Issue 10

These are three of my most favorite things. To me they are all closely related. The connection between Truth and The URANTIA Book is clear, but The URANTIA Book and fine jewelry? You bet! All are benchmarks of reality. All are distillations of what is and what might be—durable and precious gifts from our maker.

I have always needed to know what’s what. As a little girl, my curiosity led me directly to my mother’s vanity table with its fascinating array of perfume bottles, compacts, lipsticks and photos. Most intriguing of all was her azure leather jewelry box. One of my childhood memories is of my exasperated mother discovering me in the midst of her baubles and treasures. I believe that she thought ‘full disclosure’ was the best way to cure me of my treasure raids, so she patiently explained to me about each item—what it was called, where it came from, what it was made of. Naturally, this only spurred me on, but at least after that, I fondled her valuables with more respectful obsession! Bless her for sharing the truth with me. Instead of making me feel like a nosey little marauder, she made me feel very special, telling me that when I was grown up, this piece or that would be mine. My mother was, and still is, an astute antique buff. She took my sisters and me to scores of antique shops and shows. She taught us to recognize quality, to beware of “shysters”, and to always check a piece for its marks. A trip to the Smithsonian Hall of Gems in the sixth grade sealed my passion for the finest of stones. My allergy to base metals made precious metals a personal necessity.

In the years since, my need for ‘full disclosure’ and my mother’s lessons in value led me first, to The URANTIA Book, and later to my jewelry career. The first glimpse I had of the Book was of it lying on top of a box of other spiritual books that I was moving for a neighbor. Its simple and dignified blue binding compelled me to pick it up. Its weighty heft seemed intensely dense, profoundly packed with promise like an ingot of gold. And when I opened it and saw those elegant, exciting azure circles upon the pure white of the paper, I just KNEW I had come upon truth with a capital T! I raided the Book like I had Mum’s jewel box. I believed I had found spiritual platinum. The flawless blue diamond of holy books. The Genuine Article. But I had to be sure. I combed its pages for discrepancies. Scoured it for flaws and inconsistencies. Aside from a couple of typos, there were none! Best of all, it told me what I needed to know with absolute clarity and authority. No more wading through murky and sketchy accounts of Christ and creation! Its heroic Jesus was more than I could have ever hoped for in a Son of God. The account of the Universe Mother Spirit clinched my belief in its veracity.

The icing on the cake for me was to read of the talented Corps of Celestial Artisans and their exquisite creations, the morontia abodes made of scintillating crystals, the legendary “pearly gates” and that mighty instrument of universe reflectivity, the magnificent and gigantic Sea of Glass. (I wonder how many carats that beauty weighs!) Apparently gems have a more vital role on high, than they do here as mere objects of physical adornment. My fondest hopes for the future definitely include an extended course of study at the gem labs of Jerusem. They must be awesome!

One of the most important aspects of my job as a custom jeweler is customer service and education. My clients trust me with their treasures and their confidences. They depend on me. I consider this a sacred responsibility. It’s very important to keep up with the latest developments in enhancement treatments and simulations. Despite all the mystique of gem lore, the stones themselves are not mysterious. Their secrets succumb to analysis and testing. With a 10-power loupe, a genuine diamond, and piece of cubic zirconia, or other diamond imposter, I can teach a client to reliably recognize the real diamond in just a few minutes. Your eyes do not deceive you if you know what to look for. Often fakes are too bright, too perfect. The colors are often garish, lacking the subtleties, richness, and characteristic inclusions of the natural stone. Every day the watchdogs of the jewelry trade uncover new methods of defrauding the public. TV commentators gleefully catch shady operators selling “swindle stones” to the unwary on hidden cameras.

