Balance. Purpose. Enlightenment.
Blast of Understanding Brings Faith
Sometimes, disturbing events can shake our faith in what we believe.
And faith has always been a challenge for more or less balanced people seeking a spiritual path. Their high ideals draw them toward it, yet their practical caution raises doubts. We know that understanding brings faith, and for those who do find the path that’s right for them, there are always reassurances along the way, just as there are warning signs for those on a false trail.
Students of the Lemurian Philosophy have their struggles with faith too. Sometimes the proofs we need come in dramatic ways, as they did in this early experience.
In the 1940s there was much hard physical work at the Lemurian Fellowship’s Ramona site. Three buildings had been constructed by hand using concrete blocks the staff and students produced themselves, one by one. At the site of the fourth building, some blasting was needed to clear the large boulders they encountered.
In those days, you simply went to the hardware store and bought dynamite. One of the Fellowship staff, Carl, had considerable experience with blasting. He and a helper set and lit a charge, then moved away a safe distance. When it failed to detonate within what they thought was a reasonable time, they came forward to investigate. It exploded, injuring both of them, Carl more seriously.
Some Fellowship students, young in understanding, believed this should not have happened if the Fellowship was protected by the Masters, and asked Dr. Stelle about this. Here is his reply.
“I have done a great deal of thinking about the dynamite incident, but he who most seriously injured himself offered the best explanation, to which I attach a great deal of importance. Now, as to some reason for the happening, aside from the carelessness:
“There are many who often question whether there are Masters, whether the Great Work is all it seems to be, if it is directly under Their supervision, and as to the authenticity of the Work. Carl said he had often been prey to these very things and that, while his reason told him everything was exactly as we say it is, still there was in his mind, at times, lingering doubt based on previous experiences with different occult organizations.
“Doubts like these die hard, but understanding brings faith, and having had plenty of experience with dynamite, Carl realized something of what had transpired. After the incident, someone said they wondered why Carl was willing to keep working here when this had happened, and whether he didn’t feel that the Work could not be under the Masters’ guidance and protection.
“Carl said his reaction had been exactly the opposite. With his knowledge of the power of dynamite, he realized that nothing but the intervention of some high source could possibly have prevented his and the other worker’s being blown to bits. Plus they have come through practically without suffering, and their recovery has been so marvelously rapid, there could no longer be any question in his mind.
“Frankly, if the entire experience did nothing more than satisfy Carl with the authenticity of this Work, it would have been worth ten times the delay and inconvenience involved, for after all, if he who was most seriously injured so regards it, who are we to attach any less importance to it?”
All I have seen makes me trust in all I have not seen. – Emerson
Copyright © 2016 Lemurian Fellowship
9 thoughts on “Blast of Understanding Brings Faith”
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I have recently experienced a “blast of faith” myself and a word stands out to me from Dr Stelle – careless. When I review what happened to me, I can’t escape my carelessness. I also have been protected, and this protection makes me more aware and appreciative of the help I receive from the Elder Brothers.
I find this a very interesting account. I particularly like the phrase ‘blast of understanding brings faith.’ Although happenings in my life are not quite as dramatic as the dynamite experience outlined – I’m relating that if I learn to pay greater attention to my successes, failures, and daily happenings etc – and the reasons – I am sure that I too would receive a beneficial ‘blast’ of understanding and faith in the great laws in my life.
You’ve seen how a paleontologist, who has found a fossilized tooth, an eye socket and a couple pieces of jaw, will sculpt the rest of the skull with clay? I like to think of the clay as faith. It fills in the parts between what we know and what we can envision. The more parts, the clearer the vision, and the less clay we need.
Great analogy, Chris!
Agree with Steve, Chris – an interesting analogy. Just as the model-maker has to put a lot of himself into his recreation – his imagination, all he knows about the subject, and his desire for greater knowledge – so do we have to invest a lot of ourself in building our faith in the Work, the Fellowship, and ourselves as imperfect folks striving for greater perfection!
I’ve had and sometimes still have problems understanding portions of the Lemurian Philosophy and the steps needed to be an exemplar of its principles. The statement toward the end of this article: “Doubts like these die hard, but understanding brings faith . . .” rings so true, in that I must understand before I can believe. Like doubting Thomas (John 20:24–29) I too can’t believe in what I don’t understand and witness in my own life.
Carl’s analysis and his sharing it with the Fellowship are timely reminders for me. As an Order member living in Ramona, sidelined by a relatively small accident and unable to volunteer as I had been, I have been reminded to look for the deeper meaning in this experience, and share what I discover. I, too, could learn greater faith in the Great Ones. Thank you for sharing it.
It is hard sometimes to keep our faith alive from day to day and week to week. There are, of course, many experiences that should help us if we paid attention. But alas, we do not and it may take dynamite to get our attention. I know there have been times when I have struggled with my faith. But I have begun to learn that examining closely what is happening in my life is a great help to both faith and understanding. May it ever be so.
I think we all get a serious test of faith sometime in our lives. Early in my Lemurian training, I started to head down another path. The Fellowship left the choice entirely up to me with no interference on their part. After much agonizing soul searching, I made my choice. With my faith now tempered with solid reasoning, I re-doubled my efforts and eventually became a Lemurian Order Member. I have never looked back as time has proven it was the right path for me.