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Study of Text, C 15: III. Littleness versus Magnitude, P 9, 11-22-17

III. Littleness versus Magnitude, P 9
9 Holy child of God, when will you learn that only holiness can content you and give you peace? Remember that you learn not for yourself alone, no more than I did. It is because I learned for you that you can learn of me. I would but teach you what is yours, so that together we can replace the shabby littleness that binds the host of God to guilt and weakness with the glad awareness of the glory that is in him. My birth in you is your awakening to grandeur. Welcome me not into a manger, but into the altar to holiness, where holiness abides in perfect peace. My Kingdom is not of this world because it is in you. And you are of your Father. Let us join in honoring you, who must remain forever beyond littleness.

Journal
This entire section is trying to awaken us to our glory. Nearly everyone on the earth thinks of himself/herself as alone, small, and fragile. This is not who we are. This body/personality self is an idea projected outward. It is an opportunity to play-act something that cannot happen in reality, like a child playing at being Batman or Superman.

Jesus is inviting us to remember that we are only play-acting this character and that in reality, we are part of God, exactly like God in every way. In Lesson 326, Jesus says this about us as part of a beautiful prayer.
I am forever Your Effect, and You forever and forever are my Cause. As You created me I have remained. Where You established me I still abide. And all Your attributes abide in me, because it is Your Will to have a Son so like his Cause that Cause and Its Effect are indistinguishable.

Does this sound like the self you are presently identified with? In our unity, we are exactly like God, indistinguishable from God.

And now Jesus is telling us that he is here with us right now, and he is with us to teach us, to awaken us to our birthright. He is here to help us to accept our holiness and our grandeur. He says we can have this awareness when we stop clinging to our guilt and our littleness. All day today I have committed to living as if this were done. When I start to feel some concern for time or circumstance, I stop and rest a moment in God and remember that today I am living as an awakened Christ. I question if this is the response of an awakened being. It is going to be great fun!

Jesus says, “My birth in you is your awakening to grandeur.” Of course, he is not saying that the man, Jesus, is birthed in us, but as the Christ, He is born in us and awakens us to grandeur. He goes on to say that his Kingdom is not of the world but is in us. In us! We are the Kingdom! So, yes, we remain far beyond the little self we pretend to be. Let us welcome our destiny and accept it now. Let us throw off guilt and with it fear and be the Divine Beings we were created. Now, this warrants a celebration of Thanksgiving!

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Manual for Teachers: II. Honesty, P 2. 11-21-17

II. Honesty, P 2

2 The peace of mind which the advanced teachers of God experience is largely due to their perfect honesty. It is only the wish to deceive that makes for war. No one at one with himself can even conceive of conflict. Conflict is the inevitable result of self-deception, and self-deception is dishonesty. There is no challenge to a teacher of God. Challenge implies doubt, and the trust on which God’s teachers rest secure makes doubt impossible. Therefore they can only succeed. In this, as in all things, they are honest. They can only succeed, because they never do their will alone. They choose for all mankind; for all the world and all things in it; for the unchanging and unchangeable beyond appearances; and for the Son of God and his Creator. How could they not succeed? They choose in perfect honesty, sure of their choice as of themselves.

Journal
This vision of the advanced teachers of God is so compelling that I long for it to be true for me in all circumstances. It is true for me sometimes now, maybe even most of the time. But I still have areas in my life where I experience conflict. Jesus says that this is the result of self-deception. For instance, yesterday I was riding with my daughter. She was just driving around to put the baby to sleep and took me down a road beside the river. She thought I would enjoy it because it is so pretty there.

She began to notice that I was tense and remarked on it. I said that I don’t enjoy riding right next to the water like that. There was very little bank and the road was almost level with the river. There is something about drop-offs like that that make me uneasy. For some reason, instead of just being uneasy, I became frightened. Probably, this happened because I have asked to look at whatever is left in my mind that is in error so that it can be undone, so I needed to feel the effect of this belief.

This fear of heights and other forms of drop-offs like with the river running so close to the road is self-deception. It is in contrast or in conflict with my belief that I am safe, that no matter what happens to the body, I remain safe. Understanding this, I see that it is not a fear of heights or fear of dropping off the road and into the river that needs correction. It is the belief that I am a body and so what happens to the body happens to me. I can’t believe that I am the Son of God and believe that I am this body. Those thoughts conflict and cause me distress.

So, I spent the rest of the day going back and forth with this. I know I am not this body, that I am spirit. I know that I am afraid of this body falling. Yikes! It makes no sense and this is distressing. Eventually, I must choose to believe in one or the other and believing I am a body is just not possible. So, I ask for correction of this insane belief that I can ever be in danger. I am so done with this fearful belief. I ask the Holy Spirit to remove it from my mind.

