[acimlessons_list] Review IV: Introduction

[Sue Roth]

Review IV:  Introduction

If you will recall, back in the Workbook introduction we were told, "The
workbook is divided into two main sections, the first dealing with the
undoing of the way you see now, and the second with the acquisition of true
perception" (W-In.3:1). Although Part II does not begin for another eighty
lessons, the introduction to Review IV announces that we are entering a
transition stage of the Workbook, "preparing for the second part of learning
how the truth can be applied" (1:1). Part II of the Workbook, if you will
look at it, consists of lessons that are a half page long, or less. They
give very few specific practice instructions, and offer us a great deal more
latitude in exactly how we practice. They are geared to students who have
begun to make the truths of the Course their own, and who are ready to apply
them independently. This review gives us some preliminary exercises in that
kind of independent practice. In Lesson 153, shortly after we complete this
review, there will be a major shift in practice, as we shall see, which will
set the pattern for the practice during the rest of Part I of the Workbook.

Therefore, following the practice instructions for this review is quite
important, if we want to be prepared for what is to come. You'll notice that
the reviews give us nothing but the theme thought for the review and the two
theme ideas being reviewed; there is no additional commentary. In a sense,
we are meant to supply that commentary for ourselves. We are meant to take
the ideas and let the Holy Spirit open their meaning in our own minds,
without the prop of printed words to help us. "Let each word shine with the
meaning God has given it, as it was given to you through His Voice" (7:4).

Perhaps you do not feel ready for this. I confess that when I first did the
Workbook I pretty much lost interest after Part I; I did the lessons but
really all I did was read them, think about them for a minute or two, and
then forget them. The reviews such as this one seemed particularly pointless
to me. Two or three sentences wasn't enough to stimulate my mind, and I was
not ready, apparently, to allow the Holy Spirit to "let each word shine" in
my mind. You may find yourself in the same boat. Still, I would say, try to
follow the instructions. Take the few lines given for each day, and ruminate
on them. Chew them over. Think about what you know of their meaning, and ask
to be shown more. If it works for you, try to initiate a dialogue with the
Holy Spirit about the ideas. Turn them into prayers. Think how they can
apply to your life. Be still before God and let the feeling of the ideas
wash over you. Do whatever seems to work for you.

Maybe you won't feel that you're doing very well, but what is the purpose of
practice, if not to learn to do something you don't know how to do well?

Notice the theme thought for the review: "My mind holds only what I think
with God" (2:2; 5:3). The instructions tell us to spend five minutes letting
this one thought, and this alone, engage our minds, and remove all other
thoughts. What we are doing is clearing the stage, making way for the Holy
Spirit to teach us. The five minutes spent with this idea each day is our
warm-up period. We are making ourselves ready to receive the thoughts of
God, through His Holy Spirit. We are preparing ourselves to hold communion
with God.

Only after this five-minute warm up are we instructed to take the two
thoughts for review, and let their meaning illuminate our minds. There is no
time limit given here; we are to review them "slowly" (7:2) and with "no
hurry" (7:3). Surely this will be more than a few seconds! More like several
minutes, at the least. The best way is to be able to do this review without
concern about time; if we take five minutes or twenty-five, it does not
matter. The important thing is that we commune with God, and let His
Thoughts fill our minds. As the review says of our hourly review sessions,
we should take "time enough to see the gifts that they [the two ideas]
contain for you, and let them be received where they were meant to be"
(8:2). The exact amount of time you spend is left to you.