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September-December, 2025

The Workbook

by Rev. Joyce Peebles, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

Having studied A Course in Miracles for several years, I attempted reading and doing the daily lessons.

Review III says,  “If you are shaken, think of it (the lesson) again. These practice periods are planned to help you form the habit of applying what you learn each day to everything you do. …it is meant to serve you in all ways, all times and places, and whenever you need help of any kind.” (W-rIII.11:1-2,5)

Specifically, I need help when I feel unfairly treated, misunderstood, lonely, angry, and especially self-righteous. I wasn’t even aware I was being self-righteous until I thought I spotted that trait in someone else. Then I asked myself, “Would I do that?” I need to remember that what I see with the body’s eyes is a screen onto which I project thoughts I do not want to look at because I do not want to let them go.

The very willingness to remember the lesson and apply it to my upsets is what is important, not the reciting of words every hour. I have sometimes felt guilty for not remembering to think of the lesson throughout the day. Jesus does not want me to reinforce the belief in guilt. He wants me to recognize how I have cheated myself by choosing not to apply the lesson of the day.

Cheating is a good description for choosing to keep my ego thinking when my thoughts could have been replaced by looking with Him at my upsets. Holy Spirit would have reminded me this story was made up by me to reinforce my specialness and that I wanted the world to be real. The world is a perfect place to feel lack of all kinds and be misunderstood. I am always choosing between only two things: The Love of God or the deceitfulness of the ego thought system.

There are a couple of sentences in the Workbook that are a clear indication I need to keep studying it. They are:  “…you will recognize you practiced well by this: The body should not feel at all. If you have been successful, there will be no sense of feeling ill or feeling well, of pain or pleasure.” (W-136.17:2-3)

I have work left to do. Although I have times of peace, they are not constant. I allow myself to feel ill, pain and pleasure.

Jesus wants me to be a happy learner and have a happy dream by realizing what affects me is the Mind, not the things of the illusory world.

What I did not know in the early years of doing the Workbook was how much honesty was required. I have often read that willingness is a prerequisite to learn this Course. That is true. It is willingness to be honest with mySelf about what thoughts I am believing.

Notice they are called Workbook lessons. It takes a lot of work in the form of self-inquiry. For example, I see the figure in the dream I call Joyce get angry or judgmental. At this point I have a decision to make. Am I going to let go of the ego’s interpretation of what I see?  It takes vigilance to make new habits of thinking and responding.

Some helpful advice I got was, “Don’t force yourself.” I was dismayed as I did the lessons year after year and saw the same tendency to judge others and found my attempts at forgiveness were sometimes incomplete.

Indeed, there is more work to do. I discovered that practicing the lessons was a work in progress. What I could not see or understand one year, was suddenly clear a year or so later. The reason was earlier I was not yet ready for that lesson.

I am learning to have patience with myself. There is no possibility of failure and while in the dream I am always safe, despite what appears to be happening.

© 2025, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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