Review V, Introduction

REVIEW V
Introduction

We now review again. This time we are ready to give more effort and more time to what we undertake. We recognize we are preparing for another phase of understanding. We would take this step completely, that we may go on again more certain, more sincere, with faith upheld more surely. Our footsteps have not been unwavering, and doubts have made us walk uncertainly and slowly on the road this course sets forth. But now we hasten on, for we approach a greater certainty, a firmer purpose and a surer goal.

Steady our feet, our Father. Let our doubts be quiet and our holy minds be still, and speak to us. We have no words to give to You. We would but listen to Your Word, and make it ours. Lead our practicing as does a father lead a little child along a way he does not understand. Yet does he follow, sure that he is safe because his father leads the way for him.

So do we bring our practicing to You. And if we stumble, You will raise us up. If we forget the way, we count upon Your sure remembering. We wander off, but You will not forget to call us back. Quicken our footsteps now, that we may walk more certainly and quickly unto You. And we accept the Word You offer us to unify our practicing, as we review the thoughts that You have given us.

This is the thought which should precede the thoughts that we review. Each one but clarifies some aspect of this thought, or helps it be more meaningful, more personal and true, and more descriptive of the holy Self we share and now prepare to know again:

God is but Love, and therefore so am I.

This Self alone knows Love. This Self alone is perfectly consistent in Its Thoughts; knows Its Creator, understands Itself, is perfect in Its knowledge and Its Love, and never changes from Its constant state of union with Its Father and Itself.

And it is this that waits to meet us at the journey’s ending. Every step we take brings us a little nearer. This review will shorten time immeasurably, if we keep in mind that this remains our goal, and as we practice it is this to which we are approaching. Let us raise our hearts from dust to life, as we remember this is promised us, and that this course was sent to open up the path of light to us, and teach us, step by step, how to return to the eternal Self we thought we lost.

I take the journey with you. For I share your doubts and fears a little while, that you may come to me who recognize the road by which all fears and doubts are overcome. We walk together. I must understand uncertainty and pain, although I know they have no meaning. Yet a savior must remain with those he teaches, seeing what they see, but still retaining in his mind the way that led him out, and now will lead you out with him. God’s Son is crucified until you walk along the road with me.

My resurrection comes again each time I lead a brother safely to the place at which the journey ends and is forgot. I am renewed each time a brother learns there is a way from misery and pain. I am reborn each time a brother’s mind turns to the light in him and looks for me. I have forgotten no one. Help me now to lead you back to where the journey was begun, to make another choice with me.

Release me as you practice once again the thoughts I brought to you from Him Who sees your bitter need, and knows the answer God has given Him. Together we review these thoughts. Together we devote our time and effort to them. And together we will teach them to our brothers. God would not have Heaven incomplete. It waits for you, as I do. I am incomplete without your part in me. And as I am made whole we go together to our ancient home, prepared for us before time was and kept unchanged by time, immaculate and safe, as it will be at last when time is done.

Let this review be then your gift to me. For this alone I need; that you will hear the words I speak, and give them to the world. You are my voice, my eyes, my feet, my hands through which I save the world. The Self from which I call to you is but your own. To Him we go together. Take your brother’s hand, for this is not a way we walk alone. In him I walk with you, and you with me. Our Father wills His Son be one with Him. What lives but must not then be one with you?

Let this review become a time in which we share a new experience for you, yet one as old as time and older still. Hallowed your Name. Your glory undefiled forever. And your wholeness now complete, as God established it. You are His Son, completing His extension in your own. We practice but an ancient truth we knew before illusion seemed to claim the world. And we remind the world that it is free of all illusions every time we say:

God is but Love, and therefore so am I.

With this we start each day of our review. With this we start and end each period of practice time. And with this thought we sleep, to waken once again with these same words upon our lips, to greet another day. No thought that we review but we surround with it, and use the thoughts to hold it up before our minds, and keep it clear in our remembrance throughout the day. And thus, when we have finished this review, we will have recognized the words we speak are true.

