My condemnation injures me! Really?

Realizing that the condemnation I might heap on another can injure myself is hard to believe but let’s investigate it further.

If I hold a grievance against someone for something they did or didn’t do and I avoid that person, crossing the street, or going to the other end of the store to avoid them means I am not free. I am in a pain of sorts but I don’t want to recognize it. As long as I see someone as ________ (fill in the blank) my mind is locked and a locked (blocked) mind is suffering even though it may not realize it.

When I condemn someone I am the prisoner. I am the prisoner of my own hate (judgment). I am projecting _______on someone rather than recognizing it in myself. It is called projection. I am projecting ______ onto someone else, usually something distasteful; not recognizing it is within me as well. I am in denial but I “feel better” since I am getting rid of ______ by projecting it outside of myself. They are guilty – NOT ME!

Since I began the spiritual practice of A Course In Miracles, my goal for peace is to see no one as separate from myself and to exclude no one from my love.

Except for_______! What about her? I have to be truthful with myself and acknowledge the condemnation I have placed on her if I want to choose peace and awaken from the dream the Course says we are in. She must be my enemy if I condemn her. Do I want to give up the condemnation in order to have peace?

Yes I do when I finally recognize what I have been doing. I stop condemning another and realize I am injuring myself by not forgiving and awakening from the ego’s dream.

Crossing the street to avoid someone is a wakeup call. It is a call to stop the condemnation to recognize it is time to change my mind about this “enemy” I have not wanted to recognize. We look at the problem with our elder brother Jesus and while holding his or the Holy Spirit’s hand we see the projection and do not accept guilt in its place. Then we laugh!

The Course says in lesson 198. Only my condemnation injures me.

“Condemn and you are a prisoner of your thoughts. Forgive and you are freed. This is the law that rules projection. Forgiveness sweeps dreams away. Forgiveness is a dream too but it breeds no others. Illusions end. Forgiveness is the dream of waking. It is God’s plan. You hold the answer to your problems in your hands.”

The method of forgiveness that works for me is to sit quietly, eyes closed. I visualize the person in my mind. I see myself hugging them and saying

“You are a Holy Son of God along with me. We are equal as brothers; we are equally loved by God and I hold you in the light of love.”

When we commit to choosing peace, it means carefully watching the ego part of the mind. We are vigilant for the little condemnations. When one comes up says “Ah ha! Gotcha ego.” And do the work to free yourself from the silliness it is.

To read or hear lesson 198 go to http://www.acim.org and click on workbook lessons and then the list. When the lesson comes up click on “hear”

God Is. You are loved!