The idea for today is, of course, the reason why a meaningless world is impossible. What God did not create does not exist. And everything that does exist exists as He created it. The world you see has nothing to do with reality. It is of your own making, and it does not exist.
The exercises for today are to be practiced with eyes closed throughout. The mind searching period should be short, a minute at most. Do not have more than three practice periods with today's idea unless you find them comfortable. If you do, it will be because you really understand what they are for.
The idea for today is another step in learning to let go the thoughts which you have written on the world, and see the Word of
God in their place. The early steps in this exchange, which can truly be called salvation, can be quite difficult and even quite painful.
Some of them will lead you directly into fear. You will not be left there. You will go far beyond it. Our direction is toward perfect safety and perfect peace.
With eyes closed, think of all the horrors in the world that cross your mind. Name each one as it occurs to you, and then deny its reality. God did not create it, and so it is not real.
Say, for example:
God did not create that war, and so it is not real.
God did not create that airplane crash, and so it is not real.
God did not create that disaster [specify], and so it is not real.
Suitable subjects for the application of today's idea also include anything you are afraid might happen to you, or to anyone about whom you are concerned. In each case, name the disaster quite specifically. Do not use general terms. For example, do not say, God did not create illness, but, God did not create cancer, or heart attacks, or whatever may arouse fear in you.
This is your personal repertory of horrors at which you are looking. These things are part of the world you see. Some of them are shared illusions, and others are part of your personal hell. It does not matter. What God did not create can only be in your own mind apart from His. Therefore, it has no meaning. In recognition of this fact, conclude the practice periods by repeating today's idea:
God did not create a meaningless world.
The idea for today can, of course, be applied to anything that disturbs you during the day, aside from the practice periods.
Be very specific in applying it.
Say:
God did not create a meaningless world.
He did not create [specify the situation which is disturbing you], and so it is not real.
✨ Summary & practice
Denying what God did not create.
After facing the fear that meaninglessness provokes, the Course gives you the key that dissolves the entire problem: God did not create a meaningless world. This is a statement of incredible power. If God did not create something, that thing does not exist. The world you see, with all its horrors, wars, and diseases, has nothing to do with reality. You made it, and it does not exist. The Course warns that these early steps of salvation may be difficult, but it promises: you will not be left there.
The exercise is done entirely with eyes closed. Bring to mind all the horrors of the world that come to you. Name each one precisely, then deny its reality: 'God did not create this war, therefore it is not real. God did not create this plane crash, therefore it is not real.' The Course insists: you must name each disaster specifically, not in general terms. Do not say 'God did not create disease,' but 'God did not create cancer, heart attacks,' etc. Precision prevents the mind from hiding in generalities.
This lesson directly answers the fear of lesson 13. If meaninglessness produces fear, the solution is to recognize that meaninglessness was not created by God and therefore does not exist. Fear loses its foundation. Lesson 15 will continue dismantling the world of illusions by showing that your thoughts are images you have made. Together, lessons 14 and 15 dismantle the apparent reality of the world to make room for true vision. This is a necessary purification before the more constructive lessons.
For today, no more than three exercise periods, eyes closed from beginning to end. Think of each horror that comes to you, name it precisely, and say: 'God did not create this, therefore this is not real.' Do it gently, without forcing. Peace will come from this deep recognition.
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