Inspired Writings
What is the Meaning of Life?
by Gene Skaggs
Of Course: Sweet Dreams
by Diana Black
Of Course: Sing a Different Tune
by Diana Black
The Gift
by Diana Black
A Blessing for Your Belonging
from Mike Salisbury
Many Problems - One Solution
by Gene Skaggs
Only My Own Forgiveness Sets Me Free
by Frank Ellis
Space Time OR Time Space
by Mike Landis
Chain, Chain, Chain.........Chain of Fools
by Vina Franklin
The Bible Bump or "Wrist-ky" Business
by Diana Black
Remember and Accept
by Frank Ellis
Of Course: Here Comes the Judge
by Diana Black
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What is the Meaning of Life?
by Gene Skaggs
This was a question posed to me recently. A question everyone I am sure has pondered from time to time. I'm sure different thought systems have different views as to the meaning of life.
I, of course, am going to view the question from a Course perspective. First, I have trouble with the word "meaning." I personally like the word "purpose." Since I'm writing this article, I'm going to change the question from "What is the meaning to life?" to "What is the meaning/purpose of life?" The Course uses words that are interchangeable and I thing "purpose" and "meaning" fit that category. The biggest obstacle one must look at in writing about such an imposing topic is the word "life." I think most people will look at life as what we see, feel, touch, smell and taste. The Course doesn't consider that life. Nothing in our dualistic, perceptual world lives. Anything that has an opposite, anything that will perish or change form in any manner, is void of life.
Life, from a Course perspective, is sprit/thought. This spirit/thought is the only place life emanates from, everything else is a projection/extension of thought. Therefore, anything that will not last forever is not presently alive, nor has it ever lived.
With that in mind, let's get back to the original question. So does something that is eternal have a purpose? Does it have to have a purpose, and if it has a purpose, what is its purpose? Technically speaking, it has no purpose, it just is; it is love and it extends love. But (doesn't there always seem to be a but), given the fact that where we think we are and that being in a body surrounded by other bodies, spirit does have a purpose.
Simply put, spirit's purpose is to have us recognize who we are; have us recognize our oneness with God, everyone, and everything - from a thought/mind perspective. Our ego's purpose is to have us see separation, specialness, lack and needs --- all to be filled or repressed by external means. Every time we seek outside ourselves, we reject who we are as sons and daughters of a loving God.
Every time we ask to see things differently, through forgiveness, and every time we unite our thoughts with God, we are fulfilling our purpose. Every time we see another person's cry for help as our cry for help, we are fulfilling our purpose and, in turn, help all our brothers and sisters accept their rightful inheritance.
Workbook Lesson 62, FORGIVENESS IS MY FUNCTION AS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
"That is why all forgiveness is a gift to yourself.
Your goal is to find out who you are..."
Workbook Lesson 319, I CAME FOR THE SALVATION OF THE WORLD
"What aim but the salvation of the world could You have given me?"
Wishing you nothing but love on your journey to recognizing who you are and recognizing your divine purpose in life.
© 2000 Gene Skaggs
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Of Course
by Diana Black
Sweet Dreams
Dreams. They are one of the few illusions ego recognizes as being such. Normally things like an alarm clock or pillow are not perceived as illusions. They are "tangible" objects when seen through the eyes of ego.
But dreams, we tell ourselves and often times gladly accept, are supposed to be illusions. Especially nightmares. Those nights we awaken with a start, sitting straight up in bed, our heart pounding and beads of perspiration on our forehead, aren't we grateful that it was just a dream... only an illusion?!
The other night I dreamed that I had forgotten I was signed up for a college course for credit. I became aware of it when I was handed three test pages on a subject I knew nothing about. As the instructor passed out the exam, he whispered the first answer to me, which was some significant year. What I heard was "altenth." I struggled and struggled to make sense of what he had said, knowing I couldn't ask him to repeat it. I was so upset with myself because I figured that was the only answer I could have gotten right, and there I had messed that up! However, after much distress, I felt relieved later in the dream when I realized that it was the first test of the semester and I could drop the class and get part of my money back.
