Of course I love ACIM (or I wouldn't be on your site!), and I appreciate that William Blake wrote - to "learn to bear the beams of love."
Have had an interesting shift in turning fear into calm loving: I have a neighbor around the corner who has decorated his rented house with many Trump flags, such as Don't Tread On Me, and Trump 2024, and something about Brandon, and accompanying signs. I took photos of his pickup truck with its license plate and contemplated sending it to the FBI. I would bet he was a part of Jan. 6th. I think he goes off to join his buddies for training. His vehicle is away from time to time and away during that Jan. 6th time. Seriously attending to inner FORGIVENESS work, seems to have caused a shift that I now feel compassion for him, and no longer that adversarial fear! After about 4 years I saw him face to face while driving past, and realized I felt this kind of sadness for him.
This shift was nothing I intended or prayed about. It just happened. Good to share this on your site!
Thank you for this lesson today. It pairs nicely with with today’s ACIM lesson 121 Forgiveness is The Key To Happiness.
The lesson tells us
“The unforgiving mind is in despair, without the prospect of a future which can offer anything but more despair. Yet it regards its judgment of the world as irreversible, and does not see it has condemned itself to this despair. It thinks it cannot change, for what it sees bears witness that its judgment is correct. It does not ask, because it thinks it knows. It does not question, certain it is right.” (W - 121 p5).
The lesson then guides us on how to forgive the person we perceive as our enemy.
“Begin the longer practice periods by thinking of someone you do not like, who seems to irritate you, or to cause regret in you if you should meet him; one you actively despise, or merely try to overlook. It does not matter what the form your anger takes. You probably have chosen him already. He will do. Now close your eyes and see him in your mind, and look at him a while. Try to perceive some light in him somewhere; a little gleam which you had never noticed. Try to find some little spark of brightness shining through the ugly picture that you hold of him. Look at this picture till you see a light somewhere within it, and then try to let this light extend until it covers him, and makes the picture beautiful and good. Look at this changed perception for a while, and turn your mind to one you call a friend. Try to transfer the light you learned to see around your former “enemy” to him. Perceive him now as more than friend to you, for in that light his holiness shows you your savior, saved and saving, healed and whole.“ ((W - 121 p11)
Recognizing you are one with your brother, and learning to forgive yourself for using them to attack yourself is many times easier said than done. But with Holy Spirt’s guidance miracles happen.
My daughter was molested in 1996 when she was not quite six and about a year later I found the CIM. I was able to forgive everyone but him. In reality it was myself that I had to forgive. He too was a child of God and all these years later I remind myself of that when I think of her and the psychological damage he has done. Hating him was keeping me a victim. It was hurting me to not let go. The silver lining is that my prayers led me to the Course and I was able to move on. Thank you for all you do Sean.
Of course I love ACIM (or I wouldn't be on your site!), and I appreciate that William Blake wrote - to "learn to bear the beams of love."
Have had an interesting shift in turning fear into calm loving: I have a neighbor around the corner who has decorated his rented house with many Trump flags, such as Don't Tread On Me, and Trump 2024, and something about Brandon, and accompanying signs. I took photos of his pickup truck with its license plate and contemplated sending it to the FBI. I would bet he was a part of Jan. 6th. I think he goes off to join his buddies for training. His vehicle is away from time to time and away during that Jan. 6th time. Seriously attending to inner FORGIVENESS work, seems to have caused a shift that I now feel compassion for him, and no longer that adversarial fear! After about 4 years I saw him face to face while driving past, and realized I felt this kind of sadness for him.
This shift was nothing I intended or prayed about. It just happened. Good to share this on your site!
Thank you for this lesson today. It pairs nicely with with today’s ACIM lesson 121 Forgiveness is The Key To Happiness.
The lesson tells us
“The unforgiving mind is in despair, without the prospect of a future which can offer anything but more despair. Yet it regards its judgment of the world as irreversible, and does not see it has condemned itself to this despair. It thinks it cannot change, for what it sees bears witness that its judgment is correct. It does not ask, because it thinks it knows. It does not question, certain it is right.” (W - 121 p5).
The lesson then guides us on how to forgive the person we perceive as our enemy.
“Begin the longer practice periods by thinking of someone you do not like, who seems to irritate you, or to cause regret in you if you should meet him; one you actively despise, or merely try to overlook. It does not matter what the form your anger takes. You probably have chosen him already. He will do. Now close your eyes and see him in your mind, and look at him a while. Try to perceive some light in him somewhere; a little gleam which you had never noticed. Try to find some little spark of brightness shining through the ugly picture that you hold of him. Look at this picture till you see a light somewhere within it, and then try to let this light extend until it covers him, and makes the picture beautiful and good. Look at this changed perception for a while, and turn your mind to one you call a friend. Try to transfer the light you learned to see around your former “enemy” to him. Perceive him now as more than friend to you, for in that light his holiness shows you your savior, saved and saving, healed and whole.“ ((W - 121 p11)
Recognizing you are one with your brother, and learning to forgive yourself for using them to attack yourself is many times easier said than done. But with Holy Spirt’s guidance miracles happen.
Thank you for being the teacher you are.
Rest in Peace today, Brother,
Rob
Thank you for reminding me that it is Christ that can love the scary people in my world, not the physical/ego me.
Suddenly it seems possible to do, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
My daughter was molested in 1996 when she was not quite six and about a year later I found the CIM. I was able to forgive everyone but him. In reality it was myself that I had to forgive. He too was a child of God and all these years later I remind myself of that when I think of her and the psychological damage he has done. Hating him was keeping me a victim. It was hurting me to not let go. The silver lining is that my prayers led me to the Course and I was able to move on. Thank you for all you do Sean.
Powerful share Sean and this excerpt says it all:
"How do you love a Nazi?
You don't. Christ does.
And the Holy Spirit teaches you how to remember that you are Christ"
The paragraph from chapter seven is the icing on the cake. Thank you ☘️💚
Thank you. As always. your words come at the right time.
Dear Sean,
Thank you for your wisdom.
As I go about my day I choose to see the Christ in everyone🥀
I will step back and let Him lead the way 🙏
Love & Light
Roberta 😊