Of Course It’s Love
By Jeff Gilbert
Editor’s note: Jeff is young in body yet remarkably mature spiritually. At three years of age he spontaneously, ecstatically, accepted Jesus. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and Philosophy from San Diego Christian College, lived in a charismatic community laying hands on people for healing, led a program for the homeless, and much more. Please see below for more about Jeff.
I can’t help but express.
Jesus says, right near the beginning of A Course of Love, “You who want to accomplish much good in the world
, realize only you can be accomplished.” How do we understand this in light of the principle of A Course in Miracles, that “I must do nothing”? How does this work with the Renaissance that is evolving? How do I see a kid dying in Africa, or a homeless person on the street, and know that their soul is powerful and perfectly choosing this? Jesus says that the time we are in is the “creation of the New.” And I am starting to see what “the New” means.
Back to the orphan kid in Africa, which in my opinion is what this is all about. I went to my first ever A Course of Love sharing group last night – I guess I’m an initiate now! We read from Chapter 18 of the Third Treatise, “A Treatise on the Personal Self,” and 18.6 sums it up:
“If you observe health rather than disease, abundance rather than poverty, peace rather than conflict, happiness rather than sadness – disease, poverty, conflict and sadness will be no more real to your brothers and sisters than it is to you.”
Or as Paul said in 2 Corinthians: “I see no one after the flesh but the Spirit.”
“Observation” means something special in ACOL. It defines “observation” as the ability to see the Truth in whatever is observed – and to join with what is observed in relationship. And therefore “your observance of the truth of your brothers and sisters is the miracle.” By observation we allow others, at the cellular level, to come into their fullness. This is a miracle, yet it is simply seeing the Truth – the Christ that we all are. This is the “do nothing yet observe” ACIM/ACOL principle which moves mountains.
And sometimes you just feel like exploding with creative light! You become an expression of truth (love). Your expression itself makes miracles:
“Your observance of your brothers and sisters will return remembrance to their minds and hearts, It is in fact, your observance of the truth of your brothers and sisters that is the miracle . . .” 18.4.
As the water is filled up, you can’t help but overflow. You can’t help but reach out your hand to help. When you see another as your self (and you actually love your self) you can’t help but love them.
I have found when I don’t “try” to do, but just “allow” my heart to be filled, then doing comes naturally. I’m not trying to conform to some outer image – even one as good as Jesus. I simply allow the mirroring to bring me into my full stature. Then “to have all give all to all” (as it says in ACIM) becomes natural. Not by thinking about it, but by allowing. In 1 John it says, “when we behold God as He (or She) is we will be as He is.”
I guess all this is to say (to myself), don’t hinder an expression for the sake of trying to conform to an image – an image of God, or Nirvana, or solidarity. We are the way, the truth, and the life, and it is in our living and moving and having our being that God is seen on earth as in heaven. Not only action but our very awareness itself is creative. As ACIM says, “you are all creating all the time.” On the other hand I have noticed how I can be too focused on Spirit (or thought) and not see the value of the physical deed. If you feel a movement within you to give, then “be a joyful giver” for the joy is in the extension itself. For “light workers” our greatest obstacle (I know it’s mine) is to allow the creative Spirit perfect reality to naturally move from the mountaintop to level ground. But good news! “As a man thinketh so is He.”
As we become aware of who we are, we can’t help but be the love we behold in our brothers and sisters too. It truly is a carousel of energy! By constantly beholding the Christ in our neighbor, beyond sickness and poverty and sadness, we are acknowledging the One that we are. In this pure awareness healing takes place. Disease dissolves in both you and the “other.” In and out. Up you observe, down you do. This “dance” is the cosmic birth of creation. Thought moves to deed moves to thought. Always evolving on the edge. Like a dance where two partners are expressing in the movement, the bliss is found. There is no right, just growth. Electro – the masculine moving; magnetism – the feminine receiving. Electro-magnetism.
The Jeshua Channelings, by Pamela Kribbe, speaks of God who is light, and yet within time dives into the dark. God (which we are) dives to find a pearl. The diving is the thought – non-material – and the pearl is the material, or action. Now here is the secret: this action of diving is in fact the sand that etches and a new pearl is formed. We are birthing Christ. I feel our effort to have clear observance – unknowing of what to do, awkward in our movements, all an effort to express the entirety of our Godhead into form – is actually what births the New.
This is the observance, which by its very nature allows miracles to spring forth. By beholding God we become God – the Christ that we are – and in turn naturally express. All to do it all over again. For this is the nature of love: to express, extend, re-integrate, and allow the energy to build to a crescendo. The light cannot be held in. We truly are a sunbeam to the sun. Let there be light.
