“Peace is the ego’s greatest enemy because, according to its interpretation of reality, war is the guarantee of its survival. (T79-80)”
Affirmation: “Peace is the ego’s greatest enemy.”
Reflections:
When we are tempted to attack our brother, may we realize that it is the ego up to its old tricks. The more we attack, the stronger the ego in us becomes. Do we really want this?
When we are peaceful, we may at first feel that we are not as “alive” as we would like to be. This is the longing for drama in our relationships, and it is a sick longing. Peace is actually the best thing that can happen to us. Elsewhere the Course says that we are meant to be perfectly calm and quiet all the time. This may sound extreme, but the things of heaven are obscure to us.
When we allow peace to be, we reduce the size and complexity of the ego. We reduce its influence on us. Elsewhere we learn in the Course that the first obstacle that peace must flow across is the desire to get rid of it. This sounds like a paradox, but if we reflect, we will see that the statement is true. We too often want drama to make ourselves feel alive.
The Course holds out a better way for us. Invite peace in our daily lives, and we will soon know a joy that is boundless–even if everything is not perfect in this world.
Prayer:
Dear Father,
May I long for peace in my life far more than I long for drama. May I realize that drama only strengthens the ego, and this I do not want.
May I have Your inner calm and quiet. This is the best way that I can come to know You, and it is this that I want.
Amen.
