Thanks for this, Sean. It's a very timely post (as usual) for me as I am in the middle of some focused attention to matters related to life purpose and aligning my choices with a (hopefully) clarified purpose. It's been fascinating to me that even as a relative newcomer to ACIM, I seem unable to even think about concepts such as life purpose without now hearing many of the words from the Course that you've shared here as a major lens through which I'm considering this idea. It offers me a certain simplicity (something I thought I'd never say about ACIM) to bring to this process that has been and continues to be a helpful counterpoint to the complexity that I typically bring to such reflection. Much appreciated!
Thanks for reading and sharing, Dan. I'm glad it's helpful. It's an interesting aspect of studying and practicing ACIM that it does in fact simplify and clarify a lot; that has been my experience as well. And yes - also my experience that complexity comes from me :) There is a lovely line in the course - "[c]omplexity is of the ego, and is nothing more than the ego’s attempt to obscure the obvious" (T-15.IV.6:2). Good to keep in mind!
Thank you for the kind words, Kristine . . . It takes two (at least) to communicate so I'm glad you're here and glad that we can share this path. We learn together or not at all!
I've been on this journey for 30 years. Marianne Williamson used to say, in the old days, something like: "your ministry (or special function) is your address book." I equate this to your powerful message in this piece. "And it's right in front of you, crying out for response." So simple and doable in the present moment! I especially love that you wrote, "It may or may not require words. It absolutely requires your full - whole-hearted, open-minded - presence." Thank you once again, Sean.
Oh I like that! Yes - the one crying out for help is always right before us (maybe especially when we are facing a mirror :)). And yes, so much of this practice is about being present, letting go of baggage, being willing to be a servant et cetera. It's not easy! But I am grateful to walk the walk, especially with such helpful companions. Thanks for being here, Susan 🙏🙏
And I hope that you and yours were okay in the hurricane's passing . . . hard times for a lot of folks.
I look forward to reading each and every one of your pieces, Sean. Gives me solace. I live in a community and family that cannot and will not let go of old-fashioned religion, which in their case has become incredibly fear-driven and often cruel. Thank you for teasing out so many things for the rest of us.
You're welcome, Heidi. I appreciate the kind words - I'm glad the writing is helpful. Fear-based approaches to religion (and politics and economics and . . . . ) is so discouraging. But I do think that seeing it clearly enables us to respond to it in helpful ways, which usually means allowing the fear in our minds to be dialed down so we don't make things worse. Lately I understand my ACIM practice as being fundamentally non-dramatic - just trying to be the one in the room who wants to bring the temperature down so we can all relate from our innocence, kindness, gentleness. I have a lot to learn and it's a long road for sure, but I'm glad to be on it, and glad to share it with folks like you 🙏🙏
I keep going back and forth between the Course and traditional Christianity. While whole-heartedly endorsing the teachings found in ACIM, I crave the sense of community I find in "church"; yet I walk away from each "church" gathering feeling astonished by the level of fear I perceive in those claiming to be the inheritors of the "good news". I do feel my special function is somehow entangled in the intersection of spirituality and religion and all the ways in which these are misconstrued.
Cheers to you, and thank you for sharing your insights into our relationships with one another and with love itself.
There is a lot of good work to be done at the intersection of spirituality and religion, and it seems to rest in the domain of community. How do we live together in peace? How do we practice inclusion?
For me this work involves reimagining what it means to be human, christian, familiar and in communication but - critically - doing this reimagining it IN community, with others.
It also seems to involve re-creation in some sense - learning again in play with one another how to be inspired.
Thanks for this, Sean. It's a very timely post (as usual) for me as I am in the middle of some focused attention to matters related to life purpose and aligning my choices with a (hopefully) clarified purpose. It's been fascinating to me that even as a relative newcomer to ACIM, I seem unable to even think about concepts such as life purpose without now hearing many of the words from the Course that you've shared here as a major lens through which I'm considering this idea. It offers me a certain simplicity (something I thought I'd never say about ACIM) to bring to this process that has been and continues to be a helpful counterpoint to the complexity that I typically bring to such reflection. Much appreciated!
Thanks for reading and sharing, Dan. I'm glad it's helpful. It's an interesting aspect of studying and practicing ACIM that it does in fact simplify and clarify a lot; that has been my experience as well. And yes - also my experience that complexity comes from me :) There is a lovely line in the course - "[c]omplexity is of the ego, and is nothing more than the ego’s attempt to obscure the obvious" (T-15.IV.6:2). Good to keep in mind!
Thanks again for being here.
~ Sean
So incredibly beautiful. Thank you.🌸
Thanks, Kimberley. A lot of familiar ground here :) Thanks for sharing and being here.
~ Sean
All things are echoes of God….you are one of them…you have the words of reason that raised doubts are gently answered
Thank you for the kind words, Kristine . . . It takes two (at least) to communicate so I'm glad you're here and glad that we can share this path. We learn together or not at all!
~ Sean
I've been on this journey for 30 years. Marianne Williamson used to say, in the old days, something like: "your ministry (or special function) is your address book." I equate this to your powerful message in this piece. "And it's right in front of you, crying out for response." So simple and doable in the present moment! I especially love that you wrote, "It may or may not require words. It absolutely requires your full - whole-hearted, open-minded - presence." Thank you once again, Sean.
Oh I like that! Yes - the one crying out for help is always right before us (maybe especially when we are facing a mirror :)). And yes, so much of this practice is about being present, letting go of baggage, being willing to be a servant et cetera. It's not easy! But I am grateful to walk the walk, especially with such helpful companions. Thanks for being here, Susan 🙏🙏
And I hope that you and yours were okay in the hurricane's passing . . . hard times for a lot of folks.
~ Sean
Thank you kindly! The mirror is definitely a teaching device :)
I look forward to reading each and every one of your pieces, Sean. Gives me solace. I live in a community and family that cannot and will not let go of old-fashioned religion, which in their case has become incredibly fear-driven and often cruel. Thank you for teasing out so many things for the rest of us.
You're welcome, Heidi. I appreciate the kind words - I'm glad the writing is helpful. Fear-based approaches to religion (and politics and economics and . . . . ) is so discouraging. But I do think that seeing it clearly enables us to respond to it in helpful ways, which usually means allowing the fear in our minds to be dialed down so we don't make things worse. Lately I understand my ACIM practice as being fundamentally non-dramatic - just trying to be the one in the room who wants to bring the temperature down so we can all relate from our innocence, kindness, gentleness. I have a lot to learn and it's a long road for sure, but I'm glad to be on it, and glad to share it with folks like you 🙏🙏
Thanks for being here, Heidi.
~ Sean
I keep going back and forth between the Course and traditional Christianity. While whole-heartedly endorsing the teachings found in ACIM, I crave the sense of community I find in "church"; yet I walk away from each "church" gathering feeling astonished by the level of fear I perceive in those claiming to be the inheritors of the "good news". I do feel my special function is somehow entangled in the intersection of spirituality and religion and all the ways in which these are misconstrued.
Cheers to you, and thank you for sharing your insights into our relationships with one another and with love itself.
You're welcome, Kyle. Thanks for sharing.
There is a lot of good work to be done at the intersection of spirituality and religion, and it seems to rest in the domain of community. How do we live together in peace? How do we practice inclusion?
For me this work involves reimagining what it means to be human, christian, familiar and in communication but - critically - doing this reimagining it IN community, with others.
It also seems to involve re-creation in some sense - learning again in play with one another how to be inspired.
Thanks for being here, Kyle.
~ Sean