A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #352 - Judgment and love are opposites. From one comes all the sorrows of the world. But from the other comes the peace of God Himself.

 

Lesson #352

Judgment and love are opposites. From one come all the sorrows of the world. But from the other comes the peace of God Himself.

My classmates and I were taught in our graduate program for a Master’s degree in Social Work that to be a good Social Worker one must have a “nonjudgmental attitude.” Carl Rogers, the humanistic psychologist, and the father of client centered therapy or “Rogerian therapy,” called it “unconditional positive regard,” and here in lesson #352 the idea arises once again that “judgment and love are opposites”.

In Alcoholic Anonymous it is suggested that we drop our judgment and in step three turn our will and lives over to the care of God as we understand God. In lesson #352 we are told that it is in this turning over that peace arises.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning and where is this “truth and meaning” to be found? In lesson #352 it is taught that truth and meaning is found in a nonjudgmental attitude and in unconditional positive regard.

Today, it is suggested that we drop our judgmental attitudes and recognize and acknowledge that peace arises when we turn our willfulness over to God’s will.

What do you think about the UU A Way Of Life ACIM workbook commentaries?

 A person asked about A Course In Miracles and how it might relate to the twelve step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. The question also was raised about how ACIM might be incorporated into Unitarian Universalism. In attempting to relate the ACIM workbook lessons to AA and UU has resulted in this year's study of the workbook of ACIM which we are coming to an end of in the next two weeks after one year.

The ACIM workbook lessons relate to people at different stages of spiritual development. However, the lessons are easier to understand and apply if the student understands the underlying metaphysical model of the Course which is based on the nonduality of the Divine.

The Course uses a post integral world view based on the idea that the Course was channeled to Helen Schuman by Jesus. The post integral world view is a stage or level of development which only a small percentage of the population have attained so far at this point in human evolution. Therefore, the number of students using this material is very small.

If you have been studying this material, the usefulness of it is found in the application of the daily lessons in one's own life and in sharing the ideas and applications with others.

It would be helpful to improve our understanding of this material if you would comment on how the material has been useful in your life and in the lives of those you have shared it with.

Thank you for your attention and assistance.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #351 - My sinless brother is my guide to peace. My sinful brother is my guide to pain. And which I choose to see I will behold.

 Lesson #351

My sinless brother is my guide to peace. My sinful brother is my guide to pain. And which I choose to see I will behold.

As comedian, Flip Wilson, would say in his Geraldine routine, “What you see, honey, is what you get!” When we look at our brothers and sisters what do we see: sin or sinlessness? Do we look at the ego stuff or the spark of the Divine? Today’s lesson teaches that what we focus on is what we get.

In Alcoholic Anonymous it suggests, in step nine, that we make amends in cases where it would do no harm. Step nine involves repairing the ruptures in relationships seeking to heal rather than to harm.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person and a world community of peace, liberty, and justice for all.

Today, it is suggested that we seek to behold the sinlessness in our brothers and sisters and in doing so we see the sinlessness in ourselves and experience heavenly peace and joy.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #350 - Miracles mirror God's eternal Love. To offer them is to remember Him, and through His memory to save the world.

 Lesson #350

Miracles mirror God’s eternal Love. To offer them is to remember Him, and through His memory to save the world.

It’s hard for us as mortals to realize that we were born to save the world. And yet when we forgive, we join with others in Love. Salvation is when everybody loves everybody all the time. We’re on our way. Keep the faith as we move forward.

In Alcoholic Anonymous it is suggested in step eleven that we improve our conscious contact with God through prayer and meditation, what today we call “mindfulness.”

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

Today, it is suggested that we offer miracles, that is Love, to everyone and thereby save the world.

Dear Dave: How do you make decisions?

Dear Dave:

What was a decision you’ve had to make which was one-of-a-kind?  Marriage, job, relocation, retirement, divorce, major vacation - etc.   Did you actually think it through, weighing the pros and cons of all sorts ?  Did you ask the advice/opinion of friends and family? Did you just go with the flow and take the first job, proposal, house, or whatever? 

