Miracles News
October-December, 2010
Comparisons
Comparisons have been floating through my mind and disturbing my peace. I compare my friend’s sporty car to my less desirable “old lady” car, others’ exotic vacations to my weekend retreat vacations, my friend’s perceptions of the world to what I perceive about the world. I even compare what people think to what the Course teaches!
The list of comparisons continues without my knowing it, in the background of my mind. But recently, as though I have had enough, I realized this background comparing is disturbing my peace. And, although these comparisons have been there all along, my current recognition tells me the Spirit is nudging me to explore these comparisons. My first nudge is to see what the Course says about comparisons.
Even before I opened the Course I knew these comparisons are of the ego thought system. “The ego literally lives by comparisons.” (T-4.II.7:1) Comparisons are judgments and certainly not of Love. “Comparison must be an ego device, for love makes none.” (T-24.II.1:1) Yet I wanted to get deeper with this. So after reflecting on them a few days, I recognized that my comparisons come from two underlying egoic thoughts. I either determine that my way is better, or others’ ways are better.
The first type of comparison I make comes from the underlying thought that I am special and others are lacking. The very fact that I perceive myself as special has resulted in my comparison. “Specialness always makes comparisons.” (T-24.II.1:2) In fact, specialness “is established by a lack seen in another.” (T-24.II.1:3) As I see the littleness in others, I see myself as good, right, and stately by comparison. (T-24.II.1:6)
The second type of comparisons I make is when I see myself as lacking something. These thoughts of lack imply that I think I would be better off possessing something I do not possess or be in a state that is different from my current state. (T-1.VI.1:5) Whether it is from jealousy or envy, the root of these comparisons is my misplaced values. My thoughts of comparisons reflect my values and are disturbing my peace. Hence, my peace is connected to my material values.
In addition, my perceptions of lack reinforce my thoughts of separation from God which is the only lack I need to correct. (T-1.VI.2:1) Again, this sense of separation indicates to me that I have distorted my perception of the truth. (T-1.VI.2:2) The truth is that lack does not exist in God’s creations. (T-1.VI.1:3)
Regardless of whom I judge to be lacking (myself or others), comparisons always stem from ego and reinforce my thoughts of separation from God and my brothers. In the Bible, Paul discourages comparing ourselves with others. (2Cor. 10:12; Gal. 6:4) Likewise, in the Course, Jesus encourages us not to compare ourselves with our brothers, “for thus we split them off from our awareness of the unity we share with them.” (W-pI.195.5:4) During my comparing thoughts I am clearly not seeing my unity with my brothers. I am actually strengthening my belief that they are separate from me.
So now that I recognize my routine egoic comparisons, what do I do about them? Again I turn to the Course which so beautifully says, “Who uses but Christ’s vision finds a peace so deep and quiet, undisturbable and wholly changeless, that the world contains no counterpart. Comparisons are still before this peace.” (W-pII.305.1:1-2) Through Christ’s vision I can find a peace that transcends all understanding. (Phil. 4:7) Within this peace, even comparisons are still. Clearly I want to see with Christ’s vision.
The Course tells me another important thing. Although I am asleep, Christ’s vision does not leave me. (T-13.VI.13:8) I must find Christ’s vision and the best way I know how is with Spirit’s help. I must remember that Holy Spirit is in the Mind of Both the Father and the Son and knows that Mind is One. (T-13.VIII.4:2) He is always accessible to me, the Son. I need only to ask. He is a thought of God and God has given Him to me (His Son) because He has no Thoughts He does not share. (T-13.VIII.4:3) Spirit is at my service.
In the case of my first type of comparison, where I see myself as special and others lacking, through Christ’s vision I would see differently. Christ’s vision shows me that my specialness I think I see is an illusion. (T-24.II.5:6) The Course instructs me to see the light beyond the body. “Christ’s vision has one law. It does not look upon a body, and mistake it for the Son whom God created. It beholds a light beyond the body; an idea beyond what can be touched, a purity undimmed by errors, pitiful mistakes, and fearful thoughts of guilt from dreams of sin.” (W-pI.158.7:1-3) Thus, I ask the Spirit that I see the light beyond the body, the idea beyond what I can touch. I ask to see that which is greater than my external surroundings. Clearly, Christ’s vision does not use my eyes. Yet, I can learn to look through His eyes and see like Him. (S-2.I.6:4) And, when I see with Christ’s vision, I see with forgiveness because Christ’s vision has power to overlook all sins. (W-pI.158.9:1)
With regard to the second type of comparison where I see others as special and myself as lacking, the Course reminds me that Christ’s vision looks on me as well. This lesson is not difficult if I remember that in my brother, I see myself. If I see him as lost in sin, so must I be. But, if I see Light in him, my sins are forgiven as well. (W-pI.158.10:2-4) In other words, if I see him in Christ’s vision and see my brother’s Love, Light, and oneness, I see myself as Love, Light, and oneness. It is a reciprocating vision.
Christ’s vision has the power to carry me from my view of this physical world to one made holy by forgiveness. (W-pI.159.5:1-2) With the help of the Holy Spirit, each person I meet provides another chance to see with Christ’s vision and let Christ’s vision shine on me and bring me peace. (W-pI.158.10:5) Thus, I ask Spirit that I see no one as a body and greet everyone as the Son of God he is, with me in holiness. (W-pI.158.8:4) With Christ’s vision, He will show me the perfect purity that is forever within all of God’s Sons. (T-13.X.10:11)
Rev. Joanne Kraenzle Schneider is a Pathways of Light minister living in Festus, Missouri.
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