Material Treasures Are of the Ego

“As this treatise is not concerned with material treasure, we will not explore the dimensions of physical treasure except to say that the feelings that cause one to think that any physical thing is capable of being a treasure or being treasured are of the ego. We will instead assume that you have moved beyond these ego concerns and explore the realm of internal treasures. (Treatises of A Course of Love: Treatise on the Nature of Unity and Its Recognition, 1.3)”

Affirmation: “I choose only internal treasures today.”

Reflections:

1 – Law of Attraction

This passage takes a stand diametrically opposed to the emphasis that is sometimes placed on attracting physical treasures by the Law of Attraction. Certainly we do know, from observation, that physical treasures may be attracted, but does our pleasure in them remain for very long? We drop them, as a child drops a favorite toy, and go on to the next material boon. And we remain dissatisfied at our core, even though momentarily we have received the best of a thing that we thought we wanted.

2 – Internal Treasures

Internal treasures do not fade in their blessing to us. We do not become dissatisfied over time when we hold the internal deeply within ourselves. The internal does not turn to ashes and dust in our hands because we have neglected the intangible treasures of God–the peace, harmony, joy, serenity, ecstasy that is ours when we have sought our treasures in heaven. The New Testament makes this same point in telling us not to lay up for ourselves that which does corrupt, but to lay up treasures in heaven.

3 – Attracting the Material

It is clear to me that the Law of Attraction can attract material things of this world. And God wants our material needs to be satisfied. But He wants more beyond this for us, His beloved children. He wants us to be satisfied in our souls, and material blessings, however good, cannot, ultimately, satisfy the soul. Some individuals in our world who have the least material blessings do indeed have rich intangible treasures that give them a joy that is unknown to most of us. Those who minister to the sick and dying know a serenity that can give great joy in the midst of sorrow, for they know that they are fulfilling a need for their brothers and sisters.

4 – Material Reward

There simply is no correlation between happiness and material reward. Certainly material want can bring much pain, but not all with little material blessings endure the pain that more affluent people do. The dark night of the soul is not limited to the materially bereft.

5 – Our Birthright

The internal treasures that Jesus assures us are our by birthright will give us a life beyond our wildest dreams. We will know joy. We will know peace. We will know even ecstasy. And we will know that we have heaven here on earth and we are at home.

Prayer:

Dear Father/Mother,

I would bless those of my brothers and sisters who still seek for their treasure in the material, but I would be interested in having my loved ones recognize that there are greater joys in the intangible. May all of us satisfy our physical needs, but may we realize that internal and lasting happiness cannot be acquired by accumulating material blessings.

May we use the Law of Attraction wisely. We do have physical needs, and may these be satisfied. But may we also use this Law to attract the intangible. What we think about the most may appear. And may that thought be good.

Amen.

False Palaces to Love

“You build your banks as well as your museums as palaces to your love and no longer see the golden calves hiding within the palace wall.  (A Course of Love, 5.8)”

Affirmation:  “I would avoid thinking too often of material things today.”

Reflections:

1 – Is This All There Is?

When we long for material things, we may actually draw those material things to ourselves.  But without a strong certainty that God walks with us, the material will turn to ashes and dust in our hands.  We may be happy for a time, in an egoic fashion, but life will catch up with us, and we will ask (as so many have), “Is this all there is?”

2 – Priorities

We will not be lost in an existential crisis if we keep our priorities in order.  And our priorities need to be for the intangibles–love, peace, tranquility, harmony, joy.  Even an atheist can have these values straight, and he/she will be blessed as a result.  I do not believe that God withholds blessings from any of us who are having trouble “believing” in Him.  Jesus welcomes (in the Manual of A Course in Miracles) those of no religion to be teachers of God.  What does he mean by that?  Perhaps “belief” does not mean what we have often taken it to mean.  God surely knows who struggles and who believes easily.

3 – Agnostics / Atheists

I once had a close friend who went on a search for God when she was about 60.  She said, “I didn’t choose not to believe.”  And I, somehow, understood.  She finally found her peace and died shortly thereafter.  God had touched her, even if she did not formally believe in Him.  And He will do the same for any agnostics or atheists in our midst.

Prayer:

Dear Father/Mother,

I ask for things today that do not cost anything–excellent habits of mind and spirit, the felt experience of Your Being, the expression of love to those surrounding me, and over it all, the sense of well being that living in the present, even when times are hard, brings about.

Any of us can live successfully if we are not tied to a negative state of mind, if we have enough trust and hope to believe that the healthy functioning of our minds is not dependent on the material or the lack of pain.  We can ask to be shown how to keep a rational head, informed by guidance.  And we can be shown how to live in the present, which is a key to finding You successfully.

Be with those who are hurting today.  May they know that not only do You care, but also their surrounding friends and family care.  May we do all that you bid us to help one another today.

We are in this together.

Amen.