“To move from maintenance to sustenance is our goal, however. To sustain is to keep in existence. To recognize unity as sustenance is to recog¬nize it as that which sustains life. Sustaining unity or Christ-consciousness is being done with the need to maintain conditions that allow it to be present. Maintenance will lead to sustenance.” (ACOL, D:15.20)
Here we are hearing about the movement into Christ-consciousness, Awakening, enlightenment. There is no emphasis in A Course of Love in regard to maintaining Christ-consciousness, or maintenance is seen as a temporary state (in the best of circumstances) that will lead on into the sustainability, or sustenance of Christ-consciousness. Of course, we can imagine that not everybody will actually move to sustenance. But this would be a pity, for sustenance is exactly what Jesus is calling us to reach. If we don’t fall back into old egoic patterns, and if we don’t form a new ego (how sad!), then we will inevitably move on into sustaining Christ-consciousness.
Jesus needs us to spend time in reflection. Quiet time will ease the subconscious mind into the conscious, and when this happens, we can see what needs to be altered. We merely ask, and Jesus assures us that the deed is done; we are free of our impediments. To ask that wrong actions and wrong thoughts be corrected is what we are here for. This world is a training ground for a better world to come, and by that I don’t mean the afterlife, but life right here in this world. But a world of true reality, where we listen to our guidance, really listen, and the act upon what we hear. Jesus needs stewards of his new way of thought, his miracle, his miracle-readiness—granted to us, right here and now.
Prayer and contemplation will act to cleanse the subconscious mind. And in the cleansing we will be set free. The way is not hard. We just must care enough to give our own mind and heart the attention they deserve. And Jesus will do the rest.
Prayer
I will spend some time today in contemplation, certain that You will cleanse the less-desirable parts of my psyche when I do listen to You. Help me to have the patience to know that You can’t do the job in one fell swoop—though You might, of course. Most of us have to spend time, over days, to understand what You are asking of us. A miracle of immediate knowledge may happen in rare cases, but I ask for patience if in my case it does not happen that way.
Thank You for another good day. I will return to my quiet prayer to You.
Amen.
MIRACLES EACH DAY 