The Illusion and Reality of Who We Are

Illusion

 

Reality

This world is an attempt to prove your innocence, while cherishing attack. ACIM F.I.P. Second Edition/T-26.VII.12.5

What is this world? And what is the real world?

This world is the planet on which we perceive that everything and everyone around us is separate from ourselves and separate from God.  On a day-to-day basis, we fear attack whether verbally or physically. We find moments of happiness and fulfillment only to wonder when the clouds will again cover the sun. We envision ourselves needing to create forms of protection where we escape to our fortresses that become our tombs.

In this world, in which we struggle silently or overtly for survival, we see a beginning and an end, birth then death. We compete in order to feel complete. We fight to prove we’re right. We live in the past or the future as we willingly take commands from our boisterous ego. And, at the end of the day in this temporal frame of mind, we are exhausted, only to begin our marathon on this hamster wheel we call life.

What are the tapes that play in our heads? “You can find peace, but only at the expense of others.” Or, “Love your neighbor, but give him the finger if he cuts you off in traffic.” Perhaps, “Find serenity among those like you, but be careful of them.” Sometimes, “Pray for world peace, but build a military might that can annihilate the planet.”

Is there a better way? Is there another world where attack is not the norm and judgment is not the modus operandi?

If you seek it you will find it. If you choose the real world, you can gain entry, become a citizen where no passport is needed. All you need to cross the border is simply a little bit of willingness to change your mind.

 And upon entry, what will you discover? Peace, joy, grace, unconditional love, arms wide-open in full acceptance. You’ll remember that you are one with your brothers and sisters and therefore feel no need to judge or attack. You’ll feel the majestic presence of The One, Our Source, Our Creator and Giver of Life without end. You will find…your true Home.

Photos by Barb Adams (c) 2014

What is Your Ultimate Goal? Part II

Spirit’s messages lie just beyond the veil.  But we must be willing to clear the barriers before our eyes, silence the noise within our mind and question the assumptions we have made for most of our lives. To hear this Inner Wisdom we need to pause and be open to the myriad ways the Great Communicator transmits those joyous messages. 

I find that I receive insights when I least expect them. I might be reading a book and a passage will jump out at me. Or, a person may make an innocent statement that at once appears to be concocted precisely for me. The other day my horoscope, which I generally read for humor, plainly hit the nail-on-the-head. It precisely talked about a path, which I am seriously contemplating traveling, in almost the exact words that were used when my teacher and I discussed my plan.  

And then, it was on one of my walks around the neighborhood while listening to a Ted Talk/NPR podcast episode entitled Champions that I started making connections between the challenges and revelations discussed by the guests to my study of A Course in Miracles.

The second highlighted speaker on the show who offered inspiring statements was Amy Purdy.  Amy was an able-bodied, nationally ranked snowboarder who developed life-threatening bacterial meningitis, a blood infection that landed her on life support.  Doctors gave this superb athlete a less than 2% chance of living.  Said Amy, “I was physically, spiritually, emotionally broken.”

The infection took its toll.  Doctors had to amputate both of Amy’s legs below the knees. They had to remove both kidneys, as well as her spleen, and she lost complete hearing in her left ear. Amy Purdy came close to losing her nose and both hands. And her life.

Amy shared her process of healing:

“I began to daydream: I imagined myself walking gracefully and snowboarding again. I didn’t just imagine myself carving down a mountain of powder,” said Amy, “I could actually feel it! I could feel the wind against my face and the beating of my heart as if it were happening in that very moment. And that is when a new chapter in my life began.”

(While still in the hospital) “All I would think about is snowboarding, not if I would do it again, but when I would do it again. Four months later I was back up on a snowboard.  This past February, I won 2 back-to-back World Cup Gold Medals, and I am now the highest ranked adapted female snowboarder in the world.”

Of her ability to move past such a life-threatening challenge, Amy revealed, “It’s not about breaking down borders it’s about pushing off of them and seeing what amazing places they might bring us. I’m better because I work harder at it. The motivation comes from wanting to figure it out, of finding a way.”

What can Amy Purdy teach me about reaching my goal of remembering my Oneness with My Creator through forgiveness?

1.    When I quiet my mind, I can imagine myself free of guilt, fear and pain and for brief moments I’m in the realm of my Creator and feel nothing but peace. I see the Light and I feel its gentle, healing warmth throughout my soul.