The next morning I drawn to the section in ACIM&#reg; titled At Home In God (T 182). There I read, "Would you bother to reconcile what happened in conflicting dreams, or would you dismiss both together if you discovered that reality is in accord with neither?" (T 182:3)
Even during my "sleeping" dream within my "waking" dream, I was trying to find an acceptable solution. I was not willing to let my dream leave me in a place of embarrassment and failure. Therefore when I awoke I thought myself less fearful because I had produced what I thought was a good outcome for a bad situation. Yet I had only substituted one fear for another, one dream for another, neither of which was necessary or real.
"Could it be some dreams are kept, and others wakened from? The choice is not between which dreams to keep, but only if you want to live in dreams or to awaken from them... Fear is the material of dreams, from which they all are made... The thin disguise of pleasure and joy in which they may be wrapped but slightly veils the heavy lump of fear that is their core." (T 612:1.4)
Ah, but we are promised that, "The core of dreams the Holy Spirit gives is never one of fear (T 613:5.3)... Because He loves the dreamer, not the dream, each dream becomes an offering of love." (T 613:6.6)
Sweet dreams...
© 2001 Diana Black
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Of Course
by Diana Black
Sing a Different Tune
Christmas brings with it wonderful holiday songs. I heard an old familiar one the other day titled, "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth," and was reminded of all the things I think and say that I want-all year round.
For example, sometimes-okay, MOST of the time!-I find myself asking for things I think will make my life better: a good parking place; a low mortgage rate; perfect health. And, on occasion-oops, there I go again! I mean, quite often-in an attempt to get what I want, I try to "sweeten the pot" by promising something in return for having my "prayers answered." One of my favorite bargaining mantras is, Oh, God, if you just get me through this, I'll never ask for anything EVER again!
Then there are the requests that I make, similar to "all I want... is my two front teeth," when in reality I don't mean a word of what I am saying. It just seems like the thing to do or say because I am convinced that what I am asking for will be "good" for me, or the "best thing" for someone else.
Although I can't speak for the writer(s) of "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth"-sorry that I have not been able to track down the name(s)-the song was probably written merely as a catchy, amusing little tune. Still it begs to be looked at on a more serious level. Does the child singing truly just want his or her pearly whites replaced and that's ALL?! If Santa would come through for him or her, would the youngster be joyous and content? If the child were given the choice of having two teeth magically appear in his or her gums, or receiving the fastest and coolest scooter under any kid's feet or the hottest state-of-the-art computer game on the market, my guess is that the orthodontics would not come out on top.
An even deeper look into the lyrics of that sweet, simple song ultimately inspires a student of truth to turn to one of the most beautiful and powerful of the ACIM Workbook Lessons, Number 185, "I want the peace of God... To say these words is nothing, to mean these words is everything."
Much too often when I say those words, I don't really want the peace of God. I want my "two front teeth" to make me whole. Perhaps it's when I've listened to what "mommy and daddy" think I should ask for, or maybe it's when I've heard my "brothers and sisters" tease me. But the bottom line is, saying those words means nothing if I allow myself to fall prey to my ego's belief that only with "my two front teeth," will I be complete-again. How grateful I am the Truth is, I am whole every moment, always have been and always will be. We are all complete, now and forever, with or without "teeth."
So, this Christmas, my gift to me-and to each of you-requires me to sing a different tune. Instead of wanting "my two front teeth," let me remember to sing, "All I Want For Christmas Is The Peace Of God"-and really mean it.
© 2000 Diana Black
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The Gift
by Diana Black
I can't give God the moon
I can't give God the stars
They're already His
Right where they are
I can't give Him mountains
Or the oceans' blue waves
Ah, but I can
Give Him this day
© 2000 Diana Black
Inspired by Lesson 242 of A Course In Miracles©: This day is God's. It is my gift to Him, and a passage from author Tara Singh's book "How To Learn From A Course In Miracles," ...we can't give Him the moon.