These jewelry rip-offs hurt all reputable jewelers in the public’s eye. In this business trust is everything, therefore, proscribed industry standards of ethics and disclosure are very high. In most states, even unintentional misrepresentation of a gemstone or treatment is illegal, and subject to prosecution. Metal content stamping, design copyrights and process patents are vigorously enforced. I believe the best way to avoid most pitfalls is to exceed even the industry standards of ‘full disclosure’. I insist upon ‘total disclosure’ from my suppliers and colleagues, which I pass on to my customers. I need to know exactly what I am purchasing, and from whom. And when I find a trustworthy supplier with excellent goods, I stick with ‘em! But I still usually loupe before I buy.

One of the hardest parts of the job is having to tell hopeful clients that the whopping alexandrite, or grandma’s too-perfect ruby are fabulous fakes. How glad I am when I can tell the heirs that grandma’s scuffed-up old rhinestone band is really a platinum and diamond beauty in need of a good buffing and cleaning. Don’t be too quick about putting the contents of Aunt Sally’s jewel box out for the garage sale—there may be real treasure amongst all those trinkets. If you are fortunate and own fine gems and jewelry, let your treasures see the light of day, for a lot of human skill and effort as well as immense geological forces went into their creation.

I often think of spiritual growth in jewelry terms, for I’ve often imagined our spiritual overseers looking deep into our souls and personalities, as a gem cutter or grader would scrutinize a stone. Taking note of our unique compositions and properties. Observing the depth and saturation of our faith, the balance of our personality facets. Whether we are ready for polishing or need a little more time on the cutting wheel. Knowing more about us than we do ourselves—yet loving us, flaws and all. Planning for each of us the perfect setting, designed to last into eternity upon the hand of God. “Be you perfect” is the divine command, and anyone who cooperates with the Father Fragment is destined to become a radiant D-Flawless ascendant spirit on Paradise. John Anderson’s old country tune sums it up: “I’m just an old lump of coal, but I’m gonna be a diamond someday!”

In the meantime, fellow truthseekers, in all matters gemological or spiritual, be aware of smooth purveyors of ‘faux bijoux’. Insist upon the Genuine Article and ‘full disclosure’. Hone your powers of observation and discernment. Depend upon the Spirit of Truth and your own gut instincts as your grading scale of reality. And when in doubt, always consult with that most trustworthy expert—the Indwelling Spirit, and always check for the marks!

As the year 2000 approaches I can’t help but marvel at how blessed we are to be living on Urantia at this stage of our planet’s development. Inching our way toward the age of Light and Life, using baby steps, moving slowly toward this far off destiny.

Will the planet settle in Light and Life in our lifetime? Not very likely! But we have been privileged recently to witness one of those baby steps in the right direction.

The appointment of Gard Jameson and Mo Siegel to the Board of Trustees is the beginning of an event that we all have prayed for, and looked forward to for a long time.

We have a unique opportunity to not only observe, but to facilitate, and actually participate in the REUNIFICATION of the Urantia movement.

It seems that the best way to facilitate any unification is to tear down the walls that divide, pull the two halves together, and patch up the cracks. As far as the walls are concerned in this case, they are already down. There might still be some debris lying around, but it’s a done deal. The next move is to pull the halves together.

The second annual Summer Picnic at Cascadia State Park in Oregon is one way that all of the readers in this little corner of the planet can get together to Praise the Father, get to know each other better, and most importantly, bring all the fragments together in one place.

Then we mix up some mortar. In this case we will use the love of the Father as cement, and the love of each other as sand, and a little fun in the sun as water. Then we’ll mix it up good to fill those nasty cracks.
When this is done throughout the Urantia movement we will have a firm foundation of a unified readership to present The URANTIA Book to a spiritually hungry planet.

I know in my heart that the Urantia Revelation is going to play an intricate part in the spiritual growth of this planet, and I pray that God will help us know His will, and give us the strength to act on it.

Who knows? We might be able to make this baby step toward Light and Life, a real honest to goodness adult size step.

As for me, I’m about ready for forty days in the wilderness to commune with God, rest, and ponder the universe, but I’m going to settle for a week at Glen Ivy. If you can make it I’ll see you there. If not, I’ll see you at picnic in July.

