“Sir, you wished to see me?” I had been in the Grand Parlor twice before, but always with others. This time, I was alone. The chamber was just as I remembered – huge and imposing. The long granite table, flanked by twelve oak armchairs, seemed small beneath the towering arches of the barrel ceiling. Truth be told, I was at first numbed when summoned to appear before the Senior Elder.
Just how many ranks separated him from Source was a whispered mystery in my circles. It was enough to know that he had great insights into the workings of ALL and, most significant to us common souls, the reasons for our very existence.
“Please,” he said, waving his arm, “come inside and have a seat.”
Hesitantly, I lowered myself into the chair indicated to me. My face no doubt betrayed my nervousness as I faced the Senior Elder directly. “Thank you for coming so quickly, Nephesh,” he said, as he adjusted some papers in his hand and looked directly at this hesitant Elf from Soul Cluster 715.
“It hasn’t been too long since we last spoke, sir,” I offered, anxious to hear the Elder’s response. “Honestly, I was surprised by your request for this meeting. Is everything alright with you, sir?”
“ALL is good, thank you for asking. But let us not dwell on small talk. Time is of the essence, as they say in TempTerra,” the Elder replied, glancing at his notes. “You are familiar with the Spiritual America Model from our previous discussions.”
“I think I understand it, sir.”
“Of course you do, Nephesh! I would not be speaking to you if I did not believe that,” the Elder affirmed, taking a moment to gather his thoughts.
“Nephesh, the Spiritual America Model, as we have known it for almost 900 years, is in spiritual decline. Bluntly, it is at serious risk of destroying itself due to greed, corruption, and ignorance. Above all, its greatest threat comes from The People themselves, from their civic apathy.”
The Elder’s face suddenly grew serious. “Most concerning is America’s careless attitude towards democracy, considering its significant impact on the future of human history. By taking democracy for granted, the American People put all of Humanity in danger of self-destruction,” the Elder said, leaning in for emphasis.
“We must do everything we can to prevent this. And we must act swiftly, while opportunity for recalibration still remains.” A surge of anxiety washed over me. “You see, I am here with a heavy heart to deliver a special message from the Peace Council.”
I, of course, recognized the Peace Council as a group of angelic overseers tasked with maintaining Spiritual Equilibrium throughout all of Humanity, across time and place. But his chosen wording, ‘special message,’ lingered in my mind, sounding somewhat ominous to me.
“Now, here is the main point,” the Elder interceded. “America was meant to be a shining example of true democracy, as you have well taught your students. It was supposed to show that people could coexist together, by governing themselves … peacefully. The idea was for America to be a model that other countries could follow.
“That’s why we refer to it as the “Spiritual America Model,” I added.
“But over the centuries preceding its formal founding, America’s earliest settlers struggled to fully embrace and strengthen key democratic principles like equality, liberty, compromise, justice, and self-governance.
“As you know, such principles are crucial for any representative democracy. Governments that get their power from the people they serve should prioritize these five principles from the start.
“If I may interject, sir, I believe America’s ultimate success, as a democracy, depends fully on the honorable conduct of both The People themselves and the leaders elected to represent them.” The Elder gave a slight smile, showing approval.
“What frustrates me,” I continued, “is that, across the eons, Humanity as a whole has been given countless guidance as to what ALL considers honorable conduct,” I stated. “People cannot claim ignorance, that they did not know what was right. But…”
“But still, they act as if they can get away with anything…” the Elder chimed in. “Ah, the double-edged sword of Free Will.”
I finished my mentor’s thought. “… as if they forget that they are spiritual beings first and foremost … and that their conduct in TempTerra will one day be evaluated in Everly.”
“And forever, Nephesh,” the Elder added. “First, Foremost, and Forever! If only they could be reminded that Souls never die. It is only human life that is temporary. Each person possesses an individual personality, by ALL’s design.”
“The crucial fact, which humans often ignore or deny, is that their personalities reside in their souls, not their bodies,” I noted. “Yet, when humans rely solely on their brains’ flawed perceptions rather than tapping truths known within their souls, their decisions misguide them, for lack of sufficient spiritual awareness.”
“Allow me to explain why you are here and what we are asking of you,” the Elder said, as he reclaimed the conversation. “As you well know, the Peace Council’s job is to monitor and periodically calibrate Spiritual Equilibrium for the benefit of all Humanity.
“The Peace Council created the Spiritual America Mission to focus exclusively on maintaining America’s Spiritual Equilibrium. The SAM Elders Council, which I head up as Senior Elder, provides Everly oversight.
