Lesson 17:  I see no neutral things.

This Lesson closely follows the previous Lesson through application of  I have no neutral thoughts.  It's another way of identifying cause and effect as it really operates in the world.  It's important to point out that our thoughts come first, not the other way around.  Think about this one...our thoughts come first, not the event or what we would think of the "cause" of those thoughts.  Pretty cool spin on a point I never really considered, but makes complete sense.

The part of the Lesson that requires me to go beyond my comfort zone is when it instructs, "Regardless of what you may believe, you do not see anything that is really alive or really joyous.  That is because you are unaware as yet of any thought that is really true, and therefore really happy." 

Now this rather annoys me.  First of all, I get great pleasure out of "alive and joyous" thoughts.  If anything, these thoughts are the closest thing to "truth" since they are based in love.  I don't want, or let, anyone take that from me.  Sometimes it's all I have to hold onto when my reality perception is rather dark. 

I understand what the Lesson is trying to say--everything is nothing unless we identify it as such, and that identity is erroneous because we are unaware of the "truth."  I prefer to keep my "love" thoughts because the world needs more of them to change.  We all need more of them to change.  Now if "the truth" brings me more love and light, then I welcome it.  Otherwise, I hold onto my loving warm and fuzzy thoughts and I encourage you to do the same!