A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #175, Review of lessons 159 and 160.

 Lesson #175

Review of lessons 159 and 160.

God is but Love, and therefore so am I.

159 - I give the miracles I have received.

160 - I am at home. Fear is a stranger here.

In A Course In Miracles a “miracle” is a shift in perception from the world of the ego to the world of the Spirit. A miracle is an experience of enlightenment, what the Course calls a “holy instant.”

In Alcoholic Anonymous, in step three, it is suggested that we turn our will lives over to our Higher Power. It is in this turning over that the miracle occurs. When the miracle occurs, fear disappears and a great peace arises.

In Unitarian Universalism, we covenant together, to affirm and promote the respect, dare we say “love,” for the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part. When we apprehend the whole, we become holy along with the All.

Today, we begin and end the day, and many times in between, remembering and reflecting on the fact that the miracles I give are the miracles I receive and in this place of miracles, in this world of Love, there is no fear.

In Diversity is our strength.

 

The world we are entering is going to be far more diverse than ever before, with ever more types of ideas, industries, jobs, companies, and people. And these people are going to be of all backgrounds, races, colors, and creeds, believing in all kinds of gods or none at all. To succeed in this world, we will have to learn to manage diversity and gain strength from it, rather than feel threatened by it. Cities do that better than anyplace else. They are built to be factories of assimilation and amalgamation.

Zakaria, Fareed. Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World (p. 143). W. W. Norton & Company. Kindle Edition. 

By now smart people have figured out that “Make America Great Again”, MAGA, the slogan of Trumpism was code to 30% of Americans who want to make America white again. Problem is that ship sailed a long time ago and in five states non whites outnumber whites and in most American cities.

1. What do you think about this browning of America?
2. Will whites come to embrace it and value it or continue to feel threatened and resist  it?
3. How will the coronavirus pandemic affect the way we view our diversity?

Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.

How does Make America White Again align with UU principles?

Dear Dave - Where's the spirituality in Unitarian Univeralism?

 Dear Dave

I have been looking for a UU church that emphasizes spiritual growth and development. Are there any?

Linda

Dear Linda,

I have the same question and have been engaged in the same search. Sadly, the answer I have so far is no. If anything, UU has been captured and derailed into social justice issues. I am not sure why this is and would be interested in any ideas you have. My guess is that Social Justice issues are easier to address and attempt to gather some energy around, but these efforts are short lived, usually come to nothing, and interest peters out until the “next big thing comes along.”

Trying to organize a spiritual support system around social justice issues is misguided and doomed to failure because it is focused on the world of the ego instead of the world of the Spirit. As such social justice issues are illusionary and a distraction from what is real.

For the time being, the best that I can offer is what we are trying to do here on UU A Way Of Life. It is good to have you here and I hope you will continue to contribute you time, talent, and treasure in any way you can.

We offer spiritual reading discussions and are beginning to form the mystic circle of Unitarian Universalism. We also are studying A Course In Miracles which is perhaps the greatest manual for spiritual development in our contemporary age, but, of course, it’s teachings are timeless.

Please let us know what nourishes your soul.

All the best,

David Markham

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #174, Review of lessons 157 and 158

 Lesson # 174

Review of lessons 157 and 158

God is but love, and therefore so am I.

Lesson 157 - Into His Presence would I enter now.

Lesson 158 - Today I learn to give as I receive.

We have a choice between the world of the ego and the world of Love. Life is actually very simple. Not as complicated as the ego would have us believe. Today’s lessons reinforce this point that we can enter into the Presence Of Love any time we wish. It is not out there, external, but within us, internal. It is our natural inheritance. All we have to do is push past the barriers and obstacles to our awareness of Love’s presence. Once we do this and arrive at the place of Love we immediately recognize that to give is to receive and to receive is to give.

In Alcoholic Anonymous it is suggested in step eleven that we turn within and improve our conscious contact with God, the Higher Power of our Understanding.

In Unitarian Universalism, we covenant together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. This worth and dignity is not composed of external characteristics but of intrinsic worth emanating from the ground of our being.

Today, it is suggested that we begin and end the day, and several times in between, to take a moment or two and enter into Love’s presence and reflect on the idea that to give is to receive and to receive is to give because we are all One. Amen.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #173, Lessons 155 and 156.

 Lesson #173

Review of lessons 155 and 156

God is but love, and therefore so am I.

155- I will step back and let Him lead the way.

156 - I walk with God in perfect holiness.

When it comes to your life, who or what is in charge? The choice is simple: the ego or the Transcendent Source. Your choice.

In Alcoholic Anonymous, it is suggested in step three to turn your life and your will over to your Transcendent Source. One of the slogans of AA is “Let go and let God” which is the same as lesson 155 which states, “I will step back and let Him lead the way.” When a person does this, their life goes so much easier and is filled with so much more peace and joy.

In Unitarian Universalism, people covenant together to affirm and promote the use of the democratic process which requires giving up one’s own ego for a greater good, the common welfare. It is this recognition and acknowledgment of the interdependent web of all existence that imbues life with perfect holiness of which we all are a part.

Today, it is suggested that we begin and end the day, and many times in between, we reflect on the ideas that we let God lead the way and walk with God in perfect holiness. Now there’s a great idea if there ever was one. How about it?

Who is Jesus to you?

 One of my favorite bible verses of late is Matthew 16:15. Jesus asks His disciples, "What about you? Who do you say that I am?"

Raised a Roman Catholic and now interreligious, I sometimes identify with the Unitarian Universalists who covenant together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. Wouldn't it be a better world if everyone covenanted together to affirm and promote these principles?

If so prejudice and discrimination would go bye bye as would systemic racism.

Maybe it all comes down, in the last analysis, to our values. What matters to us? I mean really, not lip service.

Jesus is my guru, my teacher, that's who He is to me.

Do you know what today, 02/17/21, is?

 

Today is Ash Wednesday. It begins a season of purification, and shedding of the skin, and undoing of the chains and shackles of the Matrix which have imprisoned us in an iron cage of socialization and conditioning by the world of the ego.

Lent is not a season of deprivation and sacrifice, but a season of liberation as we turn to the world of the ego to the world of the Spirit.

What will you free yourself from this lent so that you will be lighter on your feet, more carefree, more loving?

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