“The new means of thinking is referred to here as the ‘art’ of thought in order to call your wholehearted attention to the continual act of creation that is the relationship between creator and created. Creation is but a dialogue to which you have not responded. The art of thought will free you to respond. (The Treatises of A Course of Love: Treatise on the Art of Thought, 2.12)”
Affirmation: “I will practice the art of thought.”
Reflections:
1 – Unlearning
We need to unlearn the way that we have been “learning.” We have been using our ego-mind, and now we are encouraged to observe through wholeheartedness. This is the art of thought, as Jesus describes it. We arre unlearning the old way, and we are “learning” through observation. We no longer use our left brain as much. Our thought is more abstract. And this is the very reason that reading and “learning” A Course of Love can seem frustrating. We are still trying to learn in the old manner.
2 – Read like a Story
Let us stop this inefficiency of learning now. Let us relax in our learning, reading as we would ready a story. We do not need to concentrate with wrinkled brow. There is a better way. And the art of thought shows us what it is.
3 – Christ-Consciousness
We experience more real creation, rather than the things that we made with our ego. Our Christ-consciousness creates in a way that the ego-mind never could (though it tried mightily).
4 – Create
Let us create today. Let us ask for help in creating. There is no better way to spend a day.
5 – Call to Create
We have not responded to this call to create previously. We have chosen to be afraid instead. Let us drop fear now, and create with the art of thought–the means of observation that will help us to learn aright.
Prayer:
Dear Father/Mother,
I would observe rather than allow my ego-mind to ruin what could be a good day. I will observe the world around me, and I will ask for help in understanding what I am seeing. I will practice the new way of learning through the “art of thought.”
Be with me as I seek to make this transformation real. There is no better way to proceed on my walk to You. Be with me, with Your felt Presence, as I try to convert an old way of learning to a new, more effective way. It is time for all of us to do what we can to effect transformation in ourselves and in our world. But You must call the shots. We are lost without Your guiding Presence.
Amen.
