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| "Aaron in Bryce Canyon" photo by Heather Magnan |
ACIM Workbook Lesson #102
“I share God’s Will for happiness for me.”
The last few lessons have concentrated on happiness and what allows us to feel and express it. We have acknowledged that God wants us to be happy, that we want it because our will and God's are the same, and that nothing can keep us from this peaceful joy -- other than our own thoughts! I'm acquainted with a few people who are chronically sad. They seem to revel in this feeling and do everything possible to keep it foremost in their lives. A very talented artist, whom I greatly admire, uses bright colors and paints seemingly happy scenes. One is of a man riding a bicycle, pulling a huge house-like structure through a colorful forest. Everything looks bright and happy, but on the front of the oversized house is a sign which says "Baggage". I've talked to him about this and he realizes he's carrying around every sadness and hurt which has ever touched him, but he can't manage to let them loose. Another acquaintance unfailingly reiterates a story of betrayal which happened to him 20 years ago. I also have certain events from the last 50-plus years which repeatedly come to thought, usually recalled by some reminder. When this happens, there's a choice: I can relive the event mentally and/or verbally and thereby keep it alive. Or I can acknowledge that it's still in my thoughts, but it is not the Truth of my Being. Yes, it happened (whatever it is). It's part of my material history. But my spiritual reality has not been touched by it. What peace is brought by this understanding! I can be happy. Even in the midst of things which we may not think of as particularly joyful -- such as, dealing with paperwork and phone calls and other busywork -- we can give ourselves permission to be happy. It is, after all, our natural state of Being!
Mary Baker Eddy quote:
"An ill-attuned ear calls discord harmony, not appreciating concord. So physical sense, not discerning the true happiness of being, places it on a false basis. Science will correct the discord, and teach us life's sweeter harmonies."
Science & Health Page 60: 24-28
