You are loved beyond the moon and the stars. You are held, comforted, surrounded by loving arms and have been and will always be. You are accepted just the way you are because you are perfect. No harm can ever come to you because all things are lessons you have come to learn…..and to forgive. Forgiveness offers everything you want. Forgiveness is to KNOW that you did the best you can.
When you are tempted to feel guilty about something you think you could have done, should have done or did or did not do or to hold a grievance – THAT is a PRESENT DECISION, you have made, TO HOLD ONTO IT. It is a decision, a way of justifing why you do not feel peace and LOVE right now. It is a way of saying “I’m not worthy, my mistake(s) are terrible and not to be forgiven.” You are holding on to the PAST IN THE PRESENT. You are making yourself miserable! This need not be!
That decision is a faulty decision and one you want to change.
No one is a perfect: mother, father, daughter, brother, sister, son, cousin, friend, colleague or neighbor…..freeway driver or annonymous individual you meet on the street or anywhere you go.
Say: “I can still be at peace even though I am not a perfect. No body is. Bodies are not perfect! The Mind Is! I forgive myself for my mistake(s) rather than looking at imperefection or listening to the ego lies. I now have the power to drop the painful memories and mistakes and I choose now to LET THEM GO AND REST IN THE LOVE THAT IS ALWAYS AND FOREVER MINE.”
You are a beautiful MIND. You share that MIND with the LOVE of the Universe! Spirit and Mind is your identiy and far above and beyond the ego. We cannot undo the past and we cannot ensure a happy future but we can do something about our choice to hold on to memories and grievances. Choose NOW TO LET THEM GO and be FREE. That is where your happiness lies.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Author: ‘The Gift of the Great Rays, Inner Peace Essays and A Course In Miracles and its Promise of Freedom.’ Available on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
When you give this gift to a friend or relative you never know, but it may be just what they need!
This essay collection offers reflections on choosing peace while living in the world. We live in a world that has problems; the wars, sorrow, tragic killings, and death. But inner peace is possible. It is a choice made consciously, nurtured and attended to carefully.
The world is dualistic with opposites; good and bad; love and fear and life and death. We inherited a split mind. The ego part chooses judgment and separation. It is NOT your friend. It is the opposite of love. It is a manipulator and gives only to get. It must win at all costs, its stingy; jealous; lies; and judges everyone and everything. We learn to watch it and see how it works. Becoming aware is critical to silencing it and choosing the voice for love inside. Just because a thought enters the mind, it doesn’t mean it is true. Don’t believe everything you think. The ego runs on automatic. It makes you miserable, separate and alone.
But the other voice in the mind resides in the higher Self. Turning away from the ego, you have the power to see the world in a different light; thoughts of healing grace and forgiveness. This is your choice: listen to the ego or to the voice of truth residing in your Self. Only you can do it. No one can do it for you. A mind is a beautiful thing to change. When we get tired of the pain, we look for another way; the way of peace. We ask to see things differently.
These essays will help in learning how to access the perennial wisdom residing within. It is simple and it only takes mindfulness, watching and mind training. You are worth it! And so are those you love.
A CHRISTMAS GIFT TO YOURSELF, RELATVES AND FRIENDS.
Have you been glued to the TV this past political season? Still are? Ohhh the world is a crazy place with its twists and turns, betrayals, ego’s running amuck through the swamp. On one talk show someone quietly and gently mentioned that we needed more acceptance and love. Several politely rolled their eyes as if to say: Love?? What’s love got to do with it? Everything as it turns out.
I’m sure you’ve noticed the ego always speaks first. We think this is natural since we are used to it. When we scoff at an idea that is the ego speaking. Another reason it speaks first is to gain the upper hand. I’m sure you’ve noticed that the ego has created wars since time began. The reason is that the ego is deathly afraid of love. Love is its opposite and would kill it. That is why it asserts itself when nice words like: inclusion; joining; love; same interests; oneness; brotherhood or anything similar is mentioned. Since the ego is terrified of love it will become very vicious knowing its end is near. Poor ego.
There is however another voice. The one the ego is afraid of, the voice that suggested the need for acceptance and love. This voice with a gentle accepting message we’ve known all our lives as well. The ego says those who are different must be condemned; run out of town; the other voice says “love thy neighbor” they would be interesting to. We don’t have to judge or reject someone because they are different but the ego does. It’s impossible to love someone you have condemned. This adversarial stance blocks us from joy and “love” that is ours naturally. We can choose the gentle voice by simply dropping the hand of the ego. It is a simple change of mind; change of heart to choose the gentle voice on the path to inclusion; the path to peace. Just say No ego!
