Robert: Today we read the section on faithfulness in the Manual for Teachers. What stood out to me was, “To give up all problems to one Answer is to reverse the thinking of the world entirely.” This is the ultimate goal of awakening. It is why diligent mindfulness is an essential practice to be aware of when I am attempting to solve problems on my own and make the world the way I think it should be.
Thinking I am on my own is the root problem. It plays out in myriad ways in my life experience. Mistakes happen. Things seem to get lost or misplaced. All these kinds of experiences are just outer manifestations or effects of an inner decision to believe I am alone and on my own. The moment I am willing to accept my Self and What I am, all these effects will disappear. In oneness nothing can be misplaced. Nothing can be lost. There can be no harm because there is no other to harm or cause harm.
Clearly this is not what I experience in this dream I call my life. But the assurance is there that I can have this experience. I just need to be willing to give up the wish to be on my own. So the Course is patiently bringing to my attention the things that show I am indeed wishing to be on my own. It seemed that being on my own would be interesting and intriguing and fun. I could be the master of my universe and play God. But believing I am separate from God means I am separate from all power. So it becomes like a 90 pound weakling trying to battle against the world that seems to be outside. The result is a lot of frustration, fear and pain.
The Course is helping me see that this is the effect of wishing to be separate and alone. It is helping me stop deceiving myself that there is any value in being on my own and alone. Gradually I am more and more willing to bring problems to the one Answer. The fact that I still experience the effects of separation thinking shows that I still have areas in my thoughts that I reserve for myself alone. But that’s okay. I am learning and I am teachable.
The Holy Spirit has complete trust that I will let go of my wish to be separate. And as it said in the section on Patience in the Manual for Teachers, “Patience is natural for those who trust.” So I have gratitude for when I have been willing to give a problem to the Holy Spirit for Him to solve and I am willing to practice doing it more. The goal of Heaven is worth the effort.
Holy Spirit through Mary: Sometimes you trip yourself up by trying too hard. You get into a place of efforting and pushing. When you notice that occurring, practice stepping back. Practice joining with Me. Let go of what you think you know about whatever you are doing or thinking. Move into a place of letting go and letting God. Just stop. Take a deep breath and leave a clear and open space in your mind for God’s peace to enter. Let your mind soak in this peace. Let it wash that which is not helpful away. Let it clean the dark places of your mind. Let peace do its healing work. Give your mind a rest. Surrender to mind healing. Let the inner Comforter bring you to a place of clarity and understanding. In this state of mind, what is needed in the moment will show up in your mind. Peace and understanding go together and are never found alone.
With every “problem” that shows up in your life, practice this stepping back. Practice getting off the ego’s merry-go-round and joining with Me a while. When you are willing to join with Me, you will receive a change of mind. The confusion will clear. As you are willing to accept peace instead of the ego’s mindless thoughts, you will be shown in the moment how to be truly helpful. You will receive clarity and certainty. Practice today and everyday. It is the way you return to your right mind, your true Self.
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