Can You Handle This True Story?

Before sharing my true story I would like to say that the fear of loss is what causes pain and suffering. Notice I did not say that loss is what causes pain and suffering but the fear itself. And the fear is not something that we have to go through in order to experience happiness and peace, is what we are hanging on to that does not allows us to experience happiness and peace, which is who we are. Or in one word, Love, is who we are. And Love encompasses everything, happiness, joy, fulfillment, peace, etc. Just like fear encompasses all that is not love, such as anger, judgment, resentment, sadness, etc.

I would like to share a personal story for I believe that studying the Course and trying to understand it or dissect it is not going to do us any good. It is nice preparation, but the experience does not come as a result of our intellectual understanding of the course but as a result of practicing it.

As of this moment, all of my basics needs have been met, and I mean food, shelter, and whatever money I need to continue on with my path. However, my shelter has come from people who mysteriously have shown up in my life, my bank accounts are in the negative, some of my bills are late, I have applied for work and nothing has come through, it is as if thought I have found myself caught between a rock and a hard place.

From the ego's perspective, it could be said that I am dealing with lots of challenges, however, from the Holy Spirit's perspective, everything that I seem to see are nothing but illusions. Actually it is the same illusion appearing as different ones. The one illusion is my believe in separation while the many illusions are the ego's idea projecting out different forms of the same belief in separation. That's why A Course in Miracles reminds me:

"It is not difficult to understand the reasons why you do not ask the Holy Spirit to solve all problems for you. 2 He has not greater difficulty in resolving some than others. 3 Every problem is the same to Him, because each one is solved in just the same respect and through the same approach." T-26.II.1-7

Let's make a stop right here. What is the difference between a health challenge or a small bank account, or an unpaid bill, or a relationship breakup, or a bankruptcy, etc. See the point? In the world of form it may seem as if though there are many problems and each one has to be solved separately. But the truth is, the root of all these seeming problems is my belief in separation. And the way to solve that ONE single seeming problem is through forgiveness, or you could say, through offering our thoughts to the Holy Spirit for interpretation. That's how SIMPLE A Course in Miracles is. I did not say easy to practice. I said simple for what is required from us, which is to do NOTHING! Meaning, we are not here to solve problems, we are here to let the Holy Spirit guide us. And in many cases we do not even have to do anything physical, just to be willing to look at the illusion without judging it, and it solve itself out. I've seen it happening for me. The key is when I am doing something in order to solve a seeming problem, am I coming from fear or peace. That's the distinction. And it takes practice, but it does get easier.

So going back to my story, or I should say, my illusion. I simply look at the world as if the ego is throwing a temper tantrum at me, asking for my attention. I practice, notice I said "practice", observing my experience while detaching myself completely from it. The result? I feel very peaceful and serene. And if the bank account closes, so be it. If the creditors want to call me I politely say to them that I can't pay. And if I end up sleeping in my car, I call it a luxurious camping experience. And by the way, so far none of those things have happened.

Now, let's get to the practicality of this. Do I sound irresponsible? In the eyes of many you could say yes, but those who have embarked on this journey understand what is really going on, which is this. Worrying, and trying to fix, and struggle to change my circumstances, not only fuels the illusion but it cuts off my connection with Spirit. And still many people have tried to do just that, and all they ended up with was worsening their situation. Others have managed to solve their seeming challenge, temporarily I may add, just to be confronted with another, and then another, and so on. Why? Because the ego's mantra is "Seek and do not find." So it is a never ending battle.

However, from a place of peace regardless of my circumstances, I am more likely to be inspired to take a particular action that could be the answer to all of these seeming challenges. For example, while being blessed by having places to stay and having all my needs met, I have been writing the follow up to my first book. This one is an actual record of these very experiences I am having while applying the principles of A Course in Miracles to my life. Will I apply for work? I have applications out there but I have no control as to what will happen with them. I have been invited to speak at events, and when they come along I get to do what I love and get paid.

What I am saying is, I am not grasping for air. I still do what bodies do, I am just not letting my illusion determine what to do or not to do. And that takes courage because when you are asked to be still, and your heart says make a left turn while the rest of the world says you should make a right turn, it could be a bit scary. From my experience I say everything is going to be fine! So far it has been. Aside from some bumps on the road just remember that if in doubt, listen to Bob Marley:

Don't worry 'bout a thing.
cause every little thing
is gonna be alright!

What will happen with the book I am writing, I don't know. I am not attached to it. I simply take every day and upon waking ask the Holy Spirit the same question:

"What would You have me do?
Where would You have me go?
What would You have me say, and to whom?

Give Him full charge of the rest of the practice period, and let Him tell you what needs to be done by you in His plan for your salvation. He will answer in proportion to your willingness to hear His Voice. Refuse not to hear." W-71.pI.9

Here is the key line, "He will answer in proportion to your willingness to hear His voice." You are not asked to be perfect or get it right, but it is asking for your "willingness." In my case when the ego throws a bigger temper tantrum yelling at me; LOOK AT YOUR WORLD! LOOK AT YOUR FINANCES! DO SOMETHING!

First I think of the Beatles:

When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
speaking words of wisdom
Let it Be.

And then I also remember what A Course says:

"When your peace is threatened or disturbed in any way, say to yourself, I do not know what anything, including this, means. And so I do not know how to respond to it. And I will not use my own past learning as the light to guide me now." T-14.XI.6

Do you see how simple A Course in Miracles is? The question is, can you trust it?

Let's see where I'll be a year from now. Meanwhile, Love Ya! And don't forget to laugh, it's all a joke! :o)

Remember to order a copy of Nick's book What Happens When You Let God at: www.TruthAndMiracles.com or www.WhatHappensWhenYouLetGod.com
And to hire Nick to speak at your church, college or corporate event, simply visit: www.NickArandesPomo.com