Yet are the words but aids, and to be used, except at the beginning and the end of practice periods, but to recall the mind, as needed, to its purpose. We place faith in the experience that comes from practice, not the means we use. We wait for the experience, and recognize that it is only here conviction lies. We use the words, and try and try again to go beyond them to their meaning, which is far beyond their sound. The sound grows dim and disappears, as we approach the Source of meaning. It is Here that we find rest.

 

Journal

The thought that will precede all the review lessons is, “God is but Love, and therefore so am I.” Jesus wants us to know who we are. He talks about the Self that knows Its Creator and never changes from Its constant state of union with Its Father and Itself. That is who we are, not the human that we pretend to be, but Divinity, part of God.

I read this over and over and linger on the statement that the Self I am is in a constant state of union with my Father and with my Self. When I hesitate to forgive someone I remember this. To return to reality, all relationships must be forgiven or I will not be in union with my Self and thus not know my union with my Creator. “Take your brother’s hand, for this is not a way we walk alone.”

Jesus says that he takes the journey with us and shares our doubts and fears. Yet a savior must remain with those he teaches, seeing what they see, but still retaining in his mind the way that led him out, and now will lead you out with him. God’s Son is crucified until you walk along the road with me. He asks us to release him and in another place in the Text he asks us to forgive him. It is the same thing. He, like us, must be made Whole again.

Regina’s Tips

Here is my recommendation for this review:

1. Begin each day with the prayer above. Let yourself feel how much you want your practice to be individually guided from within.
2. Spend a few minutes with the day’s review lesson, silently being with the words for that day’s review, and then feel for what you are to do next. A few possibilities are:
   1. You may feel to contemplate the review lesson and write what comes to you during contemplation.
   2. You may feel to review the tips from the lessons that are reviewed on that day.
   3. You may feel to practice self-inquiry through journaling regarding some thoughts in your mind.
   4. You may feel to go directly into awareness-watching-awareness meditation.
   5. You may have a feeling to practice the review lesson in some specific way throughout your day.

 

Trust whatever comes to you. Remember you have prayed for guidance to lead your practice. Remember that guidance is always individualized to fit each person perfectly, and then trust the guidance that comes to you each day of this review period.

Past Entry

This Introduction has one of my favorite prayers in the Course. I am walking Home and I am not alone. Yes, I stumble and sometimes lose my way for awhile, but Jesus, my sweet brother, walks with me and helps me back onto the path when I wander off. I am filled with gratitude for him, and truly determined to do what I am given to do on behalf of the Sonship, just as he is doing his part, again and again, leaving no one behind.

What feels most clear to me is that Jesus is telling me that I am awakening. In the process of undoing the ego it can be easy to lose sight of the ultimate goal. I think the ego likes the spiritual process as long as I stay just short of success. Jesus is helping me to move from the thought that someday this will happen and into the certainty that it is happening now.

I cried some happy tears this morning when I read the refrain of this review. God is but Love, and therefore so am I. The reason it evoked this emotional response is because of a dream I had last night. Before I went to bed, I talked to Jesus about living in joy and told him I want this and asked his help. I then asked, as I often do, that I be taught in my sleep.

I had some very clear lessons, and even remember having a “light bulb” moment and saying, that I finally see what that means. (I don’t remember what that was, but it is done and will be in my mind now.) But the most remarkable part of the dream is a part where I experience myself as pure love. There was no ego.

When that part of the dream was over I wanted it back so bad. I tried to give words to it but there were no words. I tried to recover the feeling, but I could not. It was like looking for something I couldn’t see in my imagination. How do you find something you can’t visualize? All that was left was the certainty I had felt it and the longing for it. But it happened and I am grateful for the experience, having had a foretaste of what is to come.

When I woke up this morning I had the memory of the experience of being only Love and then I read the lesson that tells me God is only Love and therefore so am I. Of course I cried. I cried tears of gratitude. I am given exactly what I need on this path even before I know I need it. Surely, I am not alone on this journey.