Here is a good way to test the two voices if you haven’t; watch TV for a few minutes. As you watch notice the people, take note of what you see; like or don’t like. What were the judgments like? How do you feel? Now watch TV with and open mind and heart. Now you can feel the difference. Inclusion vs exclusion feels very different. The ego projects guilt out of the mind and makes us feel special and innocent. It’s like a cleaning lady pushing dirt under the rug so we don’t see it or know it is there. What is pushed under the rug emerges in time.
This projection is not evil or bad as long as we recognize it as the ego ploy of separation. Merely look at it and realize it is our stuff; we let it go, forgive it because it is old learning from the past. If the word “forgiveness” bothers you, think of it as giving up grudges; letting go of the past errors to be free. It’s up to you to free yourself. If you still feel some guilt; it’s the ego slipping in. The truth is you are innocent at your core.
Your Christmas gift is to know you can stop believing or identifying with ego thoughts and have peace. There is another thought to choose. You are a Light in the World. That is your reality. Hear the alternative voice which represents understanding and mercy that’s always available.
So this Christmas write down the old ego beliefs; put them in an envelope under the tree with a gift tag; “ToThe Christ Child” or “To God.” Either one will be happy with your gift. God will gladly take it off your hands as he does not judge. This child doesn’t recognize anything but love so it’s not a problem. They know who you are: Eternal Spirit, a loved Son, and a dear Brother. Whatever your concepts of God or the child could be, just think: Love. Love knows your reality.
Extend acceptance to all this Christmas. Why not? When we offer it to all; you accept yourself. Kindness is who and what you are. Welcome to your Self; your true identity offering freedom from separation, pain, worry and have a Merry Christmas.
You are a Light in the World – Go to the following lesson 61 in the Course In Miracles Workbook and click on the microphone to “hear” the lesson.
The ego is TOTALLY wrong! It is a piece of flotsam and jetsam floating around in your Holy Mind. We come into this world and its voice is what we hear UNTIL we look at it, decide it is wrong and ask for HELP to “see” another way. The ego is usually always fear, mistrust, jealousy, judgment and something is thinks is love.
It makes us become suspicious of the world and what we “think” we see! We ask: Is this all there is? And Why? You may have a list of grievances that have accumulated since the first grade, right? Write them down on a piece of paper. That is all they are…..words on a piece of paper. You don’t have to carry them around and worship them OR continue to “believe it is still true” or pay homage to it or build a victim’s altar to the past in your mind! It is all from the ego and it is the past!
You do have an alternative. That alternative is also in your mind and it is called by many names: Holy Spirit, Truth, Grace, Wisdom, Voice of Truth, Intuition, The Answer and others. It came with you along with the ego however; the ego’s voice is loudest in the world. The alternative is healing; it is quiet, it is Peace. And it is the solution.
All you need to do is find time out of your busy day to be still. Go within to the quiet center. You will know it when you get there. Close your eyes take some deep breaths and go to the place where your mind is still. Thoughts may come but disregard them. Ask the inner wisdom, to “see” through the eyes of peace. Take one particular problem and say: “I need to see this differently. I want another way to see this.” This can be done even when there is chaos all around you, like screaming children, sirens, noise from a crowd or city streets. It only takes a minute to access the Peace that is always available in your mind.
Open to the possibility that help IS available. Change your belief that you are alone and dependent on the ego. You are NOT. Ask for the perspective of wisdom to come to you, the perspective of Peace!
We tend to see only the past because the ego keeps feeding it to us: Take a look at A Course In Miracles, Lesson 7. I see only the past. Most grievances are from the past.
Here is the lesson. Just click on the “speaker” and listen. Take it in and it may not seem like it but we do carry the past our mind and it reflects, projects and “colors” the future. Be Free, look at it and realize it was nothing and let it go. Do not let guilt enter your mind. That is the ego voice coming through the back door!
From: The James Webb telescope – 1 million miles above you or 1.5 kilometers!
Oh No! I wasn’t sure I wanted to go! After all it had been ?? years since I’ve seen these people!
I’m glad I went! It was “I” who had judged these people so many years ago…..time to drop all judgments!
It was “I” who decided – I was not “good enough, smart enough, rich enough or equal” to them.