Note: In addition to his many adventures, Jeff says: “Recently my focus had been on A Course in Miracles which I studied intently (listened through about 30 times), read through it a couple times and did the workbook twice. It resonated with all my Bible knowledge but spoke to the Love of God as being all there is. This was amazing. Conversations with God greatly took the pressure off of me having to do anything for a god and put the power of choice back in my hands. The Way of Mastery did exactly that. Empowered me to be a master. A Course of Love holds a unique place, not that it is greater than any of these works, but almost less, in the sense that it leads to the end of learning. It is this completion that feels as if it holds open a door to all past learning and encounters, and opens a door to the New which is meant to be spontaneously expressed. As I go on this journey I have been listening to my soul more. Honoring the “little things” of life like caring for my dog Caspian. Now I am camped up on Mount Shasta, excited for the where the next wind will blow my sails.”
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READIED
By Paula Hardin
The Atlantic is gentle
I’m the only one here
Predawn magic
Offers itself
Resplendent
No longer alone
Quietly we wait
Cameras ready
We nod to one another
— Dogs too
It’s the season when
Pre-historic mamas rise
From the night sea
(I feel them in my bones)
Dig turtle nests
Lay turtle eggs
And lumber back, exhausted
Leaving turtle tracks in the sand
Mute testimony
My heart fills, lifts
Readied now
For this day
A day to channel Love
In our precious, often suffering
World.
Paula Payne Hardin appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show when her first book, “What Are You Doing With the Rest of Your Life? Choices in Midlife” appeared in 1992. She is also the author of “Love After Love: Stages of Loving” (1996). Hardin directed Midlife Consulting Services and the David K. Hardin Generativity Trust in Chicago. Hardin has trekked around the world from the Himalayas to Zimbabwe. Now an Elder, she enjoys kayaking, cats, writing, and her extended family.
Hey. Thanks for all the comments 🙂 I def feel the love <3 Love you all
So I’m wondering then, should we not help children in need because they are powerful souls who know what they’re doing?
Exactly! I think that’s the question. And I think the answer is always evolving through experience. I’m always redefining and seeing what feels right. Sometimes it feels great to lose my self to give and then sometimes I see that despite my best efforts I am hurting my self and the one I try to help. I know acol talks about trying to help others as a way to abolish ego can be a trap and like a selfless mother “giving up” and sacrificing can be a trap which is why acim alludes to love does not demand sacrifice. That being said Acim also shares that we are all one and if one Son of God realizes who he is in the next instant the whole world would be healed and it is unnatural for miracles to not occur. But more then any book, experience shows me when you look at a person as complete it enables them to act as their complete self. So in essence I am trusting on the Christ in you (or the orphan). As we collectively do this it gives them a way out and they can more easily rely on who they are and the power they have. Then visions of how to change will come, and possibly even with enough innate faith the “lame will walk and blind will see”. I was thinking today how acim says concern is attack disguised. Just thought how when I stubbed my toe my brother was concerned and it hurt more but when I broke out of pity I could kinda detach and it felt more like a sensation and less like my identity. And I think that’s the point. Is to see the person as who they are in fullness and the circumstance is periphery (meaning not who they are).
I love to give and help but at one point Jesus shares how though helpful in the temporary to feed the hungry or give rest for the weary this is temporary and they will be hungry again. Which is why even in the scriptures he stated “eat of me and you will never hunger again”. I will spend the rest of my life seeking to uplift, but even as Jesus said ” I am annointed to heal the sick, sight to the blind etc… ” But it is the “announcing” which literally means the Christ(ening).
So…… I would say see the Christ and do what comes natural. I have lived on the streets (and camping) for about the last six months and found LOTS of joy giving food, rides, place to sleep etc. But mostly the love is what stuck. I think it’s all what you feel. Like it it feels expansive do that because it’s a representation of who you are. When God told Neale the same thing ” you create your reality. There are no victims” he asked the same thing. Does that mean we should not help when it’s obviously right and God responded by saying” if it’s obviously right do that because it is obvious… But be careful to not disempower them by making them dependent on you.” I think the Conversation With God series is great concerning how to treat the poor or hurting while also seeing their identity so I’d suggest a read. But ultimately I feel like it’s the same answer that comes up. Love Self. The only question and what I feel like we are collectively defining as humanity is… What is love… And who is Self. And the activity of seeing the Christ is actually healing in its self… Anyways. These are just my thoughts lol
I’m sure it’s way simpler. Like just love… What would love do? Do that. Haha
Mind vs heart eh? Mind has all the ins and outs (which has its value) but heart says just love. What about the kid? Love them. Like crazy but also recognize that they have their own connection to love and can love themelves fully too. So prob a lil bit of both. Love you
Here’s a quote from Conversations With God I love how to give while empowering. These books have helped me a lot in learning how to love and give in an empowering way. You can check out more here if you like
http://www.law-of-attraction-haven.com/support-files/cwg-1.pdf
Neale asks :
I am confused. Can we go back just a bit? There seems to be some contradictory data. I felt
that You were saying that sometimes the best help we can give people is to leave them
alone. Then I felt You were saying, never fail to help someone if you see that person needs
help. These two statements seem to be at odds.
