Lesson 65 of ACIM advises that "My only function is the one God gave me." After much meditation and consideration, I "get" that. God has given me the charge to be happy, to spread His Love throughout the Sonship -- to every person I meet, to every person who seems to challenge me, to every person who under other circumstances I would reject -- but instead I choose to Love. Lesson 65 is about learning that my mission is "salvation" where "salvation" means extending the thing I am made of (God's Love) to all I encounter.
Doing those things keeps me "in the moment" focused on giving the best I have to offer to each person no matter who they are, no matter how they affect my ego mind, no matter...anything. This is all about Loving those who cross my life, my path, my mind.
Then comes Lesson 66. "My happiness and my function are one." This began as a difficult lesson.
It seems to posit some ideas and some logic that seem a bit of a stretch. It argues that God IS a certain way. However, the syllogism seems just a bit contrived. At the same time, I realize and understand that the arguments included in this lesson are to help us meager Earth-bound students in "getting" the message.
God gives me only happiness.
He has given my function to me.
Therefore my function must be happiness.
What does that mean? My function must be happiness?
Then, after more meditation, it becomes clear. YES! God seeks for us to be "in His grace" at every moment. We can only do that by Loving, by not-judging and forgiving every situation, every person and everything we encounter. I think about politics. Left wing, right wing. What's happening in the world. I realize that none of that has any effect on my relation with God or in my possibility of living in His grace. None of it has any effect on my willingness to forgive everyone and everything; to Love; to pray to our Father every day. To live in my Right Mind. If I release the "issues" of this world of form I can spend my life more fully in my Right Mind with my Father who Loves me and all my brothers and sisters. I can choose to meditate with my Father rather than watching talking heads debate the latest crisis on TV or the Internet. Instead of listening to people who have a left- or right-wing ax to grind. Instead of getting involved in all the details of this psycho planet where things we accept everyday, upon further inquiry, prove to be absolutely insane! The Course tells us over and over again that this place is insanity. And so it is.
And yet I have to think back over the years.
I have been seeking and searching for decades. During those years I've focused on "The Strangest Secret" by Earl Nightingale. On the Seth books by Jane Roberts. On Carlos Castanedas who worked diligently with the Yaqui Indians from Mexico we all came to know as don Juan (and his pal, don Genaro). Besides all that, I took part in the Silva Mind Control classes with my wife way back in the 1970's. We even enrolled our kids into the Silva classes where they learned to "bend spoons" with the powers of their minds. ha!
All of these SEARCHINGS and SEEKINGS for SO MANY YEARS.
As I spent time with Lesson 66 it occurred to me that much of what people (including me) do with ACIM is extend the time they are willing to study ACIM. We keep thinking the time for meeting God is in the future. That time when we'll become "enlightened" is still ahead.
I have done exactly that! I've spent decades of time seeking and searching.
As I meditate even further on this lesson a wonderful idea comes to mind. At first, I think that being in the Peace of God (as I have experienced in incredible depth) is the most complete, comprehensive, total definition of "happiness" and "Love" that could ever possibly be experienced by us Earth-bound souls. If giving us this indescribable Love is God's plan for us, then I only hope I am strong enough to survive the indescribable, lovely, caring passion that experiencing his "happiness" involves.
But Hey! The Course teaches us that we can make a choice at any moment. In fact, every moment gives us the option of choosing anew between our slavish ego mind and the Right Mind, the Holy Spirit, Jesus and God.
So...why do I need to continue searching for whatever comes next? Why not make the choice right now???!!!!
So that's what I've learned from Lesson 65 and 66. I don't need to wait another moment longer. I can and do choose right now.
Thank you Father for your guidance in this. Please help carry me forward as "time" seems to pass.
Doing those things keeps me "in the moment" focused on giving the best I have to offer to each person no matter who they are, no matter how they affect my ego mind, no matter...anything. This is all about Loving those who cross my life, my path, my mind.
Then comes Lesson 66. "My happiness and my function are one." This began as a difficult lesson.
It seems to posit some ideas and some logic that seem a bit of a stretch. It argues that God IS a certain way. However, the syllogism seems just a bit contrived. At the same time, I realize and understand that the arguments included in this lesson are to help us meager Earth-bound students in "getting" the message.
God gives me only happiness.
He has given my function to me.
Therefore my function must be happiness.
What does that mean? My function must be happiness?
Then, after more meditation, it becomes clear. YES! God seeks for us to be "in His grace" at every moment. We can only do that by Loving, by not-judging and forgiving every situation, every person and everything we encounter. I think about politics. Left wing, right wing. What's happening in the world. I realize that none of that has any effect on my relation with God or in my possibility of living in His grace. None of it has any effect on my willingness to forgive everyone and everything; to Love; to pray to our Father every day. To live in my Right Mind. If I release the "issues" of this world of form I can spend my life more fully in my Right Mind with my Father who Loves me and all my brothers and sisters. I can choose to meditate with my Father rather than watching talking heads debate the latest crisis on TV or the Internet. Instead of listening to people who have a left- or right-wing ax to grind. Instead of getting involved in all the details of this psycho planet where things we accept everyday, upon further inquiry, prove to be absolutely insane! The Course tells us over and over again that this place is insanity. And so it is.
And yet I have to think back over the years.
I have been seeking and searching for decades. During those years I've focused on "The Strangest Secret" by Earl Nightingale. On the Seth books by Jane Roberts. On Carlos Castanedas who worked diligently with the Yaqui Indians from Mexico we all came to know as don Juan (and his pal, don Genaro). Besides all that, I took part in the Silva Mind Control classes with my wife way back in the 1970's. We even enrolled our kids into the Silva classes where they learned to "bend spoons" with the powers of their minds. ha!
All of these SEARCHINGS and SEEKINGS for SO MANY YEARS.
As I spent time with Lesson 66 it occurred to me that much of what people (including me) do with ACIM is extend the time they are willing to study ACIM. We keep thinking the time for meeting God is in the future. That time when we'll become "enlightened" is still ahead.
I have done exactly that! I've spent decades of time seeking and searching.
As I meditate even further on this lesson a wonderful idea comes to mind. At first, I think that being in the Peace of God (as I have experienced in incredible depth) is the most complete, comprehensive, total definition of "happiness" and "Love" that could ever possibly be experienced by us Earth-bound souls. If giving us this indescribable Love is God's plan for us, then I only hope I am strong enough to survive the indescribable, lovely, caring passion that experiencing his "happiness" involves.
But Hey! The Course teaches us that we can make a choice at any moment. In fact, every moment gives us the option of choosing anew between our slavish ego mind and the Right Mind, the Holy Spirit, Jesus and God.
So...why do I need to continue searching for whatever comes next? Why not make the choice right now???!!!!
So that's what I've learned from Lesson 65 and 66. I don't need to wait another moment longer. I can and do choose right now.
Thank you Father for your guidance in this. Please help carry me forward as "time" seems to pass.