2.    Amy said, “It’s not about breaking down borders it’s about pushing off of them and seeing what amazing places they might bring us.”

·      What are my borders or my barriers to finding peace? Could they include the too-well tuned egoic thinking? The scenarios of fear and attack that have been bred into me by a world that believes that fear lurks around every corner and that we must attack first in order to survive?  How can I push off of the ego and rebound into the realm of my Natural Home, that of my Inner Wisdom? Perhaps the answer lies in slamming the door shut on egoic thoughts and pushing off of that portal into my given Homeland.

3.    “I’m better because I work harder at it.”

·      Look at how long I’ve/we’ve worked at living our lives in the darkness? It will take vigilance and study to change this ingrained, knee-jerk reaction way of looking at life. It will take vision to see.

4.    “The motivation comes from wanting to figure it out, of finding a way.”

·      “There must be a better way,” said William Thetford to Helen Schucman.  It was then that Jesus’ words were ‘heard,’ and A Course in Miracles was revealed. For me, the road to ‘the better way’ has already been paved. With Love. I simply need to stay the Course!

Inspired by, God is the only goal I have today. W-256

A Course in Miracles, Second Edition

Foundation for Inner Peace, 1996.

Bottom picture by Barbara Franco Adams (c)2012

What is Your Ultimate Goal? Part I

Perhaps it’s my background and experience in interscholastic and intercollegiate athletics. During each workout and each practice we set individual and team goals. Whether it was to run faster, throw farther and more accurately, or increase our repetitions, we had something to aim for so that the ultimate goal of winning the next competition could have the greatest possibility of becoming a reality.

 

Maybe it’s my education and experience as a teacher. Preparing for each class, I set goals, which I strove to attain by meeting specific measurable objectives.

Then later in my career as an administrator, one of the goals my first year was to have a reduction in the written disciplinary referrals sent to my office by no less than 25%. Through a team approach with the gifted teachers with whom I worked, we not only met, we exceeded our expectations by reducing referrals by a whopping 50%. That’s unheard of! But we did it by agreeing on the end result, jointly developing a plan, then ensuring implementation of the plan.  We let nothing sway us in achieving our goal.

As I was listening to a TED Talk (ted.com) on NPR, entitled Champions, I found myself thinking back to those above experiences. You can’t hit the target without knowing where to aim, and you can’t reach your destination without mapping out a plan of your journey.

But, even more to the point today, I couldn’t help but draw analogies from the Talks to my study of A Course in Miracles. My Course teacher, Patti Fields (pattifields.com) asked this question of the participants at our most recent retreat on the Holy Instant: “What are your intentions/your goal when practicing the teachings?”

It got me to thinking whether I had been as vigilant in my Course studies as I had been in other practical applications of achieving success.

In the Ted Talks/NPR series, each of the speakers spoke of successes, obstacles and setbacks. The highlight of their presentations focused on overcoming unbelievable challenges to reach their ultimate goal.

Diana Nyad, the long distance swimmer faced, among other things, life threatening jelly fish stings that compromised her respiratory system and made her feel as though her entire body were on fire.  Yet, in her fifth attempt she succeeded…at 64 years of age…to swim 110 miles from Cuba to Key West. And without a shark cage.

While listening to Diana being interviewed on NPR, which included excerpts from her TED Talk, she made the following statements about pursing her goal: “I asked myself, ‘Do you have it?’”  And, “I’m going to go to the nth degree…(to achieve my goal)?” She said, “My mantra during my training and during my swim was, Find a way.

As I relate Diana Nyad’s story of goal setting, perseverance, determination and belief to my study of the Course, I ask myself some interesting but very important questions about realizing my goal: Forgiving my brothers and sisters of what I perceive as their sins, which will help me to remember that we are all One with God.

1.     Do I have it? 

• The perseverance to stick with my study? 

• The determination to forgive my brothers and sisters as well as myself?

• The belief that I truly am One with God, and one with my brothers and sisters?

2.     Am I going to the nth degree to reach my goal?

• What are the choices that I make at every turn, every day?

• Do I choose loving thoughts over judgmental conclusions? 
• Do I have a laser-like focus on Heaven, which I can experience at every NOW moment?

• Do I put my goals forefront in my mind and let nothing, but nothing dissuade me from attaining them?

3.      Will I find a way? 

•  Helen Schucman and Bill Thetford were determined to find another way. Will I find my way through the Course so that I may realize my goal?