It was a South Georgia hot day I came out of the Altamaha river swamp after an extended stay in the wilderness. I was broke. I stashed some gear and headed for Atlanta on my bicycle.

The bike was a no-gear deal with fat tires. At Metter, Georgia, I could see I wasn’t going to make it, so left the bicycle at the Baptist Church there, with a note: “This horse doesn’t eat much. It’s for the kids.” And I stuck out my thumb.

I must have look bedraggled. I felt that way. At any rate, no one would give me a ride. I walked. Hot, white-blanched sky, like the song, a hundred and four degrees in the shade, bore down and I began to wilt. A cop picked me up as I near Dublin, Georgia. He said I couldn’t hitchhike, and took me through the town and unceremoniously dumped me in the country. I waited... and waited. A car stopped, finally. The guy got out. Suit and tie, close-cropped hair. As he neared me, he said: “God loves you.” Then he climbed into his car and left, sending dust into my nostrils. I thought: He didn’t tell you anything about a drink of water, did He?

Six hours later, the sun still high and hot, I slouched in the shade of a thin tree near the shoulder of the road. Was I now thirsty? My tongue lapped at my own sweat.

An old beat up fifties Chevy zoomed by, then slammed on the brakes. A young guy with long hair emerged. He motioned for me to get in the driver’s side, as the banged up passenger side wouldn’t open. As I settled in amongst the debris, he handed me an ice cold beer, tapped a little salt on the edge of the can, placed Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” into the player deck, and finally said: “You looked like you could use some help, pilgrim.”

He didn’t go the second mile, which is where he lived just up the road. He went 60 miles out of his way to drop me off at a friend’s house in Monticello, Georgia.

I tried to thank him. He just waved his hand nonchalantly, saying: “I wasn’t doing anything anyway... brother.” As I watched his car in the distance, it really dawned on me: “God loves me.”

UB paraphrase: Service is where it’s at.

And wherever you are now bro, not doing anything anyway, “God loves you.”

by Bert Cobb
Jerome, Idaho

The benefits of fraternal organizations, and the worldwide dissemination of the revelation were the topic of discussion on a rainy Sunday afternoon last March in Portland, Oregon.

The Northwest URANTIA Association hosted readers from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia. The crowd of about 60 folks enjoyed presentations from Tonia Baney, executive director of the URANTIA Foundation, and Gard Jameson, one of the new Trustees.

An atmosphere of spiritual unity among URANTIA Book students pervaded the meeting which was also attended by Janet Farrington-Grahm, President of the Fellowship, along with Marvyn Gawryn, and other Fellowship office holders.

There was a warmth and sincerity felt by both IUA and Fellowship members that was on a higher level than mere conversation. Differences became obscure, replaced by the enthusiasm and willingness to work together for the welfare of the movement and this new experience of spiritual unity.

Only three or four people in the crowd dug their heels and displayed antagonistic tones, or long held resentments. Those handful of people that persisted in contributing even the slightest hostilities, seemed to me to be whipping a dead horse.

Gard told a story that summed up this whole situation: Two boys got a pickup truck stuck in a ditch. They debated about whose fault it was as they went to get their father to pull them out. When they all returned with the means to remove the truck the boys were still haggling about who was to blame. The father calmly said, “Boys, we have come here to pull the truck out, not to keep arguing how it got there!”

A song

by Barbara Jo Howell
Council, Idaho

There are cities in the distance
Whose builder and maker is divine.
Angels are calling… I am following.
I’m searching to see what I will find.
The road from here to there is a long road—
Beyond my imagining.
But all things are possible!
For in God we all live and have our being.
All along the pathway are the briars and the brambles.
Where so many times I find myself hopelessly entangled.
And yet, the light still reaches me and every true explorer.
All things work together for good to those who love the Lord.
From the lowlands, up to the highest of heights!
Inch by inch, step by step, one day at a time, I’ll climb.
When I reach the highest peak and find that which I seek,
I will fall into the arms of the great “I AM”.

