Overcome Despair

ACIM Workbook Lesson 251 – for Thursday, September 8, 2011

Affirmation:  “I am in need of nothing but the truth.”

“I sought for many things, and found despair.  Now do I seek but one, for in that one is all I need, and only what I need.

“And for that peace, our Father, we give thanks.  What we denied ourselves You have restored, and only that is what we really want.  (WB420)”

Reflections:

1 – Do Not Seek for the Things of the Ego

When we seek for the “many things” meant in this passage, we are seeking for the things of this world, the things of the ego.  And we will always find despair at the end of the pathway, for the ego is constantly being undone.  It has been said that there is no such thing as a “superiority complex,” that all such manifestations actually mean that one has an “inferiority complex.”  I think of this psychological state most in regard to particularly egotistical longings.  We are not meant to inflate ourselves with our ego; we are acting out of a sense of inferiority, and we will always know despair when we do not see ourselves as children of God.

2 – The Peace of God

The One that we seek now is God.  He knows that we are all equals, and therefore there is no basis to believe that we are either superior or inferior to others.  Jesus does say that temporarily some of us know more than others, but this is simply a function of our being in time, and time does not really exist (paraphrases from the Text).  As we look to Jesus as our elder brother, others who feel led will come to us to learn what we have already assimilated.  We are each given individuals who will seek us out as soon as we have answered the call (a Manual tenet).  There are individuals intended for each of us (also a Manual tenet).  It is impossible that we not be in the right place at the right time.  Because we cannot encounter everyone, we have a chosen number to whom we give our learning.  And they, when they are ready, will appear in our lives; they have waited for our answer to the call (a Manual tenet).

3 – Share with Others

When we have found the peace of God, even when it is not a constant state, we will want to share what we have experienced.  But we must be careful not to be overbearing.  Not everyone is yet ready.  Jesus says at one point in ACIM that some are ready for only a smile.  The relationships that we develop in this world are fleeting, sometimes.  Others come and go in our lives, for moments of learning that do not remain constant.  A select few we encounter are constant in our lives for the rest of our time on earth; once met, we never part.  These select few are few in number, and we may not recognize that the perfect lesson is embedded in our relationship to them.  But the lesson, once learned, will enhance our potential to be helpful to others.  Frequently, it is said, we do not recognize the perfect balance of these select few to ourselves, the perfect lesson that they embody.  But, if recognized, we will grow in knowledge.  (These are all paraphrases from the Manual.)

4 – From Special to Holy Relationships

We are learning here through “our” way, which is the way of learning to move from our special relationships transformed into holy relationships.

5 – Peace of God

When we do so, we know the peace of God increasingly at points of time in our lives.

Prayer:

Dear Father/Mother,

I would not stoop to despair today.  If I do, regardless of how difficult my circumstances might be or might become, then I am not staying close to You.  I would find the love in everyday life, the tiny things that people do that show that we are meant to live well.  If we are struggling, we will turn to You, and in so doing we will find a peace in the midst of circumstances that may be tough.  We are not immune to the problems of the world, regardless of how strong our faith may be.  But we will create a better reality, even in this world, when we turn to You for the guidance that is ours for the asking.

Be with me today, as You are always.  Thank you for guiding me gently throughout my life, and especially during this time when many of us live in a world that is filled with troubles.

Amen.