Day 133

Today's Lesson:

I will not value what is valueless.

Today we will not speak of lofty, world-encompassing ideas, but dwell instead on benefits to each of us.

We do not ask too much of life, but far too little. When we let our minds be drawn to bodily concerns, to things we buy, to eminence as valued by the world, we ask for sorrow, not for happiness. This course does not attempt to take from us the little that we have. It does not try to substitute utopian ideas for satisfactions which the world contains. There are no satisfactions in the world.

Today we list the real criteria by which to test all things we think we want. Unless they meet these sound requirements, they are not worth desiring at all, for they can but replace what offers more. The laws that govern choice we cannot make, no more than we can make alternatives from which to choose. The choosing we can do; and we must do. But it is wise to learn the laws we set in motion when we choose, and what alternatives we choose between.

There are only two, however many there appear to be. The range is set, and this we cannot change. It would be most ungenerous to us to let alternatives be limitless, and thus delay our final choice until we had considered all of them in time; and not been brought so clearly to the place where there is but one choice that must be made.

There is also no compromise in what our choice must bring. It cannot give us just a little, for there is no in between. Each choice we make brings everything to us or nothing. Therefore, if we learn the tests by which we can distinguish everything from nothing, we will make the better choice.

First, if we choose a thing that will not last forever, what we chose is valueless. A temporary value is without all value. Time can never take away a value that is real. If we choose this, we are deceived by nothing in a form we think we like.

Next, if we choose to take a thing away from someone else, we will have nothing left. This is because, when we deny his right to everything, we have denied our own. We therefore will not recognize the things we really have, denying the are there. Who seeks to take away has been deceived by the illusion loss can offer gain. Yet loss must offer loss, and nothing more.

Our next consideration is the one on which the others rest. Why is the choice we make of value to us? What attracts our minds to it? What purpose does it serve? Here it is easiest of all to be deceived. For what the ego wants it fails to recognize. It does not even tell the truth as it perceives it, for it needs to keep the halo which it uses to protect its goals from tarnish and from rust, that we may see how "innocent" it is.

Yet is its camouflage a thin veneer, which could deceive but those who are content to be deceived. Its goals are obvious to anyone who cares to look for them. Here is deception doubled, for the one who is deceived will not perceive that he has merely failed to gain. He will believe that he has served the ego's goals.

He who would still preserve the ego's goals and serve them as his own makes no mistakes, according to the dictate of his guide. This guidance teaches it is error to believe that sins are but mistakes, for who would suffer for his sins if this were so?

And so we come to the criterion for choice that is the hardest to believe, because its obviousness is overlaid with many levels of obscurity. If you feel any guilt about your choice, you have allowed the ego's goals to come between the real alternatives. And thus you do not realize there are but two, and the alternative you think you chose seems fearful, and too dangerous to be the nothingness it actually is.

All things are valuable or valueless, worthy or not of being sought at all, entirely desirable or not worth the slightest effort to obtain. Choosing is easy just because of this. Complexity is nothing but a screen of smoke, which hides the very simple fact that no decision can be difficult. What is the gain to you in learning this? It is far more than merely letting you make choices easily and without pain.

Heaven itself is reached with empty hands and open minds, which come with nothing to find everything and claim it as their own. We will attempt to reach this state today, with self-deception laid aside, and with an honest willingness to value but the truly valuable and the real. Our two extended practice periods of fifteen minutes each begin with this:

I will not value what is valueless, and only what has value do I seek, for only that do I desire to find.

And then receive what waits for everyone who reaches, unencumbered, to the gate of Heaven, which swings open as he comes. Should you begin to let yourself collect some needless burdens, or believe you see some difficult decisions facing you, be quick to answer with this simple thought:

I will not value what is valueless, for what is valuable belongs to me.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I've heard Marianne Williamson refer to today's lesson in some of her speeches - especially the part which says we don't ask God for too much - we ask Him for too little. It also brings to mind some of the controversy over The Secret - the part which says we concentrate too much on material things.

I believe that if we are valuing "stuff," then we are putting our value on that which is valueless. As today's lesson says, that "stuff" will fade away. But the choice we make for what has value has only two criteria: that we not choose this "stuff" and that what we choose is for "all" or "nothing." There is no in between. Choosing is easy when we remember that all things are valuable or valueless, and worthy or not of being sought entirely or not at all.

As I remember today's lesson, it will be easier to put my whole heart into those things I really desire. Instead of "stuff," I can see now that the things I desire are closer to "happiness," which is internal, than "stuff," which is external and time-bound.

I'm on my way to Chicago this morning for the Best of OD Summit and I'll remember this as I drive the 9 hours. What a great opportunity to be quiet and listen!