Together, We Light the Way

By Rev. Myron Jones

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Lesson 14

God did not create a meaningless world.
1. The idea for today is, of course, the reason why a meaningless world is impossible. ²What God did not create does not exist. ³And everything that does exist exists as He created it. ⁴The world you see has nothing to do with reality. ⁵It is of your own making, and it does not exist.
2. The exercises for today are to be practiced with eyes closed throughout. ²The mind-searching period should be short, a minute at most. ³Do not have more than three practice periods with today’s idea unless you find them comfortable. ⁴If you do, it will be because you really understand what they are for.
3. The idea for today is another step in learning to let go the thoughts that you have written on the world, and see the Word of God in their place. ²The early steps in this exchange, which can truly be called salvation, can be quite difficult and even quite painful. ³Some of them will lead you directly into fear. ⁴You will not be left there. ⁵You will go far beyond it. ⁶Our direction is toward perfect safety and perfect peace.
4. With eyes closed, think of all the horrors in the world that cross your mind. ²Name each one as it occurs to you, and then deny its reality. ³God did not create it, and so it is not real. ⁴Say, for example:
⁵God did not create that war, and so it is not real.
⁶God did not create that airplane crash, and so it is not real.
⁷God did not create that disaster [specify], and so it is not real.
5. Suitable subjects for the application of today’s idea also include anything you are afraid might happen to you, or to anyone about whom you are concerned. ²In each case, name the “disaster” quite specifically. ³Do not use general terms. ⁴For example, do not say, “God did not create illness,” but, “God did not create cancer,” or heart attacks, or whatever may arouse fear in you.
6. This is your personal repertory of horrors at which you are looking. ²These things are part of the world you see. ³Some of them are shared illusions, and others are part of your personal hell. ⁴It does not matter. ⁵What God did not create can only be in your own mind apart from His. ⁶Therefore, it has no meaning. ⁷In recognition of this fact, conclude the practice periods by repeating today’s idea:
⁸God did not create a meaningless world.
7. The idea for today can, of course, be applied to anything that disturbs you during the day, aside from the practice periods. ²Be very specific in applying it. ³Say:
⁴God did not create a meaningless world. ⁵He did not create [specify the situation which is disturbing you], and so it is not real. (ACIM, W-14.1:1–7:5)
2025
I’ve done these lessons a number of times, and I don’t want my contemplations to become rote, the same old - same old. It doesn’t mean the horrors will necessarily be different, but I want the list to be genuine and the feelings that come with it to be genuine. So I began with, Lord, here I am. And I waited as my mind cleared of the meaningless thoughts, knowing that I would be guided to the horrors I needed to see.
I took my time and let each one have its moment. And when I followed it with “and so it is not real,” I let myself feel the relief that comes with that belief. I started with the immediate, my son’s depression.
I ended with a more general cruelty, unkindness and self-centeredness of the separated ones. And with each, I reminded myself that not one of them could be real because God did not create them. Afterward, I felt peace and strength knowing that we are as God created us and will always be so, no matter what we dream up to experience.
