Lesson 129
- Beyond This World, There Is a World I Want
- This is the thought that follows from the one
- we practiced yesterday. You cannot stop
- with the idea the world is worthless, for
- unless You see that there is something else
- to hope for, You will only be depressed.
- Our emphasis is not on giving up
- the world, but on exchanging it for what
- is far more satisfying, filled with joy,
- and capable of offering You peace.
- Think You this world can offer that to You?
- It might be worth a little time to think
- once more about the value of this world.
- Perhaps You will concede there is no loss
- in letting go all thought of value here.
- The world You see is merciless indeed,
- unstable, cruel, unconcerned with You,
- quick to avenge, and pitiless with hate.
- It gives but to rescind, and takes away
- all things that You have cherished for awhile.
- No lasting love is found, for none is here.
- This is the world of time, where all things end.
- Is it a loss to find a world instead
- where losing is impossible, where love
- endures forever, hate cannot exist,
- and vengeance has no meaning? Is it loss
- to find all things You really want, and know
- they have no ending and they will remain
- exactly as You want them throughout time?
- Yet even they will be exchanged at last
- for what we cannot speak of, for You go
- from there to where words fail entirely,
- into a silence where the language is
- unspoken and yet surely understood.
- Communication, unambiguous
- and plain as day, remains unlimited
- for all eternity. And God Himself
- speaks to his Son, as His Son speaks to Him.
- Their language has no words for what They say
- cannot be symbolized. Their knowledge is
- direct and wholly shared and wholly one.
- How far away from this are You who stay
- bound to this world. And yet how near are You,
- when you exchange it for the world You want.
- Now is the last step certain, now You stand
- an instant’s space away from timelessness.
- Here can You but look forward, never back
- to see again the world You do not want.
- Here is the world that comes to take its place,
- as You unbind your mind from little things
- the world sets forth to keep You prisoner.
- Value them not and they will disappear.
- Esteem them, and they will seem real to You.
- Such is the choice. What loss can be for You
- in choosing not to value nothingness?
- This world holds nothing that You really want,
- but what You choose instead You want indeed!
- Let it be given You today. It waits
- but for Your choosing it, to take the place
- of all the things You seek but do not want.
- Practice Your willingness to make this change
- ten nimutes in the morning and at night
- and once more inbetween.. Begin with this:
- “Beyond this world there is a world I want.
- I choose to see that world instead of this
- for here is nothing that I really want.”
- Then close Your eyes upon the world You see,
- and in the silent darkness watch the lights
- that are not of this world light one by one,
- until “where one begins, another ends”
- loses all meaning as they blend in one.
- Today the lights of heaven bend to You,
- to shine upon Your eyelids as You rest
- beyond the world of darkness. Here is light
- Your eyes cannot behold, and yet Your mind
- can see it plainly and can understand.
- A day of grace is given You today
- and we give thands. This day we realize
- that what You feared to lose was only loss.
- Now do We understand there is no loss
- for We have seen its opposite at last,
- and We are grateful that the choice is made.
- Remember Your decision hourly
- and take a moment to confirm Your choice
- by laying by whatever thoughts You have
- and dwelling briefly only upon this:
- “The world I see holds nothing that I want.
- Beyond this world there is a world I want.”
