Have you ever heard the expression “it is what it is”? course in miracles What does that expression mean exactly?
Before I understood the deeper meaning of this expression, I envisioned an emaciated yogi guru in the lotus position floating above the ground imperiously imparting wisdom that could take scholars multiple lifetimes to interpret. Since how that is my last life on the planet and the lotus position would put me in traction, I knew that consulting the Course In Miracles would help me clarify its meaning.
What’s the IT that people are authoring here? In line with the Course in Miracles, IT is truth, specifically God’s truth. Exactly why is it important to emphasize that it is God’s truth? Because God’s truth is not available to interpretations whereas a human’s truth is. Multiple versions of human truth have result in an array of religions. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia defines religion as a “system of thought, feeling, and action that is shared by way of a group and that gives the members an object of devotion.”
Who devised the system of thought? On whose feelings are these thoughts based? Are actions really necessary? Based on the Course In Miracles, God just is and our ultimate goal would be to return to a perfect state of being. There is no thought or action in the state of being, you just are. What should not be forgotten is the underlying thread of most religions: God is creator, God is love and we all have been perfect and infinite children of God.
Most think it is very unsettling to consider the theory that choice is in fact an illusion, or the illusion of preference, as stated in A TRAINING COURSE in Miracles (ACIM). You make choices everyday, therefore the idea of choice not being real seems highly illogical and to say the least, improbable, given its consistent daily use. Although choice is essential while you are here, it ultimately remains part of the illusion and is not a part of God. Choice is unsettling because you believe it to be necessary, not because it is an illusion.”
It stands to reason that you will be in what you think about as this world as you have made the decision, or choice, for this world to be real. In the event that you keep on making that same choice, it keeps on becoming a lot more real. ACIM clearly points out that ideas usually do not leave their source. Who then would be the source? What choices are you really making?
Choice, Perception and Judgment:
You think this world is real because you made the choice to believe the ego’s version of reality from the initial separation. Those initial perceptions are followed by the next choice which is to judge the outcomes, thereby producing further consequences which reinforce the belief in this world. It’s a vicious, no-win cycle. As you perceive you’ll judge; so when you judge you will perceive. Error is manufactured real by this simple twisted deception. Withdraw your choice to believe in the results and the error could be corrected.
Choice and Source:
Can you not then be the source since you are the one making the choice to believe? You don’t remember that original separation; however, you’re making choices now, and you also are doing so constantly. Every moment you are choosing between thoughts, feelings and ideas, etc. If it is not you, then who do you wish to claim is responsible? Be careful, because claiming another is responsible is in fact blame and you have no power to change so long as you think another is in control. You’re simply making yourself a victim. Both of these are ego tricks.
Accepting responsibility for everything, including choice and its own consequences may be the fastest solution to change. This allows one to choose again because you can see the results and realize that you must have chosen in error. It is your thoughts and beliefs combined with the decision, or choice, to create them true that becomes the effect of what you see in your world. The Law of Cause and Effect is simple: Based on the mind you choose from, as cause, you will see the corresponding effect.
So long as as you have a split mind, you’re constantly choosing between the wrong mind of the ego (error) and the Right Mind of the Holy Spirit (correction). You will see the effect according to the choice of actually use as cause. You cannot have two masters. In the ego world, it will always be one or the other. Choosing the correction of the Holy Spirit undoes the error of the ego and returns the mind to the peace of God. This process is also known as forgiveness.
Choice for Correction:
Forgiveness is nothing more than your mind being returned, or corrected, back to the Truth because you decide for it to be that way. Handing over the ego’s judgments corrects the mind and correction is what? Forgiveness. A different cause results in another effect.
Choice is, therefore, necessary in this illusion since there is something to choose between. However, the greatest use of choice is served by knowing both error and correction sides of the split mind, or everything you are choosing between. Then, simply understand that your goal is to return your brain to True Perception and choose again! It will help to keep at heart the coinciding terms for True Perception: Correction, forgiveness, salvation, atonement, truth, Holy Spirit and God. There is no difference.
