process and it’s a joy to allow myself to stretch in this way. I am a very special human being! I am a very special human being! And so are you. Do we wake up in the morning saying that to ourselves or do we wake up with all the doubts and aches and pains and feelings of inadequacy? Saying, “I can’t do this. I can’t be like that person, that’s not me.” As was said so well: “This is the sound of us with one Voice.” If I don’t put my voice in then there’s a lack, there’s something not being said.
As many of you probably know, I’ve been outside of the little screen box of Zoom for a couple of months. The reason for this is that I have some very dear friends from the last 30 years who own a restaurant. We were talking one day and she said how much trouble they were having getting staff after COVID, so I opened my mouth and said, “Well would you like some help?” Not sure what I was getting into but there I was. I looked up the root word of “restaurant,” borrowing from the playbook of John Gray. It is from the French word restaurer, which basically means to restore. I thought, well what am I doing at a restaurant? Why am I serving people, what is this about? Allan now calls me the Queen of the Diner. He says that I seem to be enjoying it and it’s absolutely a wonderful experience to serve others and to be with others in that kind of setting. Our friends are eminent people and have been in our lives for a very long time and we found a way to help them out with this. They’re loving it as well.
When you put yourself out in that kind of a situation, you’re really raw. At least I found that. I am still wearing a mask in the restaurant because of the COVID situation. When you are there in front of people who are expecting a good meal, good service, it’s interesting to lay yourself open and to not at all expect a lot of yourself in terms of having to please everybody. You have to just be yourself. Right? If you are a special person that comes across. I’ve had lots of people walk into the restaurant saying, “Wow, you are quite a bright light.” I will often say, well if you see it in me, it’s there in you, that you recognized this being (me) and are also recognized. Part of that is the expression of the conductor, who’s so pleased that everybody is singing together, this is the pleasure of the Creator. What we do here as a group and with many other groups is to fulfill the creation.
Desmond Tutu said to Richard Rohr at one point, “We are the light bulbs Richard, we just need to stay screwed in.” We need to find a way to stay always there in that expression. To be screwed into the current of our being and to let that expression come forth in whatever way it can and will. No more judging; sorry I don’t get to do that anymore. I don’t want to do it to you and I don’t want you to do it to me. No judging! Here’s the expression that’s coming through and let it be so joyful.
I was wondering what this feeling was, you know the big feeling of anticipation and excitement and it is so huge in me this morning. I had to go do something because I couldn’t sit there with it anymore. I found this word called Yugen, it’s a Japanese word meaning “a profound mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe.” And as wondrous as Yugen is, it is still not the most transcendent feeling our species can achieve. There is a greater challenge, there is a greater pleasure. So bring yourself out. All the way out! Yes, it is scary. This is our one and only performance. Beyond Yugen is the best feeling. Accomplish something. Improve our world. This is our greatest possible joy. Unleashed from dogma we dance a jig carefree along the cliff’s edge of time, proud our dance is never hesitant, never cringing, offered boldly, honestly, joyfully, completely. Because that goal, that mission is the most beautiful dance of all. No wonder I’m excited. Thank you all!
Allan Jonas: The theme of One Voice so beautifully portrayed reminds me of unified radiation. We were given the formula: Radiation, Response, Attraction, Union, Unified radiation. How many times have I repeated that? How many times have I thought about those precious words and their true meaning? Of course the end purpose of the creative process is Unified Radiation, One spirit, One voice. I would like to read something from John Gray’s words at our last gathering. “To actually be in one accord in one place: this is the cosmic power formula. It’s how the will of the Eminent One is fulfilled and the world is restored to true order and beauty.” Unified Radiation. What’s the next step? Creation! This is how the machinery works. I don’t know if that’s the best word here, “machinery,” but this is how it works. I must say that I haven’t really thought a lot in depth about that. It’s great to think of our individual radiation and the process as outlined; but we reach a point of truly being in one accord with One Voice. This is what human beings were designed for. Sadly, of course, the machinery has been severely held back ever since the fathers fell asleep.
Well, we are here to make a difference now, and understand what this is all about. As the song says, we come to know trust, we trust the creative process when we’re in the right place together. John also mentioned something about our Eminent fellows. I took special care when we all came online today to look closely at each of you and I give thanks. I’m in awe; it’s so moving to be with you, our Eminent fellows. They’re not all on this Zoom screen. We’re not alone, there are a lot of people who in their own way feel exactly what we feel and how wonderful to know that as well. I have, as one example, a friend who’s on an elliptical orbit with me. In other words, I don’t hear from him very often but when I do it’s quite a powerful thing. He called me the other day and said, “Allan, I just want to talk to you about how I feel. I feel so blessed in my life that I don’t have any complaints. Sometimes I don’t feel there’s anybody I can share that with.”
People seem to be so caught up in their many worries and concerns. I realized he just wanted to check that out with me because he was almost feeling guilty about feeling so blessed. The other thing he mentioned to me was that there’s so much division happening with people now and they seem to want to get all emotionally involved with all these horrific events going on, and they want you to take a side. He said he didn’t feel that way and almost felt guilty about that as well. What it came to and what we talked about was “heart space.” I said that I understand how we feel these things deeply in our hearts, but we learn to protect the space in our hearts because that is reserved for what is higher and for our true commission. It is our connecting point to true and higher reality. He was right there with me. That’s just one example of the Eminent fellows I am blessed to know. Something also was mentioned of the Upper Room and I love that characterization and that sensing. Recently during a restless night. I had to get up because something was stirring in me and it was almost like dictation coming out. I wrote some lines and it’s called the Upper Room. We’re all poets in our own fashion, aren’t we?
“The Upper Room”
We are called to take our place in the upper room
Where before us is prepared a feast of Essences
Like unto tastes, aromas and textures, long ago forsaken.
For the bitter fruit of errant minds and shuttered hearts
Yet now so sweet and refreshing and utterly compelling.
We take our place without hesitation
For we deeply know each other in our Eminence and we belong here
Together as we partake of this feast—there enters
A presence that arises and ascends and consumes us.
We are transported in the heavenly movement of creation itself
And we are in awe—and we would not leave.
It is done and it is good as we abide in The Upper Room.
Thank you for your Eminent Presence Everyone!
Larry Krantz: Thank you Allan and Christine. I appreciate your willingness to be put on the spot as presenters today. It is a responsibility that requires focus and a willingness to stretch a bit. Life is borne in the moment and we may give it voice if we let go of all the long-held structures and beliefs, and simply express ourselves as best we may.
Nothing is difficult if we follow the guiding voice that comes from Source. When we yield to what is within, we are not diminished as some might suppose, but increased, because we are part of something greater, a conscious collective. What may have seemed daunting when we seemed alone and separate, now, as part of a larger whole, and connected with Source, is seen as easy to handle.
Many people imagine God as a solitary, static presence. But God is a story being told, moment by moment—a continual revelation. Each of us may write a page as our contribution to the Book of Life, which is constantly being written, each moment, and each day. It is an unfolding divine story, emerging now. We may voice what is true and that tells the story of God, as only we can tell it.
Let us continue to let our expression of the truth clarify. We serve the One who leads us, and serving is unselfish and uplifting, and we may speak with One Voice.