Wednesday, February 24, 2010

An Alligator and a Python

It's ironic, but I watch a nature show on PBS on Sunday nights at 8:00pm. I remember 25 years ago, I had a stepfather who was 40 years my senior, and he insisted on taking me and my friend on a nature walk at Allegany State Park. You can bet there was a lot of eye rolling and praying to please make it stop going on all day! Now I'm thinking, let me face this, the fact is that there are only two kinds of people that actually watch PBS; babies and old people. Will I ever grow up?

Anyway, this week I watched an alligator eat a python and then I watched a python eat an alligator and then I watched some guy cut open a python and find a whole graveyard full of alligator claws, and bird beaks, and what not inside. This was definitely a different experience from watching the wolves the week before. They were beautiful and graceful. I was mesmerized by their social rituals and their strong family ties. The reptiles not so much. Infact, it was so disgusting, it was hard to watch.

Then I remembered that it really was just one thought that had made all images appear. It was my decision to take the "tiny mad idea" of separation seriously that had caused me to lose my mind. And practicing true forgiveness will help me find it. Thank God!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Someone to Turn To...

That's one of my favorite things about A Course in Miracles, it has given me someone to turn to for everything! I tend to take that quite literally, and I've gotten into the habit of turning to J or the Holy Spirit as some prefer to refer to Him for everything from a cold right on through to the death of a loved one. Pursah points out in The Disappearance of the Universe that it's just as important to forgive a cold as it is to forgive the death of a loved one. So, that's where I got that from!

Anyway, we find right in the preface, in the section called, "How It Came," Dr. Schucman writes, "The names of the collaborators in the recording of the Course do not appear on the cover because the Course can and should stand on its own. It is not intended to become the basis for another cult. Its only purpose is to provide a way in which some people will be able to find their own Internal Teacher."

I am one of those people. I have found my own Internal Teacher which doesn't mean I always listen or even hear, but that's what that little willingness is for, I think. I can't find the line I wanted to use from the Course where J encourages us to take His hand and He says, "I assure you this will be no idle fantasy."

I don't hesitate to find any promises J might make in the blue book, and I put Him right on the spot. He always makes good, though. That's the thing, He really is in there somewhere doing His job perfectly. I've found that having Him as my go to Guy has been the biggest relief of my life even though He's not really a Guy. When He says, on page 56, "In this world you need not have tribulation because I have overcome the world. That is why you should be of good cheer," I do relax then, and be of good cheer, usually. Thank God!

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Themes?

Alright, I wanted to talk about themes a little bit. I don't really know anything about them or what they mean...nothing in the big picture I'm bettin', but since it's Saturday night, and I still think I'm in the picture, I figured I'd do some wondering.

Hey, that's probably what I said just before the you know what(separation)...that didn't really happen(THANK GOD)...but sure seems to have(ugh!)...

Anyway, it seems like there are themes in the sense that certain areas in life go incredibly smoothly for some of us and incredibly crappy for others of us. For example, I seem to have pretty good luck when it comes to anything legal. I can get pulled over for speeding, running a red light, no inspection, no registration, and can't find my license all at the same time and get a warning. My mother, on the other hand, could be sitting in her own home, and someone could come in and physically assault her, and she would have to pay a fine.

Sometimes you get both sides of the same illusory theme. For example, haircuts. It seems we're all darned destined for a bad one of those at least once. I've already had mine, thank you.

It's mind boggling to think of all the zillions of ways this illusory business seems to be scripted out. Arten and Pursah talk about how it's possible to live the same lifetime over again with a different result. They even use my favorite quote from Shakespeare about how, "There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, then are dreamt of in your philosophy." They assure us that we all have the same number of so called good lives as bad lives. We've all been famous, and we've all been the dregs of the earth.

Ultimately, all three of them, J and A & P, heck all four of them, J and A & P and Gary, seem to say that nothing can compare to remembering who we and our brothers and sisters really are, and this true forgiveness can't help but lead to that. Thank God!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Drag Me To Hell

Okay, I've been dying to use this blog title! The thought of this title on an ACIM blog just sort of tickled my funny bone. It's actually the name of a movie the kids talked me into watching with them the other night. We watched the PG-13 version, and I tell you we laughed our heads off.

It was the first time a horror movie didn't horrify me. Usually, I have to look away at the scary parts...this time I watched every second, we all did, and we really laughed so hard.

In fact, all of it reminded me of page 586 in the text. J says, "He would have seen at once that these ideas are one illusion, too ridiculous for anything but to be laughed away!" And later on page 587, "He bids you bring each terrible effect to Him that you may look together on its foolish cause and laugh with him a while. You judge effects, but He has judged their cause. And by His judgment are effects removed. Perhaps you come in tears. But hear Him say, 'My brother, holy Son of God, behold your idle dream, in which this could occur.' And you will leave the holy instant with your laughter and your brother's joined with His."

Okay, one more line, He goes on to say, "The secret of Salvation is but this: that you are doing this unto yourself."

So, I dragged myself to hell, metaphorically speaking of course! And now, I'm leaving!