ACIM Workbook Lesson 315 – for Friday, November 11, 2011
Affirmation: “All gifts my brothers give belong to me.”
“And everyone who finds the way to God becomes my savior, pointing out the way to me, and giving me his certainty that what he learned is surely mine as well. (WB458)”
Reflections:
1 – Our Brothers and Sisters Play a Part in Our Salvation
This passage points the way for us, as well as the way we ought to interact with our brothers and sisters who have become our saviors by finding God. It is a two-way street. While we may realize that there is much more for to learn, and that others are ahead of us, it is true that only time separates all of us, and time does not really exist (ACIM tenets). Once started on the pathway, the ending to our home in God is sure. We learn from the individuals who have walked farther along the pathway than we have, and this applies most precisely to Jesus as our elder brother.
2 – Glimpses of Awakening
All along the way, though, we catch glimpses of Awakening, and at such times we are likely to have epiphanies that help us to know what our next step is to be. At such times, we easily relax into the guidance of the Holy Spirit to tell us how to interact with others, our brothers and sisters. We do not force “our” way upon them; there is a course for each teacher of God (a Manual tenet). As I have said before in this blog, some are ready only for a smile. Proselytizing frequently does the reverse of its intention.
3 – Only Time Separates Others from Us
Since only time separates our brothers and sisters from ourselves, then their knowledge is ours as well. We just may not yet recognize how what they have learned can apply to ourselves. Let us ask for guidance in such cases. Often we recognize that a friend has a peace about him or her that seems almost supernatural. Once we have started on the pathway, this experience of seeing salvation, seeing Christ, in the faces of others will build. Our foreheads will be serene, and we will smile more frequently (from ACIM). There is a way of being in the world without quite being here. Those who comprehend as we do will recognize how we have changed, but others will think that we are the same as always, like them. (These are paraphrases from ACIM.)
4 – A Secret Society
Thus develops a kind of secret society among those who see Christ in their brothers and sisters. But we are not to be exclusive or use this miracle as a egoic distraction. The ego is wily, and it will use such thoughts to separate us from others if we let this happen. And we must join with our brothers and sisters, not think we are in anyway different or better than they are. Only time separates, and time is an illusion. All will go home eventually. Let us help to make that time sooner rather than later.
Prayer:
Dear Father/Mother,
I would ask to see the face of Christ in my brothers and sisters today. I know that this is a necessary prelude to the experience of Awakening. I ask to love unconditionally all others as I walk the path to You. Help me to forgive myself and others for all ego-based thinking and action. We need to cultivate forgiveness,. and from forgiveness to move to make all of our special relationships holy. May I make progress in this endeavor today.
I would be careful not to let ego intrude on the intriguing concept of walking this world with others, and being recognized by some of them as being on the pathway to You. Actually, all of us are on the pathway to You, because there is no other pathway. But not everybody realizes this, and so time separates us. May I live in eternity today, aware that time is only an illusion.
Be with me as I turn aside from any and all attack and anger. May I recognize these actions as the calls for help that they really are. Help me not to retaliate, and give me guidance about the way that I eliminate this egoic thinking from my mind. May I enjoy the “secret society” totally without any investment in the ego, but completely with thanks to You for giving me a way to recognize others who have found their way to You.
Amen.
