by Sandy Newell
I’ve been thinking of the concept of “sacrifice” lately. In contemplating a move away from my family to a place where my housemates will be walking this path with me, I realize I am scared. As much as I think I want this, I ask do I really? I recognize I will be in a place without my husband and my adult son. I will be in a new bed without that warm body next to me. I will no longer be the “mother” and “wife” who makes a nice dinner almost every night. The labels I have attached to myself will fall away. There will be no wifey behavior, no mothering. And what about all the comforts of home? What about that 60-inch high definition television I watch every day from that comfy lounge chair that has a cup holder and a USB cord for my phone. I could not be more comfortable anywhere else. I have all that I think I need to exist in this dream.
When I turn to The Course, I find Miracle Principle #39 (COA page 29):
39. The miracle dissolves error because the spiritual eye identifies error as false, or unreal. This is the same as saying that by seeing light, darkness automatically disappears.
Darkness is lack of light. It does not have unique properties of its own. It is an example of the scarcity fallacy, from which only error can proceed.<79> Truth is always abundant. Scarcity leads to overeating and other false drives. Abundance eliminates these. Those who perceive and acknowledge that they have everything have no need for driven behavior of any kind.
Footnote 79: The “scarcity fallacy” is the idea that we are lacking [inside]. We try to fill this lack with things from the outside, such as food. Scarcity here, then does not refer to lack of material prosperity, but rather to the inner emptiness that fuels the search for outer prosperity.
Wow, here’s a new one for me, The Scarcity Fallacy! Okay, so this applies to me with respect to the overeating behavior. And it can apply to anyone with any addiction to drugs, alcohol, shopping, etc. But does it also apply to all these material things I think I need to be comfortable?
Well, I believe it does. When we have the Love of God in our minds and we share our mind with God, what more could we want? We know that God’s Will is that we have abundance and that we be happy, healthy, and comfortable! All these external things that bring me joy will be replaced with the ultimate joy of God’s Love. And walking this path with others 24/7 will accelerate the journey to that Love.
Now, I am not saying that everyone who walks this path should move away from their families. This idea only applies to me and my family is supportive. I am so blessed and grateful they have not taken on the “victim” mentality that they are losing a wife and a mother. I will have two homes, the one with my husband and son and the one with my spiritual family. And now what I was thinking would be a sacrifice has turned into a huge blessing of two homes filled with beings that love me. I am grateful.
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