Appearances deceive, but can be changed. Reality is changeless. It does not deceive at all, and if you fail to see beyond appearances you are deceived. For everything you see will change, and yet you thought it real before, and now you think it real again. Reality is thus reduced to form, and capable of change. Reality is changeless. It is this that makes it real, and keeps it separate from all appearances. [Reality] must transcend all form to be itself. It cannot change.
Your brother has a changelessness in him beyond appearance and deception, both. [Changelessness] is obscured by changing views of him that you perceive as his reality. The happy dream about him takes the form of the appearance of his perfect health, his perfect freedom from all forms of lack, and safety from disaster of all kinds. The miracle is proof he is not bound by loss or suffering in any form, because it can so easily be changed.
What is temptation but a wish to make illusions real? …Temptation, then, is nothing more than this; a prayer the miracle touch not some dreams, but keep their unreality obscure and give to them reality instead. (A Course in Miracles, T-30.VIII.1;2:3-6;4:1,4. See also ACIM Text Made Simple.)
Only the oneness of God’s Love is changeless. Thus only Love is real. The forms in dreams of separation are simply temptations to perceive the forms as real and not look past appearances to the changelessness of Love.
We have a simple test to discern the real from the unreal. If something can change, it is not real. Looked at honestly, the entire physical universe seen in the dream cannot be real because it is constantly changing. Today we practice distinguishing the unreal from the Real.
© Copyright 2018, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this notice is included.
Has this page been helpful to you?
Your contribution in support of this site is greatly appreciated. To make a tax deductible contribution or become a member online, go to http://www.pathwaysoflight.org/polshop/home.php?cat=254.
Or send a check or money order to Pathways of Light, 6 Oak Court, Ormond Beach, FL 32174-2623 (USD only, please) Thank you for your support.