“God’s teachers’ major lesson is to learn how to react to magic thoughts wholly without anger. Only in this way can they proclaim the truth about themselves. (M-18.2)”
Affirmation: “no anger today”
Reflections:
1 – An Interpretation that Is Not True
When one of our significant others says something that angers us, we can be sure that we have made an interpretation that is not true (based on ACIM). If we feel that the statement is patently false, we may feel anger surging upward. And we may react badly. Is this how we would represent God’s Way to the individuals in our lives?
2 – Egoic Tantrums
If the thought stated by another is magical in thinking, then we especially need to be conscious to not responding with anger. We will make the statement true for both of us. We will lose ourselves in an egoic tantrum. And it is not this that we would do.
3 – Major Lesson
The passage for today indicates that we have these ideas as a “major lesson”: God’s teachers’ major lesson is to learn how to react to magic thoughts wholly without anger.” This is a strong statement from Jesus. How much better can we witness for God if we do not fly off the handle so often and so easily? Yes, there is a major lesson here for us.
4 – How to Handle Anger
I have found that leaving the room, if our significant others react angrily to us, is an effective way not to verbally attack in response. I have not found that “counting to ten” works very well. There are always things that are on the tip of the tongue, ready to be said. But a moment of quiet in another room is effective. I welcome your comments to this posting, giving your ideas for avoiding verbal (or physical) attack when anger appears in our environment.
Prayer:
Dear Father/Mother,
I would choose to react in a lovely fashion when something seems to set me off. You would have it thus. Of this I am sure. Help me to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, the encouragement not to lose my cool.
We need to think carefully about ways to react when we are struck by anger. Attacking verbally, and certainly physically, are not good ideas. We will alienate those closest to us, the ones with whom we have the holiest of relationships.
Be with us today as we walk through the day. Help me to consider how to respond if I am provoked, and may that response be as gentle as You would wish, and that would be very gentle indeed.
Amen
MIRACLES EACH DAY 