[acimlessons_list] Lesson 220--August 8

[Allen Watson]

Lesson 220 * August 8

CENTRAL THEME:

"I AM NOT A BODY. I AM FREE. FOR I AM STILL AS GOD CREATED ME."

REVIEW OF:

(200) "THERE IS NO PEACE EXCEPT THE PEACE OF GOD."

PRACTICE INSTRUCTIONS

See instructions in separate document.

COMMENTARY

To see ourselves as bodies is to be in conflict. Peace can be found
only in God. Searching for peace in the realm of the physical is
doomed to failure, because the body is an expression of conflict.

The prayer in this review lesson is about not wandering from "the way
of peace" (1:2). What might that mean? Obviously, it refers to any
unpeaceful state of mind, any thought of antagonism, or anger, or
attack, or hatred. The Course calls us to mental vigilance, watching
our thoughts for anything that opposes peace, and, as soon as such a
thought is detected, bringing it to the presence of the Holy Spirit
for healing. We are told to think along these lines: "This is not
what I want. I want the peace of God." So when we sense our thoughts
moving into conflict mode, we respond. Perhaps we pray, "Let me not
wander from the way of peace" (1:2).

Wandering from the way of peace, however, includes more than overt
attack. The ego can disguise attack very subtly; indeed, the Course
sees even our special love relationships, our false forgiveness, and
our ego's attempts at empathy as veiled attacks. If there is no peace
except God's peace, then to seek for peace in some other way is really
a hidden attachment to attack. If there is only one road to my
destination, and I choose not to follow the road, I am choosing my
destination's opposite. It is really seeking peace through war, which
is impossible. The ego, for instance, often seeks for illusory peace
through force, attempting to physically or mentally overpower the
situation. We cannot find peace by attempting to browbeat the world
into submission. On any such road, we are not moving toward peace; we
are lost.

The way to God's peace is through following the Holy Spirit, "Him Who
leads me home" (1:3). When we try to solve our problems on our own, we
are not following the way to peace:

The ego always tries to preserve conflict. It is very ingenious in
devising ways that seem to diminish conflict, because it does not
want you to find conflict so intolerable that you will insist on
giving it up. (T-7.VIII.2:2-3)

Trying to use our own ingenuity to resolve conflict, then, is another
way we wander from the true road to peace.

When conflict seems to arise today, let me remember my lesson, that
there is no peace except the peace of God. Let me instantly seek
peace, but not in my own way. Let me turn to the Holy Spirit within
and ask His direction.

When you feel the holiness of your relationship is threatened by
anything, stop instantly and offer the Holy Spirit your willingness,
in spite of fear, to let Him exchange this instant for the holy one
you would rather have. He will never fail in this. (T-18.V.6:1-2)




    COMMENTARIES ON LESSONS FROM THE WORKBOOK OF A COURSE IN MIRACLES
    by Allen Watson, with Practice Summaries by Robert Perry
    The Circle of Atonement--Visit our website at <http://www.circleofa.com>

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ Commentary by Allen Watson
+ Practice Summary: Robert Perry
+ Available in book format from The Circle
+ of Atonement (Vol. 1 reprint due soon, write us for info)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ The Workbook Commentaries are Copyright 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003
+ by The Circle of Atonement,
+ P.O. Box 4238,
+ W. Sedona, AZ 86340.
+ All rights reserved.
+
+ Please notify us of any intent to use them beyond the scope of this e-mail
+ list; write to info at circleofa.com.
+
+ WWW: <http://www.circleofa.com/>
+ Email: <info at circleofa.com>
+ Back Issues Lesson Archive: <http://www.circleofa.com/curwkbk.html>
+
Portions from Clarification of Terms (c) Copyright 1975, Psychotherapy:
Purpose, Process and Practice, (c) 1976, The Song of Prayer, (c) 1978, are
used by permission of the copyright holder, The Foundation for "A Course in
Miracles," 41397 Buecking Drive, Temecula, CA 92590.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To unsubscribe, send a message containing only one word: "unsubscribe",
to the appropriate address:

ACIMWKBK-LIST: acimwkbk_list-request at circleofa.com
ACIMLESSONS_LIST: acimlessons_list-request at circleofa.com

For additional information about unsubscribing, subscribing, and changing
settings for your subscription, send an e-mail message containing only the
Word "help" to either of the above two addresses, or visit the list websites
at http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/acimlessons_list or for
acimwkbk_list, use http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/acimwkbk_list
_______________________________________________
Tell your friends to subscribe. They can simply send an e-mail message to
either of the above addresses with one line in the message body:

    subscribe
_______________________________________________

Visit the new Circle of Atonement web site: <http://www.circleofa.com>

Support the Workbook commentaries! Make a donation to the Circle:
<https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=info%40circleofa.com&item_name=donat
ion+to+support+Workbook+commentaries&image_url=http%3A//www.circleofa.com/im
ages/main_title.gif&return=http%3A//www.circleofa.com&cancel_return=http%3A/
/www.circleofa.com&cn=Note+to+the+Circle&tax=0&currency_code=USD>

(If clicking the above link does not work, try copying it and pasting it
into the address field of your web browser, and clicking on "Go".)
_______________________________________________


-- 
<allenwatson at earthlink.net>
Scripts for OE and Entourage:
<http://homepage.mac.com/allen_a_watson/AppleScripts_For_You>
Entourage questions: <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>