Do Not Defend Yourself!

ACIM Workbook Lesson 148 – for Saturday, May 28, 2011

Affirmation:  “My mind holds only what I think with God.”

Selected Passage:

“If I defend myself I am attacked.
“Sickness is a defense against the truth.  (WB276)”

Reflections:

We often think that if we do not defend ourselves, we will be treated even more badly.  But this is not the way of A Course in Miracles.  ACIM would have us to drop defense entirely as a bad idea.   As the passage says, defense does what it attempts to stop.  If we defend ourselves, we are actually attacking ourselves.

What do we do instead?  We realize that all attack and anger is either an expression of love or a call for love.  We rush to our brother or sister’s side with the love for which he/she is calling.  If this individual is not receptive at the moment, then we withdraw, and we wait to give our gifts.  A non-receptive individual will come around sooner if left to his/her own devices.  It never helps to get angry in return or to attack back.

Our sicknesses are self-chosen, though usually not on a conscious level.  We would close our eyes to the truth, and retreat into feverish dreams, afraid to let the Light in.  This will never work.  When we are sick, we need to ask very sincerely, in a quiet moment, for what our body is trying to tell us.  Maybe we are pushing too hard, and we choose sickness to get out of some of the stress.  Or maybe the stress itself is what brought on the sickness.  If stress is the issue, we need to spend time in quiet reflection with God about how we ought to bring our bodies back into peace and quiet.  I cannot say enough about spending some time in quiet with God each day, morning and evening.  This is a basic Manual technique for keeping our lives on track.

Prayer:

Dear Mother/Father,

May I honor my commitment not to defend myself when circumstances come about that seem to warrant defense.  I know that the defense is actually ineffectual and makes the situation worse.  May I not respond to blame with defense–ever.

This day I long for Your presence, felt by me throughout the day.  Days that are like this are the jewels in my lifetime.  May today be such a day.

Amen.