I see only the past.

According to ACIM, the idea for this Lesson underpins all the preceding ones.

For example: I enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning. But how can I know this to be true except by my past experience of drinking coffee in the morning?

I know what it’s like to drink from a cup, the potential of the cup to break if I drop it, the temperature of the cup, roughly how long it takes the coffee to cool down and the taste of the coffee with or without milk or cream all from my past experiences of drinking coffee.

So, I am drinking coffee in the present based on my past experiences of doing so.

To that end, I will say:

“I see only the past in this cup of coffee. I love you, I’m sorry, Please Forgive Me, Thank You.”

And similarly:

I see only the past in this pen. I love you, I’m sorry, Please Forgive Me, Thank You.

I see only the past in this hand. I love you, I’m sorry, Please Forgive Me, Thank You.

… and so on!

In Lesson 4 I was reminded that my mind doesn’t really have a clue what’s going on. And while past experience can be useful it can also work against me. I have no idea if my past experiences are the best version of events, or still relevant, or even true.

Best to keep cleaning!

I love you, I’m sorry, Please Forgive Me, Thank You.