God did not create a meaningless world.
2026
That first paragraph is pure gold. I suppose that if I were willing to absorb this and take it in completely, suffering would be over in this lifetime. I am so impressed with the simplicity and perfection of this.
God did not create a meaningless world.
²What God did not create does not exist.
³And everything that does exist exists as He created it.
⁴The world you see has nothing to do with reality.
⁵It is of your own making, and it does not exist.
In fact, it is so perfectly clear that I noticed out of the corner of my eye a picture I had saved to my desktop months ago and never used or deleted, so I posted it in my Just Stuff I Like group on Facebook. Then I read jokes others had left, and I had not seen yet. Got a few chuckles out of it and finally came to the one I thought I hadn’t posted. Seems I did after all and just forgot to delete it from my screen. (Eye roll here) So I did that, and while I was there, I cleaned up a couple of other things. And that explains my life and why I am still suffering and need to practice this lesson.
So what about my present horrors? Well, ever since my brother died suddenly, I have this barely acknowledged, underlying unease. What if someone else dies? For instance, what if I lost a child? And off and running, my imagination goes, and I can see how easy it would be for that to happen. Oh, yeah, now it’s not unacknowledged or barely noticed. It’s jumping up and down and waving its arms in my mind.
But God did not create a meaningless world, and what He did not create does not exist. He did not create death and unthinkable loss. This world is my own creation and has nothing to do with reality. And now I want to cry out of relief. Does this mean that my story could never take that turn? Of course it could, but it would still be a story, illusion, a dream. If I insist on believing my world is real, death and loss will feel real to me. I am not waiting for something to be healed — I am remembering that nothing ever happened to the Son of God.
Knowing this, why do I insist on believing in the world I made? Why do I refuse to accept the truth? I suppose that I still choose to believe that letting go of the identification with my character is letting go of me. I must still believe that I would cease to exist if “Myron” ceased to be real to me. That’s just nuts, but while I indulge in that insanity, I don’t pretend not to. I am at least that honest. And I am ready to let go of the illusion and accept my true identity.
It seems to me that I am failing to reach my goal, that I am fighting against what I really want. But I don’t think that’s what’s happening. I think that I am actually making great progress. I can see very clearly what I am doing, the degree of my denial, the fear of awakening that used to be so hidden that I would never acknowledge it. Now, I am not only acknowledging it, but I am also sharing it with you, without shame and without fear. So, yes, real progress has happened.
The personal world I made cannot be real because God did not create it. My personal horrors, therefore, do not exist – never did, never will. I seem to be living in a memory of something that never actually happened, and is not happening now. I am willing to dream a happier dream until I wake up. The relief I feel when I say this is indescribable. Holy Spirit, help me keep this truth in my mind from now on. I want to accept my true Identity now.
Video: https://youtu.be/aMRrrJbRLTI