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A Blessing for Your Belonging
by John O'Donohue
Submitted by Mike Salisbury
Blessed be the longing that brought you here and that
quickens your soul with wonder.
May you have the courage to befriend your eternal longing.
May you enjoy the critical and creative companionship of the
question "Who am I?" and may it brighten your longing.
May a secret providence guide your thought and shelter your feelings.
May your mind inhabit your life with the same sureness
with which your body belongs in the world.
May the sense of something absent enlarge your life.
May your soul be as free as the ever-new waves of the sea.
May you succumb to the danger of growth.
May you live in the neighborhood of wonder, and
May you belong to love with the wildness of dance
and know that you are ever embraced in the kind circle of God.
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Many Problems - One Solution
by Gene Skaggs
Does life seem to be an endless chain of never-ending problems? No sooner is one solved than another rises to take its place. These problems demand an endless arsenal of problem-solving mechanisms. Very few of us stop and ask why. We simply plug along in life, seemingly solving one problem after another. The amazing thing about this is that we think we actually become better problem solvers. We pride ourselves on solving complicated and difficult problems. Another equally amazing and erroneous idea comes into play when we think we can learn from previous problems. This "skill" is based on the learned premise that by doing certain things, a particular result follows.
We have learned, for example, to place people into certain categories or personalities. Since we want people to like us and since everyone wants others to act in certain ways, we have learned how to respond to different personalities in ways calculated to get the best possible response from them.
Another prominent defense we employ is denial or avoidance. In this process we simply pretend the problem is nonexistent. Or, if it is raised to our consciousness, we simply avoid it.
These different ways of solving problems in this world work very nicely for the ego. This is because in each process we use to remove problems, nothing truly happens. All that occurs is repressed fears that lead us to continuously shift from one problem/person to another.
Now, we must ask ourselves how we can truly solve a problem. Notice I have said "a problem." This was said deliberately to stress the point that there is only one problem. This basic, single problem comes from the original mistaken belief that we have separated from God.
At this cosmic level, fear is overwhelming. Very few of us are aware of this level of fear. What now takes place is the defense mechanism of projection which the ego uses to make us believe our problems are out in the world and not in our mind.
As long as the ego can convince us that the problems are out in the world, there is not way out, because if the problem is in the world, the solution has to be there also.
The Holy Spirit, God, Jesus, has a different way of solving all our "problems."
First, we must recognize that there are no problems in the world. I think we all can grasp that intellectually, but putting it into practice takes time. The main reason this is so difficult is because when we say there are no problems in the world, one must say, "I am responsible for what happens to me and no one else has the capacity to take away my peace unless I want to give it away." No small task!
After the recognition that the world is me -through projection- that I do have guilty thoughts (anger, fear, lack, sickness, etc.), the next step entails turning OUR guilty thoughts over to the Holy Spirit for removal and reinterpretation. The first two steps our own part. Again, no small task.
The third step, the removal and reinterpretation, belongs to the Holy Spirit. In looking at the three steps in the forgiveness process, we come to realize there is only one problem, the fear to accept love, the fear to accept our rightful place as sons and daughters of God, our fear to be one with everyone and everything, and our fear to be one with God. This lack/fear of love takes many forms, such as bad relationships, sickness, co-dependence, lack of money and all types of insecurities. But, in reality, there is only one problem (I have chosen to listen to the ego interpretation of the situation) and one solution (I now have decided to listen to the Holy Spirit's interpretation.)
© 2000 Gene Skaggs
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Only My Own Forgiveness Sets Me Free
by Frank Ellis
Workbook Lesson 198 gives us two short but pointed affirmations that sum up the Course in a convenient memory aid:
"Only my condemnation injures me.
Only my own forgiveness sets me free."
There is no situation in our human illusion that can't be healed by these reminders. If we allow ego thoughts to condemn ourselves, spouses, teenagers, co-workers, or anyone with whom we people our world, we injure ourselves. They are extensions of our mind and our thought, so we are attacking ourselves. In the process, we affirm and strengthen the negative and fear-filled ego thought system. We doubly injure ourselves and reinforce our perception of separation with our thought of condemnation. It is only our thought, but it injures us.
