August 20, 2020 Steps 1 and 2 were about cultivating a more credible perception of reality, establishing a sense of PURPOSE, identifying your needs and defining your problems. Steps 3-5 will provide the tools, skills and exercises to start meeting those needs, solving those problems and fulfilling that purpose. Step 3 is about time and receptivity – the amount of time it takes to bring quickly into being the life lessons and relationship experience you need from the Classroom without Walls, and the receptivity necessary to accelerate this process.

Regarding the time it takes – if you want to spend more time with a friend you could sit around your house, hoping someday he would come visit you. On the other hand, you could greatly accelerate this experience by simply picking up the phone and inviting this friend to come visit you. In a similar fashion, you could sit around hoping that the life, career, spiritual path and relationship that is most essential for you to experience will eventually come your way. Alternately, you could greatly accelerate this process by simply inviting God to send these lessons, solutions and relationships, and then being receptive to whomever and whatever comes with this invitation. This “invitation” accomplishes two things: first, it brings into being the life lessons and relationship experiences you need at this stage of your life, and second, it brings very quickly into being these lessons and relationships.

When I say “quickly,” this could be two weeks, two months or two years. It depends on your needs (how much you need to learn about yourself, life, love and relationships), the amount of preparation you have made and the degree of your receptivity.

In addition to time, Step 3 is also about receptivity. If you are reading this book, you have probably already tried everything in your power to meet your life, career, relationship and spiritual needs, and you are now looking for a better or at least different approach. Many of the individuals who have attended our seminars are desperately looking for companionship, but they have not been receptive to some of the lessons, people and experiences God has been sending them to have such a relationship. In order to bring about change in their lives, they have tried in vain to force things to happen. This chapter will suggest that, in addition to trying to force a relationship to happen you also strive to make or allow things to happen by making the preparation for, and cultivating the receptivity to, this experience.

Speaking of receptivity, I think it’s important to note the difference between being receptive and being desperate. As a minister, I have had a number of individuals who told me they were desperate to find a companion. The word receptive means “to be open-minded; willing to accept new suggestions, experiences and ideas” (in this case, from the classroom). The word desperate is defined as “Showing despair, giving up all hope.” Although hope is an element of life, all the hoping in the world will not bring into your life the companion you seek. I say this because hoping is often idle time or wishful thinking, whereas being receptive is about exercising faith, trust and confidence in God, and taking conscious and deliberate action to create the conduits necessary to make this happen (See ACTION ITEM #3).

One reason people are not receptive to the lessons they need from the Classroom is because they are primarily focused on who or what they want or desire e.g. the perfect companion, worldly success or a life free from responsibility, challenges, conflicts or pain. However, many of the individuals who have attended our seminars have already achieved worldly success and have shared with us that this did not provide them with a sense of fulfillment or help them to find suitable companionship. I would suggest that real success isn’t necessarily a life free from responsibility, challenges, conflict or pain. Real success is about becoming all that God knows you are capable of being, experiencing life on your own terms and charting your own path through life and relationships; regardless of any challenges or pain.

I think it is important to note that the next relationship that is necessary for meeting your needs could be exciting, interesting or even life changing. On the other hand, it could equally be hurtful, difficult or challenging – depending on your needs and the level of your preparation and receptivity. It’s also important to remember that the lessons and experience you need from the classroom will not be limited to just relationships. When you invite God to send the life lessons and relationship experience you need, you could also receive insight and guidance regarding your career, spiritual path, health, finances, education, etc. Some, or all of which will add to your human capital by expanding your personal growth, spiritual development and physical well-being. It is your lesson and your relationship experience; no one else’s experience is better, it’s simply different.