ACIM Workbook Lesson 35 – for Friday, February 4, 2011
Affirmation: “My mind is part of God’s. I am very holy.”
Selected Passage:
“You will believe that you are part of where you think you are. That is because you surround yourself with the environment you want. And you want it to protect the image of yourself that you have made. The image is part of this environment. What you see while you believe you are in it is seen through the eyes of the image. This is not vision. Images cannot see. (WB53)”
Reflections:
This lesson gets into some of the metaphysical tenets of the Course. Its basis is still the oft-repeated “projection makes perception.” The “image” of ourselves is actually another word for a persona (an interpretation, not stated in ACIM). We make personae up for ourselves and everyone in our world. That does not mean that these personas are correct. Certainly if they are informed by the ego, the personae are not correct.
We need to turn to guidance through the Holy Spirit to determine how to see ourselves and our brothers and sisters.
Another facet of this passage is that we surround ourselves with the environment that we want–even when we are distressed and overwrought by that environment (and perhaps especially when this is the case). The ego loves strife (a Text tenet), and it will act to keep our environment (this world) in turmoil. Our personal worlds will be in turmoil, and the larger world as well.
We must do what we can to bring peace to this world–whether it is the small world in which we reside, or the larger world where there are so many tragedies. Let us pray today to have the foresight to walk away from turmoil, once we have done all that we can to bring peace to it. May we walk in peace.
Prayer:
Dear Father/Mother,
I have an image of myself that I want to be true; it is my persona. But ACIM says that images cannot see, that they are part of the environment and that they are made up.
Help me to realize that my image is informed by my ego, which I would be done with, once and for all. An ego is not necessary to function in this world. I would, instead, follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit and assume the Self that He would have me be.
Amen.
MIRACLES EACH DAY 