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Posted by Rev. Myron Jones.

Lesson 13 2026

A meaningless world engenders fear.
1. Today’s idea is really another form of the preceding one, except that it is more specific as to the emotion aroused. ²Actually, a meaningless world is impossible. ³Nothing without meaning exists. ⁴However, it does not follow that you will not think you perceive something that has no meaning. ⁵On the contrary, you will be particularly likely to think you do perceive it.
2. Recognition of meaninglessness arouses intense anxiety in all the separated ones. ²It represents a situation in which God and the ego “challenge” each other as to whose meaning is to be written in the empty space that meaninglessness provides. ³The ego rushes in frantically to establish its own ideas there, fearful that the void may otherwise be used to demonstrate its own impotence and unreality. ⁴And on this alone it is correct.
3. It is essential, therefore, that you learn to recognize the meaningless, and accept it without fear. ²If you are fearful, it is certain that you will endow the world with attributes that it does not possess, and crowd it with images that do not exist. ³To the ego illusions are safety devices, as they must also be to you who equate yourself with the ego.
4. The exercises for today, which should be done about three or four times for not more than a minute or so at most each time, are to be practiced in a somewhat different way from the preceding ones. ²With eyes closed, repeat today’s idea to yourself. ³Then open your eyes, and look about you slowly, saying:
⁴I am looking at a meaningless world.
⁵Repeat this statement to yourself as you look about. ⁶Then close your eyes, and conclude with:
⁷A meaningless world engenders fear because I think I am in competition with God.
5. You may find it difficult to avoid resistance, in one form or another, to this concluding statement. ²Whatever form such resistance may take, remind yourself that you are really afraid of such a thought because of the “vengeance” of the “enemy.” ³You are not expected to believe the statement at this point, and will probably dismiss it as preposterous. ⁴Note carefully, however, any signs of overt or covert fear which it may arouse.
6. This is our first attempt at stating an explicit cause and effect relationship of a kind which you are very inexperienced in recognizing. ²Do not dwell on the concluding statement, and try not even to think of it except during the practice periods. ³That will suffice at present. (ACIM, W-13.1:1–6:3)
2025
A meaningless world engenders fear.
Because I think I am in competition with God.
I project what I want to see and then I perceive its meaning. One might wonder why it is that we so often perceive what causes anxiety and here in this lesson, Jesus explains this. We rush to give it meaning before God can do so. We are so determined to be our own creators that we will suffer anything to prove the impossible.
As soon as I read this lesson, I felt my heart lift a little. I have recently had a difficult situation in my life and while I know I am the one that has made it feel difficult, I keep doing it. I think that maybe this will be the lesson that helps me change my mind once and for all about this.
Since I am determined to see this situation differently, the ego mind wants to solve the problem by changing the narrative. I want to solve the problem by letting it be and waiting to see the meaning God writes on it.
2026
When we look at a meaningless world, we feel fear. Our ego rushes to put meaning there before God can do so. It is a protective device that keeps the ego relevant. But we are learning that the ego is not our true identity, and we no longer need or want it. Jesus tells us that we must learn to look at meaninglessness without fear. I’m beginning to see that the fear is not really caused by a meaningless world at all. It seems to come from the belief that I must supply meaning in order to exist.
I’ve talked about meaningless ideas that have caused me fear. For instance, believing that I don’t have enough money, that the political situation is unacceptable, and that the Minnesota Ice action was awful. What do all these situations have in common? They are all meaningless illusions. Everything I thought about them is my ego’s attempt to beat God to the punch. It wanted to establish its own meaning so that I didn’t notice it was meaningless.
There are people whose egos established different meanings. But whether you like what is happening politically or you hate it, or even if you don’t have a strong opinion one way or another, is irrelevant. It is still the ego rushing to establish its meaning before God can do so. Our job is to forgive the idea that we must be at war with God, that the ego is valuable and worth protecting.
I can hardly believe that I still want to safeguard my ego identity, and yet, I am obviously doing so. Knowing that I am doing it and why, will help me choose differently going forward. I will start with whatever shows up. I started with the exercise today. I closed my eyes, and when I opened them, the first thing I saw was a large container of pennies I had collected over time.
There used to be other change in there, but when I needed a dime or a quarter, I would take it, and now there are just these useless pennies, and I’m wondering what the heck I am supposed to do with them. What is everyone who has a jar of pennies somewhere going to do with them? Have arrangements been made for their disposal? Are we going to put them in a landfill? Is this a good idea, or will it someday affect our water supply?
Wow! That’s a lot of speculation about an illusory situation that has, in my mind, become a huge problem. I’m happy to recognize it as a non-problem because it is another part of the illusion and thus meaningless. The pennies were neutral. The problem was not the pennies — it was my need to give them a story.
I don’t have to be afraid of the meaningless anymore. I see that this will take a lot of practice to truly establish itself in my mind, but I also see my freedom in doing so. Fear is the ego’s other name — and noticing it without judgment is how I remember I am not that. I am ready to accept my true Identity and this is a step in that direction.
I am no longer fighting the ego.
I am no longer trying to fix the world.
I am learning to let meaninglessness remain open long enough for Love to answer.
That is the end of fear.
Not because the world changes —but because the one who needed to define it is quietly disappearing. And that is awakening.
Video: https://youtu.be/5muqD_TTFz0

© 2026, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Posted by Rev. Myron Jones.

