[acimlessons_list] Lesson 346 - December 12

Susan Carrier suelegal at theteks.com
Sat Dec 11 12:01:28 EST 2004 

 
 
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+ COMMENTARIES ON LESSONS FROM THE WORKBOOK OF A COURSE IN MIRACLES
+ by Allen Watson, with Practice Summaries by Robert Perry, 
+ of The Circle of Atonement
+ Visit our website at <http://www.circleofa.com <http://www.circleofa.com/>
>
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LESSON 346 - December 12


"Today the peace of God envelops me, And I forget all things except His
Love."

PRACTICE SUMMARY

(See Part II Practice Summary and also Part II Introduction)

COMMENTARY

Before I begin to comment on the lesson, a few thoughts in preparation:

Many of the lessons in the latter part of the Workbook, particularly this
one, are coming to us from a state of right-mindedness. That state is the
goal of the Course's curriculum. Therefore, for most of us, probably all of
us, it represents a state of mind we do not normally live in. I know there
is a part of me that resonates in perfect harmony with this lesson, but
there is also another part that stands off cynically and says, "Forget all
things except His Love? Hah! More likely you will remember everything except
His Love. How long will this high-falutin' attitude last after you walk out
the door?" And if this is so, why bother with the lesson at all?

Why bother? Because there is a part of my mind that sings in harmony with
the lesson, and it is the only "part" that is real. Each time I seek to
align myself with thoughts like these, and to let the fabric of them wash
over me and draw me with them, something happens. Even if after reading and
quietly meditating on them I feel as though nothing has happened, something
has happened. And if, even for an instant, I can harmonize my mind with them
so that, just for that instant, I mean the words as I say them, I may have
saved as much as a thousand years in my spiritual development. Truly, truly,
it is worth the effort. WE are worth the effort.

So as we read this lesson now, let us simply attempt to suspend our
disbelief for just an instant, and let these words be true for us. Let us
believe that what we say represents our true Self, for it does. Let us be in
the spirit of these words.

It all seems so simple sometimes. All there is to do is to be happy.
Sometimes I feel as if I could simply "be there" right now, with no more
effort or struggle. All the strain and struggle comes from resistance, not
from any effort to be enlightened or holy. Simply forget all things except
His Love. Simply remember nothing but the peace of God.

When those thoughts come to me, I notice, still, a fear of loss. It feels as
if I am giving up something valuable when I give up struggle. Yet all I am
giving up is pain.

What if I simply started being happy all the time? What if I let go of all
insistence that anything be different?

"Father, I wake today with miracles correcting my perception of all things.
And so begins the day I share with You as I will share eternity, for time
has stepped aside today" (1:1-2).

I can share this day with God just as I will share eternity with Him. There
is nothing to do, nothing to achieve. Salvation asks nothing of me that I
cannot give right now.

"I do not seek the things of time, and so I will not look upon them. What I
seek today transcends all laws of time and things perceived in time. I would
forget all things except Your Love" (1:3-5).

In all my seeking, Father, what I seek is really Your Love. The things of
time will never satisfy me; in this moment I gladly forget them all. I come
to You, needing only Your smile to fill my heart to overflowing.

"I would abide in You, and know no laws except Your law of love. And I would
find the peace which You created for Your Son, forgetting all the foolish
toys I made as I behold Your glory and my own" (1:6-7).

Only my belief that I am not worthy of Your Love keeps me from enjoying it
in every moment. Your Love is not lacking. I let myself relax in It and lean
back on It. I am sustained by Your Love. There is nothing else. In Your
Love, I behold not only Your glory, but my own glory as well, for Love is
what I am.

"And when the evening comes today, we will remember nothing but the peace of
God. For we will learn today what peace is ours, when we forget all things
except God's Love" (2:1-2).

What is there to prevent me from having a day like this? Nothing. I open my
heart to Love. The Love of God rolls over me like a mighty ocean, and I am
carried in Its current, surrounded by It, afloat in It.

What is a Miracle? (Part 6)

These are the comments from the sixth day's portion of the "What is a
Miracle"

W-pII.13.3:4-5

"Each lily of forgiveness offers all the world the silent miracle of love"
(3:4). Love is the real miracle. "Miracles occur naturally as expressions of
love. The real miracle is the love that inspires them. In this sense
everything that comes from love is a miracle" (T-1.I.3:1-3). The symbol of
the lily represents a gift of forgiveness I give to a brother or sister.
Each time I offer this gift, I am offering God's Love to the entire world. I
am opening a floodgate and allowing that Love to flow into the world through
me.Wherever that river of Love touhes, life springs up; and that is the
miracle.

"And each [lily] is laid before the Word of God, upon the universal altar to
Creator and creation in the light of perfect purity and endless joy" (3:5).
My gift of forgiveness given to my brother is also a gift to God. My
gratitude to my brothers is my gift to God. In acknowledging His creation, I
acknowledge Him. Opening to this current of Love is the source of perfect
purity and endless joy. There is nothing so joyful as a loving heart. 
 
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+ Commentary by Allen Watson
+ Practice Summary: Robert Perry
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