Lesson 41 – God goes with me wherever I go.

Commentary (full lesson beneath commentary)

We find out today that our problems are not real.  We are also reassured that what we think are our problems is merely foolishness.  Those of us who do find this comforting know that A Course in Miracles is our path.  Others may be offended by this idea–this is an opportunity to burn off the beliefs that add up to feeling offended.  But if there is no motivation to do so, then you will be at war with A Course in Miracles 🙂

The lesson says that deep within we are perfect and ready to radiate this perfection through us and out into the world.  We can never be alone, deprived or joyless because our Source is always with us. Nothing can destroy our peace of mind because God goes with us wherever we go.

We are given an image of a dense and heavy cloud which obscures the Light within us.  The exercise today helps us pass through this cloud and arrive at the Light.  We enter deeply into our mind, sinking downward and inward, past all foolish thoughts of the world, leaving appearances behind and approaching reality.

Reaching God is the most natural thing “in the world” and instant success is possible.  We are advised to concentrate on the unfailing companionship that goes with us and the complete protection which surrounds us.  That will make it easier to laugh at our fear thoughts.

LESSON 41

God goes with me wherever I go.

Today’s idea will eventually overcome completely the sense of loneliness and abandonment all the separated ones experience.  Depression is an inevitable consequence of separation.  So are anxiety, worry, a deep sense of helplessness, misery, suffering and intense fear of loss.

The separated ones have many “cures” for what they believe to be “the ills of the world.”  But the one thing they do not do is to question the reality of the problem.  Yet its effects cannot be cured because the problem is not real.  The idea for today has the power to end all this foolishness forever.  And foolishness it is, despite the serious and tragic forms it may take.

Deep within you is everything that is perfect, ready to radiate through you and out into the world.  It will cure all sorrow and pain and fear and loss because it will heal the mind that thought these things were real, and suffered out of its allegiance to them.

You can never be deprived of your perfect holiness because its Source goes with you wherever you go.  You can never suffer because the Source of all joy goes with you wherever you go.  You can never be alone because the Source of all Life goes with you wherever you go.  Nothing can destroy your peace of mind because God goes with you wherever you go.

We understand that you do not believe all this.  How could you, when the truth is hidden deep within,  under a heavy cloud of insane thoughts, dense and obscuring, yet representing all you see?  Today we will make our first real attempt to get past this dark and heavy cloud, and to go through it to the light beyond.

There will be only one long practice period today.  In the morning, as soon as you get up if possible, sit quietly for some three to five minutes, with your eyes closed.  At the beginning of the practice period, repeat today’s idea very slowly.  Then make no effort to think of anything.  Try, instead, to get a sense of turning inward, past all the idle thoughts of the world.  Try to enter very deeply into your own mind, keeping it clear of any thoughts that might divert your attention.

From time to time, you may repeat the idea if you find it helpful.  But most of all, try to sink down and inward, away from the world and all the foolish thoughts of the world.  You are trying to reach past all these things.  You are trying to leave appearances and approach reality.

It is quite possible to reach God.  In fact it is very easy, because it is the most natural thing in the world.  You might even say it is the only natural thing in the world.  The way will open, if you believe that it is possible.  This exercise can bring very startling results even the first time it is attempted, and sooner or later it is always successful.  We will go into more detail about this kind of practice as we go along.  But it will never fail completely, and instant success is possible.

Throughout the day use today’s idea often, repeating it very slowly, preferably with eyes closed.  Think of what you are saying; what the words mean.  Concentrate on the holiness that they imply about you; on the unfailing companionship that is yours; on the complete protection that surrounds you.

You can indeed afford to laugh at fear thoughts, remembering that God goes with you wherever you go.

Let’s practice together!  Watch and listen to Amy reading each ACIM Lesson on Youtube.  Also, check out Workin’ the Workbook, Amy’s online class which supports the ACIM Workbook practice.