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One time when I was a young girl, I was left in charge of my younger sister while my parents went out to dinner. We were only alone a short time when we began to hear a disturbing noise outside the bedroom window. Someone was stealthily entering our home uninvited and we were terrified. We ran into the closet of a nearby room and shuddered side by side in the dense darkness, too frightened to even speak. We could hear the intruder, now inside, walking up and down the long hallway, never quite finding our hiding spot. I thought I could even see his silhouette in the shiny doorknob. And then….our dog Candy began to yelp!
It was a horrible predicament, until we finally recognized my mother's voice: "Girls? Where are you?" We didn't move a muscle or speak a sound until she literally stood before the closet door, at which time we broke into frightful tears and ran to her arms.
As you might guess, there was no intruder. A strong, unexpected Santa Ana wind had agitated the hibiscus outside the window, thrashing against the window screen. The house creaked in the wind, the dog barked at the stormy commotion, and my sister and I remained fully invested in our version of the story for quite some time after our parent's return. Life is like that.
Very often we choose to hang on to our wildest misperceptions instead of trading them in for peace. It's human nature to stay with what we think we know, or with what we're comfortable, rather than risk uncovering the truth, exposing the unknown or learning something new. And, metaphysically speaking, we know that what we put our attention on, grows into our reality. My "weird imagining" is a perfect example. Our safety and peace were never missing––we only imagined or perceived that to be so.
The word attention is taken from the Latin ad - toward, and tendere - stretch. When we focus our attention on one thing, we stretch toward it, examine it more closely, and find a way to bring it into our own reality. Avatar's founder Harry Palmer, wrote "Attention manifests as both an energy (inquiring/creating) and as a subatomic particle (bearing information/ creation)." Our thoughts become our reality because they color our perception and consequently the way in which we respond to all of life. Attention is therefore the creating energy of consciousness. He continues, "It is the crossover region where thought becomes perception."
A Course in Miracles states, "Seeing adapts to wish, for sight is always secondary to desire." (T440) It can feel conflicting to think that we wish some of the craziness that manifests in our life. Yet it is quite empowering to see the benefit from such desire when we apply it to creating new choice. If we only see what we're willing to see, perhaps we can put more effort into a willingness to choose where we place our attention. We can choose to focus on that which is healing and empowering.
Palmer, in his book Resurfacing, notes, "If you wish to change something solely by the strength of your will, you must transform the attention particle (perception), back into an energy form (inquiring/creating). Otherwise you're faced with rolling up your sleeves and exerting enough physical effort to move the particles around." There is no need to do all the work. There is a wonderful helper, a magnificent source of strength. The Course calls this One, Holy Spirit.
From Holy Spirit the Course offers this lovely aid: "Let Truth be what it is. Do not intrude upon it, do not attack it, do not interrupt its coming. Let it encompass every situation and bring you peace. Let it enter…and secure for you the faith you need for peace." (T370) What simple words, just let Truth be. Do not resist it or attempt to direct it, just let it come. Just like the night my mother came home and brought the Truth to our dark, scary closet. She delivered us to peace and a greater reality. Misperception can rule your reality, or you can let Truth be. Will you give your attention to the gift of Peace that God wills for you? Let not your weird imaginings prevail against the peace God wills for you! Namaste’ dear friends!
KAREN RICE facilitates A Course in Miracles study group on Monday eves at Kindred Spirits in Claremont & Tuesday's at 2 pm at the East San Gabriel Valley Church in Covina. For information: (626) 339-6336
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