It was “I” who judged each of them – mostly better than I. It was I who separated myself!
I don’t know what they thought about me and I have learned since is that it’s none of my business either! I wish I had known that way back then! So here is what to take or let go of – as you go to your reunion! Half of our problem is:
What do they think about me?
The other half is: What do I think about them!
Who Cares??? Reallly???
Decide you will have a wonderful time. It is up to you to decide this before you go because it will set you up for just that! Decide you will have a good experience and it is a worthwhile thing to do and you will enjoy, aka being “in joy”.
Decide you will drop all past judgments you have had about people! You will no longer see the “past” in them but only the Present! Let the past go…..it is gone anyway, no longer here and never to return!
Decide you will not let your past judgments cast any shadow on NOW! Besides your past judgments were probably wrong. Forgive the past, be free of it and have the peace of NOW…..right NOW! You can do this.
Go with an open heart and mind. Relax! Accept how things are NOW and not how they WERE. Love is here right NOW. Acceptance is here right NOW
Go with Faith in yourself and in them…. when you see someone you haven’t seen in awhile ask: What have you done since? ……..High school?……College? or been doing…….since I last saw you. Open them up to bring you up to date with their lives.
Go with Trust…….Trust in your Goodness…..Trust in their Goodness. Go with Love……Trust in Truth! God Bless – A Course In Miracles: Lesson 7. I see only the past.
The Courage Bench – Sits at Westpoint, overlooking the Hudson River
I don’t know about you but there are several things going on in my life and in our Country’s life that make me worry. I worry about the division that is making people blind these days. Maybe it has always been and always will be BUT I don’t have to buy into it and take sides. But my ego wants to of course.
The Course reminds us to “look within” and realize it is my choice to be worried but….this need not be! Since it is a choice I don’t have to choose it…..do I? What part of my mind is choosing? Where is my decision maker? A few days ago I caught a thought; actually it was a judgment (condemnation) about a person who was obese. I caught the thought and said “I don’t have to think this or believe this thought – I don’t choose it.” It was disturbing to think it! I stopped the ego – this need not be!
“When your mood tells you that you have chosen wrongly, and this is so whenever you are not joyous, then know this need not be. ³In every case you have thought wrongly about some brother God created, and are perceiving images your ego makes in a darkened glass.”(ACIM, T-4.IV.2:2-3)
That was it! I started seeing the beauty in that individual and the fine intelligent mind that out shown the form in every way. The judgment turned to acceptance and then opened to love.
One night I was worried sick about my son who was very late getting home. I finally decided I would put him in “God’s Hands” and let it go. This need not be!! I went to bed. Everything was fine and even if it turned out differently, he was in God’s Hands forever where I had placed him. The truth is WE, you and I are in God’s Hands too! If we are in God’s Hands then what is there to worry about? “
“Search sincerely for what you have done and left undone accordingly, and then change your mind to think with God’s. ⁶This may seem hard to do, but it is much easier than trying to think against it. ⁷Your mind is one with God’s. ⁸Denying this and thinking otherwise has held your ego together, but has literally split your mind.” (ACIM, T-4.IV.2:5-8)
Denying that we are One with God has left us bereft and lonely. When I am worried I am also sad because I made a mistake and wonder what the consequences will be and then that makes me anxious. This is all 1000% ego thoughts!
“When you are sad, know this need not be. ²Depression comes from a sense of being deprived of something you want and do not have. ³Remember: you are deprived of nothing except by your own decisions, and then decide otherwise. When you are anxious, realize that anxiety comes from the capriciousness of the ego, and know this need not be. ²You can be as vigilant against the ego’s dictates as for them.” (ACIM, T-4.IV.3:1–4:2)
And then I feel guilty because of the mistake – The Course tells us that only the ego can experience guilt and I am not my ego and neither are you!
“When you feel guilty, remember that the ego has indeed violated the laws of God, but you have not. ²Leave the “sins” of the ego to me. ³That is what Atonement is for. ⁴But until you change your mind about those whom your ego has hurt, the Atonement cannot release you. ⁵While you feel guilty your ego is in command, because only the ego can experience guilt. This need not be. Watch your mind for the temptations of the ego, and do not be deceived by it. ²It offers you nothing.” (ACIM, T-4.IV.5:1–6:2)
The Course mentions “sin” in the above paragraph and defines sin as lack of love! That’s it! I’m not sure what Jesus means when he says “to leave the ego to him” but I trust he has a good plan. And the “Atonement” means that we are called upon to Remember we are One with God….That’s it!! You don’t have to give yourself lashes with a whip or “atone” in some other way. We just need to re-member or re-attach ourselves to the memory of God…..we never left God! We SEEM to find ourselves alone in the world without him. Not True! He is with you and will be with you Always because He is in your Mind and always will be.
