Choosing Peace
by Nancy Bowers, RScP
“I could see peace instead of this” ~Lesson 34, A Course in Miracles
Life is. My tenor of my experience of Life is colored by whatever story I’ve made up in my head about what I think is happening. A Course in Miracles reminds me, I give everything the meaning that it has for me. What lens I am seeing through? What’s my opinion? If I have decided in advance that the events of the day are bad or wrong or shouldn’t be happening, then I have eliminated the possibly of noticing what’s good or “right.” Am I in possession of all the facts of the situation? Ultimately, I do not know what anything is for. I can’t see all the ramifications of what is happening. I only know that for me, I must stand in love. I must know that appearances are the out-picturing of what went before. I can choose again. I can choose peace. I CHOOSE peace.
I’ve decided that peace is my barometer. I measure my response by noticing whether it reinforces my sense of inner peace of catapults me into fear. Each time I notice the fear, I choose again. I could peace instead of this. When the insanity of the world obscures my ability to be Love, I return to the awareness that the Universe wastes nothing. The Holy Spirit purifies it all. God is forever FOR me. Everything is a blessing if I care to receive it that way. My task is to release my selfish ideas that focus primarily on self-interest and recognize the Oneness. I return to my inner guide. I step back and allow Spirit to lead the way. We are all connected. We are all here, walking each other home.
Is whatever is happening worth sacrificing my peace? If I am resisting the moment, then I am listening to the wrong voice, the voice that tells me this shouldn’t be happening. But if God uses it all for good, then whatever is happening is what needs to happen. It doesn’t mean I sit back and do nothing. It doesn’t mean I quietly accept that I am screwed, but it does mean that I am only useful to God when I stop worrying about just me and start asking the Holy Spirit, what would you have me do?
Choose Love. Choose Peace. Choose connection. Choose to recognize we are all One. I could see peace instead of this.
²I am here only to be truly helpful.
³I am here to represent Him Who sent me.
⁴I do not have to worry about what to say or what to do, because He Who sent me will direct me.
⁵I am content to be wherever He wishes, knowing He goes there with me.
⁶I will be healed as I let Him teach me to heal. (ACIM, T-2.V-A.18:2-6)
Nothing “out there” is worth sacrificing my peace for.