Greg Mackie's Blog Archive March 2006

Most recent post

March 25, 2006

This week our Workbook class practiced Lessons 79 and 80, "Let me recognize the problem so it can be solved" and "Let me recognize my problems have been solved." The thrust of these lessons is that while our lives seem to have many problems, in truth we have only one problem--separation--and it has already been solved. Therefore, we can relax and stop worrying about the problems that seem to confront us daily. The big problem at the root of all our small problems has been solved, and so our small problems are taken care of as well. As the Song of Prayer says, "All little answers are contained in this" (S-1.I.4:8).

My wife, Margery, had a delightful instance of one of those small problems being solved this week. She loves doing crafts, and for some time now she has been carving red rock crosses that sell extremely well at the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a favorite tourist destination in Sedona. Unfortunately, she found out recently that she could no longer use the workshop she was using, which meant that she couldn't do any more carving, at least for the time being. It was unfortunate enough that she couldn't do something she enjoyed, but on top of that the crosses were a much-needed source of extra income for us. How could we make up for that loss of income?

We got an answer, but before I share that with you, I need to share something about Margery: She has always watched gas prices like a hawk. Every time we pass a local gas station, she never fails to tell me how the current price compares with what it was the last time we drove by: "Wow, the Arco went up three cents since Tuesday." I don't pay much attention to such things, and I've always marveled at (and been a little amused by) her amazing knowledge of Sedona gas prices.

Well, earlier this week, we got a call from a mutual friend. Our friend said that a company that does research for the petroleum industry had cold-called her out of the blue with a job opportunity: they would pay someone $30 a week to go to Sedona gas stations every weekday, write down the price of gas at each of them, and call in the results. I'm sure you know where this is going. Our friend immediately thought of Margery, and to make a long story short, Margery got the job and started at the end of the week. She is now getting paid for something she has done for years without imagining she could ever get paid for it.

In the grand scheme of things, getting a little $30 a week job is not that big a deal. Nonetheless, it gave Margery and me a warm feeling inside, because it's one of those little things that shows that Someone is looking out for us. The Holy Spirit is in charge of our lives, and we can trust Him to take care of us. He has taken care of the problem of separation, and all of our little problems have been taken care of with it. God's Answer to the separation is our Answer to everything that confronts us in this life. We are in good Hands. Respond to this post

March 19, 2006

The Course tells us that it is easy, but most Course students I talk to don't find this to be true in their experience. Why do we find the Course so difficult to learn? Why do we avoid studying it? Why do we make convenient excuses for missing our assigned practice periods? Why do we have such strong resistance to forgiving and healing as the Course instructs us to do? We could probably come up with all sorts of reasons, but the following passage from Chapter 9 of the Text gives us a reason that may surprise us:

It is impossible to learn anything consistently in a state of panic. If the purpose of this course is to help you remember what you are, and if you believe that what you are is fearful, then it must follow that you will not learn this course. Yet the reason for the course is that you do not know what you are. (T-9.I.2:3-5)

The reason we have difficulty learning the Course is that we fear what we really are. We are so identified with the ego that we are terrified of the reality that threatens to dispel the ego, and as long as this is the case, learning the Course is the last thing we want to do. The logic is simple:

That conclusion can sound awfully depressing, because it doesn't offer a way out of the fear that prevents us from learning the Course. It seems like we're stuck with the fear. But the final sentence of the passage reminds us of something that offers a ray of hope: we don't know what we are. Why does this offer a ray of hope? We find out as the discussion continues:

If you do not know what your reality is, why would you be so sure that it is fearful? The association of truth and fear, which would be highly artificial at most, is particularly inappropriate in the minds of those who do not know what truth is. All this could mean is that you are arbitrarily associating something beyond your awareness with something you do not want. It is evident, then, that you are judging something of which you are totally unaware. You have set up this strange situation so that it is impossible to escape from it without a Guide Who does know what your reality is. The purpose of this Guide is merely to remind you of what you want. He is not attempting to force an alien will upon you. He is merely making every possible effort, within the limits you impose on Him, to re-establish your own will in your awareness. (T-9.I.3:1-8)

Throwing away knowledge got us into this mess to begin with, but our current ignorance has a silver lining. If we don't know what we are, how can we be so sure it's something to be afraid of? It makes no sense to assume that the unknown must be fearful and undesirable; it's like assuming that the next-door neighbor with the Arabic name, whom we've never met, must be a member of al-Qaeda.

