One of the most difficult ideas to understand in A Course in Miracles® is that this entire physical universe of form is only an illusion. To quote the workbook (pages 236 /7) :

"But it is pride that argues you have come into a world quite separate from yourself, impervious to what you think, and quite apart from what you chance to think it is. There is no world! This is the central thought the course attempts to teach. Not everyone is ready to accept it, and each one must go as far as can let himself be led along the road to truth. He will return and go still farther, or perhaps step back a while and then return again."

Although I, initially felt very comfortable with the idea that God did not create this world of impermanence, pain and death, I still fall into the trap every day of slipping back into my old (pre Miracles) thought system and worrying about what seems to be happening (or not happening) around me. We have a sign over our refrigerator which states "THANK GOD IT'S AN ILLUSION" in bold letters to remind us that none of this, is reality, and even when Pam and I both 'join' in the idea that "This is a very serious problem we are now facing" it isn't long before one of us who is saner at the time will look at that sign and remind the other that all this imagined mess is only an illusion and a creation of our wrong minded thinking. We can then look at the 'problem' clearly and ask for guidance for any action or non-action to take. (Many times the difficulties we regard as serious, sort themselves out without our "help'.) Forgiveness solves all problems now and invariably when we forgive the person or situation we can return to a state of peace. There is nothing tout there that can take away my peace. I take away my peace. There aren't any enemies attacking me or anybody pressing my buttons, just mirrors I'm looking at, showing me aspects of myself I would rather not bring to mind. When I get into my right frame of mind I can be grateful for them for showing me my 'junk'.

A favourite story of mine is the one about a group of early American pioneers travelling westward in Indian territory, who, fearing attack took refuge in a deserted fort while a volunteer rode off to seek the aid of the U.S. Cavalry Tension grew after several days waiting in the fort and it was finally decided to send an experienced scout outside to accurately assess the immediate danger and direct the Cavalry swiftly to their aid. After several days searching for many miles around, the scout arrived back at the besieged fort and was ushered in to greet everyone anxiously awaiting the news

" Well do you want the good news or the bad news" was his opening remark. When told they might as well hear the worst first he replied in his slow Western drawl "Well the bad news is there ain't no Cavalry" and the good news is "There ain't no injuns"

If we stop living in our forts constantly worrying about the dangers outside and forever needing to defend ourselves, we could see that there are no 'good guys' we need to protect us or 'bad guys' out there plotting our destruction, only brothers expressing love or calling for love

Bill McDonald 12/88