When we recognize the mistaken thought and decide to see it differently, the resultant forgiving thought replaces the other, weakening the ego and strengthening our holy thought process. We can forgive those we seem to condemn, but what we really need is to forgive ourselves for thinking the condemning thought. Forgiving ourselves must be part of the "turning over" process to free us of the injury as well as the mistaken thinking. At that point in turning it over to the Holy Spirit to be healed, I must recognize that "it" is only my thought.
In the healing process, as we seek the help of the Holy Spirit to change the way we see the thought, further guidance is given in Workbook Lesson 167 paragraph 3, sentences 3-6:
"A thought is in the mind. It can be applied as the mind directs it. But its origin is where it must be changed, if change occurs. Ideas leave not their source."
Attacks, fears, condemnations, and whatever other problems we see "out there" are thoughts that have never left their source except illusions. We can change the thought at the source and change what we see.
In Workbook Lesson 132, paragraph 5, sentence 2, Jesus tells us: "Change but your mind on what you want to see, and all the world must change accordingly."
By deciding to be vigilant in watching our thoughts, and by recognizing thoughts that we don't want in our world, we train our mind to more consistently choose forgiveness thoughts instead of condemning thoughts. We can change the source to select freedom in place of injury. As we are frequently reminded --
"Forgiveness is our function."
"Forgiveness is the key to happiness."
"Forgiveness offers everything that I want."
"Forgiveness ends the dream of conflict here."
"Forgiveness lets me know that minds are joined."
Through our vigilance we should focus and strengthen and reinforce forgiving thoughts to attain the peace of God. Once the forgiving-thought-process becomes a strong habit, the fear and condemnation thoughts are much less likely to injure us. Remember that it is only a thought that you need to change. Forgive your own self! "Only your own forgiveness sets you free."
Workbook Lesson 199 adds to this. Our benefits for relinquishing thoughts of condemnation and accepting the freedom of self forgiveness become "I am not a body. I am free. I hear the Voice that God has given me, and it is only this my mind obeys."
Freedom opens us to hear the Voice of the Holy Spirit that our mind will obey the will of God, which is our own true will. For every instant that we stay free through forgiving our own thoughts, we are free of ego fears, free to be Happy and Joyous in the Peace of God, free to accept our gifts of Light, Love, Abundance, and Strength. And isn't that why we are involved in A Course In Miracles? So, be vigilant to forgive our own thoughts, and enjoy our freedom.
© 2000 Frank Ellis
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Space Time OR Time Space
by Mike Landis
We usually refer to our universe as a Space Time system. In a Space Time system Space (matter and energy experienced here) are reasonably fixed in nature and age or change slowly with time that passes forward constantly.
In Time Space things are different. Time is not moving, it is always NOW. Space (Matter, objects and memories) are re-written in each instant or NOW. Where does the information come to re-write space? From the Cosmic Consciousness or Cosmic Mind. When a ball is dropped from 5 feet above the ground in Time Space, the ball is fixed and does not move. In another instant the ball is re-written in a new location and the memory of the ball in other locations is re-written in this instant. Memories are a part of Space in Time Space.
The Cosmic Mind is made up of all the thoughts of everything in the universe, ego thoughts as well as thoughts guided by Spirit. All thinking takes place in the Cosmic Mind. When I have thoughts of being a victim, other thoughts in the Cosmic Mind come close to me and show me more victims and victimizers. The area around me in the Cosmic Mind is where most of the information about my personal reality comes from. The thoughts that are closest to me in the Cosmic Mind will be brought into form near me when Space is re-written and this I will call my perceived reality. My ability to choose to listen to Spirit and think differently will result in attracting new thoughts to gather around me in the Cosmic Mind and this will change my perceived reality.
