goodness, beauty, perfection, of God’s Love and Mercy, and of how we can help others—of anything that will bring peace and happiness to our minds and hearts. Yes, we can always turn to God, and as surely as we think of Him—our highest concept of Him—and try to feel His Presence, will He leave our earthly problems behind, forgotten. For where our attention and interest is in consciousness, we are; and where God is such problems do not exist.

Try as often as possible to think of Him, and that water falling from above, which is the water of His Life, will always be clear and sparkling, bringing strength and refreshment when doing anything here in the outer. It is only when you allow your mind to sink into the dark confused consciousness of material conditions that the water appears muddy, troublesome and harmful. These truths will lift the bandage from your eyes.

THREE years ago when I first started in this Work, I dreamed that I was running away from some dark forms that looked as though they were men. It was so dark that I could hardly see my hand before my face when I came to a tall ladder, so I began climbing the ladder. I dreamed I climbed until my arms ached badly, but I would say to myself, “I will not give up; I shall go up and I hope this ladder leads to heaven.”

I looked back toward the earth and saw the dark forms moving around below searching for something they could not find. Then I began climbing again with more determination than ever to reach the top—when at last I reached the end of the ladder. How glad I was that I had gained it! I didn’t have strength enough to jump over the ledge, so I just fell over; but when falling I lost my shoes on the outer edge of the balustrade.

I sat down to get my breath and to see what I would do about my shoes, knowing that I could not go on without them. I felt that I must get them myself as it would not be right to ask anyone else to take the risk of going out on the edge of the balcony for me. So finally I tied my dress around the end saying that I would not fear, I walked out on the balcony and found my shoes. Then, when I turned around, lo and behold! I saw a man sitting there before me in a glowing white robe holding a book before him. He placed his hand on my head as I sat down at his feet, and he taught me out of the beautiful white book.

Your dream was a symbol of the mental condition you were in before contacting this Work, the dark forms being the wrong teachings and influences from which your soul was seeking to escape. Your climbing the ladder was your eager desire for the Truth, but when you reached the top you found you did not have Understanding (your shoes), so you first had to find it.

When found you were ready then for the Truth, and “when the pupil is ready, the Teacher appears.” What he taught you is what you are now receiving outwardly in the Impersonal Lessons. He was a real Teacher, as are these real Teachings, as we believe your soul recognizes.