A Course in Miracles refers to “vision” as all of the permanent, outstanding, excellent, and divine gifts that God has in store for us. At least, that’s one way of thinking about it. It's all of the things that God has created for us around infinite wellbeing, infinite abundance, infinite everything. It’s how God sees everything, including us, and that through free will and our own freedom to make choices, we often deviate or depart from His vision. A major cause of our “nightmares” in life is the act of departing from God's vision due to limitations of the body. I hasten to add that we're never demonizing the body. The body is not evil, but it is a limitation on God's infinite and perfect vision.
The main point of today’s lesson is that “Miracles are seen in light,” according to Lesson 91 from A Course in Miracles. The first paragraph says, “It is important to remember that miracles and vision necessarily go together. This needs repeating and frequent repeating. It is a central idea in your new thought system and the perception that it produces. The miracle is always there. Its presence is not caused by your vision. Its absence is not the result of your failure to see. It is only your awareness of miracles that is affected. You will see them in light and you will not see them in dark.”
So sometimes I believe that Jesus, who many of us believe to be the teacher of A Course in Miracles, has a great sense of humor. He starts out by saying that it's important to remember that miracles and vision necessarily go together. The first time I read that I had no idea what he meant. Then he goes on to say that this needs repeating and frequent repeating. And so even though I didn't get it the first time and I just went on to keep repeating it, I didn’t see how I was going to understand what this lesson was getting at.
But as with most of the points in A Course in Miracles, over time, they become more clear. So, I think that what Jesus is doing here is explaining that the body's eyes and the things that the body sees are not actually real seeing. They're all a bit like the way a fish swims in water: A fish is very limited by its physical apparatus to what it can be effective in, which is water. But that's so not what everything is all about. There are so many other dimensions to existence that the fish's physical limitations prevent it from seeing. So I think that's essentially what it's saying about the human body. The body is so limited in what it perceives and the full range of things that are available to it that it actually ends up being a type of darkness. Even though within that physical realm we need also light to see, such as in the case of losing our keys. But that physical light is merely a faint image of what true seeing is, which is from the inside out.
So then Jesus is saying that we need to repeat this idea to ourselves until it's locked in because we are apt to forget and think that this is vision and “miracles are seen in light” is referring to the physical level of light. So in paragraph four, Jesus goes on to say, “Your efforts, however little they may be, have strong support. Did you but realize how great the strength, your doubts would vanish. Today we will devote ourselves to the attempt to let you feel the strength. When you have felt the strength in you, which makes all miracles within your easy reach, you will not doubt.”
Here, Jesus shifts focus slightly, highlighting that to access the genuine inner light, we must rely on divine strength. We lack the inherent ability to pivot properly, yet every effort we exert is immensely supported by God's strength, exponentially magnified. Gradually, we will harness this divine strength to navigate the pivot from external forms of light, which captivate us, to the authentic source of inner light.
As mentioned earlier, Jesus underscores the permanence of the storehouse of divine miracles across all dimensions. Its existence isn't contingent on our perception; rather, our wavering perception determines whether we acknowledge these miracles. Our capacity to perceive fluctuates, often influenced by mind wandering, emphasizing the course's purpose as mind training.
The lesson introduces two sets of exercises. The first entails practicing three times daily for ten minutes each, affirming that we transcend mere physicality. We remind ourselves that our true essence and the ultimate source of light lie beyond the confines of the body. The practice begins with affirming true cause and effect relationships: "Miracles are seen in light. The body's eyes cannot perceive the light, but I am not a body."
And then Jesus, with this impeccable logic goes right into the next small, short phrase there: “Well, what am I if I'm not a body? What am I?” And so the rest of the next section of the lesson is taken up with having something to replace our sense of identity as a body with something more secure.
So Jesus says, “If you are not a body, what are you? Ask this in honesty and then devote several minutes to allowing your mistaken thoughts about your attributes to be corrected and their opposites to take their place. Say, for example, I am not weak but strong. I am not helpless but all powerful. I am not limited but unlimited. I am not doubtful but certain. Thank you. I am not an illusion, but a reality. I cannot see in darkness, but in light.” So what Jesus is saying is that this is the way to tune in to the inner light and shift away from the body. Again, there's no demonizing of the body. There's no making the body wrong. It's just a limit: a limited way of being. And this is a training to get us into sources of true life. The practice regimen here is to continue to concentrate on the divine strength that accompanies us in these exercises, and as we practice, rely on the divine strength. This will reveal to us how this divine strength is true, reliable, and is a source of amazing miracles.
The are a few more directions about exercises:
It says five or six times an hour, at reasonably regular intervals, remind yourself that miracles are seen in light.
Now, that encapsulates the lesson. Miracles are perceived in light. We tend to rely on the body's limited vision, akin to darkness. By recognizing our connection to an infinite source of strength through God, we begin to align with our true identity through inner illumination.
Moving forward, let's discuss some practical applications. How does this relate to leadership? Whether you're a CEO, executive, entrepreneur, or simply intrigued by this material, the main coaching application is to guide clients, including myself, in embodying what I term a "lighthouse brand." This concept remains a consistent focus in my coaching practice, irrespective of yearly themes. So, what does being a lighthouse brand entail? It means tapping into the inner divine light, accessing miracles, and infusing our company's brand promise, services, and products with this divine essence.
As leaders, our aim is to imbue everything we offer with this light, making them conduits for its radiance. As we progressively channel this light into the world, effectively becoming lighthouse brands, we contribute to the awakening of others. It's a form of mental telepathy, rather than a literal physical beacon, as we've acknowledged the limitations of physical light compared to its spiritual counterpart.
So, we're harnessing these qualities and then projecting them outward. That's essentially the leadership application. Many of my clients are already familiar with this idea. They're actively cultivating a miracle mindset to transform into “lighthouse brands,” to embody a lighthouse presence.
Now, the final aspect is a call to action: “Members, integrate your inner divine strength into every thought, word, and action, especially at the start and end of each day. Consider dedicating 10 minutes to this practice in both morning and evening”. Additionally, a recurring exercise throughout the course workbook involves taking five minutes every hour to reconnect with your inner source of light.
I'm curious to hear how this resonates with you. For some, it may involve quiet meditation, perhaps lying down if you're wary of drifting off. Others may prefer a mindful walk or drive. There are countless ways to tap into this inner divine strength and light, which ultimately supports and enhances our journey toward becoming lighthouse brands and more successful and impactful leaders in our world.
