Monday, September 06, 2010
Libby’s Lessons – The Basics of A Course in Miracles

by Libby Crew

Much has been written about the book “A Course in Miracles” –how it originated-the contents being a combination of three books- and explanations of each. Therefore, I am not going to repeat that information here, although it is pertinent to your understanding of the Course. I would recommend that you go to the www.pathwaysoflight.org & familiarize yourself with the beauty & originality of this universal curriculum.

My intention is to familiarize you with the workbook lessons in the Course book, of which there are 365-one for each day of the year. I will begin at the beginning with a “block” of lessons which could inspire you to do these lessons on your own or if you have already done the lessons, to remind you of what you already know.

The first 11 lessons-introduce you to a whole new way of seeing, to prepare you for a whole new way of thinking. In the meditational lessons, you work with the concept that one object or” thing” is basically like another. At the very core-its origin-what gave birth to it-is all the same-all objects i.e. -tables, chairs, pictures, you and me. What you see through your physical eyes scientifically, spiritually, all properties in form- its origin, is all the same-although it does not seem that way.

In the lessons, you specifically are asked to lay your “feelings” about a “thing/object” aside so as to experience oneness, to see impartially.

So what causes the experience that things are different, if everything at its root is the same? The lessons progress to help you with that answer-it is your thoughts about them that give them meaning -that is what makes them seem different from each other. You come to know that a “thing” has no meaning as it stands on its own-what gives it an existence are the thoughts within you that you have about it.

As the lessons progress you realize that these thoughts about a benign object create feelings-undesirable as well as desirable.

At Lesson 7 you are exposed to the idea of how important your thinking is to what you see. So where does the thoughts come from-what is thinking? Thinking is an accumulation of all past thoughts-and you can take that as far back as you want to experience. It is what you have grown to believe about “a thing.”

I love how the course says that past thoughts are “old ideas about time”.  Thinking from the point of view of the past when in your present state- is seeing something which is not really there-therefore a mirage-or even a lie-it is not true. You are only looking at past thoughts and beliefs projected outward on to something in the present-therefore repeating and seeing the past over and over again.

With thoughts locked in the past you miss the beauty and the freshness of the present which is, as we know, the only time there is. The course goes on to say that through this phenomenon “you are not really thinking at all at this point.” And the course explains further that “recognizing that your mind has been merely blank, rather than believing that it is filled with real ideas, is the first step to opening the way to vision”

So all of our lives we have been confused, sad,  anxious, fearful, depressed because we have been experiencing what is not there by re-inventing our past in our present with old thoughts over and over again-how boring can that be. Never realizing the world is benign and it is our thoughts that determine the world we see. Boldly the course says realization of “this idea is the key to forgiveness!” The idea that your thoughts determine the world you see is the foundation for peace, relaxation and freedom from worry.

So, in these lessons, one for each day, including exercises and meditations to train your mind in the undoing of the way you see things now. These are experiential exercises so you can feel the truth.

Practice these concepts daily-Enjoy the flashes of light as the truth pops through and until next time

Love, your sister in sprit, Libby

Monday, September 06, 2010
Where Will I Find the Time?

by Rev. Myron Jones, OMC

As I woke I lay in bed and began to review my thoughts, sorting and relinquishing. I noticed the thought that I didn't see how I was going to get to everything on my "absolutely must do" list. I recognized this as judgment and I know that judgment is the building block of separation. But ego argues it is true, that I don't have enough time today so it doesn't make sense to relinquish this thought. I asked Holy Spirit for a new thought. He gave me this prayer.

Holy Spirit, please guide me to use my time today to the benefit of the Sonship.

What a relief to surrender all decisions, and so surrender judgment. What a relief to know that in at least this one instant I am not building more separation. I look forward to seeing how Holy Spirit will have me use my day.

I often feel that time is getting away from me; that there is not enough of it, that I am misusing it. It seems to be very hard for me to lay this concept aside. Feeling a little discouraged, I asked Holy Spirit for a pep talk.

Holy Spirit: Precious one, this would indeed be an impossible task if you were alone in it, but you are not alone. If you knew the help and support you receive, and the light that surrounds you, you would have no doubts and no fear. I assure you that you will not fail, and I assure you that you are much closer than you think. Your part in your salvation is essential, but it is small and very easy.

If you would give yourself a little more time to be quiet with me, you would feel my presence more strongly and would be encouraged. The ego would have you think there is not another available moment in the day, and that time is your deadly enemy. This is the distraction that you choose to avoid God’s love. The next time you feel you do not have time for quiet time with Me, ask yourself, “What do I value more than God’s love in this moment?” You may then decide to withdraw the value you have placed in that false idol.