Why bother with Time Space when Space Time seems to work so well? The answer to this is of major importance. If I believe in Space Time, experience and the past have reality to me. I am very resistant to the concept that change can happen instantly. In Time Space everything is re-written every instant. If everything, including my memories, is re-written every instant, then everything in my perceived reality can change instantly when I change my thoughts. When I firmly believe that instant changes are possible then I will allow instant changes to manifest in my life. Thoughts that support your current beliefs will always be near you in the Cosmic Mind and hence in your perceived reality.
Space Time and Time Space are beliefs about how the universe works. Both views can explain the world. I feel that a belief in Time Space makes it easier to believe and experience miracles in my life.
Copyright 2000 by Mike Landis
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"Chain, Chain, Chain............Chain Of Fools."
by Vina Franklin
What about that song? Have you ever wondered about those lyrics? When we are listening to the ego's voice, it's so true....that we are a chain of fools. Never fear, however, ACIM is here!
Miracle #25 says, "Miracles are part of an interlocking chain of forgiveness, which when completed, is the Atonement."
What a tool to have in our journey back to God. To quote Neale Donald Walsch in Friendship With God, "Ours is not a better path. It is another path... I have sent you nothing but angels and all there are are miracles."
As Gene Skaggs has so often stated, there are many paths back to God, and one must choose the one that works for them. We can't lose our way for long. We are going home to God. He has guaranteed our arrival.
Since embarking on this path, I've been blessed to have fantastic teachers and Course facilitators. I am very grateful to my dear friend, Gloria, for introducing me to the Course almost four years ago; to Gene for being so patient, kind and consistent in his role of Teacher of God; to Norman, another dear Teacher of God, for his gentle compassion and understanding, and to so many friends along the way who never judge, yet offer unconditional love. Miracle #3, "The real miracle is the love that inspires them. In this sense everything that comes from love is a miracle."
Before embarking on this new journey of remembering Who I Am, I was the perpetual 'victim'. I thought everybody was doing it to me and I felt justified in blaming others. I was obviously viewing my 'victimizers' from ego eyes, in believing they had 'wronged' me. I also had been taught you could punish others by withholding your love. I told you I had great teachers!
In reality, guess who I was punishing? Nobody but me, because as we are taught, there is nobody outside of myself. If we only get to keep what we give away, no wonder I was so miserably lonely and unhappy.....feeling the burden of those chains that kept me bound.
There's good news and bad news, however. The good news from Holy Spirit is that since there are no problems outside us, neither are solutions there. We have all the answers we'll ever need. We are the message. The bad news, from the ego perspective, is the same as above. You know the ego must be hating life when it realizes it's favorite game, projection, will no longer work!
I would like to share a few passages that have helped me immensely to regain my Center, thereby, loosening my self-imposed chains. At times, (wonders never cease) I even experience total freedom from them. These would, of course, be known as 'holy instants.' As we climb the rungs of the ladder back to God, it is comforting to experience these peaceful times more frequently and for longer periods. "Miracles wait not on time."
One of my favorite lessons is, "I will forgive and this will disappear." When I am tempted to play the projection game, these words remind me to choose again. To heal our perceived wounds, we must remember this accountability. It's never about the other person. As I am so fond of Gene reminding, "The other person is kind enough to be our mirror and show us the grievances we are holding onto." Then, we can turn it over to Holy Spirit and our forgiveness process will be complete. Miracle #1 says, "There is no order of difficulty in miracles... All expressions of love are maximal."
Two key principles:
1) If and when I hold a grievance against a brother, I must ask myself, "Would I also lay these chains against myself, as I have my brother?"
2) When I either refuse to forgive myself, or as long as I still think I must forgive a brother outside of me, then I must realize this is a choice I am making. Along with this choice, I must be keenly aware that if I choose to listen to the ego, I am responsible for my pain. It is me who has chosen death, and I am responsible for my blessings ceasing to flow. However, when I surrender any perceived problems to Holy Spirit, then I am also responsible for my Joy, my Freedom, my Love.
To reiterate, from Workbook Lesson 134, paragraph 9, "When you feel tempted to accuse someone of sin in any form, do not allow your mind to dwell on what you think he did, for that is self-deception. Ask instead, 'Would I accuse myself of doing this?'"
