[acimlessons_list] Review VI, Lesson 218 - August 6

[Sue Roth]

Review VI, Lesson 218 - August 6

Central theme:

"I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me."

Review of:

(198) "Only my condemnation injures me."

Practice instructions

See Review VI Practice Instructions.

Commentary

Condemnation does not injure the body. It reminds me of the old childhood
chant, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me."
I am not a body; what I am cannot be hurt by "sticks and stones." Only my
own condemnation, my acceptance of those "names," can hurt me.

Haven't you called yourself names? I know I have. "You idiot!" "You are so
stupid, Watson!" These self-mocking name-callings still, after all these
years, pop into my head and out of my own mouth. They are only surface
symptoms of a much deeper self-condemnation and mistrust of myself that is
at the root of all my problems. Marianne Williamson hits the target when she
says, "The ego is my self-loathing."

And when I realize that every other form of outward-directed
condemnation--anger, prejudice, hatred, resentment, common dislike, even
simple discomfort with someone--are all, every one, projections of my own
self-attack, then I begin to realize just how deep and how far-reaching this
self-condemnation really is. This condemnation injures <me>. I hurl my
spears of attack out at the world, and every one returns to stab me in the
back. "It can be but myself I crucify" (W-pI.216.1:1).

As long as I keep this war against myself going, my eyes are sightless to
see my own glory. I cannot see the Christ in myself because of the dust
storm of self-condemnation, whether it is directed inward or projected
outward on illusions of myself I think are outside of me. It is the constant
stream of judgment that blinds me.

Today, if I only choose to do so, I can see my own glory. All that I need is
to accept Atonement for myself. Tune out the Judgment Channel. Tune in the
Forgiveness Channel. Let me be quiet now, and sense the Love within: the
Love of God for me, His child; my love for Him; my Self's own love for me,
and mine for my Self. And often, today, let me stop and remind myself that
the only thing that <can> injure me is my own condemnation. And I am free to
choose to let that go, assisted by the Holy Spirit, my inner Self, and all
the angels of Heaven.

Whenever I feel a rush of judgment within, wherever it is directed, let me
bring my case to Heaven's Higher Court, and hear the Holy Spirit dismiss the
case against me (see T-5.VI.4, 10).