Lesson 189
I feel the Love of God within me now.
Everything that is of God is within us now. Knowing this is so, is the adventure of life. As we come to know of the magnificence that lies within, we witness a whole different world.
“To feel the Love of God within you is to see the world anew, shining in innocence, alive with hope, and blessed with perfect charity and love” (ACIM Lesson 189 1:7).
Adventuring into the experience of oneness does not mean that others see what you see, as you begin to live in a world of peace even amongst chaos. Others may choose to continue to see hate, anger, and fear. This can sometimes be jolting to the awakened being, as one doesn’t understand the vision of another. One cannot understand why another would continue to choose for fear instead of peace.
“A world in which forgiveness shines on everything, and peace offers its gently light to everyone, is inconceivable to those who see a world of hatred rising from attack, poised to avenge, to murder and destroy” (ACIM Lesson 189 3:5).
Have you ever talked with someone and could not understand where he or she was coming from at all? The two of you where in the same topic of conversation but it felt as though there were two different conversations happening. It often makes you feel alien to your own language or as though one of you is speaking a foreign language. To someone choosing peace, the language of fear can seem like another language and vise versa to the one choosing fear. You both meet in the One Heart but the expression of it can take many forms, as you know. When this happens, it is important to understand our work isn’t necessarily to persuade another to the Light but to ground the Light energy for us all, even the ones who do not recognize the language and action of love.
“Yet is the world of hatred equally unseen and inconceivable to those who feel God’s Love in them. Their world reflects the quietness and peace that shines in them; the gentleness and innocence they see surrounding them; the joy with which they look out from the endless wells of joy within” (ACIM Lesson 189 4:1-3).
All that matters is what is within. What matters most is what you choose: love or fear. If the rest of the world does not join you, it is okay. They eventually will, on their own time. The course we are taking is inevitable and compulsory.
Today, we sit still with the Love and Light that abides within. We are encouraged to come bare in our time with God, to let go of all thoughts, desires, agendas, and previous teachings, even including this Course. We take a moment to experience what it is like to let God use our open mind.
“Forget this world, forget this course, and come with wholly empty hands unto your God” (ACIM Lesson 189 7:5).
It is our journey into emptiness. It is a journey where we even let go of how to become empty and with a careful observant eye we witness that which we try to place in the way of eternal spaciousness.
Taking time away on a retreat or vacation is wonderful way to find spaciousness in the mind and body. It is amazing what happens when we get out of our usual routine and let God direct our actions and thoughts. It is rather funny that we only give ourselves slivers of time in this manner when the Universe created us to spend all of our time in Its presence. What if we reversed our way of life and only spent four weeks a year planning and working and the rest at play, instead of only four weeks a year of vacation? What if we actually started to live as we were intended, in joy, instead of chasing after material things to fill any ounce of spaciousness we have within us?
In your practice periods, once spaciousness has been established, notice how you try to fill it and how you try to plan it. We are so accustomed to living a life full of distractions that when we get the slightest reprieve, usually the ego’s first thought is, “What can I create with this extra space?” A buzzer should go off when that thought creeps in. It means we are starting to control again.
Also in this space, if we have by passed the idea to create another distraction, we notice we tend to give God ultimatums or choices. We say, “God, I put my being into Your hands…but…I would really like X to happen or Y to happen. Please not Z. You know I could not cope with Z. Anything but Z….but X or Y, would be really great.” It is true that we often try to limit a limitless God to two or three choices, sometimes only one. This too, is not spaciousness, releasing control, or coming before God as an empty vessel.
“But do not make demands, not point the road to God by which He should appear to you. The way to reach Him is merely to let Him be” (ACIM Lesson 189 8:6-7).
God knows exactly where we are and what we need. It is our trust and willingness She is waiting upon. For as we open the doors of our hearts, our lights shine out like a beacon to the Everlasting Love that is waiting upon our welcome. We do not have to search for Her. She will find us. Remember, Love needs not our effort or control. She plans the world perfectly without any of our help.
Do you see how the recognition of the Light and Love that abides in us asks for our trust? It asks for us to let go and let God. As humans, this level of trust can be tough to fathom but you are ready. You are here. You are reading this words. All that need be done is meet your Creator in silence with the open heart you were created with.
“And so today we do not choose the way in which we go to Him. But we do choose to let Him come. And with this choice we rest. And in our quiet hearts and open minds, His Love will blaze its pathway itself” (ACIM Lesson 189 9:1-4).
May you feel the Love of God as you empty your hands and open your heart. Your Creator will meet you exactly where you are. She has been there all along. Namaste.