[acimlessons_list] Lesson 346--December 12

[Allen Watson]

Lesson 346

"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)

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 touches,
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.

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

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Portions from Clarification of Terms (c) Copyright 1975, Psychotherapy:
Purpose, Process and Practice, (c) 1976, The Song of Prayer, (c) 1978, are
used by permission of the copyright holder, The Foundation for "A Course in
Miracles," 41397 Buecking Drive, Temecula, CA 92590.


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