Lesson 265
Creation’s gentleness is all I see.
“In quiet would I look upon the world, which but reflects Your Thoughts, and mind as well. Let me remember that they are the same, and I will see creation’s gentleness” (ACIM Lesson 265 2:1-2).
We hear quite often about what we should be afraid of in the world and what we should or should not do to keep us safe. But how often do we question the validity of such claims? Have you ever stopped and wondered why someone told you not do something or go somewhere? Have you ever wondered why other people seem to put limitations on the ideas you have about your own life?
To really understand the basis of our fear and limitations in the world, we have to be willing to listen, and not just to the words someone says but to the energy around the entire statement: The things not said: The things subtly said: The body language: The Auric fields. We must pause and query, with gentleness, where does fear really come from?
Think about this, if fear were real, why are we not all scared of the same things? Perhaps there is some overlap with others but in general what one person fears is not the same as the next. Recently, I was at a speaking engagement and someone working for the venue said, “I could never do that. I am way too scared to get up and talk in front of a group of people.” In our conversation, I could feel her fear. But I could also hear that her soul was asking me, “Please remind that I am unlimited and that I have the power to shine and express myself in this world.” In general, most people are fearful because of past experiences or the thought of what could happen in the future. Yes, perhaps an actual event has happened to warrant caution but it could also be the word of mouth that creates our fear: “So and so said not go here or there or to speak to that person.” Thus, it is important that we pause and look upon our world with gentleness, so as to follow the thread of fear.
The world will be happy to give us plenty of reasons to stay in fear and to imagine seeing a world ready to pummel us at any moment. But that is only giving our power away to fear. What if we stopped and talked with fear, maybe even walked with fear for a bit, and asked about its purpose and place in the world. What if we could be so bold as to ask fear, “Are you real?”
This is not to say to not be sensible or safe. If you have good knowledge and it resonates with your intuition, please act upon that. But what our lesson today is asking us to do is to soften our view of the world, to put down our guards and see the Light instead of the dark, and to greet each being as a Child of God and not as a potential threat. Imagine how much different the world would be if we shared this gentle view of humanity with those around us?
“And how deceived was I to think that what I feared was in the world, instead of in my mind alone. Today I see the world in the celestial gentleness with which creation shines. There is no fear in it” (ACIM Lesson 265 1:3-5).
Our world is what we make of it. We can choose to bring the light or keep playing in the dark. Yes, atrocities do happen. But have we not explored how even what appears to be misfortune, is still perfection, and that there is God in tragedy, too? Someone can just as easily suffer with the pain of a dis-ease or delight in it. In a recent documentary, Dying to Know, the lives of spiritual revolutionaries, Ram Dass and Timothy Leary, were highlighted in regards to their gifts to the awakening movement. Part of the movie is dedicated to Timothy Leary’s exploration of his cancer diagnosis. He offered such an interesting attitude to his prognosis and was excited to learn and experience all he could about this dis-ease and the pain that came with it. Yes, sometimes were tough but in general, his perception shifted from suffering to the excitement of exploring death. One could say that he saw his situation with gentleness and chose to learn all he could from it. Even in dying, he still offered his gift of spiritual vision: the idea to question it all and to follow the thread back to Source. To question our minds and to recognize we have the power to create each moment with God.
“The images I see reflect my thoughts. Yet is my mind at one with God’s. And so I can perceive creation’s gentleness” (ACIM Lesson 265 1:8-10).
Is this world really as savage as we think it is? Is it really warranted to live parts of our lives in fear? As we quietly observe a gently world today, we pause and ask ourselves such questions, questions that let us follow the thread of fear back to its source. Seeing a world without fear and a world of gentleness is really just a shift in perception and an invitation to experience that, perhaps, it is only love that is Real. Namaste.
