Only the self-accused condemn. As you prepare to make a choice that will result in different outcomes, there is first one thing that must be overlearned. It must become a habit of response so typical of everything you do that it becomes your first response to all temptation, and to every situation that occurs. Learn this, and learn it well, for it is here delay of happiness is shortened by a span of time you cannot realize. You never hate your brother for his sins, but only for your own. Whatever form his sins appear to take, it but obscures the fact that you believe them to be yours, and therefore meriting a “just” attack.
Why should his sins be sins, if you did not believe they could not be forgiven in you? Why are they real in him, if you did not believe that they are your reality? And why do you attack them everywhere except you hate yourself? Are you a sin? You answer “yes” whenever you attack, for by attack do you assert that you are guilty, and must give as you deserve. And what can you deserve but what you are? If you did not believe that you deserved attack, it never would occur to you to give attack to anyone at all.
Let us be glad that you will see what you believe, and that it has been given you to change what you believe. (A Course in Miracles, T-31.III.1,2:1-7;6:1. See also ACIM Text Made Simple.)
The world we perceive is a direct reflection of what we believe we are. This reflection is cleverly disguised by forms that seem to have nothing to do with us. Yet we would never see forms and judge them real if we did not believe separations is real. By definition, forms are different from each other.
Any appearance in the world that disturbs our peace reflects an unforgiven belief about ourselves. It is this unforgiveness that demands punishment. We would not knowingly punish ourselves. But by disguising our unforgiveness in a form that seems to be external, we can justify our attack. It does not seem that we are only attacking ourselves.
There is another way of looking at the world that we must learn if we want to awaken to Love. Every appearance that disturbs our peace presents a lesson we must learn. We need to practice offering these perceptions to the Holy Spirit for His help to learn the lesson the misperception offers. He will help us forgive our belief about ourselves that is reflected in our perception. With this practice we release the guilt caused by our mistaken belief and take a giant step forward in the healing of our mind. Forgiveness offers everything we want. It opens the door to accept God’s gifts of His peace, joy and eternal Love.
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