Day 194

Today's Lesson:

I place the future in the Hands of God.

Today's idea takes another step toward quick salvation, and a giant stride it is indeed! So great the distance is that it encompasses, it sets us down just short of Heaven, with the goal in sight and obstacles behind. Our feet have reached the lawns that welcome us to Heaven's gate; the quiet place of peace, where we await with certainty the final step of God. How far we we progressing now from earth! How close are we approaching to our goal! How short the journey still to be pursued!

Accept today's idea, and we have passed all anxiety, all pits of hell, all blackness of depression, thoughts of sin, and devastation brought about by guilt. Accept today's idea, and we have released the world from all imprisonment by loosening the heavy chains that locked the door to freedom on it. We are saved, and our salvation thus becomes the gift we give the world, because we have received.

In no one instant is depression felt, or pain experienced or loss perceived. In no one instant sorrow can be set upon a throne, and worshipped faithfully. In no one instant can one even die. And so each instant given unto God in passing, with the next one given Him already, is a time of our release from sadness, pain and even death itself.

God holds our future as He holds our past and present. They are one to Him, and so they should be one to us. Yet in this world, the temporal progression still seems real. And so we are not asked to understand the lack of sequence really found in time. We are but asked to let the future go, and place it in God's Hands. And we will see by our experience that we have laid the past and present in His Hands as well, because the past will punish us no more, and future dread will now be meaningless.

Release the future. For the past is gone, and what is present, freed from its bequest of grief and misery, of pain and loss, becomes the instant in which time escapes the bondage of illusions where it runs its pitiless, inevitable course. Then is each instant which was slave to time transformed into a holy instant, when the light that was kept hidden in God's Son is freed to bless the world. Now is he free, and all his glory shines upon a world made free with him, to share his holiness.

If we can see the lesson for today as the deliverance it really is, we will not hesitate to give as much consistent effort as we can, to make it be a part of us. As it becomes a thought that rules our mind, a habit in our problem-solving repertoire, a way of quick reaction to temptation, we extend our learning to the world. And as we learn to see salvation in all things, so will the world perceive that it is saved.

What worry can beset the one who gives his future to the loving Hands of God? What can he suffer? What can cause him pain, or bring experience of loss to him? What can he fear? And what can he regard except with love? For he who has escaped all fear of future pain has found his way to present peace, and certainty of care the world can never threaten. He is sure that his perception may be faulty, but will never lack correction. He is free to choose again when he has been deceived; to change his mind when he has made mistakes.

Place, then, our future in the Hands of God. For thus we call the memory of Him to come again, replacing all our thoughts of sin and evil with the truth of love. Think we the world could fail to gain thereby, and every living creature not respond with healed perception? Who entrusts himself to God has also placed the world within the Hands to which he has himself appealed for comfort and security. He lays aside the sick illusions of the world along with his, and offers peace to both.

Now are we saved indeed. For in God's Hands we rest untroubled, sure that only good can come to us. If we forget, we will be gently reassured. If we accept an unforgiving thought, it will be soon replaced by love's reflection. And if we are tempted to attack, we will appeal to Him Who guards our rest to make the choice for us that leaves temptation far behind. No longer is the world our enemy, for we have chosen that we be its friend.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Last night I attended the very first Grateful Goddess Gathering here in Fargo. Two of my very dear friends (and fellow Course in Miracles students), Darcy & Sheila, have started a wonderful company called The Grateful Goddess, which was inspired by Darcy's whimsical pastel art. Darcy & Sheila believe that, according to their website, "in order to realize one’s dreams, we must first be grateful for what has been and what is."

Not only do they sell greeting cards, posters, jewelry, clothing and other wonderful "stuff," Darcy and Sheila also know that women love to gather, eat, drink, laugh, and learn, so last night was the first of many Goddess Gatherings. Last night's theme was "Friendship Gardening," where the goddesses reminded us to build and tend our friendships like our gardens, celebrating each of the various shapes, sizes, and colors and yes, even the occasional weed. They encouraged us to share parts of our gardens with each other so that each year as the plants come up, we will think of the friend from whom we received the plant.

What a great idea - and a great reminder to celebrate the differences in all our lives.

Today's lesson also reminds us that the future is in the Hands of God, and that consistent effort in remembering this will make this be a part of us. It will become a "habit in our problem-solving repertoire, a way of quick reaction to temptation." As we learn today's lesson, and begin to see salvation in everything - even in those occasional weeds in the garden of life - so will the world perceive that it, too, is saved. As we give up our worry about the future, we experience peace in the present.

I was honored to be included in the tangible effects of two people'thes dream - and to witness and experience the effects of hearts filled with gratitude and love. Thank you Darcy & Sheila for showing me that the dreams do come true, and reminding me again that the future is in the Hands of God!