WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD’S TEACHERS?
page 15, paragraph 2
WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD’S TEACHERS?
IX. Faithfulness
2 True faithfulness, however, does not deviate. 2Being consistent, it is wholly honest. 3Being unswerving, it is full of trust. 4Being based on fearlessness, it is gentle. 5Being certain, it is joyous. 6And being confident, it is tolerant. 7Faithfulness, then, combines in itself the other attributes of God’s teachers. 8It implies acceptance of the Word of God and His definition of His Son. 9It is to Them that faithfulness in the true sense is always directed. 10Toward Them it looks, seeking until it finds. 11Defenselessness attends it naturally, and joy is its condition. 12And having found, it rests in quiet certainty on that alone to which all faithfulness is due.
Faith
Because I have the opportunity as a minister to work with people on a more formal basis, I have seen both sides of faith. I have been both faithless and faithful. Because I have been a Course student for many years and because I am faithful to that study and practice, I have always grown in the direction of faithfulness.
Example
Here is an example. I used to have a student who seemed determined to hold onto his way of thinking even though it was clearly hurting him. He could see the result and see the sense of letting it go, but he could not bring himself to allow the healing he clearly wanted. I had the thought that this was never going to happen and could not understand why he kept coming back.
Awareness
But, while I did not have faith in him or even in myself, I had faith in the Holy Spirit. If he was in my life, he was there for a reason and I had to trust that. I had to watch my mind for the thoughts that displayed a lack of trust and intolerance and give those thoughts to the Holy Spirit for purification. I did not want to become defensive toward him so I asked for patience and I had to learn to be gentle with him as he struggled with his ego.
Healing
He was a perfect student for me in those early days. He and I grew together. I watched the attributes of a teacher of God become stronger in me and I watched as his healing unfolded. It was a humbling experience and one I would not forget. I stumble from time to time, but I understand now something else Jesus explains in the Course. It is not for me to doubt my brother, nor to decide the progression of his path, where it will take him or how quickly. I’ve learned to recognize the perfection of each person’s awakening and all I had to do was learn to keep the faith.