When the trials along the way are too much for me,
And my head is hanging low,
I am lifted and held by the comforter!
Until I have the strength again to go.

All along the pathway I see pain I can’t explain.
But what is there to lose, when there’s everything to gain?
So I’ll reach out and take the hand that is reaching out to me.
Whatever is God’s will, will be.

On this journey through the wilderness
I am reminded now and then to stop and pray.
When there is a choice, I will listen for the voice.
It says, “This way. Yes, this is the way.”

As I pause… to look around me,
With the wind upon my face,
I feel her all pervading Holy Presence!
And I know I’m not alone in this place.

All along the pathway are the flowers in all their glory!
And creatures of the field and sky who seem to have no worry.
So I am reminded to seek the greater thing,
Knowing that the lesser will be found therein.

All along the pathway I am met by others.
We are pilgrims; we are sisters and brothers.
With one common destination, we hail from all directions.
Converging on the pathway to perfection.

I’ve been thinking about your posts on Urantiat (The URANTIA Book Electronic Study Group) concerning our mutual association of minds (as UB readers) and our diversity. It seems to me that we don’t have to do anything to produce or promote our diversity. Those differences are inherent in our unique personalities. Diversity is God’s gift to us.

But unity, something we all hold in common—perhaps our Thought Adjusters, or our willingness to follow God’s will—is our gift to God. Unity is not inherent. It requires effort to achieve it.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, because I am a choir director at school, and achieving unity with a bunch of middle school girls is particularly challenging.

You know, just as our fingerprints are unique, our voices, too, are recognizable and solely our own. Each of our voices is different, diverse. It adds such a richness to have all those different sonorities and textures and ranges—basses, tenors, altos and sopranos.

My students sometimes spend a lot of time arguing over who will sing the melody and who the harmony. Those days, we don’t get a lot of time to sing. I’ve tried to explain to them that it’s all polyphony—that they’re all melodies, some higher, some lower—but to no avail. They all want to sing high... I don’t know why.

Also, sometimes I get a soprano who likes to hang onto the note just a fraction longer after everyone else has cut off, just so we can all notice and admire her beautiful voice!

We do, however, have to follow certain basic rules in order for it to work out. We agree to sing the parts that are written for us. We agree not to be disruptive. We agree to cut off when it says to, and to try to blend with each other and sing “on pitch.” We agree to follow the conductor whose vision of the piece we agree to uphold (if she says “pianissimo” we don’t sing “forte”). Like that...

And, in all, we do have a lot of fun. Sometimes we have solos, when someone feels especially confident. Sometimes we even try 3- or 4-part harmony.

Not everyone wants to be in a choir, and that’s okay, too. Some people like to sing alone, to their own beat. Some people like other kinds of music. Some like jazz, where they can individually improvise, and then come back together at the end.

Some people don’t like to sing at all, and that’s okay, too. There are lots of electives. Woodworking. Drama. Cartooning.

But for those of us who like to sing in a choir, there’s nothing like it. Nothing like the big sound all those single, individual, sometimes timid, often tremulous, voices can produce. It’s the synergy we love—the ability to produce a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.

I think the issues we are struggling with right now on this discussion list are the same issues my choir struggles with: • If we want to follow the will of the Supreme Conductor and sing in that Universal choir, will our diverse voices have a place for expression? Yes!

But whoever wants to join will be guaranteed a Supremely synergistic experience!

Hoping to see you all at rehearsal.

Our latest business and election meeting was held on the morning of March 22 at Pat Murnin’s house in Southeast Portland. Scheduled elections were held for treasurer and president. Anne James of West Linn was voted in as our new treasurer. Pat Murnin was elected president. Busy MC resigned from his post as Vice President. Former President Liz Engstrom was elected Vice President in his stead. Congratulations Anne, Pat and Liz!

