A Course in Miracles Lesson 162

I am as God created me.

This is the hallmark mantra of A Course in Miracles. As the lesson makes clear, the student who knows this is true and does not forget it, has become “his Father’s happiness, His Love and His completion” (W-pI.162.2:1).

Who among us does not long for this moment of self-recognition?

There is no dream these words will not dispel; no thought of sin and no illusion which the dream contains that will not fade away before their might. They are the trumpet of awakening that sounds around the world. The dead awaken in answer to its call. And those who live and hear this sound will never look on death (W-pI.162.2:3-6).

Heady stuff! But what does it mean exactly?

Here is the thing: at this juncture of our practice, it does not matter what it means. What matters is our willingness to say it, which in turn reflects our openness to its truth. It may not yet be what we know, but it can be. Thus, it is our practice that confirms the truth. Therefore, our goal is to make this phrase a foundation of our practice. It is that essential.

But we can say a few things, perhaps, that might shed some light on a phrase that might otherwise seem to good to be true, or too metaphysically obscure.

To assert that we are God’s creation is a statement about our self, as we understand that self, and about God, as we understand God. We might not understand much about self and God, but we do understand a little. We are studying and practicing the course because we are serious about peace and happiness, for ourselves and others. We reject any definition of God that excludes love.

Therefore, even if we struggle to believe it, the statement that we remain as God created us emphasizes the depth of our faith and our hope. We are allowed to take comfort in that! We are allowed to recognize that whatever victories ego ekes out in its war against joy, it has not succeeded in obliterating joy, which lives on in us.

Knowing then that joy is alive in us, even if only as a frail spark, enables us to give attention to that spark – to nurture it, fan it and offer it up to others.

Take another look at Lesson 139, which functions as a companion lesson to this one: “I will accept the Atonement for myself, / for I remain as God created me” (W-pI.139.11:3).

The word “remain” helps us here. It makes clear that yes, ego has mounted a full-scaled assault on our happiness and peace, but it has not suceeded. God’s Will cannot be undone. Ignored for a while, yes. Resisted for a while, sure. But it cannot be killed or ended by ego. Dreams cannot touch the mind that dreams them. Therefore, the end game of this illusory conflict between God and ego, ego and self, is always the demise of ego and the end of fear.

“I am as God created me” might also be stated as “Love prevails.” Or more simply yet, “Love is.”

You are as God created you. These words dispel the night, and darkness is no more. The light is come today to bless the world (W-pI.162.6:3-5).

We take heart today. Perhaps the peace and happiness to which the course points still feels far off. Perhaps it seems too idealistic, too naive or even too difficult. Fair enough! But today is not a day for judging. Today is a day for trust, and for seeing what that trust brings to us. Over and over let us declare this truth about ourselves, and discover as we do that we say it with God and for God.

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