Universal Church of Miracle Enlightenment
GOD IS
Come and join us in using this ACIM STUDY GUIDE
for "A BETTER WAY" to
~ Inspire the mind, Use it, Share it and Rest it in God ~
The Song of Prayer
Prayer, Forgiveness, Healing
V. The Ladder Ends
1. Prayer is a way to true humility. And here again it rises slowly up, and grows in strength and love and holiness. Let prayer but leave the ground (the lower levels of asking out of need), and it begins to rise to God, and thus true humility will come at last to grace the mind that thought it was alone and stood against the world. Humility brings peace because it does not claim that you must rule the universe, nor judge all things as you would have them be.
2. Illusions and humility have goals so far apart they cannot coexist, nor share a dwelling place where they can meet. Illusions dwell in the split mind, humility in the Christ mind. There is no joining of the two, so it is “one or the other,” not both. Where one has come, the other disappears. Just as “enemies” cannot pray together because they have separate, diverse goals, neither can the ego and the Christ mind join together in humility. Yet the truly humble have no goal but God because they need no idols. Where they have been laid aside, defense no longer serves a purpose. Enemies are useless now, because humility does not oppose. No opposition; no enemy. Humility does not hide in shame because it is content with what it is, knowing creation is the Will of God. Its selflessness is Self, and this it sees in every meeting, where it gladly joins with every Son of God, whose purity it recognizes that it shares with him. Thus the truly humble are able to see the Christ in every man since humility presents no idols to block the truth in front of him.
3. Now prayer is lifted from the world of things, of bodies, and of idols and gods of every kind, and you can rest in holiness at last. Humility has come to teach you how to understand your glory as God’s Son, and how to recognize the arrogance of the ego’s idea of who you and your brother are. A dream has veiled the face of Christ from you. Now when you look at your Self and your brother, you can look upon His sinlessness. Now the ladder of prayer has risen higher. You have come almost to Heaven. There is little more to learn before the journey is complete. Now you can say to everyone who comes to join in prayer with you:
“I cannot go without you, for you are a part of me.”
And so he is in truth. Now can you pray only for what you truly share with your brother. For you have understood he never left you and you never left him. And you, who seemed alone, are one with him.
The ladder ends with this, for learning is no longer needed. Now you stand before the gate of Heaven, and your brother stands beside you there. The lawns are deep and still, for here is the place appointed for the time when you should come – awaited long for you. Here will time end forever. At this gate eternity itself will join with you. Prayer has become what it was meant to be, for you have recognized the Christ in you. You are now light, and darkness is no more. Amen