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Study of Text, C 15: III. Littleness versus Magnitude, P 8, 11-20-17

III. Littleness versus Magnitude, P 8
8 Is it a sacrifice to leave littleness behind, and wander not in vain? It is not sacrifice to wake to glory. But it is sacrifice to accept anything less than glory. Learn that you must be worthy of the Prince of Peace, born in you in honor of Him Whose host you are. You know not what love means because you have sought to purchase it with little gifts, thus valuing it too little to understand its magnitude. Love is not little and love dwells in you, for you are host to Him. Before the greatness that lives in you, your poor appreciation of yourself and all the little offerings you give slip into nothingness.

Journal
What will I leave behind to accept my glory? What will I sacrifice? I will no longer be able to gather, organize and decipher information in order to make a decision. That is my sacrifice. Instead, I will simply ask for an answer and it will occur intuitively without any effort on my part. At least that has been my experience when I have asked rather than trying to work out the answer on my own.

I will not be worried or anxious about life. Fear is what I will sacrifice. Instead, I will simply accept that what is occurring is in my best interests and in everyone else’s best interest. If I can’t see how that is true, I will ask for clarity, and never doubt or be concerned. I will accept the perfection of all things and simply wait for guidance on what to do next.

I will no longer look for guilt or accept it when it shows up in my mind. Guilt is what I will sacrifice. Instead, I will accept that the host to God could not be guilty. There is no place for guilt in God. If I think I am guilty or someone else is guilty, I must be confused and will simply ask for clarity until I see the truth.  With no guilt within or without, love will be all that is there to be seen and felt. My life now revolves around love rather than guilt. Instead of looking for the guilty party, I ask how it is that I can best extend love to each one that shows up in my life. This is so much better.

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Manual for Teacher: II. Honesty, P 1. 11-16-17

II. Honesty
1 All other traits of God’s teachers rest on trust. Once that has been achieved, the others cannot fail to follow. Only the trusting can afford honesty, for only they can see its value. Honesty does not apply only to what you say. The term actually means consistency. There is nothing you say that contradicts what you think or do; no thought opposes any other thought; no act belies your word; and no word lacks agreement with another. Such are the truly honest. At no level are they in conflict with themselves. Therefore it is impossible for them to be in conflict with anyone or anything.

Journal
When I was young, I was not honest by any definition of honesty, but as my mind began to heal, that changed. By the time I got to the Manual for Teachers, I thought I was honest. As I read this paragraph, I realized what it meant to be truly honest and I felt like it was a hopeless task. I wondered if I could be a teacher of God if I had most of the characteristics.

What I failed to notice at that time was the first sentence. All other traits of God’s teachers rest on trust. Eventually, my trust began to develop and as it did, my honesty became more consistent. It is hard for me to believe, but as I read this paragraph today, I see that I am honest. Or pretty darned close to it.

I still believe a few thoughts that are not in alignment with the other thoughts, but even they are fading away as I continue to bring them to the Holy Spirit to look at with me. I speak the words that are true for me, and occasionally, I hear myself speak words that are not true for me. Again, I quickly look at them with the Holy Spirit and ask Him to remove the beliefs that were the source of my dishonesty.

I was thinking of an example of dishonesty in my life at this time. Here is what came into my mind. I teach that we are all worthy. I teach it all the time. I quote Jesus when he said that our worthiness is not established by what we say or do, but that it was established in our creation. But then, I start noticing things about myself that belie that statement.

For instance, last night at my Al-Anon meeting, we talked about asking for help. I used to be so determined to not ask for help that I think if I had a heart attack, I would die before I would ask for help. I could only hope that someone noticed and helped me without being asked. I am not that opposed to asking anymore, but I still resist it. I still feel uncomfortable asking.

This can only be because I feel unworthy still, and so expect rejection and cannot chance rejection since that might prove my unworthiness. Well, shoot! But I am glad to see this. I was keeping it secret from myself and now I am not. Perhaps now is the time that I can become consistently honest in this area. I am asking the Holy Spirit to heal my mind of the belief that I could be something other than what God created me to be.

So I am not perfectly honest yet, but I see my way through to honesty and know that I can and will be honest. I am grateful for this transformation. It is a long way from the first response I had to this paragraph. I am willing to trust the Word of God through Jesus, through the Holy Spirit. That is a perfectly honest statement. I am willing and I will to do so.

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Study of Text, C 15: III. Littleness versus Magnitude, P 76, 11-15-17

III. Littleness versus Magnitude, P 7
7 In this season (Christmas) which celebrates the birth of holiness into this world, join with me who decided for holiness for you. It is our task together to restore the awareness of magnitude to the host whom God appointed for Himself. It is beyond all your littleness to give the gift of God, but not beyond you. For God would give Himself through you. He reaches from you to everyone and beyond everyone to His Son’s creations, but without leaving you. Far beyond your little world but still in you, He extends forever. Yet He brings all His extensions to you, as host to Him.

