The Long Haul
Date: April 8, 2007
A person in our Workbook group recently shared that she was having some difficulty really getting the experience the previous day's practice periods were designed to give: an experience of her true Self. She would catch brief glimpses, but that's all. She said she felt like she had a long way to go. This led to a discussion of how long the Course expects our spiritual journey to take.
Some people come into the Course thinking that it's a recipe for instant awakening. But while there are some Course passages that can give this impression, the overall stance of the Course can be summed up this way: Because only illusions stand in our way, awakening could happen at any time. However, because we are so unwilling at this point to give up our illusions, awakening will most likely take quite a long time. So, while the Course does often encourage us to practice with a "This could be the day I go all the way" attitude, it also tells us not to be disappointed if today isn't the day.
A number of passages depict a long journey. The Manual tells us that "by far the majority are given a slowly evolving training program" (M-9.1:7). It says that the last stage in the development of trust—the final leg of the spiritual journey—"may remain impossible to reach for a long, long time" (M-4.I(A).7:7). It says that the advanced state of sustained direct union with God "is so rare that it cannot be considered a realistic goal" (M-26.3:4). The Psychotherapy supplement depicts development as a series of journeys toward more and more advanced goals, and says, "Most professional therapists are still at the very start of the beginning stage of the first journey" (P-3.II.8:5). (I have no reason to believe that those of us who aren't professional therapists are any more advanced.) We do have a long way to go.
This may sound discouraging, but I think the quest for instant enlightenment ends up being far more discouraging. If you go into the Course's path thinking that complete awakening is right around the corner, how will you feel when that quick awakening doesn't happen? You'll be crushed. This is not just a theory of mine; I've seen it happen. I've seen people give up the Course over this. I think it's far more healthy and ultimately less discouraging to go into the Course's path with an attitude that says: "This will probably take a while, but I'll make it in the end if I just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Let me just roll up my sleeves and joyously get to work. I'm in this for the long haul."
The person in our Workbook class said she wasn't discouraged at her slow progress, and was glad for every little gain she was making. I think that's the perfect attitude to take. Our progress may be slow, but we do make progress (even dramatic breakthroughs at times), and every step forward is worth celebrating. We will make it in the end, but meanwhile, "Let us not…be too concerned with goals for which you are not ready. God takes you where you are and welcomes you. What more could you desire, when this is all you need?" (M-26.4:9-11).
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