ACIM Workbook Lesson 119 – for Friday, April 29, 2011
Affirmation: “Truth will correct all errors in my mind.”
Selected Passage:
“I am mistaken when I think I can be hurt in any way. I am God’s Son, whose Self rests safely in the Mind of God. (WB212)”
Affirmation: “To give and to receive are one in truth.”
Selected Passage:
“I will forgive all things today, that I may learn how to accept the truth in me, and come to recognize my sinlessness. (WB212)”
Reflections:
We cannot be hurt. This does sound like an extreme statement, but the Self of which we speak is not the little self that lives in this world (an interpretation, not stated in ACIM). Our real Selves have not been hurt in any way. We do a disservice to our brothers and sisters when we imagine that they have hurt us. They get through to us in what seems like hurt only when we allow it. There is nothing that comes our way that some aspect of our Self has not chosen. This does not mean that we blame the victim, though. The little self of this world did not allow this hurt; it was allowed by the Self of which Jesus speaks (an interpretation, not stated in ACIM).
Even when we imagine that we have been hurt, we are called upon to forgive (pardon). All except the real things of this world are illusions. The real things include love, peace, joy, happiness, well-being, safety. These are intangibles, and the physical world is an illusion (a Text tenet). Aside from physicality, we can forgive much, because we know that we have not been hurt. The real test comes when we know physical pain or mental anguish. We are not meant to stay in abusive situations, of course. Let us be practical, which ACIM intends to be. But we do know that it is easiest to love when our intangibles of love are uppermost in our minds. And the abstract nature of ACIM would lead us to this conclusion naturally.
We have not “sinned,” but we have made mistakes. (Note: See the posting, “No ‘Sins’ – Just Mistakes.”) These mistakes lead us to correction, in contrast to sin, which can remain attracting (an ACIM tenet). Let us ask today that our mistakes be corrected. If there is anything that we need to do to make things right with God, ourselves, or our brothers and sisters, may we do so today. Life will never look better when we have forgiven these illusions (maya).
Prayer:
Dear Father/Mother,
May I rest safely in Your arms today. May I feel inwardly, in my depths, that I am always safe. You take care of me, and even when things look bad, I know that You are somewhere in the situation, helping me to choose again.
Be with me today as I go about my varied activities. Thank You for always being with me.
Amen.
