ACIM Talk: An Introduction by Renee' G.

“Use time solely as a means to regain eternity.”

–A Course in Miracles

I was introduced to A Course in Miracles in a book I was reading in my early 20's called The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. There is only one quote in The Power of Now from A Course in Miracles but it is so brilliantly put (in my opinion) that after 5 more years of meticulous seeking I found myself picking up my own copy of one of these "heavy" blue books! Here is the now well known and frequently used quote that attracted me to A Course in Miracles.

Nothing real can be threatened.
Nothing unreal exists.

Herein lies the peace of God.

In my experience the statement Nothing real can be threatened is very comforting, but when contemplating Nothing unreal exists sometimes my mind begins to scramble! And then it is returned again to comfort with the words, the peace of God.

The way I think of God is changing significantly as I study and practice A Course in Miracles. I was raised with a thought system that had many inconsistencies (I won't name any names) and so eventually I began to break away from the "norm" because I felt like there was something REAL missing in my life. In Reality nothing is ever really missing but in our day to day life this may not be our experience.

The course helps us understand that there are two thought systems that we are always choosing between. One is a thought system that is closed off to Reality and the other is one that is completely open to Reality and at the same time is aware of any need for healing/correction. To take this even further the course explains that only one of these thought systems is real.

A sense of separation from God is the only lack you really need correct. -A Course in Miracles


In the beginning I felt alone and so I did not know who to trust or which resources to use to best guide me through this confusing time. We can easily become conditioned to depend on the world (of change) to guide us through life and so we forget, without a reliable source, that we have a choice in the way we see the world. And because the world's thought system is subject to change without much notice we usually end up feeling like we are being left out in the cold, abandoned, betrayed etc. or we have a sense that something is not right but we do not know where to begin to "fix" it.

As most if not all of us realize the world can be a very unreliable and unhappy place. At these times we have reached a point where we are crying out that there must be a better way and we are not alone in feeling this way! Nineteenth Century author Henry David Thoreau best described this feeling in this statement from his book Walden:

"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation"


Freedom is creation because it is love. -A Course in Miracles


A Course in Miracles is simply that, A Course, one of countless ways for us to return to our true nature. The course is an Answer for many of us who have been looking for meaning but often feel that we are going in circles. It is a self-study work that can also be shared and eventually lived every moment of one's life. I have chosen A Course in Miracles as a life-long path because its message is simple and yet has the ability to transform everything I thought I understood.

Its unique style is not for everyone so you may want to visit the following websites to get a more in-depth introduction. The Foundation for A Course in Miracles and The Foundation for Inner Peace

THANK YOU for reading this and if this resonates with you please return as I will be sharing insight from the Text of A Course in Miracles every other Tuesday. I first read the Text in 2004, I’ve been studying and practicing the course for about four years and have begun the Workbook for Students this year. I have a couple of groups where I post the lesson for the day so if you began the lessons between January 1st and 14th and would like to keep in touch with the group you may email me for more information or by visiting my Profile on MySpace

*!* I want to gracefully thank Julie for inviting me to contribute to Spiritual Apostle and for being a trusted friend who has been by my side through some of the most difficult times in my life.

"You must learn that time is solely at your disposal, and that nothing in this world can take this responsibility from you." -ACIM

RADIANT BLESSINGS EVERYONE *!*

About the Author:

Renee' G. is a mother of 3 who spends her time "healing through friendships" while residing in New Mexico. You can find out more about her and view her photos by visiting her page on MySpace.