Commentary on ACIM Lesson 322

© 2010 Rev. David Seacord

"What loss can I anticipate except the loss of fear, and the return of Love into my mind?". Thus ends todays lesson with a powerful reminder that all we need is provided us by way of our willingness to release our 'adrenalin addiction to fear/fright/anxiety/confusion/doubt'---- and invite instead the blessings of a loving open heart to inhabit our mind also.

It is needful to realize that many of us are habitual fence sitters.... for while we have well-developed loving hearts, we choose to quarantine it to 'feel good' territory, and in particular do not invite it's counsel in the cerebral discussions of our separated-self minds. It is a place we all pass through and go beyond eventually, but we can allow our fears of loss to keep us stuck there, protecting our individuality.... for lifetimes. Because of free will, it is allowable, yet it is the miracles of love that aid us when we are thus stuck, by collapsing time and giving us the grace-moment to bridge huge periods of learning-time in an instant. Those instants are always moments of wholeness, where right-mindedness reverses in profound ways the patterns of negativity that we have been identified with, and we suddenly see our lives from a divine perspective.

How do we know it is a divine perspective? I assert it is because there is a shift from 'the resistance of what is' to 'the acceptance of what is', and this shift is often accompanied with a vision of understanding.... allowing us to see into 'the why' of the divine plan. Here's a personal example....

In this past weekend with my family many events happened. Egoically for 'me', the most significant was that fact that for the first time in over eight years, I allowed my body to eat some cooked food in the social space of public dining with friends and family. It felt like some powerful will within me crumbled temporarily, and while I was somewhat distraught, I recognized I desired this also. I resisted this desire, but it won, again, then several more times over the ensuing days, until I accepted that at this time my body was committed to eating something cooked on a daily basis.

What I missed noticing at the time was the quiet relief that went through my family at the sight of me occasionally eating some 'normal' food. But today, I was given a different view, when I asked my mother (now returned home and living on the same property as me) if she would make a small pot of millet for me while I was gone working today. For even though she fussed about maybe she couldn't do it right or that she had too much to do to get it done.... I somehow knew something deeper.... that asking her to make me food gave her a contributive purpose. And having such a purpose gave her life a new ground and meaning.

I watched her as she watched me eat her food tonight. It was a subtle thing, but clear as day at the same time. She loved that I was eating her food. It added a great peace to our existence. And for me, I am learning God may value that peace above my personal beliefs about dietary health. So for now, I yield even that back into the mantra of surrender: 'Not my will, but thine....'.

Namaste,

David

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Lesson 322

I can give up but what was never real.

I sacrifice illusions; nothing more. And as illusions go I find the gifts illusions tried to hide, awaiting me in shining welcome, and in readiness to give God's ancient messages to me. His memory abides in every gift that I receive of Him. And every dream serves only to conceal the Self which is God's only Son, the likeness of Himself, the Holy One Who still abides in Him forever, as He still abides in me.

Father, to You all sacrifice remains forever inconceivable. And so I cannot sacrifice except in dreams. As You created me, I can give up nothing You gave me. What You did not give has no reality. What loss can I anticipate except the loss of fear, and the return of love into my mind?