If I accept that I am prisoner within a body, in a world in which all things that seem to live appear to die, then is my Father prisoner with me. And this do I believe, when I maintain the laws the world obeys must I obey; the frailties and the sins which I perceive are real, and cannot be escaped. If I am bound in any way, I do not know my Father nor my Self. And I am lost to all reality. For truth [Love] is free, and what is bound is not a part of truth.
Father, I ask for nothing but the truth. I have had many foolish thoughts about myself and my creation, and have brought a dream of fear [lovelessness] into my mind. Today, I would not dream. I choose the way to You instead of madness and instead of fear. For truth is safe, and only love is sure. (A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 278, W-pII.278. See also ACIM Lesson 278 Insights.)
The body is an idol made by the ego as a substitute for the Self that God created as His Son. An idol by definition is not real. Belief in an idol seems to give it power but only in the mind of the believer. Only our belief in the body as our identity gives it power to seem to trap us in a limited space, disconnected from anything outside the body and unable to join with anything or anyone. This is the centerpiece of the ego’s scheme to maintain control of the mind that has given allegiance to it. It has no power of its own to trap or control the Son of God.
The key to unlock our self-made prison is to let go of our belief in its reality. We let go of our mistaken beliefs through forgiveness. False beliefs are dismissed the moment we learn they are untrue.
We have been given an inner Teacher Who’s singular mission in our mind is to teach us to sort truth from illusion. To free ourselves, we only need to accept His lessons. We do this with the practice of questioning all our perceptions in the world.
The ego tells you that this task is monumental and overwhelming, so don’t even try. But all we need to do is take one perception at a time to the Holy Spirit by pausing and focusing our attention on the center of peace within. In this peace, our mind is open to the Holy Spirit’s lessons in truth. With these lessons, we are able to recognize that what we saw from the perspective of separation was not true. We lay down that misperception, making way for the Light of Love to shine away its shadow.
Each time we learn one of these lessons, our mind is enlightened by the Light which is magnified around the world in every brother who is forever joined with us in truth. Each time we practice being willing to learn the Holy Spirit’s lesson, the next one is a little easier to welcome.
© Copyright 2020, 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.