²Reality is never frightening. ³It is impossible that it could upset me. ⁴Reality brings only perfect peace. ⁵When I am upset, it is always because I have replaced reality with illusions I made up. ⁶The illusions are upsetting because I have given them reality, and thus regard reality as an illusion. ⁷Nothing in God’s creation is affected in any way by this confusion of mine. ⁸I am always upset by nothing.
²I see only my own thoughts, and my mind is preoccupied with the past. ³What, then, can I see as it is? ⁴Let me remember that I look on the past to prevent the present from dawning on my mind. ⁵Let me understand that I am trying to use time against God. ⁶Let me learn to give the past away, realizing that in so doing I am giving up nothing. (A Course in Miracles, W-52.1:2-8;3:2-6. See also ACIM Lesson 52 Insights.)
The ego would be lost without the past. It uses the past to give meaning to its perceptions of illusions that seem to be in the present. While we identify with the ego, our focus on the past makes the present unknown to us.
The limitless joy and peace of the present are unknown to us as long as we bring past thoughts with us. This is why forgiveness is our function in this world. Forgiveness dismisses thoughts of the past, allowing the Light of the present moment to dawn upon our mind. The ego’s house is closed off from Reality. Its doors and shutters are closed to protect itself from the Love it perceives as enemy.
The oneness of Love and the divisiveness of the ego cannot coexist. As Light dispels darkness, Love dispels the fear-based thoughts of the ego. Today we welcome present Love into our mind. In the joyous present, we join with the truth in every brother and remember our real Home in God.
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