God responds: “Let Me clarify your thinking on this.
Never offer the kind of help that disempowers. Never insist on offering the help you
think is needed. Let the person or people in need know all that you have to give—
then listen to what they want; see what they are ready to receive.
Offer the help that is wanted. Often, the person or people will say, or exhibit by their
behavior, that they just want to be left alone. Despite what you think you’d like to
give, leaving them alone might be the Highest Gift you can then offer.
If, at a later time, something else is wanted or desired, you will be caused to notice if
it is yours to give. If it is, then give it.
Yet strive to give nothing which disempowers. That which disempowers is that which
promotes or produces dependency.
In truth, there is always some way you can help others which also empowers them.
Completely ignoring the plight of another who is truly seeking your help is not the
answer, for doing too little no more empowers the other than doing too much. To be
of higher consciousness, you may not deliberately ignore the genuine plight of
brothers or sisters, claiming that to let them “stew in their own juice” is the highest
gift you can give them. That attitude is righteousness and arrogance at the highest
level. It merely allows you to justify your noninvolvement.
I refer you again to the life of Jesus and to his teachings. For it was Jesus who told
you that I would say to those on My right, Come, you blessed of My children, inherit
the kingdom which I have had prepared for you.
For I was hungry and you gave Me to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me to drink; I
was homeless, and you found Me shelter.
I was naked and you clothed Me; I was ill and you visited Me; I was in prison and
you brought Me comfort. And they will say to Me, Lord, when did we see You
hungry, and feed You? Or thirsty, and give You drink? And when did we see You
homeless and find You shelter? Or naked, and clothe You? And when did we see
You ill, or in prison, and comfort You?
And I will answer them, replying:
Verily, verily, I say unto you —inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these,
My brethren, so have you done it to Me.”
Later It shares that if you want to be happy give happiness to another. If you want to be loving then love another.
Acim shares “to have all give all to all”
So yes, we should give all to another. Even the practical as we can. But the greatest we can give is the gift of Self and as we do we know Our Self as we have always been and thus the intricate web of love completes it’s self as the unblemished before time. Seeking first the Kingdom (of the Christ self of the “other”) and all else (food, water, healing and hugs) will be added as we “love our neighbor as our Self”
Alright. Last bit… This is from Jeshua at oakbridge.org (I have given lots of thought to this question and my life has expressed radically the giving and witholding and so have (am) learned the in between. Here’s Jeshua on suffering
SUFFERING Previously when someone asked about the necessity of people suffering, you said that people truly are not suffering. Can you explain a little bit more to my human mind how that is possible? It is very difficult to explain it to the human mind. But in truth, as we have said many times, you make your own reality—lower case “r”—by your thoughts. You have been taught to think that others can suffer, are suffering, because you have at times put yourself into where you think they are, and the feeling that you would have if you were in that space. But in truth, that is your reality. In Truth— capital “T”—it is not their reality. It may be, or it may just be what you have invited to be shared with you as a seeming truth; in other words, someone is reporting that all of this is happening. But it is happening truly in your reality—lower case “r”—because you are the one who is making that reality. Now, I know, it makes the mind go round in circles, but that’s okay. That’s what the mind is for, is to have fun, to play around with various ideas and not to worry yourself about it. If there is something that you can do to change it, you will do it. If it is not something that you can do to change it at that point, you take the deep breath and walk on. Allow the heart to love. Allow your energy to be in love, and if you want to pick a target, a place to send that love, send it to ones who are seemingly experiencing non-love. Open the heart and send love, because truly the blessing in it is as it is shared outward, it has to come through you, and it blesses you as you are giving it forth. So nothing is ever lost. Everything serves a purpose. But to sit and to worry and to feel…well, your religious/philosophical teachers, as they have been called, often would say that you have to suffer, that the world is made as a place to suffer (And it’s Lent, so we should be doing that) YES. Now, how come you are not down on your knees, 23 hours out of the 24, suffering? Am I not worth all of your suffering? I suffered for you. Look at my hands (Exactly) Exactly, okay. NO, you don’t have to buy it. I’m not even selling it (Good, because I’m not buying it anymore) Very good
