I will pray for wisdom today. I shall expect wisdom, not problems, and the day will smoothly slip by.
—from Each Day a New Beginning
FEBRUARY 24
Perception
Perception is not a fact.
Thousands of arguments might have been avoided had we known the meaning of perception. What we saw seemed real or true, and when others observed the same situation, it seemed sensible to assume that how we saw it was the right way. But now all that's changed, and the impact of this new information has changed our lives forever.
The Course informs us that what we perceive depends on who we put in charge of perception. The ego's watchful eye perceives a darker picture than does the Spirit. When two people are present, both may see through their ego lens. Confusion occurs. Argument results. And the true picture is missed by both.
But what is the true picture? We will always see it when we shed the light of the Holy Spirit on it. The details are never important. The underlying message is always the same: Forgive and feel love and you will feel peaceful.
I'll perceive peace and joy if I look through God's eyes today.
—from Daily Meditations for Practicing the Course
FEBRUARY 25
Attitude
I guess all work is leisure time to me.
—Violet Hensley
The attitude a person cultivates is solely an individual matter. Money doesn't determine it. We have all known wealthy, resentful people. Health doesn't determine it either. Nary a one of us hasn't met a disabled man or woman who still encounters the day wearing a smile. Deciding to feel blessed, thus content with life, comes from our interior spaces. We do reflect to others whatever we feel within.
What kind of people are we? The good news is that whoever we have been doesn't need to limit us anymore. We aren't committed to being depressed or fearful or angry unless we have given our power over to that emotion. And even if we have, we can take it back and be serene and hopeful instead.
I am in charge of my perspective today, like every day. Beginning with a prayer for peace will help me attain it.
—from Keepers of the Wisdom
FEBRUARY 26
Change
God is the only constant.
—Ruth Casey
Change is happening to us every minute. Scientists tell us that all our body's cells are replaced every few months. We are losing old hair and growing new hair every day. The plant world participates in a cycle of death and renewal every minute. We are surrounded by change. And when it's change that doesn't affect our egos, we accept it without comment, or in many cases, without notice.
Change in our personal lives is not so easily accepted. Losing a job can be devastating. Ending a relationship might feel unsurvivable. Moving to a new community, away from friends, can be profoundly lonely and disorienting. We haven't been promised unchanging lives. But we have been promised an unchanging, always-loving Higher Power. The most fruitful lessons we can learn are that God is with us throughout every experience and that change is introduced in our lives only when it helps us fulfill our greater purpose.
I will trust the experiences in store for me today and have faith they are part of God's plan.
—from A Woman's Spirit
FEBRUARY 27
Destiny
Love, the magician, knows this little trick whereby two people walk in different directions yet always remain side by side.
—Hugh Prather
Destiny has its own course in each of our lives. And our movements with others who are special will thankfully be parallel at times. However, our paths will sharply intersect now and then and we'll even find ourselves at painful cross-purposes on occasion. But if the love we're expressing is part of God's plan for us and not just to satisfy the selfish ego, we'll not stray from one another's dream, though we may depart for brief periods of new growth.
We must fulfill our personal desires, vocationally and recreationally, if we are to successfully offer up our special talents for the goodness of humankind. And most assuredly that's why we're here—in this place—at this time—with these particular people.
Others cannot pull us from our true calling. If the love between us is real, it will free us and bless our direction—trusting our hearts will not be torn asunder.
The butterfly silently returns when the winds blow free.
—from Worthy of Love
FEBRUARY 28
Judgment
To see imperfectly is not to see at all.
Our judgment of others comes from not seeing them as they really are. What we see mirrors our own imperfections. If we honored our own perfection, we'd see only perfection in others. What we think we are, we see. What we receive from others, we expect.
Upon awakening, we may look in the mirror and see a body we don't like. Our dismay lingers as we prepare for work. We think about the day ahead and our mind wanders to a contentious co-worker. Unfortunately, these thoughts may make us feel slightly superior; however, we have seen neither the co-worker nor ourselves as we really are.
Do we want to see what's really there? If so, we must ask for the better, true view, first of ourselves, and then of everyone else. If we're mindful about doing this, we'll begin to experience a very different world.
I look but don't really see. I will alter my view today.
—from Daily Meditations for Practicing the Course
FEBRUARY 29
Growth
We grow in darkness and in light.
—Marilyn Mason
Every experience is a learning opportunity. The abuse we suffered, whether physical or emotional, taught us survival and resilience. Even though we felt defeated, we are here now, and we've learned to recognize relationships that aren't good for us. That's evidence of growth.
Sponsors tell us we are always growing. Even when it feels like we are going backward, we are growing. Recognizing our slower pace signals our awareness, and that is growth too.
Gone are the days when we doubted our ability to grow, to change. One of the first lessons we learn in recovery is that change is possible. Every meeting surrounds us with examples. And much of the growth has come through the dark periods of our lives. The darkness and the light have much to teach us. Every moment is to be revered for its message.