Manual for Teachers: Section 9 . . ARE CHANGES REQUIRED IN THE LIFE SITUATION OF GOD’S TEACHERS? . . . page 26 paragraph 1

Section 9

ARE CHANGES REQUIRED IN THE LIFE SITUATION OF GOD’S TEACHERS?

page 26, paragraph 1

ARE CHANGES REQUIRED IN THE LIFE SITUATION OF GOD’S TEACHERS?

1 Changes are required in the minds of God’s teachers. ²This may or may not involve changes in the external situation. ³Remember that no one is where he is by accident, and chance plays no part in God’s plan. ⁴It is most unlikely that changes in attitudes would not be the first step in the newly made teacher of God’s training. ⁵There is, however, no set pattern, since training is always highly individualized. ⁶There are those who are called upon to change their life situation almost immediately, but these are generally special cases. ⁷By far the majority are given a slowly evolving training program, in which as many previous mistakes as possible are corrected. ⁸Relationships in particular must be properly perceived, and all dark cornerstones of unforgiveness removed. ⁹Otherwise the old thought system still has a basis for return.

Surrender

I remember when I first started getting serious about the Course and fully committed to it. One thought that caused me distress was the idea that God would take me away from my family. I worried about that until I finally came to peace about it, having given the issue to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guided me to step out on faith and with trust. I decided I would go where I was called to go. As it turned out, I was not one of the few who was called to change their outer life drastically. I am glad that I dealt with that fear and watched it disappear as I let go of the outcome.

I still would not like to leave my family, but I am committed to being fully available to the Holy Spirit, but not to any person. If a teacher said I needed to upend my life and follow him or her, I would ask Holy Spirit what He would have me do, and follow my heart, which always follows Spirit.  There is no need to travel anywhere to find God because He is already in me and I am in Him.

Training Program

What has been necessary is that I follow the training program given me for the purpose of healing my mind. I am completely dedicated to that and I want to correct as many mistakes as I can. I welcome the situations that trigger my thinking errors because it is now that I undo what was done in the past. These situations arise in my mind for that purpose alone.

Healing

There is no room in my mind for grievances or attack thoughts or judgments. When I see evidence of defensiveness on my part, I immediately sit with the Holy Spirit until I feel that I have left it with Him. I do my best to heal all relationships and it is a joy to do this. Sometimes I think it would take a miracle to heal a relationship and that is very exciting because, through the Love that is God within me, I have access to just such a miracle.