“Watch your mind for the temptations of the ego, and do not be deceived by it. ²It offers you nothing. ³When you have given up this voluntary dis-spiriting, you will see how your mind can focus and rise above fatigue and heal.” (ACIM, T-4.IV.6:1-3)
DECIDE – to Watch your mind, all thoughts that judge and separate, negative and good thoughts both separate you from others and are dis-spiriting. We are no longer in SPIRIT.
The Course says this is a HABIT to be developed if you let your mind slip, and feel moody, just look and see what you have thought that God would not have thought. Forgive – letting it go! You are FREE!
“One kindness a day keeps the Dr. away” Instead of an apple a day, one kindness a day will keep the Doctor away because when we give, we receive! Try it! I called a Senator who was receiving hate messages from those who disagree with him and told him he is doing a great job and he is appreciated and loved!
I hope the staff passes the message on but whether they do or not, I have sent the message with my heart and mind. I still have that message even though I “gave” it; I have it because when you give you receive! What do you think you receive when you are hold hate in your mind? Guilt!
If we give hope, acceptance and appreciation daily then we have them for ourselves.
You don’t need to say it out loud either. You can hold it in your mind because on some level minds are joined because we are One. Send love to someone you have held a grievance about or perhaps they have passed on. Maybe someone you detest! In that way you release yourself from the hold you have placed on the love that you are. Maybe they insulted you or snubbed you or called you a name. So what? They have a problem, don’t make it yours too.
Those who hate are in pain. Their judgment locks them in a prison of pain and separation. The people who left their message of hate on the Senator’s voice mail did not get rid of their hate just because they “left” the message. They still carry the hate in their mind and heart. They are in fear and need love. They reject love because they are afraid of it. Send them love anyhow. Refuse to hate and sully your beautiful holy mind, which by the way cannot really ever be stained.
When you find yourself upset, disgusted or hating someone STOP! Say: This is the ego’s choice not mine! I refuse to carry this judgment. Then look within to see what the problem is and admit it is also in you. Would you blame yourself for this ego mistake? You are not your ego. So don’t blame them either. If you want peace always go within and listen to the “small still voice”; the voice of the Holy Spirit; Love; mercy; Truth and Kindness. It is always available if we will listen. This is forgiveness and it offers everything you want.
Do yourself a kindness: Forgive and you will be well….all the days of your life!!
As we negotiate our lives we do wonder who we are.
We have many gifts and perhaps foibles and we wonder who we are.
We make mistakes (never call them sins) and we wonder who we are.
Are you L.G.B.T.Q or? Are you black, white, brown or? But you still wonder who am I, or what am I.
Do you know what you are?
This is what you are:
You are the Holy Son of God regardless of how you identify your body, male, female, straight, L.G.B.T.Q or your ethnicity!!! This is the Truth! Accept it because you are MORE than a body. You are Spirit first!
This is the truth regardless of what your sexual identity, ethnicity, cultural background or white, black, brown, yellow or red!
FACT: You are loved, complete, healed and whole and any uncertainty about that is self-deception.
Do not deny this reality regardless of how you self-identify, or how you see yourself or think others see you. You are a Holy Son of God regardless of what they think, how they see you or judge you and you are This over and above any other self-identification imposed upon you. Holy Son of God comes first!
And regardless of how others self-identify they too are a Holy Son of God, the same as you. Love them because as you judge them, you judge yourself. As you Love them; you love yourself.
And…..this is important: As you hate them you hate yourself.
You are God’s Son in whom he is well pleased! You are his Son regardless of what your doubting split mind may tell you. The ego part of your mind is what has doubts and it is insidious and not your friend. Do not listen to it. Tell it what you are instead.
See A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson 139. I will accept Atonement for myself.
Click on the “Listen” button and close your eyes, lean back and relax.
Tip: Atonement is defined in the Course as: The separation from God that never occurred. This is different from what some religions teach: that you have done something wrong. You have done nothing wrong but you need to remember you are as God created you; ONE with GOD; have always been and will always be and so is everyone else.
