Just checking in

It's been a long time (March) since I posted anything here, and I figured I should at least plunk down a place-holder message saying I'm still alive and the blog isn't dead. I'm in the process of starting a private blog for a group of Unity Church students who took a class and are now doing some spiritual practice as follow-up, and need a place to share experiences and thoughts. That reminded me that I had not said anything here for months.

The major thing of note, for me, is my involvement with Unity classes, with a view to becoming a Licensed Unity Teacher. This will authorize me to teach classes in Unity churches and at Unity School in Missouri. There's a chance I will put together a 10-hour class on an Intro to ACIM and teach it both locally and at Unity Village. I'm also mulling over various possible classes and writings involving the relationship of the Course with the Bible, or on interpreting the Bible from an ACIM viewpoint. I've been rather amazed at how well Unity metaphysics dovetails with the Course, even to the point of stating that God did not create the physical universe. I'm more comfortable in this group than I've been in any other for a long time.

So Send I You

I was thinking a while ago about a verse in the Bible:

"As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." (John 20:21, KJV). Jesus was speaking to his disciples after his resurrection when he said this. The idea was also stated in his prayer, in John 17: "As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world." (John 17:18) I think it applies equally to all of us; it means that we have been sent into the world, by Jesus, with the same mission given to him by his Father—God. What kind of mission was that?

"God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" (John 3:17, NRSV). Likewise, we are not hear to condemn anything or anyone; we are here to save the world. A Course in Miracles agrees:

Those who would let illusions be lifted from their minds are this world's saviors, walking the world with their Redeemer, and carrying His message of hope and freedom and release from suffering to everyone who needs a miracle to save him. (T-22.IV.6:5)

Notes on Lesson 37

LESSON 37
My holiness blesses the world.

This lesson says it very clearly:

Your purpose is to see the world through your own holiness. (W-pI.37.1:2)

To perceive truly is to be aware of all reality through the awareness of your own (T-13.VI.1:1).

Our self-concept acts like a filter or overlay. We are looking at the world through "me"-colored glasses. Our job is to accept the Atonement for ourselves, to recognize our own holiness, and then, as saviors of the world, to bless the world around us:

And so they call it forth in everyone they look upon, that he may be what they expect of him. This is the savior's vision; that he see his innocence in all he looks upon, and see his own salvation everywhere. He holds no concept of himself between his calm and open eyes and what he sees. He brings the light to what he looks upon, that he may see it as it really is. (T-31.VII.11:4-7)

The Course’s message is a message of total equality. No one is better or worse, less or more, or lacks anything another has, and therefore there is no room for sacrifice. If you have ever experienced being loved just as you are, with no demands of any kind being placed on you, you will understand the power of such a vision of the world.

This lesson also says much about the way the Course is to be spread: not primarily by words but by action, or perhaps more precisely, by attitude:

Your holiness is the salvation of the world. It lets you teach the world that it is one with you, not by preaching to it, not by telling it anything, but merely by your quiet recognition that in your holiness are all things blessed along with you. (W-pI.37.3:1-2)

Suggestion: Imagine that you are an enlightened master, knowing your oneness with God and all things. As you do the exercises for today, look around you from that state of mind. Look on everything with eyes of love, and a heart that only wishes blessing on all things.

I'll be back soon!

So, I've been quite busy getting my two Portland Workbook support groups going, and writing up some notes for the weekly group meetings. Plus working on the Unity church website here. I've neglected posting here on Miracle Thoughts, but I will get back to it soon. I'll post some of the remarks I write up for my Workbook groups.