I Need Do Nothing

 

"Water Color"

"I Need Do Nothing"

Let’s hop into The Wayback Machine and set the dial for 1995, when I was first introduced to “A Course in Miracles” which was an integral part of my spiritual journeying. ACIM is a self-study course that I dove into head first and practiced for many years. I made my way through the 600+ page text two or three times and did the 365 daily meditation lessons all the way through at least twice. It may have been more times than that but it’s been so long ago, that I really don’t remember.

For me, The Course answered all of my many whys. I have always been a why girl. Back in junior high, my advanced math teacher stopped calling on me when I would raise my hand because he found it tiring (and maybe didn’t always have the answer) when I wanted to know the reasons behind the theories that he was telling us that we had to accept, remember, and apply.

In my early twenties, I spent a lot of mental energy asking why a loving God would allow this world to be as it is…why would a loving God only allow certain religious followers have eternal happiness after death? None of it made sense to me, but ACIM helped all of this make sense in my heart. The Course is not for everyone and even claims that it is only one path up the mountain, but it definitely was for me.

Even though I no longer regularly read ACIM or practice the daily lessons, I spent so much time doing so for so many years that it has become the bedrock for my spiritual meanderings. I am sharing this backstory about The Course because lately, when my mind wanders during my meditations, I have this reminder pop up, “You need do nothing.”

At first, I was like, “oh that’s right, cool” and I would attempt to be still and quiet my mind into doing nothing…but then thoughts would start popping in…what should I make for dinner?...I need to reach out to so-and-so…Or, I would start to have a vision and the little narrator in my head would start narrating the experience and the vision would fade and I would just go back and forth trying to make my way back to the vision.

Then I received a clarification in my mind, “You NEED do nothing.” Somehow, I could feel the subtle difference between just relaxing and not worrying about what is required on my part and realizing that I do have a responsibility here and that is that I NEED do nothing. That’s my job.

It’s been helpful. I am still far from being able to do nothing for the entire length of a 40 minute meditation but this guidance feels important and meaningful. I am sharing it here on the off-chance that someone else may find it beneficial as well.

In closing, here’s a lovely quote from “A Course in Miracles,” though before you read it, please keep in mind that the word “sin” is used in its more original form as an archaic archery term which means, “to miss the mark”…and in ACIM terms, “to misperceive.”

“When peace comes at last to those who wrestle with temptation and fight against the giving in to sin; when the light comes at last into the mind given to contemplation; or when the goal is finally achieved by anyone, it always comes with just one happy realization; “I need do nothing.” (ACIM, T-18.VII.5:7)”