Commentary on ACIM Lesson 281

© 2010 Rev. David Seacord

I can be hurt by nothing but my thoughts.

I am quiet as I contemplate todays lesson, after an active day of sharing. Several phrases within it call to me...."Without forgiveness will your dreams remain to terrify you....", "the quietness of heaven...", "The thoughts I think with you can only bless...".

To be terrified is to be driven to insanity by fear. All power of clarity is lost, and there is no ability to distinguish between true and false. Into this chaos the amazing grace of the Good sends the wholeness of spirit to bind itself to our souls and become the compass that guides us out of our insanity. It does this by activating our heart to recognize there is no other, ever, except in a dream fraught with nightmares that are not real. It does this by becoming our ever-quieting breath, until not even our heartbeat disturbs our peace. It does this by silencing our rushing mentality, until it is like a perfect unblemished vast stillness that reflects with impeccable accuracy the brilliance of the original Love of that Which Forever IS.

That Love is forever you and I also. It is impossible it not be, for Love created both us, and all others also. The mystery of this Love is that it cannot be escaped. It is within us and outside us, all pervading, infinitely aware, endlessly intelligent, eternally compassionate, and willing to endure millenniums of our denials, certain that we will once again awaken and remember that it is our only Home.

And we soon shall. In this circle there are none who are not near to this remembrance, and none that do not feel the quickening presence of Holiness whenever the mind rests and returns to quietness. Whatever remains of this journey is as a bearer of blessings.

Such is the dharma, such is the gift of forgiveness.

Namaste,

David

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Lesson 281

Section 7. What is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit mediates between illusions and the truth. Since He must bridge the gap between reality and dreams, perception leads to knowledge through the grace that God has given Him, to be His gift to everyone who turns to Him for truth. Across the bridge that He provides are dreams all carried to the truth, to be dispelled before the light of knowledge. There are sights and sounds forever laid aside. And where they were perceived before, forgiveness has made possible perception's tranquil end.

The goal the Holy Spirit's teaching sets is just this end of dreams. For sights and sounds must be translated from the witnesses of fear to those of love. And when this is entirely accomplished, learning has achieved the only goal it has in truth. For learning, as the Holy Spirit guides it to the outcome He perceives for it, becomes the means to go beyond itself, to be replaced by the eternal truth.

If you but knew how much your Father yearns to have you recognize your sinlessness, you would not let His Voice appeal in vain, nor turn away from His replacement for the fearful images and dreams you made. The Holy Spirit understands the means you made, by which you would attain what is forever unattainable. And if you offer them to Him, He will employ the means you made for exile to restore your mind to where it truly is at home.

From knowledge, where He has been placed by God, the Holy Spirit calls to you, to let forgiveness rest upon your dreams, and be restored to sanity and peace of mind. Without forgiveness will your dreams remain to terrify you. And the memory of all your Father's Love will not return to signify the end of dreams has come.

Accept your Father's gift. It is a Call from Love to Love, that It be but Itself. The Holy Spirit is His gift, by which the quietness of Heaven is restored to God's beloved Son. Would you refuse to take the function of completing God, when all He wills is that you be complete?

Lesson 281

I can be hurt by nothing but my thoughts.

Father, Your Son is perfect. When I think that I am hurt in any way, it is because I have forgotten who I am, and that I am as You created me. Your Thoughts can only bring me happiness. If ever I am sad or hurt or ill, I have forgotten what You think, and put my little meaningless ideas in place of where Your Thoughts belong, and where they are. I can be hurt by nothing but my thoughts. The Thoughts I think with You can only bless. The Thoughts I think with You alone are true.

I will not hurt myself today. For I am far beyond all pain. My Father placed me safe in Heaven, watching over me. And I would not attack the Son He loves, for what He loves is also mine to love.