the spirit of communion, forgiveness and surrender

Attitude

Perhaps you can let your spirit of communion be something like this:

• Father; I do not know the way to You. But I have called and You have answered me. I will not interfere. Salvation's ways are not mine, for they belong to You. It is unto You I look for them. My hands are open to receive your gifts. I have no thoughts I think apart from You, and cherish no beliefs of what I am, or who created me. Yours is the way I would find and follow. I ask but that Your will, which is my own as well, be done in me and in the world, that it become a part of Heaven now. Amen.

Lifestyle of Forgiveness and Surrender (optional)

From time to time you may wish to practice forgiveness or surrender of false idols. Approaching and within the happy dream, these support further awakening,

Recall the bumps in the recent past, what buttons were pushed, places where peace was lost for awhile, and forgive what you can. False idols are whatever you don't need, plans, goals,  ... surrender all to your Creator

• any body, earth, any planet, a book, any illness, any symptom, a sense of unworthiness

• concern about: $, sexuality, employment, crime, the environment

Surrendering these is partly how we give our gifts, and is symbolic of needing nothing but God.

brief commentary

A few years ago I wanted to learn more about Helen. I read a biography, her autobiography, and some of her poems. She was an inspired poet, had a keen memory, remarkably honest, very insightful and intuitive. She sometimes was resistant to working with Jesus.

Every body is somewhere in the range from pathology to enlightenment. Helen chose a helper role, behavior that is usually creative when relaxed and manipulative or hysterical when stressed. As with all of us, anxiety was inevitable for Helen.

The Messages of Love are different from Helen's Course in Miracles work, they were scribed years after that was completed. The scope of the messages of  love is less detailed, more direct.  

• The messages are about how to move away from your nightmarish life, toward a happy dream. 

Messages => Happy Dream ==>Real World ==> Heaven

Helen envisioned a happy dream before she consciously knew what one was. From her autobiography (circa pp 36)

• ...”a picture of a young girl who resembled me in many ways, although she could not have been more than 16 years old herself. Her head was slightly thrown back in happy laughter, and her arms were outstretched as if in universal welcome. She seemed to be wholly joyous, literally incapable of grief or pain. She was standing on a lawn of bright green grass, but in her extraordinary happiness her bare feet hardly seemed to touch the ground at all. She was dressed in a light, loose dress not reminiscent of any particular time or place. There was, in fact, nothing suggesting the past about her, nor did she seem likely to be concerned about the future. I do not think she even regarded time as we do.” 

These messages are a help in time of need rather than a wonder cure. In moving toward a happy dream you make the best of whatever happens on your journey.
As you experience Communion (described below), the possibilities are

• being less fearful
• being more joyful
• learning to have mercy on yourself
• more closely approaching the peace of God
• possibly, a greater awareness of an inner Teacher (one who has always been present but perhaps seldom heard)
• a measure of relief from grief and pain

On earth, it is not possible to accurately describe Heaven. The limitations of language and humanity are so constraining, that Heaven is beyond comprehension while you appear to be on earth.

• In reading these messages you can cut Jesus some slack ... its an impossible job to explain it all. Be with him, follow the flow and seek for the experience more so than "perfect definitions". He uses allegory and metaphor to lead to a condition that supports and allows your peace and awakening.

The 3rd message of love explains how, through misunderstanding, God's son becomes sorrowful. It encourages awakening to Love and gives new meaning to the lyric “life is but a dream”. It spans all of time and describes what happens as you understand and honor these messages.

• You can ask the Holy Spirit to help grow your comprehension, as you read a message, together.

As you explore these messages, you are likely to experience rough seas. Because of the nature of mind there will be resistance to these messages. Resistance is whatever takes you away from your mind and to your physical or emotional body. If you are having a rough time, just ride it out (do what normal people do, take an aspirin, see your physician, etc) and continue. 

As prodigal sons & daughters, our gift to God is in part, an approach in gratitude that grows to embrace. 

• Our gift of attention (presence) and remembrance of union blossoms to the reflection of love once seemingly denied.

Each of the two admonitions at the end of the 5th message (Forget all things …) corresponds to the large, fine fish mentioned in the Gospel of Thomas and  demonstrates the consistency of Jesus' teaching (see saying 8 The Wise Fisherman).

This 5th message makes use of metaphor as a teaching aid. "Call them now to Me ...." is not evangelizing. Its about being (in your thoughts) a light of truth. Being that, is sufficient.

Communion is an irreligious spiritual experience of grace, in which your mind is transformed by means of cooperation with your Creator. Words are less important in Communion, intention is everything, humility helps. What begins with presence blossoms to the fullness of Love Remembered.  

Being a joyous child of God means that you can spend time in quiet Communion with your Creator. If it's a new experience, note that duration is not important. Try it for a few minutes or however long seems comfortable. When you feel comfortable with the experience you can lengthen it as much or as little as desired.
Jesus can guide you to an altar …. all can unite in Communion. There is no fear for you are created guilt free and remain now and will always be a beloved child of your Creator …. always, all ways, no exceptions.

You can be joyous at the altar of your Creator or feel gratitude for being Created as an extension of endless Love or express your love for God and remain receptive.

• Rest quietly at the altar for a while and just listen .... as much as possible being at peace and trusting in your Creator's benevolence .... lose yourself in the presence of Love.

As you experience Communion you may shed tears or feel unworthy. It's a process of undoing, be patient and consistent. Be tolerant and forgiving of your personal process. Patterns formed over eons will dissipate.

Reference

The Gifts of God, a book of poems by Helen Schucman. Published by The Foundation for Inner Peace.