I realized a few days ago that I apologize to others easily, but then I became aware that I only say I am sorry "to look good, to be the bigger person". The truth is I would walk away after apologizing and still think I was right in my thoughts, nothing ever healed. Yesterday when I apologized to someone surprising words followed "I am wrong". I am sorry meant nothing to the other person, but the simple words I am wrong did. The other person's immediate on guard stance changed and they said "I forgive you". In that moment I changed too, I softened and for the first time in an apology felt healed myself, there was no mind chatter later on the situation. It was clean, there is such freedom it truly seeing that I am wrong and admitting it, letting go of the personal . Thank you Sean, as always you are inspiring. 🙏
You're welcome, Glenda, and thank you for sharing. I love that layer of insight - not the apology but seeing underneath it the ego running the same old con. That is what healing is I think! When we penetrate the illusion of our specialness, our goodness, our "better than" and just give up - so much depends on getting out of our own way . . . thank you for being here, Glenda. I am really grateful for your presence 🙏🙏
An interesting article, Sean. It reminded me of the course quote, “Through Him you learn how to forgive the self you think you made, and let it disappear.” (ACIM W-pI.121.6:4) Giving up the human self to remember the Divine Self. Power and transformation to you, Sean! ❤️
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Jesus & the cross. Really made me think about the fear I have had since childhood about this. It’s time to release so much I have held on to, including my spiritualized ego. So appreciate your honesty!
Thanks Sandra, and you're welcome. Facing crucifixion is on so many levels a deeply healing experience - but yes, scary and difficult. I'm grateful that I can do so with folks like you who are so open-minded and willing to let me stumble my way to clarity :)
Thanks, Jack. I hope all is well - it's good to hear from you 🙏🙏
Yes - if we don't pass through crucifixion to resurrection then we have failed to fully appreciate the cross. It's not the end - it's the beginning. I think that's absolutely true. For me, resurrection lands more helpfully and clearly when I make sure I'm not overlooking the cross - when I'm not overlooking the work it calls forth in me. But if we never move on, if we just stay there - suffering, mourning, nailing, whatever - then we missed the point.
The honesty of this is very moving. I appreciate having a glimpse of your very personal relationship with Jesus, how you have experienced the relationship and what the relationship ultimately does/undoes—ruin, despair, fear—you’re right, it’s not non-trivial—but also gentleness, forgiveness and laughter. I feel all of this in your words and the question of what it means to be in relationship way more significantly than I can describe it. I’ve been willing to be ruined for lesser things. Thank you for sharing so openly.🌸
I've been reflecting a lot lately on the role Jesus plays in my life - I've struggled with God, Justice, Truth, Love, Spirit - all of that. But Jesus has been oddly consistent, a healing presence always pointing to some next step or salve. I'm reading Abhishiktananda closely again (the French monk who moved to India and spent twenty-five years or so struggling with the intersection of Hinduism and Catholicism) and it is really helping me contextualize Jesus. And the contextualization is exhilarating.
Giving attention to context - I need to reflect on that more.
Thanks for the insights this morning Sean,I appreciate your description of my struggle brother. At the beginning of my walk I was reaching only for the Spirit and for Creator God, while ignoring Christ and his helpful example of cross and corpus….I guess from rebelling against my upbringing in his church, and out of fear and lack of understanding of the symbology around the cross you so aptly described. ACIM has given me a more complete framework in which to put my existence in this world—Praise God for that! But the process continues, especially recently with recognizing my role has shifted to being more of a caregiver for my wife as we both approach our 70’s. God gives us the opportunities we need to kick this ego thing in the *** whether we like it or not. I have to keep reminding myself to step through that conditioned need for specialness, to detach, to just do the work in front of me with joy and gratitude.
Thank you Carl . . . I appreciate that. And I hear you . . . the cross and the body on it has been in my life since before I could speak. It goes with me and it seems like every now and then it just surfaces in a way that asks me to look deeply again. It is a process! One that I think doesn't end but just carries us along through all these iterations . . . Thank you for the phrase "step through that conditioned need for specialness" - I really like that, on many levels.
