LESSON FORTY-ONE

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: The Course text is in bold face. The Guidance is in normal type In His Guidance, He has asked Me to capitalize the pronouns You and We as an acknowledgement of the Divinity of All of Us, an acknowledgement of Equality, an expression of His Love and respect for You. When You see the word ‘YOU’ capitalized in the Guidance, know that He is not just speaking to YOU, He is honoring YOU.

God goes with me wherever I go.

As We do come again to this lesson, the transcriber reminds Me (as if I needed to be reminded!) that they sparked the first words She read of the Course and how She heard Me say them:  God goes as Me wherever I go.  And everything did change for Her in that very Holy Instant.  And that like Joni Mitchell’s lyrics: She’d not known Love at all before that Instant.₁

Now She and All of You who will to are learning that Love is Your very Substance, how You express Yourselves to Your Others. (a.k.a Brothers)

¹ Today’s idea will eventually overcome completely the sense of loneliness and abandonment which all the separated ones experience. Yes, (in answer to the transcriber’s question) Our connection is why One is ‘unreasonably’ happy. That and being here just for giving. And giving is a form of joining too, when You are connecting for Another. Depression is an inevitable consequence of separation. So are anxiety, worry, a deep sense of helplessness, misery, suffering, and intense fear of loss. And all of it is unnecessary. The separated ones have invented many “cures” for what they believe to be the “ills of the world.” But the one thing they do not do is to question the reality of the problem. Yet its effects cannot be cured because the problem is not real.  For the dream in which it is happening is but fantasy, not Reality.  The only cure for all the ills of dreaming is to Waken!

² The idea for today has the power to end all this foolishness forever. And foolishness it is, despite the serious and tragic forms it may take. Deep within you is everything that is perfect, ready to radiate through you and out into the whole world. It will cure all sorrow and pain and fear and loss because it will heal the mind that thought these things were real and suffered out of its allegiance to them.  Okay, You say, that God is with Me.  Well what is that to Me?  How do I know it?

God is more than with You.  God is Be-ing You, and You are God’s Be-ing. Could the sun leave the rays to fend for themselves, when the sun and rays are one?

God and His Ideas are One, and “Ideas leave not their Source.”  So where could They go to think so, but the never-never-land of dreaming.  And thinking so does not – cannot – make Reality, but it sure does appear to distort It.

Okay, I get that. Still another question, Brother, sometimes for Me, and for many Brothers: You say to make no decisions on Our own.  Well suppose that We can’t hear any answer?

First You give Me that “little willingness” for which I have asked, then trust Me to somehow impart to You what You need to know.  Be not attached to how it comes to You.  Simply be willing.

This may take many forms: flipping a coin for yes or no, picturing a light turning red or green, papers in the pocket saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ (with thanks to Pauline).

³ You can never be deprived of your perfect holiness, because its Source goes with you wherever you go. You and Your Source literally are One. This is the Truth for All of Creation. You can never suffer, because the Source of all joy goes with you – and is Be-ing You, now and forever – wherever you go. You can never be alone, because the Source of all life goes with you wherever you go. Nothing can destroy your peace of mind, because God goes with you – How? By Be-ing You! – wherever you go.

⁴ We understand that you do not believe all this. How could you, when the truth is hidden deep within under a heavy cloud of insane thoughts, dense and obscuring, yet representing all you see? Today we will make our first real attempt to get past this dark and heavy cloud and to go through it to the light beyond.  Reach out and feel Me, for as I said two thousand years ago: “I will never leave Thee nor forsake Thee.”₂  And since this is True of Me, Your Elder Brother, how much more is it True of God, Our Father-Mother!

⁵ There will be only one long practice period today. In the morning, as soon as you get up if possible, sit quietly for some three to five minutes with your eyes closed. At the beginning of the practice period, repeat today’s idea very slowly. Then make no effort to think of anything. Try instead to get a sense of turning inward, past all the idle thoughts of the world. Try to enter very deeply into your own mind, keeping it clear of any thoughts that might divert your attention.  What We want is to experience true quietness of mind.  The peace that is there, which is found when We bypass the ego. For the ego-thought which promised so-called ‘freedom’ with the separation, became instead Your jailer.

Yet has Your peace and Your freedom been kept safe for You now known as the Holy Spirit.  This is what We seek.

⁶ From time to time, you may repeat today’s idea if you find it helpful. But most of all, try to sink down and inward, away from the world and all the foolish thoughts of the world. You are trying to reach past all these things. You are trying to leave appearances and approach reality.  It is not gone, but only hidden by the foolish ego.  You need not listen to its babbling, its insanity, for the Love of God has kept You safe, belovèd Son of God.

⁷ It is quite possible to reach God. In fact it is very easy because it is the most natural thing in the world. You might even say it is the only natural thing in the world. The way will open if you believe that it is possible. This exercise can bring very startling results even the first time it is attempted. And sooner or later, it is always successful. We will go into more detail in connection with this kind of practice as we go along. But it will never fail completely, and instant success is possible.  And why is this but because it is Truth that We are teaching.  And the Light and Love of Truth kindly shines away all errors.  Feel its gentle warmth melting icy fears, and releasing You to Its happiness.

As I have promised, I am always here, attentive to the “little willingness” for Awakening.  The willingness to leave the nightmare for glad Awakening.

⁸ Throughout the day, use today’s idea often, repeating it very slowly and preferably with eyes closed. Think of what you are saying; what the words mean. Concentrate on the holiness which they imply about you; on the unfailing companionship which is yours; on the complete protection that surrounds you.  You are embraced by Love; this is the Truth.  And I will keep repeating this till You know that it is True, and You can trust Me.  I’ll never leave You.  Reach out for My hand. As We are All One, I’m here right now, here for You forever.

⁹ You can indeed afford to laugh at fear thoughts, remembering that God goes with you wherever you go.  The “little willingness” is You allowing Love to Be You. “Closer than breathing”₃ is the Truth of Love.

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¹ Both Sides Now, Joni Mitchell

“It’s Love’s illusions I recall.  I really don’t know Love at all.”

² Gospel of John

³ “The Higher Pantheism, Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Speak with Him Thou for He hearest.

Spirit with Spirit can meet.

Closer is He than breathing,

Nearer than hands and feet.

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[Thank you Dear Brother]