This admission of ignorance can open the door of our minds wide enough to let a little light in. It gives us the little willingness we need to get a second opinion from a Guide Who does know what we are: the Holy Spirit. He will assure us that our reality is not fearful or undesirable at all. On the contrary, it is what we really want. It is not some alien thing out to destroy us, but our true will. This recognition will undo our fear of our reality, and this in turn will enable us to learn the Course.

Let's apply this teaching right now. Think about some of the ways you resist the Course--not reading it, "forgetting" to practice, withholding forgiveness, etc. Then say, "My resistance shows me that I am afraid of learning the Course, because I am afraid of what I am. But I don't know what I am, so how can I be so sure it is fearful? Holy Spirit, You know what I am. I open my mind to You. Please tell me what I am." You may want to write down what you receive. Here's to being happy learners! Respond to this post

March 12, 2006

I had an incident recently that really demonstrated to me the power of kindness and forgiveness. On the way to our morning Workbook class, I got into a minor auto accident. It was totally my fault: I was in a hurry and cut too quickly (and illegally) in front of a large commercial truck I was trying to pass. The truck hit the left side of my car toward the back. No one was hurt, but I seriously bent the bumper of the truck and put a major dent in my car.

I knew right away that I had done something really stupid, and I was filled with guilt and fear. I was sure that the truck driver would tear me a new one, the police would give me an earful when they showed up, the people in the Workbook class would think I'm a total idiot, and my wife would give me a good tongue-lashing for damaging our car and driving our insurance premium up. I braced myself for the punishment I knew was coming and was sure I deserved.

But to my amazement, it never came. The truck driver asked me if I was okay and when I apologized for what I did, he said, "No big deal." We made small talk about the beauty of Sedona until the police showed up. The policeman did write me a ticket for the violation I had indeed committed, but he was friendly and apologetic for doing so: "I'm sorry to have to do this, but it's my job." When we were done, I went to the Workbook class and got lots of loving support. Finally, I called my wife and told her about the accident, and she gave me nothing but care and compassion. When I finally arrived home, she hugged me and we did a Course practice together.

As I reflect on this, I realize that these people--some of whom were Course students and some not--gave me the gift that the Course regards as the very elixir of salvation: the gift of communicating to me their recognition of my innocence--in a word, forgiveness. According to the Course, this is the central theme of the "course" every true teacher of God teaches:

There is a course for every teacher of God. The form of the course varies greatly. So do the particular teaching aids involved. But the content of the course never changes. Its central theme is always, "God's Son is guiltless, and in his innocence is his salvation." It can be taught by actions or thoughts; in words or soundlessly; in any language or in no language; in any place or time or manner. (M-1.3:1-6)

"God's Son is guiltless, and in his innocence is his salvation." This is what these wonderful people taught me, in the form of their loving response to my mistake that caused the accident. I cannot express sufficiently what a powerful effect this had on me. It really did feel like salvation from the hell of my guilt and fear. I am very grateful to all of these people, and eager to "pay it forward" by extending the same love and kindness to others who are wracked with guilt over their mistakes. Thank You, God, for my brothers in salvation. Respond to this post

Return to top | Send Reader Feedback | | Printer friendly version

Bookmark and Share

Dear friend: We offer the materials on this website to you in the hope that they can serve you well on your journey home. Your continuing donations support the work of the Circle of Atonement. Thank you.
Click here to make a Donation.

This material is copyrighted by the Circle of Atonement, P.O. Box 4238, W. Sedona, AZ 86340. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed are the personal interpretation and understanding of the author(s).

Please report problems to the webmaster.