What’s not to love about today’s lesson? Even if other lessons, at times, may seem to be obscure, if you will, not intelligible or elusive, this one is very straightforward.
Some thoughts from Ken:
“Jesus is not saying we should disappear on a mountaintop and rest in God. He asks us to practice this lesson in the midst of our daily world of turmoil, clashing dreams, danger, and sorrow. The goal is to go through our lives, filled with sturm und drang, and still feel peaceful. To be sure, problems are always with us for they are the projections of guilt, which is also always with us. By choosing forgiveness, however, the problem in the mind disappears, as do the problems perceived in the world. What remains is the peace and stillness that come from rest, which is the happy effect of releasing our hold on guilt.”
“The term born again is used in ACIM quite differently from its common usage. Here, it means choosing again. When we chose the ego we thought we had life, when it was really death. By choosing to “die to the ego”, we are reborn because we let Jesus remind us that our creator is not the ego. Thus are we born again to our reality as God’s one Son.”
In response to (4:1-2), he writes:
“This does not mean you do not see the world’s hate. It means you do not let it disturb your peace. The world must be filled with hate because that is why it was made, and love has no place here; only in Heaven, when you awaken from the ego’s dreams. However, in this world, forgiveness of hate is possible when you do not take it personally or let it affect you. Such vision occurs because your mind rests on a foundation of love far, far stronger than the ego’s hate.”
In response to (4:6-5:1), he writes:
Jesus does not say resting in God will take away our individuality. He does not mean to frighten us. At this stage of our learning it is important to understand that when we rest in God, we retain a sense of self, but one free from pain. Remember that the Holy Spirit does not take away our special relationships, including with our self. He transforms them from instruments of pain and guilt to ones of forgiveness and joy.”
He refers to a paragraph in “I Need Do Nothing, (T-18.VII.8:1-4), which I will share this very moment:
“Yet there will always be this place of rest to which you can return. And you will be more aware of this quiet center of the storm than all its raging activity. This quiet center, in which you do nothing, will remain with you, giving you rest in the midst of every busy doing on which you are sent. For from this center will you be directed how to use the body sinlessly.”
Ah, so this is our goal. This short paragraph pretty much sums up what I am to do or not do, same for you.
Our Thursday class last night was so lovely. Joining with my brothers, including Rev. Deb, well, there is nothing like it as each of shares his/her journey to peace and Oneness.
Hope you all, at some point, can join us in Rev. Deb’s eight week programs.
Have a restful day!
Love,
Gayle
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