The Course talks a lot about our fear of “sacrifice” and you might think we are being asked to give up our worldly possessions to wander the world like paupers demonstrating our spiritual purity. But the real fear of sacrifice the Course wants us to look at is our unwillingness to give up our own sense of autonomy and independence out of fear that we will be “taken over,” overwhelmed, and obliterated.
It was our desire for an independent self-identity that led to the separation. So it makes sense to ask:
– What exactly have I gained from my independent self-identity?
– On a scale of 1-10, how great has this life been?
– Does the life my independent self-identity has made outweigh an eternal existence in joy and peace and love “so great it cannot be described?“
That’s why the Course asks. “Can this be sacrifice?“
We also find comfort in what we “have” and fear giving up our material possessions. But the Course is not asking us to give up possessions, situations, loved ones, or even our existence in the physical world. “Salvation“ is not about the physical world. The battleground is one of ideas and thoughts and beliefs. We are simply asked to be willing to let Truth guide us in our daily lives. We are asked to sacrifice our belief that we have the smarts, the knowledge, and the insight to make decisions on our own. That is why the Course asks “Is it a sacrifice to turn decision-making over to one who knows more than you could ever know?“
The Course is teaching us the same rules.
1. It gives us a clear vision of what we really want – to see ourselves and others as One.
2. The Workbook gives us specific actions to take that signal “I am ready to receive.”
3. It is training us to not be wedded to how we think life should unfold so that Love can find its own way of bringing about the result. Over and over we are told to be open to knowing that everything that happens is for our good and that every person we encounter can be our savior.
Rules are rules – and they work.