Atonement makes perception unnecessary.

As long as perception lasts prayer has a place. Since perception rests on lack, those who perceive have not totally accepted the Atonement and given themselves over to truth. Perception is based on a separated state, so that anyone who perceives at all needs healing. T-3.V.10: 1-3

A Course in Miracles . Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

The separation causes a sense of lack. This sense of lack leads to perception with judgment rather than an experience of the Atonement which is the undoing, or the healing of the separation, also called a “miracle.” When the Atonement is accepted perception no longer makes any sense.

In Alcoholics Anonymous it is suggested, in step eleven, that we improve our conscious contact with God. This improved conscious contact with God is what the Course calls the “Atonement.” This conscious contact with God is the healing of the separation. When this conscious contact or Atonement occurs, perception is no longer necessary and we no longer take other people’s inventory or our own. There is no longer any inventory to take because we are assumed into the unconditional love of God.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. This inherent worth and dignity is a recognition and acknowledgement of the Atonement. Perception is no longer necessary because in the Unconditional Love of God there is nothing to perceive, nothing to discriminate, nothing to judge. Human beings are merely an extension of God’s creation.

Today, it is suggested that we reflect on the Oneness of God, the ocean instead of the drops. When we consider the ocean of God’s unconditional love there is nothing to perceive. We simply experience our completeness, our fulfillment, the Ground of Being.

What has happened to me?

Forgiveness is the healing of the perception of separation. T-3.V.9:1 A Course In Miracles.

When we were separated from the non dualistic Oneness of God at the incarnation into our physical bodies the world of the ego was born. We spend a lifetime becoming aware of that from whence we came.

In Alcoholics Anonymous it is suggested in step eleven that we improve our conscious contact with God.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of which we are a part.

Today, it is suggested that we give up making other people and circumstances responsible for our unhappiness and recognize and acknowledge that our unhappiness springs from the separation we have experienced from the unconditional love of God. Healing occurs when we realize what has happened to me.

Rising above hurt.

But the only meaningful prayer is for forgiveness, because those who have been forgiven have everything. Once forgiveness has been accepted, prayer in the usual sense becomes utterly meaningless. The prayer for forgiveness is nothing more than a request that you may be able to recognize what you already have. T-3.V.6:3-5

A Course in Miracles . Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

In A Course In Miracles forgiveness is the willingness to give up making other people and circumstances responsible for our unhappiness. Forgiveness is the giving up of seeing ourselves as a victims. Forgiveness recognizes and acknowledges that we are agents of the creative power of Unconditional Love which is God.

In Alcoholics Anonymous it is suggested, in the ninth step, that we make amends where it would do no further harm to repair the breaches in rapport which our thoughts and actions have caused.

In Unitarian Universalism there is no principle which addresses explicitly the idea of forgiveness. The closest we can get to the idea is to affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in human relations but this principle makes justice, equity, and compassion real things to be dealt with when they are illusions in the ego mind and not real at all which is the point of forgiveness. So in highlighting the illusory ideas of justice, equity, and compassion, the principle makes the tool of forgiveness more recognizable and its utility more apparent.

Today, it is suggested that we rise above the things that hurt us, that annoy us, that we perceive as unjust and contribute to resentment, grievance, fear, and guilt. It is suggested that we rise above the hurt.

What would love have me do?

I have also made it clear that the resurrection was the means for the return to knowledge, which was accomplished by the union of my will with the Father’s. T-3.V,1:3

A Course in Miracles . Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

The Jesus of A Course In Miracles states that the resurrection was not of his physical body but of the unification of his will with the Father’s.

In Alcoholic Anonymous it is suggested, in step three, that we turn our willfulness over to the will of God. Following Jesus’ example may be helpful.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to accept one another and encourage spiritual development. One way to encourage this spiritual development is to discern and follow God’s will.

Today, it is suggested that we follow Jesus’ example and give up the willfulness of our egos and replace it with the discernment and following what we believe is God’s will for us. This replacement is asking “What would love have me do?”

Don’t worry. Be happy.

I have said that the abilities you possess are only shadows of your real strength, and that perception, which is inherently judgmental, was introduced only after the separation. No one has been sure of anything since. T-3.V.1 - 2

A Course in Miracles . Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

The Jesus of A Course In Miracles has a real sense of humor. The quote above makes me smile. No one has been sure of anything since the separation. We just make stuff up as we go along and argue about who is right and who is wrong and what is right and what is wrong.

In Alcoholics Anonymous it is suggested, in step eleven, that we share our spiritual awakening that most of the time we are insane until we turn things over to our Higher Power.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning which is to be found in the non dualistic Oneness with our Transcendent Source abiding in unconditional love.

So today as Bobby McFerrin  sang “Don’t worry. Be happy.

When peace and joy arise.

“Many are called but few are chosen” should be, “All are called but few choose to listen.” Therefore, they do not choose right. The “chosen ones” are merely those who choose right sooner. T-3:IV.7:12-14

A Course in Miracles . Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

There are lines in A Course In Miracles that make me laugh. ACIM can be a funny book if the reader gets it and sees the absurdity and incongruity in people’s thoughts about their lives.

People are not good listeners and sometimes only listen when they hit bottom. In step one of Alcoholics Anonymous it says that  we finally admitted that we were powerless and that our lives were unmanageable. People are hell bent on doing what they want to do and there may be an enlightened witness who asks, “How is that working for ya?” The person finally responds “Not so well. There must be a better way.” This realization is what can be called “The Dawning.”

The dawning precipitates, hopefully, a search for what that better way may be. That’s when the person starts listening and engages in what Unitarian Universalists call the free and responsible search for truth and meaning.

Today, it is suggested that we start to listen and ask Jesus, the Holy Spirit, our Higher Power for help. When God is with you, who can be against you? When you align your will with God’s will for you, wonderful things start to happen and peace and joy arise.

Where is peace and joy to be found?

 

I cannot unite your will with God’s for you, but I can erase all misperceptions from your mind if you will bring it under my guidance. T-3:IV.7:7 A Course In Miracles

The Jesus of A Course In Miracles points out that before we can enter into the presence of God we have to purify our minds of the things of the ego. We have to choose whether we will give up our willfulness and align our will with the will of God or if we will continue to pursue our happiness in our own ways. Most of us continue to go our own way and don’t understand why we are so unhappy, depressed, anxious, fearful, and guilty.

In Alcoholics Anonymous it is suggested, in step three, that we make a decision to give up our willfulness and turn our will over to the care of God.

In Unitarian Universalism we join together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Is this truth and meaning to be found in the pursuit of our willfulness or in something Transcendent?

Today, a simple question is raised about where our peace and joy is to be found. Jesus tells us in A Course In Miracles that where we look for peace and joy is up to us. Today, we are taught that we can make this choice at any time.