Spirit Journey IV: Divine Purpose

This is the fourth of a series of articles about A Course in Miracles.

"Why am I here?" The question is ancient and universal. Religions seek to answer it with varying degrees of success. ACIM sees all humankind as the children of God, and our purpose to bring all of God's children back to God. We are tasked with saving the world.

Saving the world is accomplished first by returning ourselves to the consciousness of our connection to God and second by revealing that connection, which everyone shares, to the world.

No sacrifice is required. Achieving the consciousness of our divine connection brings perfect happiness, and sharing that consciousness is a joy. There are specific things that we are encouraged to "give up," such as attack thoughts and vengeance, but none of them are worth keeping, and none of them promote happiness.

The course is clear that uniting one's personal will with God's will brings perfect happiness. It is also clear that the only things we really lose are illusions and misery.

My personal experience with the course is that as I continue to follow it and give my consent, I grow in emotional maturity and leave behind things I strove for years to be rid of, all with a minimal effort and great peace. I am learning to see the world through the eyes of God, who sees the big picture, and wills happiness for all creation, including me. This book has changed my life.

Comments: 7

Svetlana Goryacheva Aug 19, 2007, 1:09pm EDT

Great piece, dear Ann... reminding me of my good Russian friend Andrei Yashurin's "Talks on Truth" list. I'll surely check all the previous parts to re-read them more carefully. ;-)

Blessings and best wishes - S.

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Alison H. Aug 21, 2007, 4:23pm EDT

Changing the world is a tall order.

So is changing myself, but I'm doing my best! :-))

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Carla G. Aug 23, 2007, 2:35pm EDT

Amen on that, Alison. But with each of us that changes and gets back to that connection with God, we are one more piece of the puzzle that is coming together. In many ways, organized religion has made us feel separate from God more than connected. It is in our personal relationship or experience of God working in our lives and our prayer and meditation life, that we fully come to know that connection.

Thanks for these articles, Ann. They make so much sense!

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Granny Janny H. Feb 3, 2008, 3:53pm EST

Wonderful articles and comments. I am also a student of ACIM

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Magi the magical poet is riding the wind again Feb 3, 2008, 7:41pm EST

Ann, your mini series is a great introduction to ACIM. Of course, it is only an introduction ... there is far, far more. Not only in the lessons but also in the Text and the Manual for Teachers ... all of which I have read countless times over. More importantly, the truth of ACIM continues to resonate with me and permeates my very being. I live ACIM daily, minute by minute.

The essence of ACIM is that God is knowable and want to be Known ... there is no separation in the Reality created by Him, and He alone is the Author of Reality.

That I came so very late to these articles does not matter .... that I came as ordained is all that matters.

I bow to you and hold out my hand.

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