LESSON 346
December 12

"Today the peace of God envelops me, And I forget all things except His Love."

PRACTICE SUMMARY

(See Part II Practice Summary, and also Part II Introduction)

COMMENTARY

Before I begin to comment on the lesson, a few thoughts in preparation:

Many of the lessons in the latter part of the Workbook, particularly this one, are coming to us from a state of right-mindedness. That state is the goal of the Course's curriculum. Therefore, for most of us, probably all of us, it represents a state of mind we do not normally live in. I know there is a part of me that resonates in perfect harmony with this lesson, but there is also another part that stands off cynically and says, "Forget all things except His Love? Hah! More likely you will remember everything except His Love. How long will this high-falutin' attitude last after you walk out the door?" And if this is so, why bother with the lesson at all?

Why bother? Because there is a part of my mind that sings in harmony with the lesson, and it is the only "part" that is real. Each time I seek to align myself with thoughts like these, and to let the fabric of them wash over me and draw me with them, something happens. Even if after reading and quietly meditating on them I feel as though nothing has happened, something has happened. And if, even for an instant, I can harmonize my mind with them so that, just for that instant, I mean the words as I say them, I may have saved as much as a thousand years in my spiritual development. Truly, truly, it is worth the effort. WE are worth the effort.

So as we read this lesson now, let us simply attempt to suspend our disbelief for just an instant, and let these words be true for us. Let us believe that what we say represents our true Self, for it does. Let us be in the spirit of these words.

It all seems so simple sometimes. All there is to do is to be happy. Sometimes I feel as if I could simply "be there" right now, with no more effort or struggle. All the strain and struggle comes from resistance, not from any effort to be enlightened or holy. Simply forget all things except His Love. Simply remember nothing but the peace of God.

When those thoughts come to me, I notice, still, a fear of loss. It feels as if I am giving up something valuable when I give up struggle. Yet all I am giving up is pain.

What if I simply started being happy all the time? What if I let go of all insistence that anything be different?

"Father, I wake today with miracles correcting my perception of all things. And so begins the day I share with You as I will share eternity, for time has stepped aside today" (1:1-2).

I can share this day with God just as I will share eternity with Him. There is nothing to do, nothing to achieve. Salvation asks nothing of me that I cannot give right now.

"I do not seek the things of time, and so I will not look upon them. What I seek today transcends all laws of time and things perceived in time. I would forget all things except Your Love" (1:3-5).

In all my seeking, Father, what I seek is really Your Love. The things of time will never satisfy me; in this moment I gladly forget them all. I come to You, needing only Your smile to fill my heart to overflowing.

"I would abide in You, and know no laws except Your law of love. And I would find the peace which You created for Your Son, forgetting all the foolish toys I made as I behold Your glory and my own" (1:6-7).

Only my belief that I am not worthy of Your Love keeps me from enjoying it in every moment. Your Love is not lacking. I let myself relax in It and lean back on It. I am sustained by Your Love. There is nothing else. In Your Love, I behold not only Your glory, but my own glory as well, for Love is what I am.

"And when the evening comes today, we will remember nothing but the peace of God. For we will learn today what peace is ours, when we forget all things except God's Love" (2:1-2).

What is there to prevent me from having a day like this? Nothing. I open my heart to Love. The Love of God rolls over me like a mighty ocean, and I am carried in Its current, surrounded by It, afloat in It.

What is a Miracle? (Part 6)