The more you give, the more you receive.

September 22, 1991

The glory of God's brilliant presence casts a great light and warmth upon each of your souls. We, your guides, also bathe in God’s presence. As we have said before and it bears being repeated, your souls and we are united in a great union of brilliance where each soul reflects God's light upon the others. We, all of us assembled with you, are in many ways like mirrors. We receive light and that light is intensified by our reflection of it. God's presence is as a light. It is warm, it is brilliant, and it makes all of life radiate. But it is still more intense because of the presence of many souls, for that light is reflected throughout creation. 

We on our side experience that light in its true brilliance. It is beyond what you can imagine, but God's presence is nevertheless magnified by your presence. For God's power to be felt throughout the world, it is necessary for God’s presence to be reflected by many. And so through that reflection, each person grows. 

Your spiritual growth, therefore, depends not just on your being open to God's light and the love which comes forth. Your growth is dependent upon the reflection of others upon your life. There is an interdependence here that is most important. You grow through your communion with others and not just through your communion with God. The more your interactions express your perception and understanding of God, the more they are radiated outward, and thereby reflected back to you. Your growth is enhanced by that reflection. In a sense, the more you give, the more is reflected back upon you and the greater and more profound your growth. The influence that you have on others has a direct influence therefore on your own growth. 

Spiritual life does not function only as a mirror. As we have so often said, it functions also as a lens. The power of God's presence works through each of you. You grow also as the result of the light which passes through others toward you. The relationship may sound complex, but it is very simple. 

What you should understand is that your spiritual growth, the primary reason for your physical lives, is closely connected with the spiritual lives of others with whom you come in contact and with others for whom you pray and with others who pray for you. The development of a strong spiritual connection to life beyond your physical lives is dependent upon how you interact with others. This relationship is very powerful and yet it is too often ignored. 

There are countless times when we observe individuals retreating from life and devoting themselves to spiritual contemplation. Growth is of course a result of that contemplation, but it can be so much deeper, so much more meaningful if it is achieved through the interaction with others. You are given human life so that you may grow, but others are given human life so that you may grow, and you are given human life so that others may grow. The network of spiritual presence is thick, it is intense, and it is vital for helping to provide meaning to your human life. By reaching out to another in need, you are growing, the other is also growing, and your souls are enhanced by the growth of that other person. 

Be more concerned about your relationships with others. Be more willing to reach out and comfort. Be more willing to listen. You will find that you are often more help by being there than by offering counsel. It is your presence which is essential. It is not what you say. You can say nothing and yet provide great nourishment for another. Be willing to sacrifice your time for the benefit of another. 

Respond to your understanding of the interrelationships which provide the foundation for spiritual growth, and you will find a growing sense of faith that results from that growth, and your faith will provide a truer sense of the purposes of physical life in human form. That faith in turn will provide greater understanding for a life which awaits each of you. 

You are loved by God because you are a part of God. You belong to God—that relationship is unending. Reach out and rejoice in the fullness of what life offers for each of you! Your souls radiate from one another, and we are in turn warmed by your radiance. 

We thank God that we have been given the blessing of being your guides. We treasure you as you grow in your understanding of us. God's light is our light and is becoming yours as well. The radiance grows and we are indeed thankful. 

We bless your lives with God's presence, God’s light, and God’s love. 

Amen.