How do I stay focused on what I really believe?
I have (again) been working with the workbook lessons from A Course in Miracles. This time around I am focusing on really doing each lesson. Accordingly, I have decided that I will do the same lesson up to three days or until I actually do it - which ever comes first. Well, it's the 140th day of the year and I'm on lesson 95. That should be a sign that it's taking me a while to actually "do" a lesson the way it was planned to be done. The last few lessons have focused on taking 5 minutes every waking hour to focus on the lesson for the day. Has this ever been a challenge for me. In fact, I've found myself going for long periods during the day without focusing on the lesson at all. (And I forgive myself.)
Then I get to lesson 95, one of those "In Your Face" lessons that certainly humbled me. The lesson states:
The use of the first five minutes of every waking hour for practicing the idea for the day has special advantages at the stage of learning in which you are at present. It is difficult at this point not to allow your mind to wander, if it undertakes extended practice. You have surely realized this by now. You have seen the extent of your lack of mental discipline, and of your need for mind training. It is necessary that you be aware of this, for it is indeed a hindrance to your advance. Frequent but shorter practice periods have other advantages for you at this time. In addition to recognizing your difficulties with sustained attention, you must also have noticed that, unless you are reminded of your purpose frequently, you tend to forget about it for long periods of time. You often fail to remember the short applications of the idea for the day, and you have not yet formed the habit of using the idea as an automatic response to temptation.
Structure, then, is necessary for you at this time, planned to include frequent reminders of your goal and regular attempts to reach it. Regularity in terms of time is not the ideal requirement for the most beneficial form of practice in salvation. It is advantageous, however, for those whose motivation is inconsistent, and who remain heavily defended against learning. We will, therefore, keep to the five-minutes-an-hour practice periods for a while, and urge you to omit as few as possible. Using the first five minutes of the hour will be particularly helpful, since it imposes firmer structure. Do not, however, use your lapses from this schedule as an excuse not to return to it again as soon as you can. There may well be a temptation to regard the day as lost because you have already failed to do what is required. This should, however, merely be recognized as what it is; a refusal to let your mistake be corrected, and an unwillingness to try again.
As the younger generation says these days, "You've been served!"
I do recognize that I am at my best when I remember my true home is with God. My family certainly experiences me at my best when I am remembering that I am spirit and when I am seeing them as spirit as well; when I am letting go and not making demands, but instead offering them the opportunity to be all that they can be.
So I affirm with you, as I see you affirming with me, that we will walk in hourly remembrance of who and what we are in truth. Spread the joy!
In Joy,
Michael
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Oh how our judgments can prevent us from seeing
Oh how our judgments can prevent us from seeing...
From the practicing forgiveness materials we know that it is our own judgments that bind us and all judgment is indeed self-judgment. As we judge others we are indeed judging ourselves. Those traits, those behaviors, those characteristics that most irritate us only point to those areas for healing within ourselves.
But of course "in real life," our egos can have a good time blaming others for our seeming misery.
Like the other day, my inkjet printer at home was not cooperating. My computer was saying "paper jam" - even though the printer was completely clear. After googling "Paper Jam for Inkjet Model XXXX", I learned that many other people had experienced this same issue of the mystical "paper jam" - but no solution was recorded on any of the sites I checked.
Alas, I had to contact HP online support. Having worked in the IT industry for many years, I "knew" that the online support meant spending 15 or 20 minutes answering all the basic questions from the preliminary screener so that they could figure out they couldn't solve my problem and would then pass me on to one of the "real" technical analysts.
So you may be able to imagine the additional judgment I felt when my preliminary screener indicated her name was Neeta ("Oh no, a call center in India") and when one of her first online communication was in broken English:
Neeta : May I know since how long have you been facing this issue?
I cringed as I imagined the 15-minute screening turning into 30 minutes before Neeta would pass me on to someone who could help me. After a few basic questions. Neeta got down to business.
Neeta : To print a self-test page, press and hold the Power button. Raise and lower the printer cover four times. Release the Power button, and the self-test page prints
As weird as that sounded (raise and lower the printer cover four times), I went ahead and tried it. Miracles...a test page printed! This also meant that Neeta understood that the problem wasn't the printer, since the paper did not jam. Neeta was gaining my confidence.
Neeta : Now click on start->run.
Neeta : Then type "services.msc".
Neeta : Then it will open the services window.
Neeta : Now please look for the option "print spooler".
Neeta : Okay, now , please right click on the option "print spooler" and click on stop then click on start, 3 times.
I did it, and sure enough, the "paper jam" message cleared. I gratefully thanked Neeta and went back to a couple of the sites and loaded the solution Neeta had shared with me.
Oh how our judgments can prevent us from seeing...
On reflection, I smiled and forgave myself for the judgments and the arrogance and I felt thankful to see the self-healing opportunity before me. May we all continue to be vigilant for the healing opportunities that arise in our lives!
In Joy,
Michael
From the practicing forgiveness materials we know that it is our own judgments that bind us and all judgment is indeed self-judgment. As we judge others we are indeed judging ourselves. Those traits, those behaviors, those characteristics that most irritate us only point to those areas for healing within ourselves.
But of course "in real life," our egos can have a good time blaming others for our seeming misery.
Like the other day, my inkjet printer at home was not cooperating. My computer was saying "paper jam" - even though the printer was completely clear. After googling "Paper Jam for Inkjet Model XXXX", I learned that many other people had experienced this same issue of the mystical "paper jam" - but no solution was recorded on any of the sites I checked.
Alas, I had to contact HP online support. Having worked in the IT industry for many years, I "knew" that the online support meant spending 15 or 20 minutes answering all the basic questions from the preliminary screener so that they could figure out they couldn't solve my problem and would then pass me on to one of the "real" technical analysts.
So you may be able to imagine the additional judgment I felt when my preliminary screener indicated her name was Neeta ("Oh no, a call center in India") and when one of her first online communication was in broken English:
Neeta : May I know since how long have you been facing this issue?
I cringed as I imagined the 15-minute screening turning into 30 minutes before Neeta would pass me on to someone who could help me. After a few basic questions. Neeta got down to business.
Neeta : To print a self-test page, press and hold the Power button. Raise and lower the printer cover four times. Release the Power button, and the self-test page prints
As weird as that sounded (raise and lower the printer cover four times), I went ahead and tried it. Miracles...a test page printed! This also meant that Neeta understood that the problem wasn't the printer, since the paper did not jam. Neeta was gaining my confidence.
Neeta : Now click on start->run.
Neeta : Then type "services.msc".
Neeta : Then it will open the services window.
Neeta : Now please look for the option "print spooler".
Neeta : Okay, now , please right click on the option "print spooler" and click on stop then click on start, 3 times.
I did it, and sure enough, the "paper jam" message cleared. I gratefully thanked Neeta and went back to a couple of the sites and loaded the solution Neeta had shared with me.
Oh how our judgments can prevent us from seeing...
On reflection, I smiled and forgave myself for the judgments and the arrogance and I felt thankful to see the self-healing opportunity before me. May we all continue to be vigilant for the healing opportunities that arise in our lives!
In Joy,
Michael
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