[acimlessons_list] LESSON 358 - DECEMBER 24

[Sue Roth]

LESSON 358 - DECEMBER 24

"No call to God can be unheard nor left 
Unanswered. And of this I can be sure; 
His answer is the one I really want."

PRACTICE INSTRUCTIONS 

See complete instructions in separate document. 
A short summary:

* Read the commentary paragraph slowly and personally.

* Pray the prayer, perhaps several times.

* Morning and evening: Repeat the idea and then spend time in Open Mind
Meditation.

* Hourly remembrance: Repeat the idea and then spend a quiet moment in
meditation.

* Frequent reminders: Repeat the idea often within each hour.

* Response to temptation: Repeat the idea whenever upset, to restore peace.

* Read the "What Is" section slowly and thoughtfully once during the day.

Practice suggestion: I have had difficulty relating to the wording of
today's lesson, so I have used this rewording:

God loves me so much that He always hears
And always answers
And gives me the answer I really want.

COMMENTARY

The ego is constantly working to convince us that we want many different
things, things that often compete with one another. We have listened to our
egos for so long that we are quite confused about what we want. An early
Workbook lesson tells us, "I do not perceive my own best interests"
(W-pI.24.Heading).

Since I am so confused about what I really want, it is far better to leave
that choice in the hands of the Voice for God. 

	You Who remember what I really am alone
	remember what I really want.	(1:1)

I need to remind myself of this fairly often-usually any time I get caught
up in thinking that I want something very much. "I want that new computer."
"I want a loving, intimate, and committed sexual relationship." "I want a
better job." I need to remind myself, "Wait a minute, Allen. Remember! You
don't clearly remember who you really are, so how can you know what you
really want?"

Part of the learning the Course is taking us through is learning to listen
to the Holy Spirit. And part of that lesson is realizing that He speaks <for
us>, and not just for God. I may think that what I want conflicts with what
He seems to be wanting for me, and I need to realize that what He wants for
me is what I really want, even if my ego is telling me differently. 

	Your Voice, my Father, then is mine as well, and all I
	want is what You offer me, in just the form You choose
	that it be mine.	(1:4)

So often I am inclined to think that I want what God wants to give, but then
I dictate the form in which that must come to me. I hear that God's Will for
me is perfect happiness, and then I decide the form that happiness must
take. I need to take it a step further, as this lesson does: I want what God
wants, and whether I can see it or not at the moment, I want it in just the
form He chooses to give it, and not the form I think it must take.

I am reminded of many times, as a parent, when I tried to convince one of my
sons that he didn't really want what he thought he wanted. Perhaps he was
saying, "I want the red gumball!" And I would say, "No, Ben, the red one
isn't sweet; it's hot cinnamon and you won't like it." And he would say, "I
want the red one!!" We do exactly the same sort of thing with God, far more
often than we care to admit.

	Let me remember all I do not know, and let my voice be
	still, remembering.	(1:5) 

Let me realize, when I think I know what I want, that I don't really know.
And let me simply shut up and stop throwing a tantrum; let me be quiet, and
listen to my Father's Voice. He speaks for me as well as for God; He knows
what I really want, and wisdom is taking His advice. He loves us; He cares
for us; He has promised always to be with us. Let me trust Him even when I
don't understand, knowing that (Oh! It seems awful sometimes to say these
words; so belittling!) Father knows best.

	Let me not forget myself is nothing, but my Self is all.
(1:7)

The little, individual ego "I" is nothing; Who I really am is everything.
The Holy Spirit always speaks from the perspective of that larger Self. He
does not seek to benefit and coddle the little "I." He is always working
with us to bring us to full awareness of Self. At times what He gives may go
contrary to the little "I," while leading us on to full realization of the
Self. That is why our picture of what we want is so often distorted, and
what He wants for us seems at times to be something we do not want. We are
confused about who we are. He is not. So let us trust His wisdom, be still,
and know that He is God.

WHAT AM I?

Part 8: W-pII.14.4:4

	And from the oneness that we have attained we call to all
	our brothers, asking them to share our peace and 
	consummate our joy.

We attain oneness gradually. In reality we don't strictly "attain" oneness;
we remember it, we become aware of what has always been. But, in time, it
<seems> as though we attain it bit by bit. We begin with very brief holy
instants, flashes of remembrance, like a forgotten dream we are struggling
to recall. Those moments of memory come more and more frequently, more and
more clearly, and last longer and longer, until one day we remember fully
and forever. Each instant we are in that oneness, we recognize that we are
not there alone, and cannot be there alone. We experience peace and joy, and
yet our joy cannot be <consummated> until everyone shares it with us, and
wakes up to the reality of who and what they are. So we call to them, we
reach out to them.

The state of mind we are seeking, which we might call the enlightened state
of mind, is one which perceives its connection to all of God's creations,
and is moved irresistibly to re-establish the full communication of that
perfect oneness in all its parts. As the "bodhisattva" of Buddhist tradition
foregoes Nirvana to save others, being unwilling to pass into that state of
perfect bliss until "every blade of grass is enlightened," so the
right-minded continually call out to all their brothers, asking them to
share their peace. Jesus exemplifies this attitude as he speaks in the
"Circle of Atonement" section in the Text:

	I stand within the circle, calling you to peace. Teach
	peace with me, and stand with me on holy ground. Remember
	for everyone your Father's power that He has given him. 
	Believe not that you cannot teach His perfect peace. Stand
	not outside, but join with me within. Fail not the only
	purpose to which my teaching calls you. Restore to God 
	His Son as He created him, by teaching him his innocence.
	(T-14.V.9:4-10) 

	Stand quietly within this circle, and attract all tortured
	minds to join with you in the safety of its peace and
	holiness.	(T-14.V.8:6)