Connections

“And yet your vision has already changed, although you are not aware of the extent of this change. Realize now that you have come to recognize unity. You do not any longer see each person and event as separate, with no relation to the whole. You are beginning to see the connections that exist and this is the beginning. (The Treatises of A Course of Love: A Treatise on the New, 2:29)”

“Connections” is a potent term in our culture today. We are, even in secular society, constantly talking about our connections to others. We want to be connected, no longer separate, encased in physical bodies that don’t reach out to one another.

This change may very well be the result of A Course in Miracles’s increasing influence in our culture. Many people quote from ACIM without letting anybody know the source of their remarks. Many people write entire books with the message of ACIM without ever attributing their sources. So the inclusion of ACIM in our culture is significant. It behooves
us to study the original, with a view toward understanding fully. We can learn what others say, including this blog, and we can get a good overview, but the best writings point to their source, and that is the text of A Course in Miracles and A Course of Love.

“Examine what you may have felt the onset of true vision would mean. Have you considered the question? Have you expected to see in the same way but more lovingly? (The Treatises of A Course of Love: ‘A Treatise on the New,’ 2.31)”

This command is daunting. We are asked to reexamine our thoughts and emotions for the changes that we are undergoing. And change may be stressful, though Jesus would have us to realize that change, under his direction and without the ego’s interference, is not stressful.

Our vision from God is an expression of revelation. A Course in Miracles explains that revelation will occasionally reveal the end to us, but to get there the means are needed. Those means are, first of all, explained in ACIM. Now A Course of Love has taken us a step forward, beyond the time of the Holy Spirit and His guidance, into Christ-consciousness, which depends on an inner knowing that is normally wordless.

If we have never thought about what true vision would entail, we will not be ready to accept vision from God when it comes. I once read that one should not beseech heaven for a miracle that one would not recognize if seen at high noon. That is a particularly graphic illustration of the change that is set before us now. We must ask for eyes to see, ears to hear. We must be anticipatory about the change that awaits us. Above all, we must not fear this change. Faith can substitute for the fear that we once had, and which we once felt protected us. Faith, as I am describing it, is a form of love–and A Course in Miracles says that fear and love are the only two emotions, all others being variant forms of these two.
May we wait at high noon for the miracle–indeed, the revelation–that awaits us. It qualifies as a revelation rather than a miracle because, asACIM points out, revelation comes only from God. God will stay by us now, as He especially eagerly awaits our transformation. As so many have pointed out before, He has only our hands and feet to do His bidding. (The same has also been said of our guide, Jesus.)

Prayer:

Dear Father/Mother,

I long for true vision, for the revelation that Christ-consciousness holds out for me. Be with me today as I keep this request in mind. I know that You have placed this longing in my heart and mind, and that, since it is Your wish, my prayer will be answered. If not today–if I must wait beyond today–help me to prepare for the vision that You will surely grant when I have been made ready.

I believe that if my faith in You is strong enough today, this will be the day that vision will come to me. Help me to be steadfast.

I would have a good day today, resting in Your peace. Be with me as I seek to make good decisions, following the advice and guidance that I get. I would not make my own decisions today, for my judgment is necessarily faulty.

I would make good decisions. For that I need Your guidance.

Thank You for guiding me.

Amen.