Month: March 2020

Lesson 61: I am the light of the world.

Back in 1989, a youth minister from Michigan was inspired after reading a collection of sermons by a Kansas minister named Charles Sheldon to create friendship bracelets with the acronym WWJD on them. Sheldon, in 1886, preached a series of sermons where he created a cliffhanger each week by ending his talks by asking, “What would Jesus do?” He would answer the question in next week’s sermon.

The bracelets created by Janie Tinklenberg became pop culture icons, emblazoned on t-shirts, mugs, jewelry and more. The slogan was meant to remind us to be like Jesus in the world – but eventually it became a banal call to just “be nice,” which isn’t really like Jesus at all. Most often, the WWJD question would be asked and summarily dismissed because, y’know, he’s the Son of God and we’re not, so why even strive to be something we’re not meant to be? To even try would be the height of arrogance.

A Course in Miracles takes a completely different view of our role in this bodily world. It asks us not to try to emulate Jesus, but to realize that we are exactly like Jesus. We have the capacity to awaken, to remember our true nature as Children of God, and accept that our function here is to be the light of the world.

Continue reading “AYoMW: March 1, 2020 — Got a Light?”

Lesson 60: Review of Lessons 46 – 50

These are the main ideas from lessons 46 – 50:

46. God is the Love in which I forgive.

47. God is the strength in which I trust.

48. There is nothing to fear.

49. God’s Voice speaks to me all through the day.

50. I am sustained by the Love of God.

I’ve always been the sort to rely on myself and am very hesitant to ask other people to help me – even when that might be a good idea. I often feel like I am imposing on others when I ask for help and wonder, sometimes, why they would help at all. What’s in it for them? Consequently, I end up relying on my own strength, knowledge and wits – which often don’t work out very well for me.

These last five lessons that we’re reviewing remind us that we are not in this life alone, no matter how hard the ego tries to convince us that we are. In the US, we are enamored with the individual – the self-made man or woman, the one who “goes it alone.” What we overlook in the “self-made” person are all the societal and other often invisible supports or advantages they had over others and too often those who “go it alone” can, too soon, become “lone wolf” types who may do harm to themselves or others.

Continue reading “AYoMW: Feb. 29, 2020 — Help!”