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July-September, 2014

The One About Truth

by Rev. Stephan Mead, O.M.C.

In A Course in Miracles, Text, Chapter 14, Section XI, perhaps the key point Jesus is trying to get across to us (to me) is introduced in the first sentence of the section:

“Yet the essential thing is learning that you do not know.” (T-14.XI.1:1)

What don’t I know? As I was studying this section, I noticed the feeling of ‘being attacked’ was in my mind, which I didn’t like.

In the next paragraph I am told, “For you have taught yourself how to imprison the Son of God, a lesson so unthinkable that only the insane, in the deepest sleep, could even dream it.” (2:2)

Can that be the truth? I certainly don’t remember teaching myself that, and if I did, why would I? Now I’m noticing a feeling of anger that is keeping my ‘feeling of being attacked’ company. Emotionally I am trying to communicate with Jesus as I continue reading. “Hey, really? Are you sure?” I guess here I’m giving Jesus a chance to change his mind.

Just before I put the book down to contemplate the storm that is raging in my mind, I looked at another couple of sentences, “Never believe that any lesson you have learned apart from Him means anything.” (4:9)

Never believe that? In sixty plus years my lessons haven’t meant anything? (By the way, I did notice the qualifier in that sentence, “apart from Him”) And, “Your part is very simple. You need only recognize that everything you learned you do not want.” (6:3-4)

In the 10 years I have been involved in the Course, I have heard of people who, in frustration have actually thrown the book away. I think I can understand that tantrum! From almost the beginning of my journey into the Text, I have consciously tried to read it with the thought, “What if everything in here is true?” How can I not think that at least some of my lessons have been valuable to me? I am not trying to portray myself as any kind of a scholar or insightful student. Basically I only want to live a happy life. Also, I am not interested in pretending I understand some of these concepts when obviously I don’t.

Unsettled and irritated, I picked the book back up, and the next sentence I read was, “Listen in silence, and do not raise your voice against Him.” (11:4)

Ok, full disclosure here. I laughed and felt relieved. How did He know I was raising my voice? “Oh yea,” I thought, “He knows everything!”

Lastly, I was given a couple of directions that are sure to be helpful. “Those who remember always that they know nothing, and have become willing to learn everything, will learn it. But whenever they trust themselves, they will not learn.” (12:1-2)

So, in this section, The Test of Truth, I think I passed it with an A+. The real test to me was seeing that I needed a new way to look at what is actually true.

© 2014, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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