ACIM Workbook Lesson 19 – for Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Affirmation: “I am not alone in experiencing the effects of my thoughts.”
Selected Passage:
“Today we are again emphasizing the fact that minds are joined. This is rarely a wholly welcome idea at first, since it seems to carry with it an enormous sense of responsibility, and may even be regarded as an ‘invasion of privacy.’ Yet it is a fact that there are no private thoughts. (WB30)”
Reflections:
Today’s lesson is, with minor exceptions, a concept that was introduced in the lesson for yesterday. The added fact of “responsibility” is the new contribution. We may be prone to become fearful when we realize that our thoughts have such power. But Jesus assures us elsewhere that indeed our minds are very creative, that our minds never sleep. He says that he knows that we do not believe this now, and the real reason is that we do not want to believe that our minds are that powerful. This ACIM tenet appears to be based on the fact, Jesus says, that we do not want to believe that our minds are that powerful, because we are actually afraid of our thoughts. But the mind is not impotent, and to hold our respect, it cannot be.
We are encouraged to watch our thoughts, not to fall into mind wandering. All thoughts make form at some level, a concept that may be incomprehensible to us in our present state. But if we realize that we are caught in a dream, we can understand more. Our nighttime dreams are not accorded truth upon awakening, just as our daytime dreams will not be accorded truth when we Awaken.
We will be closer to Home when we do not feel the need to keep things “private.” Not that we will share all with just anybody, but we will not be afraid that a genuine disclosure will wreck havoc. Certainly we will not choose to say things that are hurtful, because we wish to retain our peace of mind, and to encourage peace of mind in our brothers and sisters.
Prayer:
Dear Father/Mother,
May I understand today that my thoughts are not private, that what I think does affect other people, and that, on some level, they know what I am thinking. This does disturb me when I am thinking attack thoughts. But You know that I choose not to entertain either anger or attack, and I would ask You to help me stay with this standard today.
Please be with me as my ego attempts to “make” problems where there are none. When my thoughts are loving, there will seem to be no problems, because I take everything that disturbs me to the Holy Spirit, and He resolves the issue for me. Thank You for the blessing of the Holy Spirit, the Universal Inspiration.
Amen.
