I wake up and remember that Donald Trump is now the President of the United States. I remember the hopes of so many millions of Americans and many more of us outside of America, up to a couple of months ago: the hope that somehow, miraculously, Americans would see fit to appoint a highly qualified, articulate, intelligent, capable, professional woman of colour to the job of leading their country. Alas, it was not to be. Too many Americans were willing to ignore the behavour, the threats, the lies, the crimes, and vote for a man who seemed to many people to be the worst possible choice as leader of the free world, but to them was the Messiah, the one who was going to give them a better life. I groan as I remember the chaos that has reigned from the minute he took his oath.
I refuse to wallow, and turn instead to my study and to today’s lesson: I could see peace instead of this. I am reminded that “Peace of mind is clearly an internal matter. It must begin in your own thoughts and then extend outward. It is from your peace of mind that a peaceful perception of the world arises. [CE W-34.1:2-4]”. I have to believe that it is my own thoughts that create my world and that from my peace of mind I can see peace in the world.
I can replace all feelings of anxiety, depression, concern, with peace. The lesson does not say that I should see peace. It says I could. I have the ability to choose peace no matter how distressing the situation may seem. All the things I see that I think are awful and distressing are part of the illusion of this world. And instead of needing the situation to change so I can be at peace, I can respond much more effectively if I choose peace first.
I can use this idea anytime, anywhere, in any situation. And today, and for the next four years, I will be using it a lot, along with many other ideas from the Course, whenever feelings of despair and disbelief threaten to engulf me. I am here only to be truly helpful and I will keep seeking guidance as to how I can be helpful at this time in history, in each moment in time. A good start is to see peace instead of turmoil and thus to lighten the burden of the world.