I got a letter this morning I would like to share with you, name withheld for privacy purposes, and my response:
Hi Lisa,
I hope you’re having a wonderful 2009 so far. Sending you lots of love & I’m glad we’re friends!
I haven’t posted on your blog in a while. Gosh, there’s been so much craziness here lately with both of my parents sick and my husband and I spending lots of time caring for them. It’s really an honor to be able to give back to them after they cared so beautifully for me all of my life.
I wanted to write you because, I admit it, I’m suffering right now. Today’s lesson (#5) really speaks to me. I miscarried our baby at nine weeks on New Year’s Day. As a student of ACIM I intellectually know that I shouldn’t be suffering. And yet I am. This is the worst thing that has ever happened to me (and I’m talking sexual abuse as a child, rape as a college student, abuse in my first marriage, the suicide of my first husband and two bouts with cancer). I. Am. Suffering.
I read the text and I’m working the lessons. I think I’m rambling right now and I don’t even know what to say. All I can say is that I respect you so much and I know that your thoughts about this will help me. I welcome tough love.
Thank you again for your beautiful spirit and your wisdom. You are a gift, you really are.
Love you,
_________
Dear ______,
I am very happy to hear from you.
The main problem most people have who practice the Course
is trying to be intellectual about it. But that’s not it. You are
asked to go fully into the emotion, to feel everything, to become
aware/conscious of everything, and then to practice the ideas, and let
the Lessons and the Holy Spirit undo false beliefs about the solidity
of this world.
What I know to be true is that the ideas are LIGHT INSERTIONS. As you
use every story, situation, event, person and apply the lesson
(without trying to understand), the light does the work.
Did you get complete the workbook in 2008?
I know there is something spectacular that occurs in a solid
commitment to see things differently, to go the full distance, and let
Jesus’ tough love transform us.
It sounds to me like you really need to set aside time each day to let
all your problems go – sick parents, stories about the past, and just
for a few minutes a day, allow yourself to be above the battleground
with no identity of past or future. To really come into your own
GORGEOUSNESS, your total beauty, your innocence, your joy, your
playfulness to be a Child of God again.
This requires a decision to be new this year, to be new this day.
As I have always said: there is no process involved.
Sounds like what you really need now is for someone to take care of
you now, to let yourself be the little precious creative child that
you are, and let your Father God take of you. He loves you and so do I.
love, lisa
Facebook comments:
I am going through a similar situation with having to put my mom in assisted living because she has severe dementia. This is definitely NOT what she wants. It’s hard to remember the Course and remember God when we feel we are in crisis. I’m not a Guru and have only been through the Course 1 time completely last year. I know that I have been talking with Spirit daily (actually minute by minute, sometimes) to ask for direction and for comfort. I have been given the grace of both. I had a thought the other day and it was kind of like this: “Well, so you are in crisis, you should use the Course during this time as life is not always easy…and there will be more challenges ahead!” What I got from this is that if I put God first by asking for what I need (not what I want) I can make it through anything. Sometimes I forget, but I remember to just keep keeping on. Multiple miracles happen each time I commune with Spirit. Obstacles are removed and the way is made clear. Remember, Jesus PROMISED He would never leave us comfortless.
All my love to everyone!
Carol