Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Year!

Wow, today is the last day of 2010!

Tomorrow, I'm going to begin the Course's Workbook for the second time using the commentary by Ken Wapnick called Journey through the Workbook of A Course in Miracles.

I've always wanted to do the Workbook again with Ken, and 2011 seems like the perfect year to do it! I was thrilled to unwrap Ken's 8 book set on Christmas Eve. I've read all the preliminaries, and I'm ready to roll in the morning.

Since today is the last day of the year, some students are finishing the Workbook and treating themselves to the Epilogue. I happened to read it online last night, twice. I had forgotten how beautiful it is, and I thought today would be the perfect day to post it here. Enjoy!

EPILOGUE

This Course is a beginning, not an end. Your Friend goes with you. You are not alone. No one who calls on Him can call in vain. Whatever troubles you, be certain that He has the answer, and will gladly give it to you, if you simply turn to Him and ask it of Him. He will not withhold all answers that you need for anything that seems to trouble you. He knows the way to solve all problems, and resolve all doubts. His certainty is yours. You need but ask it of Him, and it will be given you.

You are as certain of arriving home as is the pathway of the sun laid down before it rises, after it has set, and in the half-lit hours in between. Indeed, your pathway is more certain still. For it can not be possible to change the course of those whom God has called to Him. Therefore obey your will, and follow Him Whom you accepted as your voice, to speak of what you really want and really need. His is the Voice for God and also yours. And thus He speaks of freedom and of truth.

No more specific lessons are assigned, for there is no more need of them. Henceforth, hear but the Voice for God and for your Self when you retire from the world, to seek reality instead. He will direct your efforts, telling you exactly what to do, how to direct your mind, and when to come to Him in silence, asking for His sure direction and His certain Word. His is the Word that God has given you. His is the Word you chose to be your own.

And now I place you in His hands, to be His faithful follower, with Him as Guide through every difficulty and all pain that you may think is real. Nor will He give you pleasures that will pass away, for He gives only the eternal and the good. Let Him prepare you further. He has earned your trust by speaking daily to you of your Father and your brother and your Self. He will continue. Now you walk with Him, as certain as is He of where you go; as sure as He of how you should proceed; as confident as He is of the goal, and of your safe arrival in the end.

The end is certain, and the means as well. To this we say "Amen." You will be told exactly what God wills for you each time there is a choice to make. And He will speak for God and for your Self, thus making sure that hell will claim you not, and that each choice you make brings Heaven nearer to your reach. And so we walk with Him from this time on, and turn to Him for guidance and for peace and sure direction. Joy attends our way. For we go homeward to an open door which God has held unclosed to welcome us.

We trust our ways to Him and say "Amen." In peace we will continue in His way, and trust all things to Him. In confidence we wait His answers, as we ask His Will in everything we do. He loves God's son as we would love him. And He teaches us how to behold him through His eyes, and love him as He does. You do not walk alone. God's angels hover near and all about. His Love surrounds you, and of this be sure; that I will never leave you comfortless.

Friday, December 17, 2010

What We Want...What We Really, Really, Want!

It's that time of year again! The kids have made their lists, and checked them way more than twice, and in fact, are still in the process of adding on and on and on!

I certainly think that I want a whole bunch of stuff which I've simplified by narrowing it down to just a winning lottery ticket, preferably a really big one!

It seems that our whole lives are spent in a state of want. Since studying the Course, it occurs to me that I don't really know what I want. One of my favorite Workbook Lessons is number 24, "I do not perceive my own best interests."

This hasn't really stopped me from thinking that I want stuff, but it has helped me to think differently about this entire subject.

I think that maybe all the stuff we want, be it tangible or intangible, for ourselves or for others, is really symbolic of wanting our Father in Heaven. Maybe it really is our Home in Heaven that we miss.

As always, Jesus says it best, "For still deeper than the ego's foundation, and much stronger than it will ever be, is your intense and burning love of God, and His for you." T-13:III:2:8.

Amen and Thank God!