Considering a Course in Miracles

The story of how the Course In Miracles came to be is as profound as the Course itself. Rather than writing it's fascinating and unfolding here, I would recommend looking online for the many versions. There are two books that I'd suggest reading:"Absence From Felicity" by Kenneth Wapnik ... lengthy but the story is amazing. And "Love Is Letting Go Of Fear" by Gerald Jampolsky. A classic and such a spiritual book but I don't believe it ever even uses the name, "God." I've given many copies away because it's so helpful to many of life's challenges.

"Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists.Herein lies the peace of God."

So begins the spiritual phenomenon, A Course In Miracles.

It's a remarkable self-study with psychological mind training designed to awaken us to our Oneness with ourselves, others, and God. The way through this illusion we live in of separation is through forgiveness. But forgiveness, not in the way we think of it as in, "I, who is right and you wrong, and I arrogantly choose to forgive you although you are not worthy." It sounds pretty ridiculous when we spell it out, doesn't it? The forgiveness the Course teaches is that there is nothing to forgive. Everything we think is real in this world, is an illusion and one of our own making. We're dreaming and can choose to awaken anytime we want ... easier said than done, right? Well, that's where the daily lessons come in. The Text is one of the most beautiful and spiritual books I've ever read. But the lessons in the Workbook are the mind-correcting exercises that we need to put into practice. We learn of forgiveness but find ourselves meeting ourselves ... and that's hard at times, as many have found. But the miracles of healing, slowly but surely, the trust that develops as you open to a beautiful and loving relationship with Jesus/Holy Spirit, is far beyond words that I can use to describe it.

In examining the root of the Course of forgiveness, there are only two emotions: Love and fear. One is of God and is in essence what we are, love, and the other is of the ego. But the ego is an illusion, so: What is not love is a call for love. And when there is a call for love, how do you respond? With more fear and anger or recognition of the Christ within, both yourself and others?

A student will find much encouragement along the way. The ego can be quite persistent and even devious but the theme of the Course winds in and out, repeating itself in various ways. So if the ego blocks in one area, Jesus's words approach the mind in another way. We actually only have two basic thought systems, One is knowledge, or what the Course refers to as our 'right' mind. The other is one of perception. This thought system of ego being illusory, bases everything on the belief that we are a body. Separate from each other, our world and God. From birth, it's dangerous and cruel life contends with sin, pain, anger, hurt, guilt and scarcity, eventually leading to death. Isn't everything you can think of that brings you to hurt, belong to the belief that we are our body? There is so much more to explore in this amazing set of books but time and space don't allow that. There is a quote that the Course In Miracles is but one path to God. There are many, but this is the short way home.

Our function is to choose to let the Holy Spirit teach us to trust and toward another way of seeing. All we need to do is get out of our own way and ask the Holy Spirit for help. Follow the lessons and ask for help. So far, we have NOT been our best teachers, have we? So we "step back and let Him lead the way." He knows the way. Whenever and however often, we ask. Trust that we will be answered. Be still and trust.

"I am here only to be truly helpful. I am here to do the will of He Who sent me.I do not worry about what to say or what to do because He Who sent me will direct me.I am content to be wherever He wishes knowing He goes there with me.I will be healed as I let Him teach me to heal."

• Donna Smith