Jesus and the Tweak in the Mind
After spending the entire night unsuccessfully fishing on the sea of Tiberias, some of the disciples heard a voice calling from the shore. In the early light of dawn they saw the figure of a man beside a small campfire.
And he said unto them, "Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find." They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. John 21:6 KJV
The man encouraged them to cast their net on the right side of their boat. Though it probably seemed that such a small adjustment would avail them little, the disciples followed his admonition and ventured a try.
"Relationships in this world are the result of how the world is seen. And this depends on which emotion was called on to send its messengers to look upon it, and return with word of what they saw. Fear's messengers are trained through terror, and they tremble when their master calls on them to serve him. For fear is merciless even to its friends. Its messengers steal guiltily away in hungry search of guilt, for they are kept cold and starving and made very vicious by their master, who allows them to feast only upon what they return to him. No little shred of guilt escapes their hungry eyes. And in their savage search for sin they pounce on any living thing they see, and carry it screaming to their master, to be devoured." —ACIM (T-19.IV.A.12.1-7)
"The attraction of guilt produces fear of love, for love would never look on guilt at all. It is the nature of love to look upon only the truth, for there it sees itself, with which it would unite in holy union and completion." —ACIM (T-19.IV.A.10.1-2)
A Holy Relationship is offered us as a means of saving time. Yet with means and end together every instant becomes an invitation to Communion. Unconditional love is not a perfect response but a perfected desire. Purified of all other motivation to have the world the way we want. We are finally convinced that only a Correction of choosing to see our brother guiltless in every circumstance can bring peace. We crave the immediate release this offers and so we begin to offer messengers of love, unconditionally.
"Fear looks on guilt with just the same devotion that love looks on itself. And each has messengers which it sends forth, and which return to it with messages written in the language in which their going forth was asked." —A Course in Miracles (T-19.IV.A.10.9-10)
In the development of trust section in A Course in Miracles, Jesus outlines that 4 of the 6 stages are challenging to the student because they demonstrate our lack of trust in following His Way. A. Development of Trust "a period of undoing" "a period of sorting out" "a period of relinquishment" "a period of settling down" "a period of unsettling" "a period of achievement" This list is not progressive or linear it is an unwinding experience whereby when trust is fearlessly chosen the result is always peace!
"And finally, there is "a period of achievement." It is here that learning is consolidated. Now what was seen as merely shadows before become solid gains, to be counted on in all "emergencies" as well as tranquil times. Indeed, the tranquility is their result; the outcome of honest learning, consistency of thought and full transfer. This is the stage of real peace, for here is Heaven's state fully reflected. From here, the way to Heaven is open and easy. In fact, it is here. Who would "go" anywhere, if peace of mind is already complete? And who would seek to change tranquility for something more desirable? What could be more desirable than this?" —ACIM (M-4.I.A.8.1-10)
When we recognize "Forgiveness offers everything I want." Then the desire to be right minded, to be gladly mistaken and Corrected becomes our singular focus. Clarity is our Calling. If we continue to desire to pick and choose between illusions by imagining this protects us or gives us some false sense of "personal safety" from the cruel world we perceive—then our awareness of the Comforter is momentarily lost. The simplicity of salvation here is in seeing that everything is the past. Acceptance remains our sole responsibility!
In the Holy Instant described in the above parable of the fishermen, there was an immediate leap of faith, a decision to trust for the sake of trusting. They had nothing to loose. They would rather have been mistaken the 70 times 7 they dropped their nets before and open now to being shown what was truly helpful. When we rely on our own expertise and reserve the right to hold our own opinions—and judge by critical thinking what we think is best "to do" we are reinforcing the belief in sin and punishment. Preferring to go without in order to maintain our false sense of self.
