Sean, you wrote a world-shaking sentence in response to a comment today: "There is no choice anywhere in the system." It hit me like a ton of truth. But didn't I already know that? Not so much, apparently. It has taken me all day to recall how I had seen it expressed before now--something like, "If I'm making a human choice in regard to human things/events/people/experience, I'm choosing between nothing and nothing, because nothing I could "choose" is real. And if I'm operating from Spirit, the idea of choice will not even occur to me, because why would it when I have Love.
"There is no choice in the system."
And yet, as ACIM students we seem to be told to "Choose Again," and again and again. Bill was the first Course "chooser," when he said there must be a better way. Then Helen "chose" to join him. And all of us tumble gratefully after.
The Direct Path might say, "Forget choice; step directly into Being."
That single sentence of yours may end up having a profound effect on me, Sean, and I can't thank you enough for the spark.
Thank you, Nancy. Yes, that is a tricky notion to grasp; the illusion of choice is powerful. It's not possible in a body to deny the appearance and sensation. But if we look at it closely we can see how choice is of the ego. Choice relies on distinctions - this vs. that - and it relies on judgment - this is better/more deserving than that.
Choice is the great sustainer of conflict; the Holy Spirit uses it but ony to point beyond it.
I also think certain so-called nonspiritual aspects of the dream - neurologists, physicists et cetera - have been pointing out the illusion of choice/free will as well.
As I said, this is a crisis before it's a consolation but it IS a consolation in the end. Choicelessness is true freedom, and true creativity.
Thank you Sean, for helping us to stay calm, quiet and confident, as you said a while ago. Helping us to stay on the path, pointing to the hand of Hope. I benefit greatly from your practical pointers, what does it look like in a daily life. Yesterday, I experienced resistance to join to the online session, ego was asking (or rather protesting) why I should join, what is the benefit, but I carried on and joined, immediately I felt a sense of reconfirmation of my commitment to the Course and the strength of joining with the fellow students. That was the Answer. Thank you 🙏🙏
You're welcome, Aysin. Thank you for being here, and for joining on Sunday. I'm glad it was helpful; it was for me as well. It's also okay if it's not! One of the things I am learning with the Holy Spirit is that there are no mistakes in salvation - even my seeming errors serve the cause of our shared learning. There truly is nothing to worry about; we are allowed to be happy, free and at peace. Thank you again for sharing the path with me - I am very grateful 🙏🙏
"I have one function, which is to create as my Creator creates. And what my Creator creates is the abstract perfection of Love which gently envelops all it encounters, transforming it from a cause for fear to a cause for joy and peace." Love this. So simple, yet so profound, and ultimately, the entirety of this human-divine experience. 🫶
I loved "In the end, there is only one relationship. And it is holy because it is one." I will use this wisdom as a mantra. Thank you Sean. Your clarity has made my path easier.
It all boils down to a choice between unconditional love and conditional love.
Conditional love is of the ego, "give to get," "one or the other." Unconditional love is the miracle and it makes all things whole (holy)
Some might say loving unconditionally is hard, but that is the ego talking. Unconditional love is a choice, a choice born out of forgiveness.
Jesus laughed at those bored Roman soldiers who were killing him and said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do". Is there a better example of the miracle?
As I've said in the past, I think the arguments for "choice" and "decision," as applied to the human frame, are mistaken. There is no choice anywhere in the system.
More to the point, if unconditional love WERE a choice then it would no no longer be unconditional; it would be conditional upon our acceptance :)
In my experience, before this is a divine consolation, it is an existential crisis.
I understand the attraction of "Jesus laughed while being crucified," and I respect folks for whom it is a helpful perspective. Personally, I find it unhelpful. Jesus strangled to death on a device designed to maximize personal suffering and collective terror. It is our shared trauma writ large. The minds which conceived of crucifixion, designed crucifixes, and then deployed them, are very much mine and yours.
Until we face that - and the external world provides plenty of examples proving we have not - then our reinterpretations are just wishful thinking, i.e., projections. There is another way 🙏🙏
Dear Sean
Thank you for your dose of hope.
"I rest in God today, and let Him work in me and through me while I rest in Him in quiet and in perfect certainly. "
Amen 🙏🙏
Sean, you wrote a world-shaking sentence in response to a comment today: "There is no choice anywhere in the system." It hit me like a ton of truth. But didn't I already know that? Not so much, apparently. It has taken me all day to recall how I had seen it expressed before now--something like, "If I'm making a human choice in regard to human things/events/people/experience, I'm choosing between nothing and nothing, because nothing I could "choose" is real. And if I'm operating from Spirit, the idea of choice will not even occur to me, because why would it when I have Love.
