Balance. Purpose. Enlightenment.
What I See in You
We don’t see things as they are; we see things as we are. – Robert D. Stelle
A man drove up to the Lemurian Fellowship and asked, “Will what I see in you convince me to study Lemurian Philosophy?” I didn’t feel I could answer that since we all look for different things in life. But we have a common need to feel secure, to be loved, and to be working toward meaningful goals. Obviously, this complete stranger could see no such things in me, and I understood his desire for some kind of proof. We’re sure people who talk to us often wonder, “Will what I see in you make a real difference to me?”
Even to try something that seems only good takes a leap of faith, and often we trust only our physical senses. Yet even this may not be enough. Many saw Christ heal the sick and the blind and raise a man from the dead, but didn’t go on to follow His word or His example. There is something deep within each of us we must get in touch with before we feel the driving urge to pursue the truth of God’s goodness and His help.
I tried to explain this sense of longing in those who are truly searching for the spiritual path that will fill their need. I felt that kind of longing when a friend suggested I could benefit from this study and I asked myself, “Will what I see in you lead me to the Lemurian study? What does this philosophy have that I need?” I decided it was at least worth trying, and how glad I am that I took that risk! I have been richly rewarded with peace, security, and the most worthwhile goals a person could hope for. Still, most people would probably not see or sense this about me, or my Lemurian friends, at a glance.
Lemurian students spend our lives striving to become ever better human beings, so of course we hope some of the worthy qualities we are trying to develop and express will become increasingly apparent to people. We hope you will find us friendly, helpful, and interested in you, for starters. And I hope that what I see in you is an earnest desire to explore the Lemurian path.
We sincerely want to answer your questions about what we do, how we live, and why you may want to look into this training in how to live more successfully. But answering these questions is often not easy, since people come to us from so many backgrounds and approaches and no one answer can satisfy everyone. But even if our answers raise more questions in your mind, that may be a good thing. You may not yet have come around to asking some of the questions the Lemurian Philosophy can help you answer.
We hope you will be patient with us if our first attempt to answer your question misses the mark. Because one of the truths taught in our Philosophy is that there is no such thing as an accident. There is a reason you have driven up the Fellowship driveway, taken the road to Gateway, struck up a conversation with a Lemurian student, or found us on Facebook or Twitter, Pinterest or Reddit. It’s one of those rare times of unusual opportunity, when your life could change in surprising and beneficial ways, as ours have. If we can give you a hint of that possibility, we will have accomplished what we hoped to do in talking with you, and the rest, of course, is up to you.
Copyright © 2016 Lemurian Fellowship
9 thoughts on “What I See in You”
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The Admin’s reply to Rob’s comment got me to stop and think a little more about an approach to take when talking to someone about the Lemurian Philosophy. I couldn’t help but wonder how Dr. Stelle attracted students to the Lemurian Philosophy and the Fellowship’s study course in those early days 80 years ago. I don’t have much to go on, but the little I can recall from readings, Dr. Stelle seemed to have a simple self-forgetful quality that projected a sincere interest in the other person.
At the very start this article states that “we [all] have a common need to feel secure, to be loved, and to be working toward meaningful goals.” If I feel strongly enough that the Lemurian Philosophy has helped me fulfill such needs in me, then from a position of knowing, I should be able to take a quietly enthusiastic approach to let someone know what the Lemurian Philosophy can do for them in this respect. Making the visitor the center of attention might lead to more positive results instead of talking about what the Lemurian Philosophy has done for me.
Oleg may have a good direction here. When Dr. Stelle began the Work, personal testimonials were a good way of interesting people. But in the past 80 years, just about every advertiser has used this technique and still does today. When we were writing Personal Stories a few years ago, we found that obvious testimonials were not as interesting to people as they used to be, and we needed to find something new and interesting to write about without an obvious plug for the Philosophy. So what Oleg is suggesting seems like a very promising next step. Who wouldn’t appreciate someone’s obvious interest in him?
Growing up in a family where communication didn’t play a major role, I longed for guidance in how to live my life in the best way. I had a deep desire to do what was right, but didn’t know what “right” was. As a young woman, I was involved with a group that felt it was okay to talk about the faults of others. This never felt comfortable for me. During this time I had a friend who was a student of the Lemurian Philosophy and also a member of this group. He told me he didn’t believe it was good to discuss others’ faults and he wasn’t going to do it. When he said this I asked him more questions about the Philosophy he was studying. The more he talked, the more I realized I had found what I had been looking for all along!
This brings to mind Matthew 13:13-14 when Christ speaking of the masses said;
“Because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” I came to the Lemuran Philosophy to learn how to ‘see’ and ‘hear’. I feel that most people who drive up our driveway for the first time have been searching and therefore have likely to some degree, learned to see, and hear, and to that degree they will respond to the calming love and respect emanating from an Order member.
“People only see what they are prepared to see.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
I have often asked myself how I would answer the question the visitor asked of the Lemurian in the story above and have never been able to adequately answer it. For to me, it depends more on what the visitor is able to see and wants to see than how I present myself, although I hope my greeting and demeanor would be as pleasant and warm as possible.
I will always try to present myself as one who is still searching and hope the inquirer has the vision to note that quality in my responses.
We’ve probably all had thoughts like this when talking to people about the Philosophy. But if we leave it up to what the visitor is able to and wants to see, doesn’t this diminish our opportunity and responsibility? There was a very revealing and hopeful study done to test the responses of people to a positive example. They used a film of Mother Teresa, and found that immune system markers for all those who watched this film improved after seeing it, even those who said they thought Mother Teresa was a fake!
Let’s keep thinking about the power of a positive example. Remember what Henry Drummond said?
“There are some men and women in whose company we are always at our best. All the best stops in our nature are drawn out and we find a music in our souls never there before.”
One of the side effects of the Lemurian Training is to turn us into this kind of person!
In most cases, the things that work for our interest and benefit don’t appeal to us at the initial stage, which accounts for why most people who “accidentally” stumble on Lemurian Philosophy don’t initially get attracted. But as it has always been, what you gain from the Philosophy is in direct proportion to your efforts in living the Philosophy if you care to give it a trial. The feeling of peace, joy and inner security I have now was not there before I began living the Philosophy and it takes someone who values living a harmonious life to actually see or appreciate those living it. It is true that “We don’t see things as they are; we see things as we are”
I can sure relate to what Eric says. The Christian denomination I grew up in and followed for many years was important to me, and gave me much in the way of guidelines and principles to live by. Its social teachings emphasizing the importance of working for the betterment of humanity also resonated strongly with me. However, looking back, I can see that a part of me had been searching for a religion or philosophy that provided a more complete explanation of the purpose of life and the universe. I have found this in the Lemurian Philosophy.
In my own experience, it took many years of searching for the “Truth” before I finally found the Lemurian Philosophy. I had even enrolled in another course of study but there was always the sense of something missing. I was slowly but surely led to reading about the Fellowship in one of the many books I was purchasing at the time. As soon as I was aware of it, I knew this was the path for me. If you are sincerely searching, you will find your path!