It is reasonable to go within, to accept that we cannot know what serves the whole in every circumstance! "Reason cannot see sin but can see errors, and leads to their correction. It does not value them, but their correction." —A Course in Miracles (T-21.VI.1)
And it is logical to Accept the help of One who does know, in every circumstances what serves the whole and by Whom we are deeply loved. That one shows up in many guises, but is always "our Brother." I trust my brothers who are one with me, is the tweak in the mind to seeing a benevolent universe which reflects our desire and devotion to "removing the blocks to the awareness of love's presence, which is your natural inheritance." (ACIM intro)
"I trust my brothers, who are one with me. Trusting your brothers is essential to establishing and holding up your faith in your ability to transcend doubt and lack of sure conviction in yourself." —A Course in Miracles (W-pI.181.1)
The fish were always on the "right side." But the desire to control the flow of conflict resolution and to do it "our way" left us cold and hungry and blustering with defense stories about how hard we are trying, and that it is "not our fault." We are merely trying to maintain our face of innocence with this propaganda. But it is impossible! The world is already forgiven and the little wall of "self "and "other" will fall in awareness.
"The little wall will fall away so quietly beneath the wings of peace. For peace will send its messengers from you to all the world, and barriers will fall away before their coming as easily as those that you interpose will be surmounted." —A Course in Miracles (T-19.IV.A.4.11)
And so as we develop our trust by trusting. And in Accepting what Jesus has shared as Truth the Miracle collapses our need for time and space and learning through pain. A happy Way of fearless following unfolds where trust settles every problem, now. It seems to be a process until it is an Instant. You are invited to get the point and transcend the time line. Accept as the fishermen did.
"If you send forth only the messengers the Holy Spirit gives you, wanting no messages but theirs, you will see fear no more. The world will be transformed before your sight, cleansed of all guilt and softly brushed with beauty." —A Course in Miracles (T-19.IV.A.15.1-2)
Morning is when we are Awake and there is dawn in us. Suddenly we find ourselves on the shore with the risen Jesus. Surprised to find our Brother present once more serving to break our fast and feed us. It is our reluctance to simply come to the table now that needs to be noticed. It is our faux unworthiness and protestation that places a development of trust in advance of our Acceptance of the present invitation. All of time is a "no" to God. Our authentic "yes" breaks the spell and reveals a welcome for Reality exactly as it is!
"Love, too, would set a feast before you, on a table covered with a spotless cloth, set in a quiet garden where no sound but singing and a softly joyous whispering is ever heard. This is a feast that honors your holy relationship, and at which everyone is welcomed as an honored guest. And in a holy instant grace is said by everyone together, as they join in gentleness before the table of communion. And I will join you there, as long ago I promised and promise still. For in your new relationship am I made welcome. And where I am made welcome, there I am." —A Course in Miracles (T-19.IV.A.16.1-6)
"Cast Your Nets on the Right Side" by Greg Olsen, 2009 print store here
The disciples were rewarded for their simple act of faith with a huge draft containing a “multitude of fishes”, so great that their net could scarcely keep from bursting! With this miracle came the recognition that the figure beside the fire was the Risen Lord. The heartened disciples came ashore, there to enjoy a breakfast of bread and fish prepared by Jesus himself. Imagine being fed, warmed and invited to bask in the glow of the “Light of the World”. With a simple act of faith we can do the same and greet each new dawn nourished and warmed by the fire of His spirit! —Greg Olsen
Thank you to Greg for your presence and inspiring paintings. <3
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READ MORE on trust and forgiveness in Living A Course in Miracles:
"The children of God are entitled to the perfect comfort that comes from perfect trust. Until they achieve this, they waste themselves and their true creative powers on useless attempts to make themselves more comfortable by inappropriate means. But the real means are already provided, and do not involve any effort at all on their part." ACIM (T-2.III.5)
ARTICLE: Forgiveness is Still
#Acceptance #Forgiveness #ACIM #LIVEACIM #ACIMLIVE #ACOURSEINMIRACLES #Jesus #HolySpirit #Sin #Confession #Atonement #God #Forgive #Catholic #Heaven #FeatherOfForgiveness #ForgivenessIsStill #TheLastJudgement #PeaceOfMind #PeaceOfGod #Mindfulness
#Comfort #comforter #TheLordIsMyShepherd #psalms23
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