"There is no choice in the system."
And yet, as ACIM students we seem to be told to "Choose Again," and again and again. Bill was the first Course "chooser," when he said there must be a better way. Then Helen "chose" to join him. And all of us tumble gratefully after.
The Direct Path might say, "Forget choice; step directly into Being."
That single sentence of yours may end up having a profound effect on me, Sean, and I can't thank you enough for the spark.
Thank you, Nancy. Yes, that is a tricky notion to grasp; the illusion of choice is powerful. It's not possible in a body to deny the appearance and sensation. But if we look at it closely we can see how choice is of the ego. Choice relies on distinctions - this vs. that - and it relies on judgment - this is better/more deserving than that.
Choice is the great sustainer of conflict; the Holy Spirit uses it but ony to point beyond it.
I also think certain so-called nonspiritual aspects of the dream - neurologists, physicists et cetera - have been pointing out the illusion of choice/free will as well.
As I said, this is a crisis before it's a consolation but it IS a consolation in the end. Choicelessness is true freedom, and true creativity.
Love,
Sean
Thank you Sean, for helping us to stay calm, quiet and confident, as you said a while ago. Helping us to stay on the path, pointing to the hand of Hope. I benefit greatly from your practical pointers, what does it look like in a daily life. Yesterday, I experienced resistance to join to the online session, ego was asking (or rather protesting) why I should join, what is the benefit, but I carried on and joined, immediately I felt a sense of reconfirmation of my commitment to the Course and the strength of joining with the fellow students. That was the Answer. Thank you 🙏🙏
You're welcome, Aysin. Thank you for being here, and for joining on Sunday. I'm glad it was helpful; it was for me as well. It's also okay if it's not! One of the things I am learning with the Holy Spirit is that there are no mistakes in salvation - even my seeming errors serve the cause of our shared learning. There truly is nothing to worry about; we are allowed to be happy, free and at peace. Thank you again for sharing the path with me - I am very grateful 🙏🙏
Love,
Sean
Waking up to this. Thank you for the reminder.
Good morning Maureen! Thank you for being here 🙏🙏
~ Sean
Thank you 🕉
🙏🙏
"I have one function, which is to create as my Creator creates. And what my Creator creates is the abstract perfection of Love which gently envelops all it encounters, transforming it from a cause for fear to a cause for joy and peace." Love this. So simple, yet so profound, and ultimately, the entirety of this human-divine experience. 🫶
Thanks for being here, Susanna. I am very grateful for the companionship 🙏🙏
Love,
Sean
What a beautiful start to this week. As you often say to us, Sean--Thank you for being here.
You're welcome, Nancy. I am very grateful we are able to share this path - I learn a lot from you. So yes - thank you for being here 🙏🙏
Love,
Sean
I loved "In the end, there is only one relationship. And it is holy because it is one." I will use this wisdom as a mantra. Thank you Sean. Your clarity has made my path easier.
Thanks for being here, Susan. I am grateful for the company 🙏🙏
Love,
Sean
It all boils down to a choice between unconditional love and conditional love.
Conditional love is of the ego, "give to get," "one or the other." Unconditional love is the miracle and it makes all things whole (holy)
Some might say loving unconditionally is hard, but that is the ego talking. Unconditional love is a choice, a choice born out of forgiveness.
Jesus laughed at those bored Roman soldiers who were killing him and said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do". Is there a better example of the miracle?
Thank you for sharing, David.
As I've said in the past, I think the arguments for "choice" and "decision," as applied to the human frame, are mistaken. There is no choice anywhere in the system.
More to the point, if unconditional love WERE a choice then it would no no longer be unconditional; it would be conditional upon our acceptance :)
In my experience, before this is a divine consolation, it is an existential crisis.
I understand the attraction of "Jesus laughed while being crucified," and I respect folks for whom it is a helpful perspective. Personally, I find it unhelpful. Jesus strangled to death on a device designed to maximize personal suffering and collective terror. It is our shared trauma writ large. The minds which conceived of crucifixion, designed crucifixes, and then deployed them, are very much mine and yours.
Until we face that - and the external world provides plenty of examples proving we have not - then our reinterpretations are just wishful thinking, i.e., projections. There is another way 🙏🙏
Love,
Sean