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July-September, 2019

Merely Look

by Joyce Peebles, Ministerial Candidate

Part of the definition of forgiveness is to merely look. To merely look sounds simple. Throughout the text of A Course in Miracles, Jesus asks us to “merely Look.” What does this mean? Merely looking does mean to see the deception, fear, or turmoil the ego portrays. It does mean for us to see that the ego’s guidance leads to attack thoughts, feelings of victimization and pain. It does not mean we see the treachery of the ego and recoil or try to get rid of it. It does not mean we see its ugliness and try to make it “better” as if we could improve it. Jesus is not asking us to let the ego go. He is asking us to realize that the one looking at the ego is not the ego. We are looking at what we have made, it is not us. This realization gradually ends our identification with the ego.

To understand that the ego does not have any power, does nothing, and is nothing, is everything. The ego made up this world of separation. We are literally pretending that it is real and suffer because of what we see in it. Holy Spirit helps us remember it is not real. We can choose to “merely look” and not suffer. We don’t have to believe what the ego tells us is real.

Lesson 93 tells us, “It (the ego) does not battle with the Son of God. It does not hurt him, nor attack his peace.” We don’t need to be afraid of it. We do need to recognize our desire to give it power and meaning. In the process of ‘Merely looking” we don’t engage, there is no efforting.

If I decide to do more than “merely look” my ego gets busy analyzing. As soon as I try to analyze something based on form I am wrong. In the gospel of Thomas, there is a verse that says, “Be a passerby.” Sounds like “merely looking” to me.

I am presently practicing merely looking at what I consider “big deals” in my life. When I remember that not for one instant is the body real, merely looking is much easier. Most of the time I actually need do nothing physically. However, in my Mind, I am doing plenty.

I remind myself that if what I think I’m seeing is not love, then love is being asked for. I remind myself who I really AM and who they really are. I remind myself that I want peace instead of conflict.

When Jesus asks us to merely look he never intended for us to do it alone. He states and promises He is with us at all times. This is comforting because what I see in this made-up world can be vicious and frightening.

There are times when it seems the thought that Jesus is with me is “not enough” and I want some comfort with “skin on it.” This is when I call or go see a like minded friend who I know will help me see this situation differently. I am grateful for all of the Sonship, even the ones who appear to be separate from me. When I pause and merely look, I remember we are all One. This is salvation.

© 2019, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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