Miracles News

January-March, 2014

The One About Trust

by Rev. Stephan Mead, O.M.C.

Rev. Stephan Mead The book, A Course in Miracles, promises me a life of eternal happiness and peace if I am willing to “trust.” This promise, as I understand it, can manifest right now because eternal happiness and peace is my natural, created state as — I am one with all Love.

What is life like living in perfect peace and eternal happiness? Truthfully, I can only guess. If trust is a condition to experience Life as Life really is, then at best, I only know about trust as an intellectual concept.

Meditating on the concept of trust has been a fascinating experience. First, do I even know what trust is? Is it possible to exist and “not trust?” What proof, personal to me, is available to have those questions answered? In a rather rare moment of sanity, it occurred to me that I have never lacked the ability to trust. Trust is actually part of my consciousness. Every thought I have has a foundation of trust, so obviously the problem isn’t one of lack.

Since I cannot describe my life as living in perfect peace and the ability to trust is not the issue, what is wrong with me?

MISPLACEMENT! Trusting what isn’t trustworthy is the only explanation of why I am not experiencing perfect happiness all the time.

Can I trust what Jesus tells me is true? Do I really think I am so special, unique and separate from everyone else that, like a judge, evidence must be considered and weighed carefully before I decide whether to trust that the truth is true? Apparently that must be exactly what I think.

Do I trust that God keeps His promises? Do I trust that my ego keeps its promises? Perhaps those are the questions I should meditate on. How much longer will I rely on my ego to judge where my trust is to be placed?

Ronald Reagan, in a famous quote as the cold war was coming to an end, said “trust-but – verify.” My ego loved that quote, so I loved it too. Upon quiet reflection, another way of interpreting Mr. Reagan’s caution is “trust but don’t trust.” This doesn’t make any sense at all. No wonder my ego loved it. No wonder I loved it. Is it possible I am trying to meet the conditions for peace by “trusting but not trusting?” Am I really that insane?

What if I really, really trusted God in all things? What if I placed no trust in my ego at all? Would I worry about my relationship with Nancy? Would I worry about my financial condition? Would I worry about my health? Would I worry about anything at all? Is worry just another name for doubt? The Course tells me, “…doubt and trust cannot coexist.” (M-7.4:6)

So, what if I really, really did trust God? Perhaps the results would be material for a future article, “The One About Sanity!”

Rev. Stephan Mead, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in Seattle, Washington.

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