Becky

Dear Becky:

Most of the important decisions I have made in my life I made alone. I asked for advice, opinions, thoughts, feedback and most of it was wrong. Several of the more authoritative people giving me advice not only were wrong, but dead wrong in retrospect which goes to show me that decisions made by groups often are wrong.

In his book Beyond Good and Evil, Nietzsche wrote, “Insanity in individuals is something rare – but in groups, parties, nations, and epochs it’s the rule.” In other words, wisdom can go out the window when individuals form groups.  When we’re solo, we’re usually rational: en masse, not so much.

Reading the current news should give one pause. Was it a good idea to go to war in Afghanistan and Iraq? Were there weapons of mass destruction? Was Covid-19 over in the Spring of 2020 when the weather warmed up. Is it lifesaving to get the Covid-19 vaccine? And I'm sure you can come up with examples of your own when you and your family, community, state were led astray by the group.

I agree with Nietzsche that alone people make better decisions than when they are in groups. Have I ever been wrong when I made a lone decision? Yes, many times, and I always learned from it and made better decisions the next time I was in similar situations.

The Solomon Asch experiments and the Stanley Milgram experiments, two classics in Social Psychology, are very instructive.

Once again I was wrong to say that I usually make important decisions alone. 

I pray about them. 

I attempt to discern God's will for me and for the world.  I ask myself, if I do this or that, is it more likely or less likely that I will become the person that deep down in my heart I believe God has created me to become. Further, if I do this or that is it more likely or less likely that I will do with my life what God is calling me to do?

Lastly, to keep it simple, I ask the question "What would Love have me do and then go from there."

Sincerely,

David Markham

UU and Covid 19 - Has Unitarian Universalism missed the boat in affirming and promoting the truth about public health?

Affirming and promoting truth about public health

The mission of Unitarian Universalism is to nurture the true, the good, and the beautiful in the lives of its adherents and its collaborative partners around the planet. How has UU encouraged the seeking of truth in the time of Covid-19? To what extent have congregations been a source of information and the implementation of practices to contain and mitigate the spread of the virus?

Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Has the implementation of this fourth principle had a beneficial influence on the decision making of its members and the communities within which the congregation resides? There seems to be little evidence of the impact of truth especially in red states where governmental policies and the media is filled with misinformation leading people astray. It seems strange that UU leaders have not spoken out more visibly about ways of discerning the truth in the midst of increased community polarization.

Reasonable voices are needed to lead communities to beneficial public health practices based on the scientific knowledge that is available. Could the church be a community leader who informs people and helps them develop the skills to interact with their neighbors and community institutions so that practices based on truth and reason be implemented?

Unfortunately, too many UU churches and the Association have been preoccupied with social justice issues rather than more immediate health challenges affecting the bodies of their members and the people with whom their members interact.

The opportunity to highlight the search for truth in the public health sector has by and large been missed and it is time, with the third wave of Covid infections by the Delta and Lambda variants, for UU congregations to assess, plan, and implement public health activities which impact the physical health of their members and the communities they serve.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #349 - Today I let Christ's vision look upon all things for me and judge them not, but give each one a miracle of love instead.

 Lesson #349

Today I let Christ’s vision look upon all things for me and judge them not, but give each one a miracle of love instead.

There is a recurring theme in these daily lessons. The point is being driven home as we come upon the last two weeks of the year of lessons. The point is that God is love and if we see anything else we could choose a better way of seeing which would be the miracle of love.

In Alcoholic Anonymous it is suggested, in step eleven, that we share what we have learned from working the ten previous steps and that is that our ego is not in charge, and turning our willfulness over to our Higher Power is the path to serenity.

In Unitarian Universalism it has been taught for a couple of centuries that God loves us unconditionally and would not condemn any of God’s creations to hell.

Today, it is suggested that we look upon the world with Christ’s vision of love instead of the ego and this form of vision is miraculous.