What “should” I do today? I should wash the kitchen floor; vacuum the living room; check my email for messages, pay some bills and oodles of other things that are needed or….. go for a hike?
I could knock on my neighbor’s door (mask on) introduce myself and tell them I don’t care if they are Democrats or Republican’s, and I don’t care if they are for guns or for fun; or if they are vaxed or not; for choice or not; religious or not; or black, white, brown, yellow, red or purple, I don’t care because we are equal beings of light and love and that is the Truth and Really, LOVE is all that matters.
I could surround the Russian troops gathered at the border of Ukraine with light and love and visualize angles hovering over them telling them that love is stronger than fear because it heals
I could surround every Senator that I now disagree with and who annoys me, with love and light and forgive them for they know not what they do……and neither do I.
I don’t know what anything is for…….except for Forgiveness.
A Course In Miracles Lesson 46. “God is the Love in which I forgive.” This lesson tells us that God does not forgive because He has never condemned, and forgiveness is the great need of this world because it is a world of illusions and that those who forgive as thus releasing themselves from illusions! (And gaining peace by the way!)
As we condemn only ourselves, so do we forgive only ourselves.
What I could do today is…….. forgive. What you could do today is……. forgive. Will I? Will you?
“God does not hate anyone. Those who preach hate towards any group do not speak for God.” Anonymous
The above message, hand written on cardboard appeared on PBS evening news hour, January 27th. It was one of several handmade signs lovingly placed with flowers on a New York city street honoring two young Harlem policemen who had been shot and killed.
The message gives me faith that amazing Truth is present even on the pavement of a city street – God only Loves. There is no hate, condemnation or for that matter any notice of skin color, religion, profession, wealth or sexual preference in God. God “sees” nothing because as far as we know of that mystery God does not have “eyes” or a body but is always extending love. It is just bodies that have judgment problems.
Even if we haven’t laid eyes on this mystery called God, every coin and paper dollar in the United States of America says We Trust in God. Do we? Think of the sayings: God willing; God help me and “God bless America” uttered by every American President. Saying: God Bless You/him/them it means: “God loves you/him/them.” Not everyone may believe in God but do appreciate love. English poet and theologian, Edward Young 1683 – 1765 in his poetic book, Night Thoughts said: “By night an atheist half believes in God.”
Valentine’s Day reminds us of romantic love but includes the love of friendship, acceptance, gratitude and unity. What kind of a world would we have if love was absent? Love came with our DNA. It is baked into our being. A mother and father hold their child and what instantly shows up? When my youngest son held his newborn son he said “Mom, I’m in Love!” A son/daughter holds the hand of their dying Father and even if they’ve had differences, what shows up? No person living, dead or yet to come, can exist without love. It may be buried in a grievous life, but the spark is there. Even Hitler loved something: art.
There is evidence of community love everywhere these days in the hospital workers; scientists finding solutions to Covid; policemen; firemen, Mom’s and Dad’s driving children to school, working to support themselves. Love is when we help a friend; neighbor; volunteer; donate to charity; homeless those in need and more. Regardless of circumstances no one can be a loser with an inheritance of love. We are all winners because along with love comes its gentle guidance. No one is exempt. Life is challenging. We all want to feel peaceful, to love and be loved. When I stop judging anyone, those I know, don’t know, present now or passed, that with condemnation stopped I relax, love enters and forgiveness follows naturally.
Consider rising above the battleground of political divisions; masking; vaccinations and ignore the opinions and confusion on TV, internet, social media and go within for the guidance love offers. This Valentine’s Day join me in offering love to everyone no matter whom they are or where they stand on an issue. Love them anyway.
When we give love, there is always more to give and we are IN love. Enjoy the gift of your inheritance. Happy Valentine’s Day!
All aspects of fear are untrue because they do not exist at the creative level, and therefore do not exist at all. ²To whatever extent you are willing to submit your beliefs to this test, to that extent are your perceptions corrected. ³In sorting out the false from the true, the miracle proceeds along these lines:
⁴Perfect love casts out fear. ⁵If fear exists, then there is not perfect love.
⁶But:
⁷Only perfect love exists. ⁸If there is fear, it produces a state that does not exist.
⁹Believe this and you will be free. ¹⁰Only God can establish this solution, and this faith is His gift. (ACIM, T-1.VI.5:1-10)
Inner Peace For You 