The ego has set up many different kinds of self-concepts and roles to keep us trapped, including identification with family relationships and with the body. The only responsibility we have is for our state of mind, we are not responsible for people, animals, debt, etc. If we give ourselves over to the Holy Spirit and following His guidance, the Spirit will handle all of the needs we seem to have in miraculous ways while we unwind our mind back to God. All things will be used in this unwinding, including family relationships. “The whole purpose of life is to wake up from this dream of this world. The ego would have you believe that you exist in this world and you have to attain and achieve certain things in your lifetime. And all of education and learning is based on learning more, but everything in this world is backward and upside down. When you think you advance in this world you are really falling back. And when you think your life is completely falling apart, you are actually opening your heart. So actually, there are always miracles and there are always blessings. The ego invented linear time, and God only knows eternity. So, past and present and future are part of the trick.”
Parenting
The Gift of Happiness
The way to receive the gift of happiness is to make a habit of living a Spirit-guided life. To do this we must recognize that the mind, not the body, is the decision maker. Our current perception shows us a fragmented world of fear and rage. So when confronted with a decision it is helpful for us to step back and ask “What is it for?” Then we can choose the Spirit’s purpose of forgiveness or undoing. We can choose to serve something bigger than our self. David and Frances continue on to tell enlightening parables about: opening to love, our one responsibility, Siddhartha and the movie, “Sully.”
Mother Concept of the Ego
When someone you are concerned about (such as a daughter) keeps coming to mind, it is a Call for Love to bring to the Holy Spirit. It may or may not call for a specific action (such as calling or emailing the person), but it is always helpful to take it to prayer and look at one’s thoughts. The ego has set up many “ego ideals” such as being a “good-enough mother”, and it’s important to look with honesty at these thoughts and be willing to release them with Spirit’s Help.
ACIM and Raising Children
Every symbol and image that you see with the body’s eyes is a reflection. When you look at a child, you can see the child as a mirror of your mind. Any grievances and limits you see in the child are within your own mind. If you are practicing ACIM and raising children, you see what is taking place in your thoughts. As children go through grade school and into high school, you can look at your own beliefs about authority, normalcy, education and success.
Undoing Linear Time (Short Clip)
“A Course in Miracles” (ACIM) teaches that time is simultaneous. To show the concept of linear time, David Hoffmeister uses a spaghetti string, a noodle. He says that we are like a fish out of water. Or, “a spirit out of spirit—on a noodle!” A spirit who has forgotten spirit and is on a noodle now; that’s pretty difficult. So, if you have had struggles and difficulties in your life, it’s not even surprising, because of the mind’s belief in time. In ACIM, Jesus says that the world was made as an attack upon God. Why would God send you to a world that was made as an attack upon God? That would be mean! Some people may say, “I didn’t ask to be here.” The answer to that is that everyone who believes they are in time asked to be here.
One True Source
You have only one true Source. As you approach the healing of the mind, you are doing a service to the whole of mankind. Your family of origin may have been a strong focus before, but now your focus “softens” or widens and begins to take on universal proportions. God did not create this world; it is a world of idolatry. We have “idolized” concepts such as romantic love and traditional family values. Don’t worry about the biblical “golden calf.” Far greater idols are concepts like “mom” and “dad.”
Parenting and ACIM
Parenting control issues reflect the ego’s core belief, “I can make myself the way I want to be.” How much responsibility do we have as parents? The Holy Spirit uses parent/child mirroring to help parents with their authority problem. The game of inequality, of superiority and inferiority, is done. We are all equals. But the Self God created is pure Spirit. The body is a substitute for Spirit, and the ego uses pain and pleasure to reinforce this false identity. Use your mind for Spirit, for the miracle. A Course in Miracles shows the way, a specific experiential way to forgive.
Raising Children While Practicing ACIM
Raising children while practicing ACIM can be very powerful! This experience gives you the opportunity to learn from your children. Just because you feel you are in a bigger body with a bigger brain and have read more books does not mean that you are superior. Learn the lesson of perfect equality! Nothing can obscure this perfect equality. Resign from this role of superiority and instead see what is going on in your own mind. Relationships in the world mirror your mind. Children deserve gratitude for mirroring back your belief system. A parent’s darkness and guilt may be acted out by children. If you unconsciously believe in abandonment, you will see scenes of abandonment. Find fearful beliefs in yourself and let them go. As you find inner joy and love, your children will witness to it. Lessen the sense of control. Children are our equals.