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Ray and Star Silverman explore how living the Ten Commandments can transform every part of your life.

New Life Through Ancient Truths

When we started teaching the Rise Above It seminars, people would often say to us, “Why do I need to take this course? I’m a good person. I go to church on Sunday. I don’t murder. I don’t lie, cheat or steal. And I certainly don’t covet my neighbor’s donkey. So what could I get from studying these commandments?”

In response, we would ask, “Is there a relationship in your life that could be improved?” “Would you like to be a better person?” If their answer was “Yes,” and it usually was, we would say, “That’s why you need this course. It’s about breakthroughs. It will bless every aspect of your life.” And we knew this was true, because the Ten Commandments contain all divine truth.

Many people tend to think that the Ten Commandments are “old” and out of date. It is true that they have been around for more than three thousand years. And yet, thanks to the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, we now have a new understanding of these ancient truths, an understanding that allows us to bring them into the twenty-first century and into every aspect of our daily lives.

The Rise Above It program began as a way to bring these essential truths to life. What we discovered is that when we follow the program, the Ten Commandments provide an opening for the Lord to enter and re–form our thoughts, our attitudes, and ultimately, our behaviors. This, in turn, transforms all of our relationships. The Ten Commandments become new each day because of the new ways that they help us see and transform our old patterns.

A Truly Loving God

The first commandment asks us to have no other gods—no false gods. It asks us to be true to the One God of heaven and earth. But in order to do this, we need to really know who God is. This is how Rise Above It begins.

We are each given the opportunity to remember how we formed our attitudes about God, how those attitudes have affected our life choices, and whether those attitudes have changed over the years. Having a right understanding of God as Omnipotent, Omniscient and everywhere Present has an awesome impact on our lives. When we add to that the idea that God is totally loving, truly wise and is leading us at every moment, we go further into that awesome reality. It is from this vantage point that we begin to see those things that block our relationship with God and those things that block our relationships with others. This is why focusing on the One True God is the first Commandment. It introduces the first and foremost of all core values—a proper understanding of God. We call this “rising above it.”

Living in the Promised Land

When the children of Israel were in Egypt, they were slaves working under harsh taskmasters. This is a symbol of our slavery to negative emotions. But the Lord promises to lead us out of bondage and into the Promised Land.

The Promised Land is not a place. It is a state of mind and a condition of life that we enter, no matter what our race, culture or religious path. The Rise Above It program addresses our fundamental nature, regardless of external differences in customs, and brings us back to core values. It challenges us to be all that we can be, not only by believing in these values, but by living them.

In the Rise Above It program, each commandment is paired with a task for the week. This helps us get into the habit of seeing our life through the lens of a particular commandment. Inevitably, when we are sincere in our efforts, we begin to experience amazing breakthroughs.

For example, we develop a kinder response to something that used to press our buttons. We learn to speak without anger or contempt, and to respond without defensiveness. We learn a new appreciation for all we have been given. We learn to honor commitments, practice forgiveness, and live with integrity. We discover the subtle ways we have been controlling, and we develop greater humility. We experience the blessings of self-control and the joy of letting go.

Even those things that challenge us are seen as opportunities to grow and become finer people. We experience the blessings of living in the Promised Land.

Miracles in Our Lives

This week Star was cooking in the kitchen and began “playing back” in her mind something that happened recently in our relationship. She was overcome with sadness. Then she remembered, “I am in a Ten Commandments group, and I need to take this one to the Lord.” She left the kitchen, went to her room, and prayed. The scripture, “I have come that My joy might be in you, and that your joy might be full,” came to mind. Later, she was able to speak to Ray about the situation, but in a spirit of kindness and openness. The situation was resolved, and it actually brought us closer. It was indeed a miracle.

Today Ray’s brother is visiting from California. This may seem like nothing very special. But in our lives it is a miracle. Several years ago Ray’s brother was really turned off by Ray’s decision to join what he perceived as a religious “cult.” For ten years he refused to speak to Ray or our family. But when he read Rise Above It, he called us and said, “Hey, this is exactly what I have always believed.”

Since that time, he has been visiting us for a week or two every summer. Coming together again was just the beginning. Now we have the opportunity topractice what we believe. The feelings of upset, judgment, comparison, the need for approval, anger, etc., still come up, but doing the steps of the commandments helps us to put all this aside and see the fine person Ray’s brother really is. This growing closeness has been a blessing not only to us, but to our children as well.

It’s a continual wonder to us what miracles occur as a result of this course. Jesus spoke truly when He said, “If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” A life aligned with the commandments is a wonderful journey, a journey well worth taking. “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”

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