Welcome to Daily Miracles, a running commentary on the 365 lessons of A Course in Miracles, an influential spiritual text from the 1970s. I am James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as I go through this material for the first time.
Lesson 182
I will be still an instant and go home. (ACIM, W-182)
I first attempted to read this lesson in the very early morning, as I had woken up earlier than usual. I couldn't get through it and decided to go back to sleep. And I dreamt where I was in several previous homes. Not from childhood but from youth and younger adulthood with old mentors and friends from that time. I wondered if the parts of the lesson I did read influenced the dream.
I went back to the lesson, and appreciated paragraph 11:
Take time today to lay aside your shield which profits nothing, and lay down the spear and sword you raised against an enemy without existence. ²Christ has called you friend and brother. ³He has even come to ask your help in letting Him go home today, completed and completely. ⁴He has come as does a little child, who must beseech his father for protection and for love. ⁵He rules the universe, and yet He asks unceasingly that you return with Him, and take illusions as your gods no more (ACIM, W-182.11:1-5)
But when can I make time today to lay down my shield, spear, and sword?
Well, after I finish writing and proofreading this, I will publish it. And then I will go on social media where I will encounter an interesting name or topic that's trending. And so I will click, discover somebody saying something ridiculous, and either respond or battle with myself to not respond.
And it's there, right there. That's certainly the easiest time when I can lay down my armaments. My eyes can't avoid seeing controversial subjects when I am on social media pages, but I can, quite rightly, say "this has nothing to do with me" and move on without reading further.
Would I ruin a four-year-old's birthday party by yelling "Why are you so happy with all the injustices of the world?"
Then why ruin my own day with these worries?
Maybe we should all be like four-year-olds.
James Leroy Wilson writes Daily Miracles, The Daily Bible Chapter, JLCells, and The MVP Chase. Thanks for your subscriptions and support! You may contact him for your writing, editing, and research needs: jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com.
(Photo credit: Ivoronwik)