 

Inspired by, God is the only goal I have today. W-256

A Course in Miracles, Second Edition

Foundation for Inner Peace, 1996.

Bottom photo by Barbara Franco Adams (c)2012

I Am Not Yet Ready

I Am Not Yet Ready

Relearning ancient teachings that seem new may create challenges and anxiety.  

While seeking enlightenment move sure-footed along the path in the comfort that you are headed in the right direction.  Accept that which resonates with you as you reclaim your innate Wisdom.  

Discard and turn away from fear, anger, guilt and judgment.  

And for those threads of Knowledge that seem impenetrable, set them lovingly aside and say, "I am not yet ready but I offer my willingness in the trust that the All Knowing will recognize my openness and place Vision safely on my path as I joyously turn and greet Him like an old friend Whom I had known all along."

Inspired by a conversation at a recent ACIM retreat

where, in frustration, a friend said, "I just don't get that!"

And an inspired Answer from W-131

A Course in Miracles

The Foundation for Inner Peace

Second Edition

Retreat offered by Patti Fields and Sabra DeForest

pattifields.com

Both pictures by Barbara Franco Adams (c) 2012

Who Rules Your Mind?

Who rules your mind?

Have you left the door open for intruders to enter and trash your sense of peace?

Have you given the key to anyone who asks, or worse, demands it?

Do you claim your mind as yours, or do you offer it to who ever wishes to come inside, settle in and, after overstaying their welcome, claim Squatter’s Rights?

Do you step aside and passively let anyone who dares push their way past the threshold, allowing them the unquestioned freedom to chisel away at your serenity?

I’ll ask you again: Who rules your mind?

If you’re not sure, check in with that guy, Guilt, and his buddy, Anxiety. Without a moment's hesitation, they’ll tell you if you’ve given up your rights to them.  Listen to what they have to say:

Guilt:  “It’s mine! I rule your mind simply by hitting the rewind button, flashing images of fear that cause you pain. I project myself on to anyone who even remotely reminds you of your perceived errors. Once your stomach tightens, your fists clench, and your nightmares cast their shadows, I know that I’m in command!”

Anxiety: “I hit fast forward and blare the sirens.  The signposts I look for are sleeplessness, anger and outbursts.  I scream at you to judge anyone who triggers your pain. Attack first, fast and furiously! That’s my motto. As soon as your blood pressure soars, I claim my rightful place on the Throne of Control. It's all about FEAR, baby!’’

***

You do realize, don't you, that you have Wisdom sitting in the wings simply awaiting your invitation to take up full-time residence?

Wait. Why are you still looking down that dark hallway?  Turn this way, toward the Light. That’s right.  Simply call out to Spirit, ‘I choose to have You rule my mind.’

Quiet now. Sh-h-h-h-h-h-h. What do you hear?

Static? Hm-m-m. Be still and place your ear up to His door. Anything?

Ah-ha, there you go. That’s right. What do you hear now?

Silence?  That’s called Peace. Go ahead, open the door and tell me what you see.

Yes, I’m smiling, too. It’s nice to see that serene expression on your face. And you’re glowing. The Light from within has surrounded and engulfed you. Such joy. Such innocence.

You wear it well, My Love.

Inspired by A Course in Miracles
Workbook Lesson 236,
"I rule my mind, which I alone must rule."

Photos #1 and #4 by Barb Adams (c) 2014

There Is Another Way of Perceiving the World.

There Is Another Way of Perceiving the World.¹

What would happen if we were to:

Replace fear with Love.

Replace guilt with Innocence.

Replace judgment with Truth.

Replace conflict with Peace.

Replace anger with Joy.

Replace damnation with Salvation.

Replace ego thoughts with Spirit’s Wisdom.

As we replace darkness with Light

we are lifting our brothers and sisters above the fray,

and by so doing

resurrecting ourselves.

As we look upon others we perceive our own projections:

Project our own fear and we perceive fear in others.

Project our own love and we perceive love in others.

Nothing that lives “in here”

can help but affect what is “out there.”

Conversely,

Nothing we put “out there”

can help but affect what is “in here.”

To give and receive are one in truth.¹

That which we give is that which we receive.

(Because) I have invented the world I see ²

(I now remember that) there is another way of looking at the world.³

All photos by Barb Adams 2014

 ^{A Course in Miracles:}

^{1,3) W-pI.50}

^{2)    W-pI.49}