A Course in Miracles Text Made Simple

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Chapter 15: The Holy Instant

Section III: Littleness versus Magnitude

Read ACIM Chapter 15, Section III (pages 306-309)

What does Jesus mean by ‘seeking for littleness’?

Seeking for individuality is seeking for littleness. The world we see through the body’s eyes is a world that comes from thoughts of littleness. Jesus tells us, “When you strive for anything in this world in the belief that it will bring you peace, you are belittling yourself and blinding yourself to glory.” (1:6)

We were created by Love as Love’s extension. As Love’s extension, we remain one with It. Since only Love is real, we remain one with All That Is and all of Reality is ours. When we try to set ourselves apart as an individual, we lose awareness of Reality because oneness and individuality cannot coexist, being diametrically opposed.

To be an individual, we must separate ourselves and thus we have chosen to believe that we no longer have everything. The images of the world were made as a substitute for having everything. The images give us the appearance of being able to have something — some form that we can identify with that seems to give us value. Yet because it is the denial of all that is real, this world can only offer us empty images that can never bring us contentment. No matter how much we strive for things in this world, there is always an awareness in our minds that there is something more.

Why can our memory of unity never be obliterated?

The memory of our unity with All That Is can never be completely obliterated because it is the memory of our Self. Thus anything this world appears to offer will always fall short as a substitute for the experience of having everything that is real.

When we identify with the ego thought system, we choose the images of the world because we treasure individuality. But the call to return Home to the magnitude of All That Is will never disappear completely. The call of Love in our hearts reminds us of What we are in truth. Our job now is to learn to recognize the ego’s empty substitutes for what they are. This is a lesson we owe ourselves to learn because no matter what choices we have made in the past, we still deserve to know the magnitude of Reality as ours.

How do we become aware that we are host to God?

Magnitude is already ours. But because we believe we are in a world of littleness, it requires vigilance to keep our attention on recognizing our real magnitude, our oneness with Love. But Love is our Reality given us by God, so our holding the awareness of Love is supported by the full power of God. “God is not willing that the His Son be content with less than everything. For He is not content without His Son, and His Son cannot be content with less than His Father has given Him.” (4:10-11)

Whenever we are making a decision, Jesus encourages us to let the Holy Spirit ask us this question: “Would you be hostage to the ego or host to God?” (5:1) The ego is the thought system of limitation and littleness and therefore limits and imprisons us. But when we welcome the oneness of Love into our hearts, we become host to the Love of God and become aware of Love’s magnitude. “Every decision you make is for Heaven or hell, and brings you the awareness of what you decided for.” (5:7)

If we wish to become aware that we are host to God, we must not decide against Love. It is the Holy Spirit that holds this clear awareness safely in our mind eternally. As we are willing to join with the Holy Spirit in all decisions, we are deciding for God. With the Holy Spirit’s help we see past the little images of the world of separate bodies and see the magnitude of our brothers and ourselves. This is the only meaningful purpose we have in the world. Jesus tells us, “It is our task together to restore the awareness of magnitude to the host whom God appointed for Himself. For God would give Himself through you. He reaches from you to everyone and beyond everyone to His Son’s creations, but without leaving you.” (7:2,4-5)

When we are willing to be host to Love, the Prince of Peace is born in us. We join with the Christ Mind and see through the eyes of Christ. Jesus tells us, “My birth in you is your awakening to grandeur. Welcome me not into a manger, but into the altar to holiness, where holiness abides in perfect peace.” (9:5-6) As we do this we realize we are not of this world. We will never be content with anything but the Love of God, which is His Will for us. Dreams of littleness are seen as nothing compared to the magnitude of our true Nature. “When you have learned to accept what you are, you will make no more gifts to offer to yourself, for you will know you are complete, in need of nothing, and unable to accept anything for yourself. But you will gladly give, having received. The host of God needs not seek to find anything.” (10:7-9)

To help in our joint task of being host to God, it is helpful to say to ourselves now and many times each day: Am I willing to be host to God right now? Am I willing to make room for Christ’s vision? I remember I have all the help I need. With this in mind we accept the help that is always there for us right now. We do not delay His coming but welcome the Prince of Peace into our hearts and minds. When we do this we will, “Call forth in everyone only the remembrance of God, and of the Heaven that is in him.” By being vigilant for the Love in everyone, we remember the Love we are, disregarding the images of littleness the world offers. “God’s power is forever on the side of His host, for it protects only the peace in which He dwells.” (12:5)

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