and nothing exterior to me will ever take command of me.
The Seventh Step is where we make the change in our attitude which permits us, with humility as our guide, to move out from ourselves toward others and toward God.
When I finally asked God to remove those things blocking me from Him and the sunlight of the Spirit, I embarked on a journey more glorious than I ever imagined. I experienced a freedom from those characteristics that had me wrapped up in myself. Because of this humbling Step, I feel clean.
I am especially aware of this Step because I’m now able to be useful to God and to my fellows. I know that He has granted me strength to do His bidding and has prepared me for anyone, and anything, that comes my way today. I am truly in His hands, and I give thanks for the joy that I can be useful today.
Yes, I know that the Truth has freed me from the bonds of fear. I am not afraid. I adore thee, Most High within me; I trust in Thee and abide in that hope that knows no fear; I am Free Spirit and cannot be bound. The One Life flowing through me is Perfect and Complete. I am not apart from It. I am One with It in Marvellous Unity and Freedom; One with the Complete Whole. I was born free and must always remain free. The realization of freedom permeates my whole being and sinks into the innermost parts of me. I love it, adore it, I accept it. I am free.
to go to a doctor to fix my car.
won’t use the door, only the window.
Today’s lesson is another step in the complete reversal of all I have thought is true. “I am the holy Son of God Himself.” This is definitely not the way I thought of myself. The list of all the forms of lovelessness given in the first paragraph, last sentence, is more in line with what I have been used to seeing. Yet I am learning this is only the effect of denying my Identity.
I feel the relief of recognition of what is true and release from a false identity that never could be true. I walk with a lighter step and a gentle smile on my face. I look on a more benevolent world. The gratitude I feel reaches out in blessing to all and comes back to me magnified a thousand times. The Light in me recognizes the Light in you and we join together in our Creator, our Source. And I remember I am as Love created me.
I see it is my job to watch my thoughts and look at what I am believing as I go through my day today and every day. Am I remembering all power is given to me in earth and Heaven? Am I remembering there is nothing I cannot do? Or am I playing the game of being weak and frail? Am I thinking I am helpless?
The way out of the dream is to see the barriers I am placing in the way of my recognition that my true Identity is an extension of Love and nothing else. And these barriers come in the form of placing my beliefs in limiting thoughts. Am I accepting limitation as true this minute? How are my thoughts denying my Identity as a Son of God?
This is such an incredible lesson and I feel grateful as I realize I am willing to believe it. When I read it the first time, I could not even bring myself to say it out loud! My resistance was so strong that I could barely understand what I was reading. Over time, I have lessened my resistance and today as I read it I was filled with joy. I don’t fully accept it as true, but now my resistance is more of a, “I don’t fully accept it — now,” variety. I recognize I want it and I can envision it happening. I can see the blocks to full acceptance and am glad to work on releasing them.
This morning Holy Spirit showed me one of the blocks I need to release. During my meditation I started thinking about an error I made awhile back and was surprised at how much I was still bothered by it. Later while I was dressing I thought of something else that happened yesterday and was irritated all over again. When this happened a third time, I got the hint. I thought about the passage in another lesson that assures us Holy Spirit cannot be delayed in His teaching by our errors, only in our unwillingness to let them go. I thanked Holy Spirit for helping me to see what I was doing and asked His help in releasing the past.
Both organizations continue to teach the Science of Mind throughout the world. In 1967 the Church of Religious Science changed its name again to the United Church of Religious Science and continues to operate under that name today. In 1988, a third organization was formed called Affiliated New Thought Network. All three organizations are dedicated to teaching Science of Mind but approach issues of administration and local church autonomy differently. There have been some attempts to bring the three groups together but as of now they seem to be willing to accept their separate legal status while agreeing to work together for the common goal of promoting Science of Mind.
Ernest Holmes had become recognized internationally for his contribution to religious thought. Awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy by India’s Andhra Research University, he also received honorary degrees from several other institutions, including the California College of Medicine, the University of California at Irvine, and the Foundation Academic University of Spiritual Understanding in Venice, Italy. He was also recognized by the Association of the Humanitarian Grand Prize of Belgium and was named an honorary member of the Eugene Field Society, a national group of authors and journalists.
In 1959, two years after Hazel’s death, Ernest Holmes began to subtly transfer his responsibilities and indulge in more quiet time. Some days he simply withdrew to his office and sat for hours in meditation and prayer. He attempted, however, to carry on as before in his daily life. He remained active at the Institute, still went out in the evenings, and invited friends to his home. Ernest never retired. He continued his writing, was a guest speaker in Religious Science pulpits coast to coast, dedicated new churches, and taught at the Institute.