Lesson 12 2026

My meaningless thoughts are showing me a meaningless world.
1. This is the first idea we have had that is related to a major phase of the correction process; the reversal of the thinking of the world. ²It seems as if the world determines what you perceive. ³Today’s idea introduces the concept that your thoughts determine the world you see. ⁴Be glad indeed to practice the idea in its initial form, for in this idea is your release made sure. ⁵The key to forgiveness lies in it.
2. The practice periods for today’s idea are to be undertaken somewhat differently from the previous ones. ²Begin with your eyes closed, and repeat the idea slowly to yourself. ³Then open your eyes and look about, near and far, up and down,—anywhere. ⁴During the minute or so to be spent in using the idea merely repeat it to yourself, being sure to do so without haste, and with no sense of urgency or effort.
3. To do these exercises for maximum benefit, the eyes should move from one thing to another fairly rapidly, since they should not linger on anything in particular. ²The words, however, should be used in an unhurried, even leisurely fashion. ³The introduction to this idea, in particular, should be practiced as casually as possible. ⁴It contains the foundation for the peace, relaxation and freedom from worry that we are trying to achieve. ⁵On concluding the exercises, close your eyes and repeat the idea once more slowly to yourself.
4. Three practice periods today will probably be sufficient. ²However, if there is little or no uneasiness and an inclination to do more, as many as five may be undertaken. ³More than this is not recommended. (ACIM, W-11.1:1–4:3)
First, I want to look at the emphasis that Jesus puts on this Lesson.
• a major phase of the correction process
• the reversal of the thinking of the world
• in this idea is your release made sure
• The key to forgiveness lies in it.
• contains the foundation for the peace, relaxation and freedom from worry that we are trying to achieve
The idea, when first considered, seems to be quite simple. It seems like the world you see determines your thoughts. But actually, it is your thoughts that determine the world. Simple to understand, but perhaps not so simple to accept. If, like me, you have been studying the Course for a good while, this is hardly a new idea. But if you are like me, you may often forget this simple but essential truth.
I find it takes a lot of practice to fix this idea in my mind, and even then, I feel the temptation to return to the belief that the world affects me. It shows up in many ways, some quite subtle. The other day, I was expecting a package to arrive. I kept checking for it all day, but it never came. Finally, I got an email that it would be here the next day. By that time, I was annoyed about the whole thing. This annoyance indicated that I thought the late arrival of the package was the cause of my lack of peace. In other words, I believed that the world determined what I thought and by extension, what I felt.
Here in Louisiana, we are in the Mardi Gras season. I smile each time I see a picture or video of one of the many parades and the purple, gold, and blue decorations on everything from clothes to bridges. It makes me happy. Or does it? The world doesn’t cause anything in me; it is my thoughts about this season that bring joy. My son lived in New Orleans for many years and the endless parades and crowds were an annoyance to him. They blocked traffic, making getting to work an ordeal. Same situation, two interpretations on what it means. We give everything we see all the meaning it has for us.
But even deeper than that, I am learning that everything I see comes from my thoughts. I see happy Mardi Gras colors, music, and dancing because my thoughts identify it as such. Toby sees annoyance in the same thing because his thoughts identify it as such. In this situation, my son and I live in two separate universes. Actually, we all live in our own solitary little universes made of our private thoughts. This is why we believe we are separate and alone, even in the crowded streets of New Orleans on Mardi Gras.
What is the practical use of this lesson? Well, last night I woke up at midnight and couldn’t go back to sleep because I felt restless. At first, I thought it was the house’s temperature, so I adjusted it. Then I thought it was my cat making noise and keeping me awake, so I took care of her needs. I tried listening to a meditation I usually enjoy, but it just made me feel more uneasy. Finally, I stopped trying to fix the world and looked at my thoughts. That’s where I found my problem and my solution.
I am learning that the problem begins with me, and examining my thoughts will change the world as I see it, while attempts to change the world give only temporary relief, if any at all. The source of the world is my thoughts, so that is what must change. I’m grateful this is so because I have power over my mind and very little, if any, power over the world.
https://youtu.be/qpxd8qT4dbM

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Posted by Rev. Myron Jones.

Lesson 11 2026

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Posted by Rev. Myron Jones.

