[acimlessons_list] Review II, Lesson 86 - March 27

[Sue Roth]

Review II, Lesson 86 - March 27

"Only God's plan for salvation will work."

"Holding grievances is an attack on God's plan for salvation."

PRACTICE SUMMARY 

Longer: 2 times (once for each of the ideas), for about 15 minutes

* For 3 or 4 minutes, slowly read over the idea and comments (repeatedly if
you wish) and think about them. 
* Close your eyes and spend the remainder listening for the message the Holy
Spirit has for you. We can see this time of listening as having the
following components:

1. Listen "quietly but attentively" (3:1) listen in stillness and with all
your attention.

2. Hold an attitude of confidence ("this message belongs to me"), desire ("I
want this message"), and determination ("I'm determined to succeed").

3. Listening for ten minutes can easily be one big invitation to mind
wandering, and so the majority of instruction for this exercise deals with
this issue. For out-of-control mind wandering, go back and repeat the first
phase. For more minor wandering, realize the distracting thoughts have no
power and that your will has all the power, and then replace the thoughts
with your will to succeed. Do so with firmness. "Do not allow your intent to
waver" (4:1). "Refuse to be sidetracked" (5:2).

This is not mentioned in the instructions, but you may find it helpful to
actually ask for the message, at the beginning and then periodically
throughout. You may say, for instance, "What is Your message for me today?"
You may even want to use this request as the specific vehicle for dispelling
wandering thoughts.

REMARKS: Regard these exercises as dedication to God. Refuse to be
distracted. Be determined to assume your function today.

SHORTER: Frequent

First half of day: "Only God's plan for salvation will work." 

Second half of day: "Holding grievances is an attack on God's plan for
salvation."

Response to temptation: whenever you are tempted to be upset Repeat some
variation on the idea, modified to apply to this particular upset.  *	You
may use one of the three "specific forms" suggested after each lesson.
Notice how they are directed at a specific upset. Virtually every one is
aimed at an upsetting "this" or an upsetting "name." *	Or you may generate
one of your own specific forms, by using a variation on the practice of
letting related thoughts come. Simply lean back and let your mind come up
with a sentence that applies the essence of the idea to your current upset.
For examples, see the specific forms suggested after each lesson.

COMMENTARY

I find it really interesting the way the lessons seem to alternate between
seeing grievances, and where we see salvation. I'm beginning to get the
idea, I think: When my ego wants to keep me from finding God's salvation
within my own Self, it distracts me with some kind of grievance outside
myself. Seeing the cause of my distress outside, I naturally look for the
solution outside. I seek salvation outside myself.

It's never what is outside that is the problem. "Those whom you see as
guilty become the witnesses to guilt in you, and you will see it there, for
it <is> there until it is undone. Guilt is always in your mind, which has
condemned itself. Project it not, for while you do, it cannot be undone"
(T-13.IX.6:6-8). What we are seeing out there, the object of our grievances,
is only the projection of self-condemnation. We may change the name of the
sin to protect the guilty (ourselves), but it is our sin we are seeing out
there in the world. That is why seeing grievances <outside> keeps us from
finding salvation <inside>.

As the review says, we have sought salvation in many different places and
things, and it was never where we looked for it (1:3). We can't find it out
there because it isn't out there, anywhere. There is no hope for salvation
in the world--and that is <good> news. It's good news because we no longer
have to depend on someone or something outside of ourselves to play its
proper role, to arrive at the right time to meet our needs, or to do
anything. We can let go of expecting someone else to save us, and we can
turn to the only place and thing we can absolutely depend on: ourselves, our
real Self. We can let everyone else off the hook we've been holding them on
for our entire lives. We can tell the world, "You are freed from being
responsible for me. I no longer hold you accountable for my unhappiness.
I've realized that is my own job, not yours."

I remember how odd I felt, but how happy, to tell my dear friend Lynne,
years ago, "I've realized that I don't need you." She was delighted, being
far wiser than I was at the time. I was afraid she would be insulted; how
"unromantic" a thing to say to a partner in love! "I don't need you." She
understood exactly what I meant, though. I was telling her that she was no
longer expected to make me happy; she was no longer saddled with the
unbearable burden of my happiness. Thinking that our love partner is
responsible for our happiness is exactly what makes special relationships
into hell, because when I am not happy, I have a grievance, just like in a
labor union: "Hey! You're not living up to your part of the bargain. You're
supposed to make me happy." And the grievance against our partner keeps us
from seeing the salvation in our own hearts.

I've always liked the last line in today's lesson: "This calls for
salvation, not attack" (4:4). It reminds me of the old line in the ancient
Superman TV series (the one with George Reeves--guess I'm really dating
myself here!). Clark Kent looks at some crime or disaster in progress, and
says, "This is a job for...[in a totally different, 'super-sounding' voice]
Superman!" Instead of looking at the events in our lives and thinking, "This
is a job for the ego. Let's attack! Let's form and hold a grievance!", we
can look at the situation and say, "This is a job for God! Let's forgive!
Let's respond with love to the call for love." When some need arises around
me, which power will I call on: God, or the ego?

The choice is "between misperception and salvation" (4:2). The only
alternative to salvation is something unreal, an illusion, a misperception.
The only way I can avoid being happy is to misperceive my brother; if I see
him or her truly, I will always find salvation. "By holding grievances, I am
therefore excluding my only hope of salvation from my awareness" (3:4). What
a silly thing to do! I think I'll stop!

"I would accept God's plan for salvation and be happy" (3:6).

PRACTICE SUMMARY

LONGER:1 time (or 2) for about 15 minutes

* For 3 or 4 minutes, read over the ideas and comments slowly (repeatedly if
you wish) and think about them.

* Close your eyes and spend the remainder of the time listening quietly and
attentively. There is a message for you. Be confident you will receive it,
for it belongs to you and you want it. If you have distracting thoughts
realize they have no meaning or power. Replace them with your will to
succeed. Trust it to carry you past distractions. If your mind still
wanders, repeat first phase of exercise.

REMARKS: Regard these exercises as dedication to God. Refuse to be
distracted. Be determined to assume your function today.

SHORTER: Frequent

First half of day: "Only God's plan for salvation will work."

Second half of day: "Holding grievances is an attack on God's plan for
salvation."

RESPONSE TO TEMPTATION: You may use these specific forms or your own words:

First half of day: "God's plan for salvation will save me from my perception
of this." "This is no exception in God's plan for my salvation." "Let me
perceive this only in the light of God's plan for salvation."

Second half of the day: "I am choosing between misperception and salvation
as I look on this." "If I see grounds for grievances in this, I will not see
the grounds for my salvation." "This calls for salvation, not attack."