And I hope your wife is well. Thank you again for being here and sharing 🙏🙏
"When things can no longer be faulty, it is as if there are no things. When the mind can be no longer disturbed, it is as if there is no mind. When thought-objects vanish, the thinking vanishes. When the mind vanishes, objects vanish." Third Chinese Patriach
Thank you Sean for sharing your thoughts so generously and honestly. This beautiful piece again (it’s a treat to read😊) is telling me all that I am going through in my mind but don’t know how to describe. Your description brings immense amount of clarity and relief! Also being shown that we are not alone in this process is a wonderful help. Thank you 🙏 🙏
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by Faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
When Jesus speaks in the first person in ACIM it is very moving and profound. Last week, while studying "The Gift of Lillies" in the text, I felt his love work within me to forgive a sister with whom I was "annoyed". It totally obliterated my ego in that moment and I had no choice but to love. I think it was a miracle. May I also add that I laughed at your Boston traffic comments! My travels from CT to Logan did not include "sometimes there were traffic jams and detours" - it was ALWAYS! I remember them now with fondness as I love Boston. Thank you Sean.
You're welcome, Susan . . . thanks for being here. I appreciate you 🙏🙏
Yeah, Boston is a great city. It sort of stands in for awakening for me - when I was growing up in rural Massachusetts, Boston was the whole world to me. I never drive into it anymore - always take a train or bus.
Jesus in ACIM is complex for me though Jesus generally is not. But there are sections of the course that are perfect and I feel his presence - or the presence of the spirit that we share with him - with great clarity and calm.
Thanks again for being here - I'll say hi to Boston next time I'm passing through it :)
I realized a few days ago that I apologize to others easily, but then I became aware that I only say I am sorry "to look good, to be the bigger person". The truth is I would walk away after apologizing and still think I was right in my thoughts, nothing ever healed. Yesterday when I apologized to someone surprising words followed "I am wrong". I am sorry meant nothing to the other person, but the simple words I am wrong did. The other person's immediate on guard stance changed and they said "I forgive you". In that moment I changed too, I softened and for the first time in an apology felt healed myself, there was no mind chatter later on the situation. It was clean, there is such freedom it truly seeing that I am wrong and admitting it, letting go of the personal . Thank you Sean, as always you are inspiring. 🙏
You're welcome, Glenda, and thank you for sharing. I love that layer of insight - not the apology but seeing underneath it the ego running the same old con. That is what healing is I think! When we penetrate the illusion of our specialness, our goodness, our "better than" and just give up - so much depends on getting out of our own way . . . thank you for being here, Glenda. I am really grateful for your presence 🙏🙏
~ Sean
An interesting article, Sean. It reminded me of the course quote, “Through Him you learn how to forgive the self you think you made, and let it disappear.” (ACIM W-pI.121.6:4) Giving up the human self to remember the Divine Self. Power and transformation to you, Sean! ❤️
🙏🙏
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Jesus & the cross. Really made me think about the fear I have had since childhood about this. It’s time to release so much I have held on to, including my spiritualized ego. So appreciate your honesty!
Thanks Sandra, and you're welcome. Facing crucifixion is on so many levels a deeply healing experience - but yes, scary and difficult. I'm grateful that I can do so with folks like you who are so open-minded and willing to let me stumble my way to clarity :)
Thanks again 🙏🙏
~ Sean
Sean
A lot to think about. Since we’re in a dream and Jesus was also isn’t the resurrection the message of the cucifiction?
Thanks for sharing.
Jack T ❤️🙏
Thanks, Jack. I hope all is well - it's good to hear from you 🙏🙏
Yes - if we don't pass through crucifixion to resurrection then we have failed to fully appreciate the cross. It's not the end - it's the beginning. I think that's absolutely true. For me, resurrection lands more helpfully and clearly when I make sure I'm not overlooking the cross - when I'm not overlooking the work it calls forth in me. But if we never move on, if we just stay there - suffering, mourning, nailing, whatever - then we missed the point.
But we can always choose again to learn it :)
Love,
Sean
The honesty of this is very moving. I appreciate having a glimpse of your very personal relationship with Jesus, how you have experienced the relationship and what the relationship ultimately does/undoes—ruin, despair, fear—you’re right, it’s not non-trivial—but also gentleness, forgiveness and laughter. I feel all of this in your words and the question of what it means to be in relationship way more significantly than I can describe it. I’ve been willing to be ruined for lesser things. Thank you for sharing so openly.🌸
You're welcome, Kimberley. Thanks for being here.