Lesson 10 2026

I see nothing as it is now.
1. This idea obviously follows from the two preceding ones. ²But while you may be able to accept it intellectually, it is unlikely that it will mean anything to you as yet. ³However, understanding is not necessary at this point. ⁴In fact, the recognition that you do not understand is a prerequisite for undoing your false ideas. ⁵These exercises are concerned with practice, not with understanding. ⁶You do not need to practice what you already understand. ⁷It would indeed be circular to aim at understanding, and assume that you have it already.
2. It is difficult for the untrained mind to believe that what it seems to picture is not there. ²This idea can be quite disturbing, and may meet with active resistance in any number of forms. ³Yet that does not preclude applying it. ⁴No more than that is required for these or any other exercises. ⁵Each small step will clear a little of the darkness away, and understanding will finally come to lighten every corner of the mind that has been cleared of the debris that darkens it.
3. These exercises, for which three or four practice periods are sufficient, involve looking about you and applying the idea for the day to whatever you see, remembering the need for its indiscriminate application, and the essential rule of excluding nothing. ²For example:
³I do not see this typewriter as it is now.
⁴I do not see this telephone as it is now.
⁵I do not see this arm as it is now.
4. Begin with things that are nearest you, and then extend the range outward:
²I do not see that coat rack as it is now.
³I do not see that door as it is now.
⁴I do not see that face as it is now.
5. It is emphasized again that while complete inclusion should not be attempted, specific exclusion must be avoided. ²Be sure you are honest with yourself in making this distinction. ³You may be tempted to obscure it. (ACIM, W-9.1:1–5:3)
Contemplation for 2025
When I first did these lessons all those years ago, I absolutely did not believe the statement that I see nothing as it is now. I did the lesson anyway. Later, I was confused, but I accepted that I just didn’t understand it. And I did it anyway. Now, I do understand it, and I do the lesson. My mind still wants to object to it, and I will have a moment of confusion, but my desire for the truth clears the confusion quickly. I love the truth even as I sometimes resist it. My desire for truth wins out each time.
Contemplation for 2026
If you don’t understand or believe this lesson, that’s okay. As Jesus told us in the Introduction and again in this lesson, you don’t need to understand or even like these lessons. Just do them, and they will work for you despite any resistance. This has been my experience.
There is no world, only images of our thoughts projected from our minds. This acceptance helps me navigate the illusion without losing sight of the truth. It gives me the space to look at my fear with the Holy Spirit because I know that ultimately, I am safe in God. I don’t deny that I am having an experience of the world, just that it is not real. So when I do get caught up in the story, it is easier to find my way back to the truth.
That happened yesterday. A thought showed up in my mind about the state of affairs in the world. The story my mind was telling me was that there is so much violence right now—people hurting each other, killing, hating, and even showing simple disregard for one another. It appears in homes, schools, cities, and countries. I know this is a projection of conflicted minds, yet in my perception it seems worse than usual. As I followed this story and imagined where it might lead, fear quietly began to grow in my mind.
I’m talking about this now because it relates to the lesson for the day. I see nothing as it is now, and just because I think about an idea and dwell on it until it feels very real and present, this doesn’t make it real. Jesus is so clear about this. In this lesson he says: It is difficult for the untrained mind to believe that what it seems to picture is not there. Even in the trained mind, it can be difficult to remember that while this is a real experience, it is not reality, and who we are, our true self, is perfectly safe even as the experience shows us something different.
I never deny my experience, even as the spiritual ego wants to claim what is not true but ought to be. That kind of thinking doesn’t bring me closer to awakening. So, when I get caught up in a story, I look at that error with the Holy Spirit until my mind clears of the confusion, and peace is restored. That is true forgiveness, and it is an excellent way to move ever closer to the Truth. So that is what I did yesterday.
The story may grab me again. After all, though what we do with the power of God in us is not true creation in this dream world, what we make here feels very real. I used to worry when I felt the relief that comes with forgiveness, only for the error to come back. I took this as proof that either the Course doesn’t work or, more likely, it was just me who couldn’t succeed. I understand now that none of that is true. I am here to forgive untrue beliefs, and so I do. I don’t care how often I need to do it.
I am content today to remind myself of the simple truth: I see nothing as it is now. This no longer confuses me; it comforts me. I trust in the truth to be true even when my mind is lost in a scary story. Illusions can obscure the truth, but they cannot change it. I am safe in the Love of God.
Video: https://youtu.be/znJKbWiJheQ

© 2026, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this notice is included.

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Posted by Rev. Myron Jones.

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