ACIM Chapter 13. VI. Finding the Present, P 8-10

VI. Finding the Present, P 8

8 Now is the time of salvation, for now is the release from time. Reach out to all your brothers, and touch them with the touch of Christ. In timeless union with them is your continuity, unbroken because it is wholly shared. God’s guiltless Son is only light. There is no darkness in him anywhere, for he is whole. Call all your brothers to witness to his wholeness, as I am calling you to join with me. Each voice has a part in the song of redemption, the hymn of gladness and thanksgiving for the light to the Creator of light. The holy light that shines forth from God’s Son is the witness that his light is of his Father.

As I read this, I thought of a person that I had resisted loving.

I imagined reaching out to her, touching her with the touch of Christ. I could actually feel myself doing this, and I am so grateful! Over time, I have had many relationships undergo this transformation from special hate to love. I also know that special love relationships need this transformation from special to holy. In this way, love becomes itself, not the vague shadow of love I made of it. I am willing to take the next step there as well.

Another thought that was given to me is that fear for someone, worry over them, even concern, is an attack. It is an attack on their reality, which is unassailable. When I worry about my children, in my mind, I have made them weak and vulnerable. I have said that they are not the powerful creations of a powerful God. Instead, I have declared them pitiful and helpless. I have said they are guilty of being less than and unlike their Creator.

So, what I am going to do today is to remember the truth about each person I meet. No one exists outside the Christ Mind. No one is guilty, weak, or helpless. We are all the Sons of God, and we are all Love and nothing else. Holy Spirit, if I become confused about that today, please help me to remember the truth. I would be a light in this dark world we made, and so I must witness to the light my brothers all are. Our joined light is witness to the Father.

VI. Finding the Present, P 9

9 Shine on your brothers in remembrance of your Creator, for you will remember Him as you call forth the witnesses to His creation. Those whom you heal bear witness to your healing, for in their wholeness you will see your own. And as your hymns of praise and gladness rise to your Creator, He will return your thanks in His clear Answer to your call. For it can never be that His Son called upon Him and remained unanswered. His Call to you is but your call to Him. And in Him you are answered by His peace.

Lately, my healing challenges have been in my relationships. I have seen the special hate in my mind transformed into love. I find the way it is phrased here interesting. He says that I will remember God as I call forth the witnesses to His creation. When I think about the relationships at work that were healed, I see that this has happened.

At first, I called forth the witnesses to the ego manifestation. I saw these people as guilty of various things and as problems to overcome. After my mind was healed of this belief, I saw them as lovely, innocent, and a joy to be with. Thus, they witness to God’s creation rather than something my ego made. They were always perfect, whole, and innocent, but my mind twisted that into something else. Through the power of God in my mind, I was no longer confused, and I saw the truth of them.

Jesus also says that those whom I heal will bear witness to my healing.

When I allowed these relationships to be healed, I began to see these people differently. I saw the beauty beneath any confused ego behavior. They began to respond to me differently because of what I saw in them. I didn’t say, “Hey guys, guess what? You are beautiful and perfect and a reflection of your Creator.” I simply began to love them, and love did its work.

They felt something shift, and they responded to it. It was a healing for all involved. I felt different, happier, and more peaceful. I felt stronger and more powerful, but not in my ego, you understand. And I felt the strength and power of my holiness, of the reality of my true nature. It was a gentle strength and power, healing rather than destructive.

They too, felt something heal in them, and it is manifested in different ways.

They felt lighter and more peaceful in my presence. I can witness this much, and though I can’t know the full extent of the healing, I trust it is done. I am witnessing the healing they experience, the lightness of being, the smiles, and the sense of working together to achieve our goals rather than wasting energy on defense and attack. These differences allowed me to see myself differently, to know I am healed and that I can heal, to know I am whole even when I temporarily forget it.

When I asked for help in these relationships, I was answered. It took some “time” to manifest in myself because my purpose was not single-minded. I had to work with my own mind until I no longer desired both to be right and to be happy. When I made up my mind that I was ready to heal, and that was all I wanted, it was done. It was not that God was holding out on me until I got my priorities straight. It was that peace cannot exist in chaos, so I had to let the chaos go to make a place for peace. When I ask of God, He always answers. Then it is up to me to accept His Answer, and that Answer is always peace.

VI. Finding the Present, P 10

¹⁰ Child of Light, you know not that the light is in you. Yet you will find it through its witnesses, for having given light to them they will return it. Each one you see in light brings your light closer to your awareness. Love always leads to love, The sick, who ask for love, are grateful for it, and in their joy they shine with holy thanks. And this they offer you who gave them joy. They are your guides to joy, for having received it of you they would keep it. You have established them as guides to peace, for you have made it manifest in them. And seeing it, its beauty calls you home.

One day, I had a real challenge with this. I needed to see the light in someone who was in a very dark place. This one I love was in crisis and needed help badly. I knew I would be there, but I could see no really good solution. I stopped every few minutes and rested quietly in God, allowing myself to be renewed. When I asked the ego what this situation meant, I had some very scary thoughts. It is very easy to ask the ego, and sometimes, it happens so quickly that I don’t realize I have done so until I am afraid or angry.

 I knew I had to be very vigilant.

This is the process I used to help me stay clear and open to guidance. As soon as I realized I had begun to see from the perspective of the split mind, I started over. I said to myself that I have no questions for ego. I will not judge the situation because if I do, I automatically set the rules for how I would react to them. This is when I get in trouble. If I let my ego help me decide what the situation means, then I will behave as if all is lost and I am a helpless victim, and so is my dear friend. And I will make decisions based on that belief, and this is not what I want.

I want to remember who he is in reality.

I want to know he is healed and whole. That is how we heal each other; we disregard the outward appearance and hold firmly to the truth. The truth is that my friend is a divine being, and so am I. Our minds are very powerful, and we are absolutely safe regardless of where the story takes us. Today, I will make no decisions with my ego. I will turn to the Holy Spirit each time I notice the influence of my ego on my mind. I will be the light that shines into the mind of my dear friend and everyone involved. And I will trust the Holy Spirit to strengthen my resolve and to guide me to the best words and most helpful actions.

I simply turned from fear to love each time I thought of the problem or felt unease regarding it. This was enough. The situation was resolved, and all involved used their opportunity for healing in the best way they could at that time. As Jesus tells us in this paragraph: Each one you see in light brings your light closer to your awareness. My focus was on being helpful to my friend, but the world is a mirror, and as I saw the light in him, I became aware of it in me.

To watch some helpful videos by Pathways of Light ministers, CLICK HERE.