Day 129: Beyond this world there is a world I want.

Today's lesson in the workbook of A Course in Miracles builds upon yesterday's.  Our reminder throughout our day goes as follows: 

The world I see holds nothing that I want.
Beyond this world there is a world I want.

The first paragraph explaining today's lesson is important to note:

This is the thought that follows from the one we practiced yesterday.  You cannot stop with the idea the world is worthless, for unless you see that there is something else to hope for, you will only be depressed.  Our emphasis is not on giving up the world, but on exchanging it for what is far more satisfying, filled with joy, and capable of offering you peace.  Think you this world can offer that to you?

Today's meditation also iterates the importance of our willingness to see the world beyond.  We have a choice to see the one which currently surrounds us or the one invisible to our physical eyes.  One world imprisons us; the other frees us.  The choice is simple, but the process of Truly Seeing is a bit more difficult.

Of the world in which we live, the Course says the following:

The world you see is merciless indeed, unstable, cruel, unconcerned with you, quick to avenge and pitiless with hate.  It gives but to rescind, and takes away all things that you have cherished for a while.  No lasting love is found, for none is here.  This is the world of time, where all things end.

And of the world beyond:

Is it a loss to find a world instead where losing is impossible; where love endures forever, hate cannot exist and vengeance has no meaning?  Is it a loss to find all things you really want, and know they have no ending and they will remain exactly as you want them throughout time?  Yet even they will be exchanged at last for what we cannot speak of, for you go from there to where words fail entirely, into a silence where the language is unspoken yet surely understood.

We can have faith that as long as our willingness remains, we will see the world beyond, the world we really want.  I will freely admit that I am not there yet myself.  But in meditating upon these lessons, I definitely have begun to see the world differently than I once had.  The foundation has become quite shaky, and increasingly so as these lessons progress.  Something is breaking through.  I can feel it.  I hold onto my willingness to behold that wondrous day.

While meditating on the lesson for today, the film trilogy of The Matrix crossed my mind.  For those of you who haven't seen it, I highly recommend.  The basic premise of the story is that the world we live in is an illusion.  The real you and I are unconscious, as "machines" foist a dreamworld called "the Matrix" upon our minds, which is the world we believe that we are in.  Not too dissimilar from what we're learning in A Course in Miracles, is it?  Neo is the protagonist, and over the course of the trilogy he learns to dissociate himself entirely from the world of the Matrix.  In doing so, he appears to manipulate the laws of physics while in his "dream" state within the Matrix.

Now, I'm not saying that once we are able to See the world beyond, we will suddenly become imbued with superpowers (though we are told Jesus walked on water, so who knows?).  I believe we will, however, have the ability to look past whatever situation the physical world presents us, and See that where there once stood obstacles, there is only possibility.  Where there once was war and hatred and attack, there will be only Love.  Where there once was darkness, we will perceive instead the Light.  How do we get there?  When will this spectacular world jump through the seemingly concrete illusions of this place and become a permanent fixture in our awareness?  I honestly can't say.  I'm not there yet.  We're only on day 129 out of 365, after all.  But rest assured that when I get there, I will let you know.  And I'll tell you everything I possibly can so that you may join me there as well.  And if you get there before I do?  Well, do me a favor and let me know.

Let us be grateful today that there is a world beyond this one which offers us more than we could ever imagine possible here.  It is only a matter of time for us all until we rejoice together in this Land of Permanent Bliss.  Keep forgiving, keep loving, and keep following the path of your joy; and you will be there before you know it.  That I can say for sure.

Until tomorrow,
Journeyman