Paragraph 11, "He has been gently wakened by his dream by understanding what he thought he saw was never there."
Paragraph 12, "He does not have to fight to save himself. He does not have to kill the dragons which he thought pursued him. Nor need he erect the heavy walls of stone and iron doors he thought would make him safe. He can remove the ponderous and useless armor made to chain his mind to fear and misery."
Paragraph 16, "If you have been practicing thus far in willingness and honesty, you will begin to sense a lifting up, a lightening of weight across your chest, a deep and certain feeling of relief. The time remaining should be given to experiencing the escape from the heavy chains you sought to lay upon your brother, but were laid upon yourself... Let me perceive forgiveness as it is. Would I accuse myself of doing this? I will not lay this chain upon myself."
"In everything you do remember this, no one is crucified alone, and yet no one can enter Heaven by himself."
We are all One. If we could just accept this 100%, the illusion and the world here as we know it would vanish and we would return to our Father's arms, which is where We belong.
© 2000 Vina Franklin
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The Bible Bump, or "Wrist-ky" Business
by Diana Black
It all began with an innocent little comment I made to nurse Bon at our A Course In Miracles class one Tuesday evening. Just before the closing meditation, I quietly asked her if she would be willing to smash the cyst on my wrist with a book. Her look of surprise (mixed with a sprinkle of terror!) was my first clue she was not familiar with Ganglion cysts.
After class, as our brothers and sisters adjourned to the next room for refreshments, I explained to Bon that these kinds of cysts are common (my sister had had one), and have even been given the nickname Bible Bump (in the old days, the hardback book of choice to smack the daylights out of the pesky little nodules was the "Good Book.")
After some discussion, Bon suggested we consult with nurse Linda before we did anything. Bon and I talked not only with Linda, but also our dear sister Sandy, brother Gene and "mother" Charo. We debated just what the proper "course" of action was to be regarding my cyst.
All of a sudden, before I knew what was to hit me, I turned around to see Charo standing next to me smiling and waving a shiny hammer. I'm pretty sure the look of terror I had seen on Bon's face was then on mine!
Charo explained that she knew of a friend who had gotten rid of a Ganglion cyst on her hand by hitting it with a hammer covered with a washcloth. With that ageless, "knowing" twinkle in her eyes that we've all come to love and trust, Charo said come on and let her do it. She assured me it would work. Apparently I gave her some indication that I was willing because she set off to prepare the "operating room" (which involved moving the cookies and drinks to the opposite end of the refreshment table!).
From the other room as I watched Charo intently arrange a place for my "surgery," I asked Linda if I should do this thing. Linda looked at me with her crystal-clear blue eyes and asked, "What do you think of that woman in there?"
As I looked more closely at how lovingly Charo prepared my "table," I heard Linda add, "Would that woman hurt you?" Of course, I said no, and we moved into the next room.
Sandy, Bon, Linda and Gene invited me to sit down and then gathered around me like angels. While Charo draped a cloth over my wrist, Linda steadied my arm and hand as a hardback copy of ACIM was placed on the cyst. As I closed my eyes, the palm of someone's hand held my forehead ever so tenderly and two other hands gently rested on my shoulders.
WHACK! The hammer struck the book, and amazingly I didn't feel pain! The book and cloth were removed so that we could examine the results of the "procedure." But alas, the large lump was still as big as ever. The steps were repeated several more times until it was clear that night was not the night for a miracle of ganglion proportions - at least not the way we had expected.
Gene then suggested everyone place one hand on my wrist and extend love to it. I remember not his words - they were beautiful I'm sure - but I will never forget the energy and love I felt embrace my wrist, and how it extended through my whole being.
The six of us there in front of the huge picture window must have been quite a sight. I wonder if people passing by on the highway some distance from where we stood felt vibrations. Or did a large bright light fill the night sky from that small house.
As I write this, the cyst still adorns my wrist. But I know now removing it from my body was not the purpose of showing the cyst to Bon. Sharing the love of my teachers was the miracle. Thank you to each of my brothers and sisters - whether or not you "laid hands" upon me. You were there - I felt you. And for a holy instant - time stood still and we were all healed.