It is not necessary that we spend long hours together, and in fact, it can be helpful to you if you sit in quiet with Me for just a few moments at a time. This small dedication given several times during the day will renew you. Imagine that we sit, you with your head on My shoulder, and Me with my arm around you, as I bring you the good news of God’s everlasting love and of your eternal Self, unchanged and forever as your Father created you.

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for your gentle, loving words.

Rev Myron Jones, Pathways of Light minister facilitates ACIM and Ministerial courses. She also performs weddings and other transitional services. She is also the Voice of the Voices Of Light conference. www.forgivenessisthewayhome.org

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In My Defenselessness My Safety Lies

by Rev. Myron Jones 

    When I defend myself, I teach myself that I need defense. My defensiveness is convincing me that I really am a body, separate from God and my brothers, weak and vulnerable. Defensiveness traps me in my illusion. Defenselessness teaches me that I am safe and strong, and unassailable. When I live in defenselessness I teach my brother that he needs no defense, and what I teach I learn. In defensiveness I set up a vicious cycle in which I feel afraid and so defend myself which makes me more afraid because I am teaching myself I need defense. In defenselessness I set up a healing cycle in which I live as if I need no defense and this teaches the truth which strengthens my belief in the truth.

     Somewhere I have to jump into the cycle of fear and be willing to see it differently. That can be the hard part. I defend myself because I really believe I am in danger, so it seems foolhardy to lay my defenses aside. And I have to do this over and over all day long. I have so much resistance to doing this that I often even refuse to recognize that this is what I am doing. I refuse to see that I am being defensive.

    2007 was a pivotal year for me. It was then that I went from truly believing that I was an innocent victim being assaulted on all sides and in grave need of defense, to knowing that I was creating more fear through my attempt to defend myself, through creating a never ending cycle of attack and defense. I began to recognize the defense strategies and became willing to see this wasn’t working.

     In 2009 I continued this practice of being aware and willing to see what I was doing. I listened as the Holy Spirit gently led me to see differently and it felt like I had very few defended thoughts. I began to feel so much more peace in my life that I was motivated to watch with even more vigilance.

     Now in 2010 I see that while I have done very good work, and I am certainly experiencing the effects of that work with more peace and happiness, I am also becoming more aware of the many subtle ways in which I armor myself against the world. So in a way it is like I am going back and starting again, but I am doing it from a more peaceful place.

     I was trying to make a choice about an investment and I felt frustrated because I was confused. I watched my thoughts and this is what I saw. “I am not good with money. This is too hard to do. I don’t understand all this financial stuff. I can’t do this. I need to ask someone else what to do.” These are defense thoughts that I have had for so long that I took them as absolute truth. I am one who is not good with money. I am one who does not understand finance. I have often claimed these attributes, and never really thought about what I was doing.

     What I also noticed is that as I thought about not understanding and not being good with money I became more and more anxious. I was so nervous and confused that I became willing to just let things happen rather than face the situation. These untrue beliefs are a defense against the truth. They are a defense against God’s Love. They prove that I cannot be this holy Son of God the Course keeps telling me about. These thoughts are a defense against my greatness and help me to stay little. See how small I am, how inept, how victimized? How could I be a holy Son of God?

     But the ego is just an idea in my mind, and I also have the idea of Love in my mind as well. I am not as heavily defended against that Love as I used to be, and daily practice of looking to the Holy Spirit for guidance has helped me to remain open even when I am experiencing doubt and fear. Simply put, I was willing to be wrong. My willingness brought me the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit. He spoke to me in my mind, and he spoke to me through my brother. Because I was open to healing, I heard the words and recognized them as true.

     I approached the problem with a different attitude. I had the simple thought, “I can do this” and it made all the difference. The fear fell away. I asked for guidance. I became patient and felt no need to jump into anything because I was no longer afraid and didn’t need to just get it over with. Understanding of the numbers and concepts just seemed to fall easily into my mind. When someone explained something to me I was able to hear and understand because I was not defended against the explanation.

     For awhile there, yesterday, my goal was to remain blind to my holiness through defensive thoughts, but then I remembered my one undivided goal is to awaken. Holy Spirit, please help me to notice the ways in which I defend myself today. I want to be defenseless. I am willing to be mindful, and I am willing to drop my defenses and allow You to heal my mind.

Rev Myron Jones, a Pathways of Light minister, facilitates ACIM and Ministerial courses. She also performs weddings and other transitional services. She is also the Voice of the Voices Of Light conference. www.forgivenessisthewayhome.org

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