A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #355 - There is no end to all the peace and joy, and all the miracles that I will give, when I accept God's Word. Why not today?

 Lesson #355

There is no end to all the peace and joy, and all the miracles that I will give, when I accept God’s Word. Why not today?

The question that can guide our thoughts, intentions, and actions is “What would Love have me do?” When we operate at this level we perform miracles and peace and joy arises.

In Alcoholic Anonymous it is suggested, in step twelve, that we share our spiritual awakening with others.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.

Today, it is suggested in Lesson #355 that we perform miracles when we accept God’s Word of unconditional love and share it bringing peace and joy to ourselves and others around the world.

Book discussion, The Presence Of The Infinite, Where are you in your spiritual development?

 Where are you in your spiritual development?

The experience of spirit evolves our consciousness, develops our character, and makes us more real. Our experiences of spirit, however, are not only personally beneficial; they can also benefit others by inspiring us to share our gifts and bring spiritual experience into the lives of our fellows.

McIntosh, Steve. The Presence of the Infinite . Quest Books. p.2 

Unitarian Universalism seems to have forgotten its mission and vision. It has become hung up on social justice and forgotten its primary mission which is to facilitate spiritual development. Most UUs don’t even know what spiritual development is let alone how to facilitate it, nurture it, and guide it.

Steve McIntosh in his book, The Presence Of The Infinite, provides excellent definitions and ideas about how to develop our spirituality. His overall approach is what is called “evolutionary spirituality.”

The point of pursuing a path of evolutionary spirituality is to facilitate one’s own spiritual development, that of one’s associates, and the world.

How can a person “bring spiritual experience into the lives of our fellows” if we aren’t even consciously aware of our own spiritual experience and have a map for its development?

If you were asked, “Where are you in your spiritual development” what would you say? Do you even have a way of thinking about this question, let alone answering it?

Stick with us for the next month or two as we explore The Presence Of The Infinite on UU A Way Of Life.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #354 - We stand together, Christ and I, in peace and certainly of purpose. And in Him is His Creator, as He is in me.

 Lesson #354

We stand together, Christ and I, in peace and certainty of purpose. And in Him is His Creator, as He is in me.

The Christian church has taught for centuries that all people have been born in original sin and fallen short of the glory of God. The Universalists and A Course In Miracles teach the opposite that all people are born into an original blessing of inherent worth and dignity.

It is suggested in Alcoholic Anonymous, in step 12, that we share this spiritual awakening, that God loves us unconditionally, with others.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person.

Today, in lesson #354, we are reminded that the Body of Christ is God’s Son of which each of us is a part.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #353 - My eyes, my tongue, my hands, my feet today have but one purpose: to be given Christ to use to bless the world with miracles.

 Lesson #353

My eyes, my tongue, my hands, my feet today have but one purpose; to be given Christ to use to bless the world with miracles.

The classic song sung by Dionne Warwick originally back in 1967 is “What’s it all about, Alfie?” Today’s lesson, #353, teaches us that it’s about blessing the world with the Love of God.

In Alcoholic Anonymous, it is suggested, in step twelve, that we share with others what we have learned from the program about spiritual awakening.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote the acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth.

Today it is suggested that we use our physical bodies to bless the world with the Love of God. A kind word, a compliment, and expression of gratitude, forgiveness, initiates a ripple effect sanctifying the world.

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.