© 2000 Diana Black
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Remember and Accept
by Frank Ellis
Hope all that you see appears peaceful as you continue along, exactly where you are supposed to be. I'm sure that you feel lead. I am sure that ego will want to deceive you. Remember Who leads you. With Jesus holding one hand, and Holy Spirit holding the other, each pulling you along a smooth, straight path, stumble not on imagined obstacles. Remember Who leads you. What would you not accept if you but knew that everything that happens is because these two mighty companions are taking you along the path meant for you to the happy and joyous goals that they have planned for you? You cannot not go. You cannot not be exactly where you are now. You can but choose to think yourself at peace or fear at any step along the way, and show that to others. You will move along and accomplish all things right on schedule. Faith will make it easier to accept your tasks and do your best and be the most helpful to brothers and companions alike. Ego will try to make you uncomfortable along the entire way. Two choices are omnipresent at every step of the path, every rung of the ladder back. But, "what could you not accept, if you but knew that everything that happens, all events, past, present and to come, are gently planned by One Whose only purpose is your good? Perhaps you have misunderstood His plan, for he would never offer pain to you." He means to make it very clear to you that you should never choose the pain or fear. Ask but your own self, why would you ever, knowing that His plan is only for your good, why would you ever choose pain instead of peace? Fear instead of love?
© 2000 Frank Ellis
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Of Course
Diana Black
“Here Comes The Judge”
The '60s TV show Laugh In was before my time - uh, please excuse me while I push my nose back to its original size - but some of you may remember it and the recurring spoof where a high-stepping Sammy Davis Jr., sporting an adjudicator's long, black robe, would make his entrance chanting, “Here comes da judge! Here comes da judge!”
That parody - strange as this may sound - came to mind the other day as I was reading Tara Singh's book “How To Learn From A Course In Miracles.” I have since condensed his passage on judgment into the following one sentence to give my ego less opportunity to derail my train of thought: I judge others and myself to justify my failure to forgive.
As much as I hate to admit it, I have appointed myself a supreme court of one. Clearly, my neighbor's grass is either too tall or too short; motorists either drive too fast or too slow; my hair is either too straight or too curly; my weekends either too full or too empty; my life too ... well, you get the idea.
Somewhere I got the notion that I am entitled - in fact it's my civic and moral duty - to be judge and jury, passing sentence on myself and everyone else. Oh, how freeing it is when I remember to take off my judge's robe of righteousness, step down from that high bench and face the truth that we are all perfect, sin-free and guiltless.
But I have to confess, I don't remember as often as I'd like that we are one. And each time that I forget, “here comes the judge” again, virtuously armed with my ego's proverbial scale of justice. Oh, and how ego loves that because then “justice” can really be served as I begin to feel guilty for forgetting! So I busy myself once again secretly - and often times publicly - forming and expressing opinions of others and myself, all the while convinced it is my right because ... well, who knows why. The whole purpose is to make my ego look good and to make me look anywhere but at the truth. Because, as my ego likes to remind me, sounding abysmally like the virulent Jack Nicholson character cross-examined in the movie A Few Good Men, “You can't handle the truth!”
Fortunately, A Course In Miracles®; lovingly explains any unwillingness to face the truth. “For you believe that, in the presence of truth, you might turn on yourself and destroy yourself.” (T.241.8.6) But, “Little child, this is not so. Your 'guilty secret' is nothing, and if you will but bring it to the light, the Light will dispel it.” (T.241.9.1)
How grateful I am that Truth sets us free and silences the chatter of ego judgment forever when I “Learn to be quiet, for His Voice is heard in stillness. And His Judgment comes to all who stand aside in quiet listening, and wait for Him.” (M.15.2.12-13) How thankful we all can be that the only real judgment ever made is God's Final Judgment. And that Judgment is one of Love, “Holy are you, eternal, free and whole, at peace forever in the Heart of God.” (M.15.1.11)
© 2000 Diana Black