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January-March, 2006

Do We Have to Suffer to Grow Spiritually?

by Rev. Marie Hanson

This question was asked at our A Course in Miracles discussion group recently.  What a great question! My mind immediately went into its busy-ness and monkey business. It would go to a back burner, and then come to the front.  It intrigued me. It eluded me. It deserved meditation and reflection.

I am aware of a part of me that always knows. It is joyful, peaceful. Then, there is the part of me that can be nosey and argumentative. It is noisy and brings my mind evidence to contradict Truth. My split mind!  How clever it is. Holy Spirit’s help is always at hand.  And invite Him in I did.  Ahhh…

Let’s look at suffering first.  What is it for you?  There are many things on the level of the body and mind that may cause suffering.  Perhaps an attachment, a special relationship or thoughts of separateness steal away your attention of the here and now.  But does suffering exist on the level of the Spirit?  I don’t believe it does.

At the level of the Spirit there is only perfection. Spirit, being perfect, is changeless, constant. It does not know suffering. Suffering is not understandable and insane to the Spirit. Spirit does not grow. We can not add to it. 

Let’s look at what we mean by growth now: “to develop more fully.” Based on the Spirit being perfect and changeless, this must refer to the level of the body and mind.  Bodies and minds grow and develop. It makes sense then, that at this level of the body and mind, we can experience our perceived suffering and growth. So, what do we mean when we say “spiritual growth?”

I believe that it refers to our experience of Spirit. When we suffer, we forget Who We Are.  We perceive our self as limited and in a body, unable to escape. Our mind is insane with nonsensical thoughts. Our suffering continues until we are ready to remember the Truth and invite the Holy Spirit in. Ah-ha!  This is where spiritual growth resides!

It is there in our experience of the Spirit at the level of the mind and body. This moment, the undoing, the miracle of the present and our Truth that we are not a body or mind, but Spiritual Beings having a human experience. This is the point where we “develop more fully” our awareness that we are Spirit. So, does this require our suffering?

That is up to us. Our perceptions of suffering can lead us to grow spiritually. As we chose again, we may not necessarily suffer, recognizing our Truth more quickly as we “develop more fully.” Happy Growing!

© 2006, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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