This is not a political rant. It is a meditation on the extraordinary power of unexamined thought—the kind that slips past our awareness and quietly shapes our world. My original plans for this essay were replaced in the stillness of the night by a deeper recognition: our lives, and even our collective history, are often the direct reflection of the thoughts we allow to linger unchallenged.
A Course in Miracles speaks of the moment “into eternity, where all is one, there crept a tiny mad idea.” We forgot to laugh at it. And from that single unexamined moment, the dream of separation, fear, and conflict was born.
Such “tiny mad ideas” are not confined to some ancient, cosmic past. They happen every day, both individually and collectively. They begin as fleeting curiosities: What if…? or I wonder what would happen if…? Left unchallenged, they sprout roots, gather momentum, and eventually appear as reality.
A Dream That Became the News
In 2016, America faced a choice between a seasoned political leader and a newcomer with no political experience but a talent for saying what many longed to hear. I voted for the seasoned hand, yet somewhere in the quiet recesses of my mind, I entertained a thought I did not guard against: What if the newcomer were actually elected? I did not laugh. And so—poof—it was so.
Eight years later, a similar scene played out. Again, the choice was between an experienced leader and a man whose public record was littered with lies, impeachments, and felony convictions, yet whose promises were bound up in the blueprint of Project 2025. The polls declared his victory nearly impossible. And yet, another “tiny mad idea” whispered in my mind: What if he were elected again and carried out that plan? I did not laugh. And once more—poof—it was so.
Thank God, this is all part of a dream—a persistent dream, perhaps a nightmare—but a dream nonetheless. And like all dreams, it can end the moment we awaken.
The Door of Thought
Mary Baker Eddy gives this timeless instruction:
“Stand porter at the door of thought. Admitting only such conclusions as you wish realized in bodily results, you will control yourself harmoniously.”
To stand porter means to be vigilant—unceasingly aware of what you let into the sacred space of your mind. For every thought is creative. It will bear fruit after its kind. Thoughts of peace yield peace. Thoughts of fear and division yield division.
Two Voices, Two Paths
A Course in Miracles distills it further. At every moment, two voices speak to you:
- The Voice for God – Gentle, certain, healing. It speaks of love, unity, and safety. It calls you home.
- The Voice of the Ego – Urgent, loud, and anxious. It speaks of separation, lack, and attack. It thrives on judgment and fear.
One leads to awakening; the other deepens the dream. The Course reminds us:
“You are much too tolerant of mind wandering, and are passively condoning your mind’s miscreations.” (T-2.VI.4:6)
The Practice of Vigilance
Vigilance is not a one-time resolution. It is a moment-by-moment practice. We must:
- Notice each thought, especially the subtle “what if” that carries a shadow of fear.
- Discern: Is this the Voice for God or the voice of the ego?
- Refuse the ego’s invitations, no matter how harmless they seem at first.
- Replace with thoughts of truth, love, and unity.
This is the spiritual discipline that changes the world—because it changes the mind that perceives the world.
Awakening from the Tiny Mad Idea
The first “tiny mad idea” gave rise to the dream of separation. Every time we let a fear-based thought slip past unchallenged, we rehearse that original error. Every time we choose love instead, we undo it a little more.
To laugh at the “tiny mad idea” now is to refuse it entrance. To stand porter at the door of thought is to guard your mind as you would your most treasured possession. For it is.
And when vigilance becomes as natural as breathing, we will finally awaken—not to a new dream, but to the eternal reality that was never lost. And then, the news of the day will be only what God is saying now: You are safe. You are loved. You are home.