“Attempts to eject the self of suffering from the spacious Self create disharmony. It is only by this holding within that the loveless self and the suffering self are rendered ineffective. It is only in this way that you realize that all exist within. It is only in this way that you become completely fearless and totally spacious, for fear is part of the density of form, being a lack of love. (ACOL Dialogues, p. 158)”
Affirmation: “May I be totally fearless today.”
Reflections:
Before we can understand Day Thirteen, we need to try to comprehend what is meant by the “spacious Self.” It is discussed herein as a “boundary-less Self,” the all-encompassing Self that we share with everyone. It is the Self of Love, and when we focus on Love, we can overcome any fearful thoughts and feelings of the small self of form.
Jesus says that we are not to try to eject the self of fear, but to encompass with the greater spacious Self, thus rendering it ineffective. Trying to eject the self of fear actually makes it worse in our experience of fear.
Look again at the passage from A Course of Love, the Dialogues, quoted above. It actually summarizes much that is said in Day Thirteen. At the conclusion of the chapter, Jesus once again returns to the theme of unity and relationship. We have true relationship with our brothers and sisters when we recognize and incorporate the spacious Self, and then we are truly in unity with all.
Prayer:
Dear Father/Mother,
Help me to be fearless, and to know that I can transcend the suffering self by my fearlessness. Help me not to be tempted to try to reject this suffering self. Help it simply to wither away as I come to know my real Self.
I know that my real Self is always one of Love, but I tend to forget this oft-repeated truth. Help me not to forget the Self of Love today. Thanking You in advance, I turn to You often today and every day.
Amen.
ACIM Workbook Lesson for Day 106:
Let me be still and listen to the truth.
Mari Perron
/ April 19, 2010Celia~
Your prayer reminds me of a seminar I went to many years ago. I no longer even remember who the presenter was, but she asked us each to say a word descriptive of ourselves. One of the participants had brought her son with her. He was a boy of about 10 or 11. He was the only one to use the word “fearless.” I thought that was so telling. “Be like the little children.”
Mari
celiaelaine
/ April 19, 2010Dear Mari,
I have had a problem with fear–experienced as anxiety–for most of my adult life. “A Course in Miracles,” and, now, “A Course of Love,” have both helped tremendously. I wonder how much this anxiety has been social in origin, fear that I will not be accepted fully for who I am. Maybe that I won’t measure up.
I think that the message–overarching–of “A Course of Love” is that it is finally time to lay to rest all such thoughts of non-acceptance. We are ready.
That is a glorious promise. Thank you for channeling this message to all of your readers.
Love, Celia