What is free will?

As many of you who have been around us for awhile know, my most favourite and most quoted lines from the Course are from Lesson 135, paragraphs 18 and 19: 

“What could I not accept, if I but knew that everything that happens, all events, past ,present and to come, are gently planned by One whose only purpose is my good? “

Most of us want to believe that this is true and we struggle with it at the same time. Does this mean I have no free will? What if I don’t like what is happening? How can I trust that this is true and again, what about free will? 

The introduction to *A Course in Miracles* begins with these lines:

“This is a course in miracles. It is a required course. Only the time you take it is voluntary. Free will does not mean that you can establish the curriculum. It means only that you can elect what you want to take at a given time.”

Let’s look at this one step at a time.

“This is a course in miracles.” The course itself is explained in the Preface, but, in simple terms, a miracle is a change in perception—a change of mind. So, we might say that *A Course in Miracles* is about changing our minds, learning how to do so, and learning what to change our minds to.

The next line says, “It is a required course.” This simply means that we do not have a choice about whether we take the course. We will take it. Only the time we take it is voluntary. When we consciously begin to study and practice the course, that choice is voluntary. Of course, on some level, we are all working through the curriculum whether we realize it or not.

And this brings us to the heart of the matter. The Course says that free will does not mean we can establish the curriculum. It means only that we can choose what we want to learn at a given time

Some people interpret this to mean that we do not really have free will. But that is not true. We do have free will; it is simply limited in a very specific way. We cannot choose the curriculum itself, but we can choose how we will approach the lessons given to us.

Throughout our lives, we are given certain lessons to learn and areas in which healing is needed. We may resist those lessons, postpone them, or approach them with willingness, but the curriculum itself cannot be changed. Our healing is inevitable because the Holy Spirit’s purpose for us cannot fail.

This does not mean that we have no freedom. We are free to think what we want, perceive what we want, and choose how we respond to every situation. Whatever we choose can be used by the Holy Spirit in service of our curriculum. Even our mistakes, our resistance, and our apparent detours can be given a new purpose.

This is very good news. It means that, no matter what we do, we cannot truly do it wrong. We cannot ruin the plan, mess up the curriculum, or fail to reach our goal. We may believe that we have failed, but those thoughts are meaningless because they are not true in the sight of God.

Thinking about this brings me peace. Instead of constantly second-guessing myself or struggling with what I do and do not want, I can remember that my life is being gently led and guided by Love. I can trust the Holy Spirit. I can trust the curriculum. And, ultimately, I can trust Love itself.

I invite you to do the same.