LESSON 19 I am not alone in experiencing the effects of my thoughts.

1. 1The idea for today is obviously the reason why your seeing does not affect you alone. 2You will notice that at times the ideas related to thinking precede those related to perceiving, while at other times the order is reversed. 3The reason is that the order does not matter. 4Thinking and its results are really simultaneous, for cause and effect are never separate.

2. 1Today we are again emphasizing the fact that minds are joined. 2This is rarely a wholly welcome idea at first, since it seems to carry with it an enormous sense of responsibility, and may even be regarded as an “invasion of privacy.” 3Yet it is a fact that there are no private thoughts. 4Despite your initial resistance to this idea, you will yet understand that it must be true if salvation is possible at all. 5And salvation must be possible because it is the Will of God.

3. 1The minute or so of mind searching which today’s exercises re­quire is to be undertaken with eyes closed. 2The idea for today is to be repeated first, and then the mind should be carefully searched for the thoughts it contains at that time. 3As you con­sider each one, name it in terms of the central person or theme it contains, and holding it in your mind as you do so, say:

4I am not alone in experiencing the effects of this thought about _____________.

4. 1The requirement of as much indiscriminateness as possible in selecting subjects for the practice periods should be quite familiar to you by now, and will no longer be repeated each day, although it will occasionally be included as a reminder. 2Do not forget, however, that random selection of subjects for all practice periods remains essential throughout. 3Lack of order in this connection will ultimately make the recognition of lack of order in miracles meaningful to you.

5. 1Apart from the “as needed” application of today’s idea, at least three practice periods are required, shortening the length of time involved, if necessary. 2Do not attempt more than four.