Plans for our summer campout at Cascadia State Park were confirmed for the weekend of July 17. A POTLUCK LUNCH is set for 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 18. The NUA business meeting will be held two hours before that at 10:30 a.m., Saturday. (See enclosed announcement or back page for map and details).

NUA member and USUA President Bruce Porter brought new Foundation Trustee Gard Jameson to the meeting. Mr. Jamison spoke with us briefly, expressing his hope for unity between all URANTIA Book readers, then led us in prayer.

After lunching upon Pat Murnin’s delicious 13-bean soup, all members and guests gathered at the Paulist Center for a presentation by Mr. Jameson and URANTIA Foundation Executive Director Tonia Baney. Liz Engstrom was our expert emcee. Bruce Porter and Anne James shared their thoughts and quotes upon the value of fraternal organizations. Both of our Foundation speakers shared their hopes and plans for the revelation and then answered questions from the audience for over an hour.

Tonia donated coveted ‘Urantia items’ such as CD’s and videos, and a gorgeous leather bound UB for auction to enrich NUA’s treasury. Patrick Irick of Olympia, Washington suggested holding a raffle for the book instead. Poetic justice prevailed as his ticket number was drawn, to everyone’s delight.

Good fellowship lasted into the evening at a local Mexican restaurant, with a brief appearance by Foundation Trustee Richard Keeler. Thanks to all speakers and guests for their participation.

IUA and NUA welcome three new members: Jeanette Schafer (Corvallis, Oregon), David Glass (Portland, Oregon), and Steve Beers (Auburn, Washington). We’re looking forward to a long and rewarding association with each of you!

See you all in Cascadia in July!

Greetings from your new treasurer... It is my pleasure to be a part of the NUA, and I welcome the other new members who have recently joined. I’m looking forward to our work together with the Urantia community (and our celestial friends) in spreading this great gift, this revelation.

NUA started the year off hosting the March 1998 conference with the Foundation. We spent around $175 for expenses, and raised around $300 with donations and a book raffle. Thanks for all your contributions and the lively fellowship.

In April we made a contribution of $50 to the Foundation, and $50 to the USUA. Upcoming so far, we have the newsletter to produce, and we are anticipating a joy-filled weekend of fun, food, friendship and inspiration at the NUA-sponsored picnic and campout in July.

With all the dues and new members, we have roughly $550 in the treasury. May is dues month. Thank you, all who have contributed, and I extend a reminder here to members that we suggest $40 per year, or $60 per couple per year. NUA now has 27 members, and we really appreciate all participation, ideas, feedback, etc.

In closing, I must say that I for one am very grateful for all our fellow Urantians who have so graciously exhibited the spirit of kindness, forgiveness and wisdom in their relations within the Urantia community during divisive times. It’s a tough one, keeping the self at bay and allowing the spirit to flow among us, but what an inspiration.

Said Jesus to John: “You will learn to love your brethren more when you first learn to love their Father in heaven more, and after you have become truly more interested in their welfare in time and in eternity. And all such human interest is fostered by understanding sympathy, unselfish service, and unstinted forgiveness…” And he continues, “Strive to live peaceably with all men, especially your friends in the brotherhood of the heavenly kingdom.” P. 1955-56.

Peace to all!

I was driving through Cambridge, Idaho today and when I passed their little library I thought I recognized a friend of mine that I hadn’t seen for awhile, browsing through some books on the porch. Oh, so what, I thought, and kept on driving. But then I thought it would be nice to at least say hi to her. So I flipped a U-ey, went back and parked next to the building and stared and squinted and stared some more trying to decide if it was really her or not. Finally I decided it wasn’t her hair and started to drive off again.
But no, since I’m here I might as well get out and make SURE. Besides, they’re selling books... maybe they’re getting rid of the Urantia Book I put in here 15 years ago. Sure enough... it was not Milly. And sure enough there was that Urantia Book I put in years ago. It was selling for a quarter. Yep, I bought it. Cool huh? Or was I greedy? I already have a bunch of books.