Please take time this morning to read, “What is Forgiveness,” to contemplate Lesson 228, and to spend time in meditation. If you have 40-minutes for meditation and would like a gentle audio to guide you, I recommend this meditation for today:
God has condemned me not. No more do I.
Each one of us identifies with a large number of ideas. For example:
- I am [name, age, & gender].
- I am [career or other role in life].
- I am good/bad with money.
- I am healthy/sick/in constant pain.
- I am smart/stupid.
- I am athletic/in poor shape.
- I am busy/bored.
- I am compassionate/uncaring.
- I am addicted/self-disciplined.
- I am outgoing/introverted.
- I am responsible/a procrastinator.
- I am detail-oriented/likely to make mistakes.
- I am outdoorsy/a couch potato.
- I am artistic/handy/unskilled.
- I am intuitive/confused.
- I am energetic/lethargic.
- I am blessed/unlucky.
- I am attractive/not much to look at.
I could go on all day, because we each carry so many identifications in our minds.
Today’s lesson points out that each of these mental identities condemns us to a limited view of our self. We overlook our truth and believe a limited self-identity whenever we identify with an idea, positive or negative.
If you look at the list above, you will be able to find some ideas that you identify with. However, is that what you are? For example, if you identify with smart, have you ever felt stupid? If you identify as one who is likely to make mistakes, have you ever been praised for a job well done?
It doesn’t matter what idea we identify with. When we identify with an idea, we put on blinders. We ignore our unlimited nature by thinking, “I am [this idea].”
Let’s pay attention to the ideas we identify with. When you notice an idea of identification, pause and look at it with inquiry. Is it true that you are that? Is that constant and unchanging, always you? Or is that a temporary experience that your mind has latched onto? Is it just a mental identity, or is it what you really are?
What are you? What can you find that is constant and unchanging, and clearly you? Can you find ‘you’ that is beyond all ideas?
Here is a message that I received from Holy Spirit in 2007 that further explores the point of today’s lesson:
