Lesson 141. Review of Lessons 121 and 122.
“My mind holds only what I think with God,” is the key thought we will contemplate as we go through this next review, so let’s begin by looking deeply at what that means.
Interestingly, the dictionary does not define ‘think’ as the ongoing mental chatter in the mind, although most people tend to think that chatter is thinking. The dictionary defines ‘think’ as “to have a conscious mind” or “to have in consciousness.”
Therefore, “My mind holds only what I think with God” means that anything we are conscious of that is not truth is temporary. Only truth is lasting. And it is this simple fact that sets the stage for the contemplation of every lesson that we will review over the next ten days.
Sometimes A Course in Miracles uses the term “real thoughts” to refer to the thoughts we think with God. Real thoughts are the environment of pure consciousness. You can think of them as attitudes or ways of being. Real thoughts include:
~ All-is-well (peace)
~ Open embracing acceptance (love)
~ An inherent sense freedom—a sense of soaring from within (joy)
~ Intimacy with everything (oneness).
Patience, allowance and compassion are the reflections of our real thoughts.
So, “My mind holds only what I think with God” means that only these qualities are lasting. Everything else that appears in consciousness is temporary and passing.
With this in mind, we are asked to contemplate each day’s review lessons. The review instructions say, “Let each word [in the review lessons] shine with the meaning God has given it, as it was given to you through His Voice. Let each idea which you review that day give you the gift He has laid in it for you …”
As an example, here is my contemplation of today’s review lessons. They were contemplated with “My mind holds only what I think with God” in mind:
Forgiveness is knowing all is well all the time. This includes the knowledge that I need do nothing to try and control or manipulate any situation or any person. Forgiveness is the knowledge that nothing need be different. Forgiveness is knowing that all is well regardless of my perceived wants and needs. Forgiveness is knowing that what I am cannot be threatened and, therefore, need not be defended. Forgiveness is allowing what is, to be, without trying to fix or change it.
Forgiveness offers everything I want because it is the belief that something or someone needs to be controlled or changed that keeps me in bondage to the thinking mind. I don’t allow anything. I merely acknowledge that everything has already been allowed. I see that nothing is required to make this moment better or different. When I am not struggling to make this moment different, I am free. It is that simple. Freedom is what I want. I don’t want to be in bondage to an idealized version of this moment. I merely wish to experience it for what it is. In this, there is true freedom.
