From a subscriber (with her
permission): “I really enjoyed these
[last] two [posts] – (Being Politically Active and Spiritually Serene,
Parts 1 & 2) and you have made me
consider several people in a different light.
Your statement, Everything is either an act of Love or a call for
Love, is one I just quoted to someone on Facebook who expressed hatred for
Trump. I can see him as "calling
for love," and, although, I totally oppose nearly all that he is doing, I
now feel almost pity for him, as he does not understand why people like myself
do not "love" him. It explains
his tirades about protests and parodies. I have also had the opportunity to
apply this to two personal situations with family members this past week. I
feel much better about these situations even though I recognize that they may
occur in the future.”
The importance of trying to “train” our minds
to think differently is such an important and critical first step. I cannot
overestimate how significant this has been for me. However, I must always
caution myself in this process. I have a tendency to believe I know better and,
therefore, want to actually be the agent of change in someone’s life.
Unfortunately, the “change”” they need to make is the “change” I want them to
make. Here is where my caution and humility must lie.
It is the Voice for God or the
Holy Spirit who opens the doors (cf. Lesson 56, 3, below) when we are truly
willing to have our perception corrected. I cannot force my doors to be opened
nor can I “open” someone else’s doors. I can, I believe, attempt to correct the
actions/behaviors of another by recognizing their “call for Love” while telling
myself “He/she is doing the best they can with the awareness/perception they
have – just like me.” Whenever I find myself in a state of fear, vulnerability,
rationalization, defensiveness, justification, projection, or disbelief – tools
I use to protect "my" world – I am feeling like a victim, potential
victim, or victor, all of which means that I'm in an attack mode! They have
attack thoughts just as I do.
Let me allow some of ACIM’s
Lessons to speak for themselves. Lessons 55-56 in the Workbook For Students in
A Course in Miracles (ACIM) deal with this very concisely, in my opinion, (as
do many of the other Lessons). As I
mentioned above, this is a critical learning step for me. You may find this a
critical step for you, too.
From Lesson 55: 1. What I see
now are but signs of disease, disaster and death. This cannot be what God
created for His beloved Son [collective humankind]. The very fact that I see such things is proof that I do not
understand God [and do not understand me].
What I see tells me that I do not know who I am. I am determined to see the
witnesses to the truth in me, rather than those which show me an illusion of
myself.
2. The world I see … is a picture of attack on everything by
everything. It is anything but a reflection of the Love of God and the love of
His Son. It is my own attack thoughts that give rise to this picture. My loving
thoughts will save me from this perception of the world, and give me the peace
God intended me to have.
3. I can escape from this world by giving up attack thoughts. Herein
lies salvation, and nowhere else. Without attack thoughts I could not see a
world of attack. As forgiveness allows love to return to my awareness, I will
see a world of peace and safety and joy. And it is this I choose to see, in
place of what I look on now.
4. How could I recognize my own best interests when I do not know who I
am? What I think are my best interests would merely bind me closer to the world
of illusions. I am willing to follow the Guide God has given me to find out
what my own best interests are, recognizing that I cannot perceive them by
myself.
5. To me, the purpose of everything is to prove that my illusions about
myself are real. It is for this purpose that I attempt to use everyone and
everything. It is for this that I believe the world is for. Therefore I do not
recognize its real purpose. The purpose I have given the world has led to a
frightening picture of it. Let me open my mind to the world's real purpose by
withdrawing the one I have given it….
From Lesson 56: 1. How can I know who I am when I see myself as under constant attack?
Pain, illness, loss, age and death seem to threaten me. All my hopes and wishes
and plans appear to be at the mercy of a world I cannot control. Yet perfect
security and complete fulfillment are my inheritance. I have tried to give my
inheritance away in exchange for the world I see. But God has kept my
inheritance safe for me. My own real thoughts will teach me what it is.
2. Recognizing that what I see reflects what I think I am, I realize
that vision is my greatest need. The world I see attests to the fearful nature
of the self-image I have made. If I would remember who I am, it is essential
that I let this image of myself go. As it is replaced by truth, vision will
surely be given me. And with this vision, I will look upon the world and on
myself with charity and love.
3. The world I see holds my fearful self-image in place, and guarantees
its continuance. While I see the world as I see it now, truth cannot enter my
awareness. I would let the door behind
this world be opened for me, that I may look past it to the world that
reflects the Love of God.
4. Behind every image I have made, the truth remains unchanged. Behind
every veil I have drawn across the face of love, its light remains undimmed.
Beyond all my insane wishes is my will, united with the Will of my Father. God
is still everywhere and in everything forever. And we who are part of Him will
yet look past all appearances, and recognize the truth beyond them all.
5. In my own mind, behind all my insane thoughts of separation and
attack, is the knowledge that all is one forever. I have not lost the knowledge
of Who I am because I have forgotten it. It has been kept for me in the Mind of
God, Who has not left His Thoughts. And I, who am among them, am one with them
and one with Him.
As I’ve stated before, “I have
to understand, on a visceral level, who the “Me” or “I” really is when I am
speaking or thinking. The “I” that says to myself, “I really need a newer, more
reliable car” is a different “I” than the one that says to Spirit, “I can’t do
this anymore; help me perceive things the way You see them.”
Although these messages are
mostly for me, thanks for listening to me and getting to know me – warts and
all. As always, feel free to forward this message to your friends, family, and
those accompanying you on your spiritual journey.
Don
#4 Feb 2017
Copyright 2017
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