Jackie Lora Jones and Bruce Rawles resume their series of BlogTalkRadio dialogues about A Course In Miracles (ACIM) in this audio about how we can use the Holy Spirit’s guidance to undo our ego beliefs about the past (sin) which, unexamined, appear as guilt in the present, and project into the future as fear. Under the kind and gentle guidance of the Real Alternative – the Appointed Friend in our right mind – we see that nothing happened in eternity to disrupt our real, unseparated, innocent, infinitely shared Identity; in other words, ego’s nightmarish past never happened except in a very vivid dream which we merely seem to be still engaged in. The obvious conclusion from that realization is that peace is not only possible but inevitable and available now and throughout eternity, transcending the ego’s abysmal idea of the future. We stop beating ego’s “dead horse” of unconscious, unfounded guilt and simply hop into the Holy Spirit’s metaphoric helicopter above the battleground misuse of time as well as space. The word inevitable is transformed from anticipating dread to joy.
Here are the first four paragraphs of “The Present Memory” from Chapter 28 of ACIM’s text:
“1. The miracle does nothing.²All it does is to undo.³And thus it cancels out the interference to what has been done.⁴It does not add, but merely takes away.⁵And what it takes away is long since gone, but being kept in memory appears to have immediate effects.⁶This world was over long ago.⁷The thoughts that made it are no longer in the mind that thought of them and loved them for a little while.⁸The miracle but shows the past is gone, and what has truly gone has no effects.⁹Remembering a cause can but produce illusions of its presence, not effects.
2. All the effects of guilt are here no more.²For guilt is over.³In its passing went its consequences, left without a cause.⁴Why would you cling to it in memory if you did not desire its effects?⁵Remembering is as selective as perception, being its past tense.⁶It is perception of the past as if it were occurring now, and still were there to see.⁷Memory, like perception, is a skill made up by you to take the place of what God gave in your creation.⁸And like all the things you made, it can be used to serve another purpose, and to be the means for something else.⁹It can be used to heal and not to hurt, if you so wish it be.
3. Nothing employed for healing represents an effort to do anything at all.²It is a recognition that you have no needs which mean that something must be done.³It is an unselective memory, that is not used to interfere with truth.⁴All things the Holy Spirit can employ for healing have been given Him, without the content and the purposes for which they have been made.⁵They are but skills without an application.⁶They await their use.⁷They have no dedication and no aim.
4. The Holy Spirit can indeed make use of memory, for God Himself is there.²Yet this is not a memory of past events, but only of a present state.³You are so long accustomed to believe that memory holds only what is past, that it is hard for you to realize it is a skill that can remember now.⁴The limitations on remembering the world imposes on it are as vast as those you let the world impose on you.⁵There is no link of memory to the past.⁶If you would have it there, then there it is.⁷But only your desire made the link, and only you have held it to a part of time where guilt appears to linger still.” (ACIM, T-28.I.1:1–4:7)
We concluded with a favorite Course quote about how our past has already been healed by our Inner Kindness Teacher. – We can all afford to relax, trust our guidance, as well as rest assured that nothing of lasting value in our lives is ever lost:
“How can you who are so holy suffer? ²All your past except its beauty is gone, and nothing is left but a blessing. ³I have saved all your kindnesses and every loving thought you ever had. ⁴I have purified them of the errors that hid their light, and kept them for you in their own perfect radiance. ⁵They are beyond destruction and beyond guilt. ⁶They came from the Holy Spirit within you, and we know what God creates is eternal. ⁷You can indeed depart in peace because I have loved you as I loved myself. ⁸You go with my blessing and for my blessing. ⁹Hold it and share it, that it may always be ours. ¹⁰I place the peace of God in your heart and in your hands, to hold and share. ¹¹The heart is pure to hold it, and the hands are strong to give it. ¹²We cannot lose. ¹³My judgment is as strong as the wisdom of God, in Whose Heart and Hands we have our being. ¹⁴His quiet children are His blessed Sons. ¹⁵The Thoughts of God are with you.” (ACIM, T-5.IV.8:1-15)
Jackie is the host of the helpful “The 24th Hour – Positive News Magazine“, video blog YouTube Channel series of the same name. This episode concludes her radio show “True Forgiveness Teachings” series on BlogTalkRadio on various Tuesdays.
Here is Jackie’s announcement about the conversation:
Hello friends!
Let’s talk miracles! What if you could forgive the past in the present moment, and therefore, not worry about the future? Join Bruce and Jackie as they discuss the power of miracles. The feeling of freedom that comes with undoing the ego is beyond words! Let’s learn to be free of guilt, fear and suffering!
“Miracles are both beginnings and endings, and so they alter the temporal order. ²They are always affirmations of rebirth, which seem to go back but really go forward. ³They undo the past in the present, and thus release the future. (ACIM, T-1.I.13:1-3)
Jackie’s ACIM online classes: Patreon.com/jackielorajones
As always, these readings provide a platform to discuss a variety of helpful ideas and practices from the non-dual metaphysics of A Course in Miracles. Jackie has conducted insightful video interviews with Gary Renard and numerous others. She and her sister, Cindy Lora-Renard, facilitate classes on ACIM in addition to equally highly-regarded workshops on “The Course.” Jackie’s first book, All Peace, No Pieces – now available in audiobook form – is a valuable addition to any Course student’s library, regardless of their level of familiarity with the Course’s ideas, with some particularly fun and insightful metaphors from the Wizard of Oz movie.
This audio recording was made and aired on BlogTalkRadio on November 16, 2021.
Here are more ACIM-related conversations with Jackie Lora Jones and Bruce Rawles.
