October 27, 2020

Lesson 302 –

Where darkness was I look upon the light.

We have no need to remain in darkness. Darkness is not real and can be sent away in an instant if we want it to be so. We are light. We are the light of the world. We shine the dark away with our light. The light is within us – all of us – and thus we are the light of the world. Darkness cannot persist in the presence of light, for darkness is simply the absence of light. When we look upon the light, there is no more darkness.

I think most of us are afraid of the light when we have enveloped ourselves in darkness. We have become accustomed to the darkness since we denied the light within us. Light speaks to and reveals who we really are. Darkness conceals who we really are from our awareness. As we each step into the light we find we are surrounded by and filled with love and peace. We find ourselves relaxing into the comfort of our true Identity. What more could we ever want? This is our purpose while we are in this world. We are meant to see clearly.

Our Love awaits us as we go to Oneness, and walks beside us showing us the way. Love fails in nothing. Love the End we seek, and Love the Means by which we go to Oneness.   W-pII.302.2:1-3

A simple shift in thought, a simple change of mind, a simple realignment of our thought system is all we need. The result is a healed mind rejoined with all other minds willing and waiting to reunite in Oneness. Is this what you are really seeking? I think so. Then let go of any thought or belief that doesn’t serve you. Allow the truth about who you are to wash over you and lift you up. Help and guidance is there within us, too. The Course offers us this prayer as an example:

Creator, our eyes are opening at last. Your holy world awaits us, as our sight is finally restored and we can see. We thought we suffered. But we had forgot the Child whom You created. Now we see that darkness is our own imagining, and light is there for us to look upon. Christ’s vision changes darkness into light, for fear must disappear when love has come. Let me forgive Your holy world today, that I may look upon its holiness and understand it but reflects my own.   W-pII.302.1:1-7

The world we think we see has many false appearances. And they are not based in reality. The chaotic world we think we see is a world seen through the lens of past experiences and misperceptions. It is made by the thoughts of split minds that have denied their innate holiness. Our effort to make our own identity separate from Oneness has denied the true essence of creation. Our essence is holy. Our essence is complete and limitless. As we allow our eyes to open to the reality of who we really are and the connectedness of all creation, we find the essence of holiness within us that we truly are. As we look upon the world with our Spirit eyes we see beyond the pain and suffering and chaos to the light and holiness beyond. The light is much stronger than the darkness we had adopted and gave in to. Even though the light is stronger, it will never force us to “deprive” ourselves of that darkness. Light knows that darkness cannot really hurt us, so It waits for us to accept the light and allow the light to rise in our mind where it already is. Make the choice for light today and allow your eyes to open to the love and peace of perfect light in Oneness. It’s the only rational choice. Be willing to make it now.

October 20, 2020

Lesson 295 –

The Holy Spirit looks through me today.

Our journey in this world consists of the healing of our mind – learning to allow our mind to perceive correctly. Part of this healing is learning to allow our mind to see through the eyes of the Holy Spirit, which abides within our mind. The Course often refers to this as seeing with Spirit eyes or Christ Vision. The Workbook lessons teach us to see differently. Another teaches, “I could see peace instead of this.” The practice is to learn to look beyond the appearance of things and allow our holy mind to show us realty rather than illusion or misperception.

Christ asks that Christ may use my eyes today, and thus redeem the world. Christ asks this gift that Christ may offer peace of mind to me, and take away all terror and all pain. And as they are removed from me, the dreams that seemed to settle on the world are gone. Redemption must be one. As I am saved, the world is saved with me. For all of us must be redeemed together. Fear appears in many different forms, but love is one.   W-pII.295.1:1-7

Redemption is simply the correction of our vision, the healing of our mind. Redemption is our return to the awareness of who we really are. It is the recognition and remembrance of who we really are in Oneness. Something that has always been, is now, and always will be. We are complete, whole, and holy – nothing more and nothing less. We have denied our true essence and thus see ourselves separate for awhile. But our true nature is within us waiting for our recognition. The essence of our Higher Self remains in us. The only reason we don’t see this is our belief that we are not as we are created. A simple recognition and shift in thinking will reunite our mind in correct thinking. Though the world is no more than a dream, its holy purpose is to be the classroom where we learn to allow ourselves to return home to the truth of our natural essence.

Each person and each situation is an opportunity to allow ourselves to approach it with Spirit eyes, with Christ Vision and see clearly. The world we see transforms in this light. All darkness disappears in this light. We begin to understand and thus help each other on this journey we travel together. The lesson gives us this prayer to help us ask for guidance:

My Creator, Christ has asked a gift of me, and one I give that it be given me. Help me to use the eyes of Christ today, and thus allow the Holy Spirit’s Love to bless all things which I may look upon, that Christ’s forgiving Love may rest on me.   W-pII.295.2:1-2

Love is where this seeing will take us. Real Love is not a burden. It rests lightly on us yet carries us in holiness. The blessings of Oneness and love are infinite. They have no limit. And when we allow these blessings to flow into us, they flow to all the world. As it is blessed, the world transforms before our eyes to reveal that love is all there is. Be willing for this truth to be unfolded before you. This idea may seem insane at first, but it will become evident as we allow our eyes to be opened. Allow yourself to be blessed with Oneness and Love. You will find healing and wholeness there. And there you will find the greatest peace.

