Lesson 104
I seek but what belongs to me in truth.
Space, as defined by Google, “is a continuous area or expanse that is free, available, or unoccupied.” Everything that exists takes up a certain area while at the same time contains a certain area within. Even air, which we cannot see and roams free, is contained between the boundaries of its environment, while also being held in the space of its molecular structure. Thus, there is always space around us and in us. But how do we use that space?
Through our daily practice periods we have been slowly clearing the space within the mind and constructing a new outer world. We have experienced shifting from misguided thoughts to those that create more expansion and freedom. Today, we continue clearing the clutter of the mind like a gardener who pulls the weeds of a flowerbed. We take out our illusions by the root so as to leave our pruned soil as an offering for God to unfold our inheritance, joy and peace.
“They are your right, because of what you are. They come to you from God, Who cannot fail to give you what He wills. Yet must there be place made ready to receive His gifts” (ACIM Lesson 104 1:2-4).
If a gardener were to leave the weeds in the soil, and in particular not pull them by the root, the pesky trappings would eventually overrun by whatever one planted. Yes, some beautiful flowers would pop up which would make life more beautiful but if the flowers had more space, sans the weeds, they would truly flourish and their gift of beauty to the world would as well. In order to claim our inheritance, we too must cultivate the soil of our mind and make space for that which God gives freely, to blossom.
The weeds that grow in our mind often feel overpowering and real. They are not Real but I will tell you that they are powerful in that they are a real opportunity. Our mad thoughts are our cue to choose again. And to choose again. And to choose again. We continue to pull the weeds from the roots until the flowerbed of the mind is trained that such a place is not the right environment for weeds or for misguided thoughts. Thus, our choice ultimately becomes the choiceless choice. But we have to start somewhere, which we have already done but must continue to do so today.
In our practice periods today, we lay aside what we assumed would overpower us, our vicious thoughts, and release their contracting hold upon us. Now, we leave room, we create expansion, and we find ourselves abiding in limitless spaciousness. How could anything overpower something so expansive as peace? A peace that this always present and a rightful gift.
“His are the gifts that are our own truth. His are the gifts that we inherited before time was, and that will still be ours when time has passed into eternity. His are the gifts that are now within us now, for they are timeless. And we need not wait to have them. They belong to us today” (ACIM Lesson 104 2:2-5).
Peace is granted to everyone, however no one can choose it for another. As we have stated in an example before, No one can lose the weight for you that you wish to lose. It is up to you. Such is the choice for our inheritance. This idea is very subtle in today’s lesson, and one we will develop more later, and that is other people’s “stuff” and journey does not belong to us. In other words, another soul’s karma is none of our business. Recognize how much of your idle thoughts are occupied by worrying about other people or trying to control another’s life. This journey is about your choice for peace. Others will no doubt join you as peace and joy are contagious but our pace as we walk in miracles will always be varied to another. You must walk your own pace and make your own choice. That is how you serve as Savior. We do not hold someone else’s peace but we can hold a loving space that they might choose what already belongs to them.
“We come in confidence today, aware that what belongs to us in truth is what He gives. And we would wish for nothing else, for nothing else belongs to us in truth” (ACIM Lesson 104 4:3-4).
The last couple of nights, there have been nightly thunderstorms. I had no plans at night thus I found myself sitting alone just watching the thunderstorms. I could have read, watched something on the Internet, did some writing, cleaned the house a little….you know the drill; there is always something we can do to fill our time. Yet I found myself saying, “Just be in the space of boredom with nothing to do and watch the thunderstorms from your window.” And I did. But what I found, is there is no such thing as boredom as all I did was leave an open space to observe how God was showing up. In this case I witnessed the peace and joy of God through flashes of light, rain, wind, and puffy dark clouds. In accordance with today’s lesson, we are asked to not fill the space but to leave the altar of our mind empty and to let Her uncover the glorious gifts of peace and joy that are always present.
“So do we clear the way for Him today by simply recognizing that His Will is done already, and that joy and peace belong to us as His eternal gifts” (ACIM Lesson 104 5:1).
As we close, take what you think to be “real” and turn it into your real opportunity to cultivate a garden of joyful and peaceful flowers. Do it for You. Do it because there is nothing else you desire.
“I seek but what belongs to me in truth. God’s gifts of joy and peace are all I want” (ACIM Lesson 104 5:2-5).
Feel the expansiveness of space that you were created to be. Uncoil your mind and welcome the freedom of Love. Open your wings, it is time to fly.
Namaste.
Kathy J. Ramirez 