To show I understood, I added, “The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States so profoundly formalized the core tenets of the Spiritual America Model.”
“Indeed they did. Now, Nephesh, who leads the Spiritual America Mission?”
“It’s a special title called the Spiritual America Minister, or SAM for short,” I answered. “Some say that SAM stands for Soul of America.”
“Well, either label works for me!” the Elder said with a slight smile. “But, returning to the point of our meeting, the Elders Council has asked me to deliver a troubling report regarding America’s imminent decline,” the Senior Elder commenced.
Staring deeply into my eyes, he formally declared, “With the authority bestowed upon me by the SAM Elders Council, I officially appoint you, Nephesh, as the Senior Angelic Minister for the Spiritual America Mission. Henceforth, you shall rightfully be known as ‘Sam, the Soul of America.’
“I am honored, sir, but…”
“While congratulations may be in order, perhaps sympathies are more appropriate, given the enormity of the challenges before you,” the Elder quipped. “So, what is your response?”
“Naturally I’m deeply honored by this appointment. But honestly, why me, sir? Certainly there are many other souls better suited for such a significant task. I worry that I’m not the best fit for this challenge.”
“Surely Nephesh, you realize that you have it backward. For it is this challenge that is best suited for you!” Spotting my confused expression, the Elder probed. “Tell me, why do Souls embark on journeys to TempTerra in the first place?”
“Ah, that’s simple. Souls come to TempTerra to appreciate our divine essence. If we’re focused on personal development, we become a Self, a Subjected Eternal Life Form, and we incarnate into a Garb. But we might choose instead to work in a group to tackle bigger community problems, to serve on a Protective Corps.”
“Why then do I suggest that you may have it backward?”
“Oh, I get it now. I’ve been wanting to improve my leadership abilities within a team setting. And it makes sense for me to join the Spiritual America Mission, specifically, considering that I’ve been teaching it to New Souls for a long time.”
I paused, entranced by the brightness of a stained glass window high above the Elder’s head. “Still, taking on this particular leadership assignment worries me, especially with so much at risk in this current task. What if I fail?”
“Nephesh, failure does not truly exist – as long as we gain wisdom from our setbacks. Even with goals as lofty as the survival of America or Humanity, neither marks an absolute beginning nor a finite end.” I looked lost. “We have eternity to get it right. As they say in TempTerra, we can always rinse and repeat.”
“To be completely honest, sir, this concept has always been difficult for me to grasp – considering TempTerra as just a fleeting moment compared to eternity. At times it seems counter-intuitive to value human life, to treat any death as significant. Does that make any sense, sir?”
“Nephesh, when we Souls engage in a TempTerra narrative, we assume the viewpoints of the mortals within whose life experiences we immerse. To better appreciate their emotions, we encompass their experiences of time and space, which are absent in Everly but present in TempTerra.
“It is like the method actor who immerses in the character he is about to play. That is why we incarnate while the fetus is in its third trimester of gestation, so that a conscious connection can be formed – between our Soul and the mind of the Garb we are bonding with.
“Yes, I remember that,” I agreed. “It would be so much easier if Garbs would recall their spiritual purpose while in TempTerra. As a Self, a Soul has to think about its decisions from a human point of view.”
“So,” the Elder replied, “have you not essentially answered your own question? Considering that a human naturally places importance on aspects of life such as death, pain, suffering, joy, exhilaration, and the like… would it not be logical for a Soul, in its role as a Self – as a Subjected Eternal Life Form, to also consider these factors when making decisions?”
“I agree. Of course. But still … if only humans understood that they exist on Earth primarily to afford their souls opportunities to express Love,” I rebutted.
“If they did,” the Elder picked up, “they would not overlook or disregard the loving instincts that are the very vibrations of the Soul. Unfortunately, humans have this self-defeating inclination to fall back on ego, on pride and arrogance.”
“They adopt this survival-of-the-fittest mindset,” I chimed in. “Which leads to an equally flawed Zero-Sum mentality, that if I give to you, then I’ll have less for myself.”
“You are indeed correct, Nephesh. Such a perspective reflects an individual whose mindset is primarily driven by the intellect rather than their spiritual essence – someone who is dominated by Mind over Soul,” the Elder explained.
“For them, emotions like compassion and kindness are seen as weaknesses. They disdainfully mock those who exhibit such traits, childishly casting belittling labels such as ‘tree hugger’ or ‘bleeding heart.’ And any inspirations that suddenly arise from the Soul are summarily dismissed as fanciful and disconnected from reality.”
I agreed. “They even mock the faithful, asking, ‘Do you really think God speaks to you?’ They just don’t get it.”