Journal
I do join with you, Jesus, in deciding for holiness for me. I will work with you to restore the awareness of magnitude. Here I am, Lord. Give Yourself through me. I surrender the little self that I have so long treasured so that there is nothing blocking You. I think of the power of God working through me to help complete the task Jesus chose for himself and I am flooded with joy. There is nothing I want more than to know myself as the host to God.

My littleness, the ego body/personality of Myron cannot do this, but I can. I can allow God to give Himself through me and together all of us with Jesus will get this task done. I love the part of this paragraph where Jesus tells us that God works through us, reaching out beyond us, but not leaving us. I love that He reaches out to and beyond everyone to our extensions; he extends forever.

More than any other paragraph so far this one gives me just a taste of true magnitude. Who are we? I can’t even imagine who we are it is so far from the littleness that we made and accepted as ourselves. Surely, together, we must the Son of God, and part of God Himself. What were we thinking when we decided to explore separation? I want to end this exploration and I want to return to the state of Heaven. Whatever I need to look at, and to release, I am ready.

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Manual for Teacher: A. Development of Trust, P 8. 11-14-17

A. Development of Trust, P 8

8 And finally, there is “a period of achievement.” It is here that learning is consolidated. Now what was seen as merely shadows before become solid gains, to be counted on in all “emergencies” as well as tranquil times. Indeed, the tranquility is their result; the outcome of honest learning, consistency of thought and full transfer. This is the stage of real peace, for here is Heaven’s state fully reflected. From here, the way to Heaven is open and easy. In fact, it is here. Who would “go” anywhere, if peace of mind is already complete? And who would seek to change tranquility for something more desirable? What could be more desirable than this?

Journal
I can only talk about this part to the degree I have achieved it, so I will describe my experience of it so far. I don’t know how this works for other people, but for me, it has been as gradual a process as the other stages. As I released more ego beliefs my mind became calmer, more peaceful and I became happier as a result. I am not happy and guilt free 100% of the time yet, but I will be. I continue to look with the Holy Spirit at whatever shows up in my mind. I have asked to see what is left so that I can do this as quickly as possible. I wonder what will show up.

As I understand this, I will one day be completely free of guilt and fear and my mind will be in a state of Heaven. That is, it will be completely tranquil. There will be no Heaven to go to, it will be here now in my mind. I have had what Jesus calls honest learning and as a result, I now have some consistency of thought. This is leading to full transfer. The process has already advanced and I can experience it at times. I know people who have achieved that state and so I am encouraged and inspired by that.

All I did to get this far is to do what Jesus suggests to us in the Course and to do it more and more consistently. I watch my thoughts, I realize that I want only the thoughts I think with God and so I ask the Holy Spirit to remove everything else. I forgive all grievances and allow the Holy Spirit to transform all relationships. I never think the world is at fault; I never blame anyone else for my problems. I always turn it around and heal in my mind what I see with my eyes. I do these things without exception, and if I fail to do so, I simply do it when I notice my failure.

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Study of Text, C 15: III. Littleness versus Magnitude, P 6, 11-13-17

II. Littleness versus Magnitude, P 6
6 The Holy Spirit can hold your magnitude, clean of all littleness, clearly and in perfect safety in your mind, untouched by every little gift the world of littleness would offer you. But for this, you cannot side against Him in what He wills for you. Decide for God through Him. For littleness, and the belief that you can be content with littleness, are decisions you make about yourself. The power and the glory that lie in you from God are for all who, like you, perceive themselves as little, and believe that littleness can be blown up into a sense of magnitude that can content them. Neither give littleness, nor accept it. All honor is due the host of God. Your littleness deceives you, but your magnitude is of Him Who dwells in you, and in Whom you dwell. Touch no one, then, with littleness in the Name of Christ, eternal Host unto His Father.

Journal
I find it very reassuring to know that the Holy Spirit can keep my magnitude clean of arrogance. I want to live in my magnitude but not let it be tainted by the ego needs and desires. In the past, I tended to play small because I was afraid of this. I was afraid to claim the power of God in me, afraid my ego mind would be using it. This was because I was not yet clearly identified with my Self and still often I identified as my ego. Now, it is the other way around, and I am clear that the ego is on the way out, and I am not afraid of it anymore.

For the Holy Spirit to guard my magnitude, I must watch the decisions I make about myself and let Him decide for God for me. For instance, I am a minister, a teacher, and an author. If I decide that makes me special and that people should treat me special because of it, I am deciding against God. I am using my gifts to inflate my littleness to give me a false sense of magnitude.

If this were to happen, I would ask the Holy Spirit to correct my thinking by deciding for God for me. This is how I do my part to side with the Holy Spirit. I simply give Him permission to correct me when I am misusing the power of God that is in me. I feel pretty safe with this power now. I know the difference now between being arrogant and being truly humble. I feel safe claiming magnitude because I am happy that I am being used for His purposes and I know that I am not useful through the ego-self but through my surrender of the ego self.

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