Asking Too Little
These very powerful words of encouragement can be found twice in A Course in Miracles: “You do not ask too much of life, but far too little.”
The first is in Chapter 26 in a section describing how all our pain comes from a choice in our minds for the ego thought system of separation, lack, and fear. We think the world and other people are responsible for our unhappiness, but that’s not how it works. The source of all sadness is the choice for the ego.
The second is in Lesson 133 entitled, “I will not value what is valueless.” In this lesson is another powerful truism: “Each choice you make brings everything to you or nothing.” And by choice the Course is not referring to making choices in the world but rather the choice we make in the mind for either the ego or spirit. And which choice we make determines what we experience in the world.
How do we know which choice we made? By how we feel. If there is any sense of guilt, anxiety, expectation, sadness, or even a mild twinge of concern – then we can be certain we’ve chosen the ego. When we choose the mind of spirit or presence, a deep calm envelops us. It’s an extraordinary peace that is independent of anything going on in the world.
When we choose the ego we are asking far too little of life. But we can choose again.
The choice is up to us.
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