"I am the vine; you are the branches. (3 min 27 sec)

He was known for his lush vineyard, which produced the finest grapes in the region. Every morning, Elias would walk through his vineyard, tending to each vine with meticulous care. He knew that the health of the branches depended entirely on their connection to the vine.

One day, a young traveler named Jonah arrived in the village. He was weary from his journey and sought refuge in the shade of Elias's vineyard. As he rested, he observed Elias working diligently among the vines. Intrigued, Jonah approached Elias and asked, "Why do you spend so much time caring for these vines?"

Elias smiled and replied, "These vines are like life itself. They teach us a profound truth. You see, I am the vine, and these branches depend on me for their sustenance. If they remain connected to me, they will bear much fruit. But if they are severed, they wither and die."

Jonah pondered this and asked, "What does it mean to remain connected?"

Elias paused, then said, "It means to abide. To abide is to dwell, to remain steadfast, and to draw life from the source. We are like branches, drawing our spiritual sustenance from a higher power, just as they draw life from the vine. Jonah's curiosity grew. 

"And what is this higher source?"

Elias looked at Jonah with kind eyes and said, "In the teachings of Jesus, He said, 'I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.' This means that our spiritual vitality and ability to produce good in the world come from our connection to Him."

Jonah felt a stirring in his heart. "But how do we abide in Him?"

Elias explained, "To abide in Christ means to recognize our oneness with Him and all creation. It means to live in constant awareness of our true nature as eternal, perfect spiritual beings. Just as the branches draw sustenance from the vine, we draw our strength and peace from our connection to the divine source within us."

Jonah pondered this. "But how do we maintain this awareness?"

"Through forgiveness and letting go of illusions," Elias replied. "ACIM teaches that our perception of separation is the root of all suffering. By forgiving ourselves and others, we release the ego's grip and allow our true self to shine through. This is how we 'prune' away the false beliefs that obscure our divine nature."

He continued, "The Course doesn't speak of sin or commandments, but rather of mistakes and correction. Our task is not to judge or condemn, but to choose love over fear, truth over illusion. By doing so we naturally align with our true purpose and bear the fruit of peace, joy, and love."

#thinkgod
I am sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you.
I love you.