So yeah. Those are some thoughts I’ve played with in finding my role with loving … I’ve had experiences where I’ve given my last dollars to another and gone hungry and they didn’t appreciate or need it. Also given and it has blessed the mother alot! I’ve prayed for others and they weren’t healed. Also seen some miracles. Been burnt on both sides of the coin. Guess 1 Cor sums it up. “if you speak in tongues, know mysteries, give all to the poor but have not love you have nothing” I’d err on the side of love always but what does that look like? We are learning, redefining and I believe collectively understanding our role. At the end of A Course of love it speaks of people living the time of Jesus and others living the role of Mary. Jesus is the active,engaged in the world (prob more the hands on missionary type). Mary is more the passive, elusive (yet still creative ) role. It says we are moving towards the Mary archetype but both are necessary and some (I feel like this) encompass both. So I guess whether we are the ones who sit in the arm chair all day and vibrate Christ consciousness in our thoughts and send an image of perfection. To the child on the street in Africa, or are the ones who answer the call to go and build an orphanage we are both necessary parts in this evolvement. I guess this is why the Dialogues part of the course are called a dialogue. This is a Conversation with God and all we do is us engaging and re stating this is who I Am. Then life responds. Truly the dance but without movement (and the inevitable failure) there is no growth at all. So I guess we will learn by living and in the end find we collide into the One Son that never left. One of my favorite lyrics is from a band called Mewithoutyou. It goes”all circles pressupose they end where they begin but only in their leaving can they ever come to know all circles pressupose”. And so it is with love. But this is truly a dialogue (meaning not a right answer but growth in discussion) and would love to hear your experience. What have you found?
I know a fun thought of how this can be practical is spoke of in the way of Mastery where Jeshua talks about when you pull up a car next to someone you can send loving intent and actually heal the person next to you by love. He shares how “personal boundaries” are an illusion and even when we “make love” the energy we share actually creates a healing field in which our neighbors (and ultimately the world and cosmos) at brought into our healing vortex. I’d say this is seeing the Christ. I know this is a lot but has been my life journey. I have previously worked at healing rooms, set up signs on street corners to heal people, brought homeless into my house alot (to the point where I ended up homeless). All to say I’ve sought to find the place of the greatest joy and love. Even diminishing my self. I eventually found that when I am full I can’t help but overflow. And the “drink of me and out of you will flow rivers of lofe” principle. Anyways I could go on and on forever (as I will continue to create the good holy and beautiful forever!) But for now I’m cutting my self off 😉 lol I’m making a website at Innocentperception.com where I’ll have a forum to have group discussion and discovery about stuff like this and more so cruise over. Should be done by November and we can all share our experiences and thought that we can evolve together and no one is right or wrong. Just expressed. So yeah jump over there if you want and we can continue to do create the New with an ever evolving growth of understanding and experience. As conversation with God says ” mine is not a better way.. just another way” or a course in miracles days ” would you rather be happy or right?” Lol Always growing
I got a clearer image of Observation from your description, and the miracle that it is. Thank you for your expression.
Hi bro! Beatiful words! I have the three books! I love each of them! Blessings from Argentina!
I love the part where you say “The Course of Love….holds a unique place in the sense that it leads to the end of learning.”
My life has become very simple: Love God. Love His Children. Do His will.
No more “learning.” Just DO it!
Thank you Jeff. Your sharing helps us all!!
Thank you for your beautiful words. I love the reminder to let go of the need to do and just be, to let go of the urgency to learn and be open to living the Christ in ourselves. to just be Love.
Hi Jeff,
Thank you for expressing what is coming through you from Spirit. I really appreciate your words of wisdom that come from the heart of Love that lives within, through and all around you and every aspect of creation. And the note at the end is a beautiful summation of your journey. I love that you are on Mt. Shasta camping waiting for where you are called to go next. Mt. Shasta is my favorite pilgrimage spot and I’ve been journeying there for 27 years. I hope you got to pray and meditate at Panther Meadow. Heart Blessings to you my brother!
thank you jeff for sharing your love. this makes me wish for joining a group.
i have not read any of the books, just heard an interview on batgap.
i live in austria in summer and in spain in winter.
Hi Jeff, your expression is seamless as one holy thought, full of excitment, wonder and love. Thank you for sharing with us your heart.
Your understanding of the material is very helpful. The notes at the beginning and end of your article adds substance. Much love.
Jeff, your words are so beautiful! I was especially moved by your comment “Up you observe, down you do. This “dance” is the cosmic birth of creation. Thought moves to deed moves to thought. Always evolving on the edge. Like a dance where two partners are expressing in the movement, the bliss is found. There is no right, just growth.
Your voice is an enormous contribution to the conversation. Thank you!