October 13, 2020

Lesson 288 –

Let me forget my friend’s past today.

One of the important concepts the Course teaches us is that our perception is key. Do we see clearly or do we see through the lens of past misperceptions? Do we see each other as the holy beings we are in Oneness, recognizing our connectedness? Seeing through the clear vision of holiness and Spirit is our salvation – our transformation to recognizing our own true Self, our true being. We usually view each other through the lens of our own past and another’s past as we perceive it. This perception is not about who another really is, but who we have judged them to be based on the past. Healing our mind is being willing to let go of all that past stuff and recognizing their true being which is One with us. In the eyes of our Creator we are as we are created – whole, complete, and holy. And forgiveness – a change in our mind – is the path to opening our mind to this truth. The lesson explains it this way:

Forgive me, then, today. And you will know you have forgiven me if you behold your friend in the light of holiness. They cannot be less holy than can I, and you can not be holier than them.   W-pII.288.2:1-3

Letting go of our attachment to our thoughts and beliefs about the past is an act of freedom. Not only do we free our friend from the prison of our judgement about them, we free ourselves from the bonds of our judgmental thoughts. Our thoughts are what we give power over our minds. Our thoughts govern how we perceive ourselves and others. It may seem difficult or even impossible to change our thoughts and thus change our minds, but we have within us the means and power to do this. And, we have Spirit within us, forever connected to our Source and Creator, to guide us in how to change our thoughts. The world and the ones we journey with are all here to help us make this transformation. We’ll make mistakes along the way, but that’s OK because that’s how we learn. Mistakes are no more than mistakes and can always be corrected and forgiven. The lesson gives us this prayer to help us ask for guidance:

This is the thought that leads the way to You, and brings me to my goal. I cannot come to You without my friend. And to know my Source, I first must recognize what You created one with me. My friend’s is the hand that leads me on the way to You. Their sins are in the past along with mine, and I am saved because the past is gone. Let me not cherish it within my heart, or I will lose the way to walk to You. My friend is my savior. Let me not attack the savior You have given me. But let me honor them who bear Your Name, and so remember that It is my own.   W-pII.288.1:1-9

This path may seem simplistic. It is simple, but our habitual attachment to the past makes our thoughts something we must be vigilant for. Look at each thought as we recognize it and ask, “Is this a loving thought?” If yes, then go with it. If, no, let it go and proceed to the next thought. We cannot change the innate holiness of our being, but we can recognize our holiness more fully. As we continue on this healing journey, we will find peace within our mind. We will find ourselves thinking more loving thoughts. And we will begin to become aware of who we really are. Spirit holds the remembrance of our holiness and goodness in our mind for us. Our goal is to let its awareness rise in our mind. This awareness is always in the present moment which rises when we let go of the past. May we do so now and find what we seek.

October 6, 2020

Lesson 281 –

I can be hurt by nothing but my thoughts.

This may seem preposterous on the surface. Yet, we might ask, “How can my thoughts hurt me?” This is in no way about our bodies, for our bodies are not real. Even our thoughts can’t hurt us unless they block our awareness of who we are. Our true nature is wholeness, completeness, holiness, and that can’t be undone. But when we decide to align our minds with the idea of separation we block our awareness of who we really are and believe we can be hurt. And this belief is as easily undone when we turn back to the awareness of who we really are. Our thoughts are where truth and reality lie when we perceive them correctly through the Mind of Oneness.

I will not hurt myself today. For I am far beyond all pain. My Creator placed me safe in Heaven, watching over me. And I would not attack the One Child my Creator loves, for what my Creator loves is also mine to love.   W-pII.281.21-4

The truth is we are One with our Creator and therefore there is no separation, no distance, no less or more than. We all think with one thought system, one reality and it is all good and infinite. There is nothing but love and peace simply because nothing else was created. We think we see something less because we blocked our awareness of peace and love and unity and dreamed up separation. Even though separation is no more than illusion, it seems very real to us because we deny our Unity and connectedness. This lesson offers us this prayer for those times we feel inadequate and feel we are hurting.

Source, Your Child is perfect. When I think that I am hurt in any way, it is because I have forgotten who I am, and that I am as You created me. Your Thoughts can only bring me happiness. If ever I am sad or hurt or ill, I have forgotten what You think, and put my little meaningless ideas in place of where Your Thoughts belong, and where they are. I can be hurt by nothing but my thoughts. The Thoughts I think with You can only bless. The Thoughts I think with You alone are true.   W-pII.281.1:1-7

Our wholeness is established in our creation as is our divine nature and holiness. If we feel hurt in any way, we have let the idea that we can be hurt into our minds by denying our true Identity. The world around us may seem in utter chaos. Yet, we know that chaos is merely a myriad of separation thoughts swirling in minds that believe they are not unified. Rest in the knowledge that all minds are joined in peace and love. Rest in the reality of Oneness, for we are all One. No longer need we dwell on the hurt we think we feel, for it is not real. Step into the peace and love within all of us and rise above the battleground of chaos. Our joined mind will see clearly and understand the chaos of the world as mistaken thought, transcending all of it and melting into the peace of Oneness. Let Heaven rise in you today as you are willing.