I've been reflecting a lot lately on the role Jesus plays in my life - I've struggled with God, Justice, Truth, Love, Spirit - all of that. But Jesus has been oddly consistent, a healing presence always pointing to some next step or salve. I'm reading Abhishiktananda closely again (the French monk who moved to India and spent twenty-five years or so struggling with the intersection of Hinduism and Catholicism) and it is really helping me contextualize Jesus. And the contextualization is exhilarating.
Giving attention to context - I need to reflect on that more.
Thanks again for being here, Kimberley 🙏🙏
~ Sean
A simple thank you!
🙏🙏
Thanks for the insights this morning Sean,I appreciate your description of my struggle brother. At the beginning of my walk I was reaching only for the Spirit and for Creator God, while ignoring Christ and his helpful example of cross and corpus….I guess from rebelling against my upbringing in his church, and out of fear and lack of understanding of the symbology around the cross you so aptly described. ACIM has given me a more complete framework in which to put my existence in this world—Praise God for that! But the process continues, especially recently with recognizing my role has shifted to being more of a caregiver for my wife as we both approach our 70’s. God gives us the opportunities we need to kick this ego thing in the *** whether we like it or not. I have to keep reminding myself to step through that conditioned need for specialness, to detach, to just do the work in front of me with joy and gratitude.
Thank you Carl . . . I appreciate that. And I hear you . . . the cross and the body on it has been in my life since before I could speak. It goes with me and it seems like every now and then it just surfaces in a way that asks me to look deeply again. It is a process! One that I think doesn't end but just carries us along through all these iterations . . . Thank you for the phrase "step through that conditioned need for specialness" - I really like that, on many levels.
And I hope your wife is well. Thank you again for being here and sharing 🙏🙏
~ Sean
"When things can no longer be faulty, it is as if there are no things. When the mind can be no longer disturbed, it is as if there is no mind. When thought-objects vanish, the thinking vanishes. When the mind vanishes, objects vanish." Third Chinese Patriach
I love this! Thank you Michelle 🙏🙏
~ Sean
Thanks Sean
Thank you Sean for sharing your thoughts so generously and honestly. This beautiful piece again (it’s a treat to read😊) is telling me all that I am going through in my mind but don’t know how to describe. Your description brings immense amount of clarity and relief! Also being shown that we are not alone in this process is a wonderful help. Thank you 🙏 🙏
You're welcome, Aysin - thanks for being here and sharing. I'm very grateful 🙏 🙏
~ Sean
Bravo, Sean. Thank you for your interpretation of the material. It really makes me see things differently when needed.
🙏🙏 - thanks for being here, Kim.
~ Sean
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by Faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
🙏🙏
Sean, thank you for this one..it really spoke to me and humbled me this morning. ❤️
You're welcome - thank you for being here and sharing 🙏🙏
~ Sean
Yes, this is how we begin.
Deborah
🙏🙏
When Jesus speaks in the first person in ACIM it is very moving and profound. Last week, while studying "The Gift of Lillies" in the text, I felt his love work within me to forgive a sister with whom I was "annoyed". It totally obliterated my ego in that moment and I had no choice but to love. I think it was a miracle. May I also add that I laughed at your Boston traffic comments! My travels from CT to Logan did not include "sometimes there were traffic jams and detours" - it was ALWAYS! I remember them now with fondness as I love Boston. Thank you Sean.
You're welcome, Susan . . . thanks for being here. I appreciate you 🙏🙏
Yeah, Boston is a great city. It sort of stands in for awakening for me - when I was growing up in rural Massachusetts, Boston was the whole world to me. I never drive into it anymore - always take a train or bus.
Jesus in ACIM is complex for me though Jesus generally is not. But there are sections of the course that are perfect and I feel his presence - or the presence of the spirit that we share with him - with great clarity and calm.
Thanks again for being here - I'll say hi to Boston next time I'm passing through it :)
~ Sean