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Lesson 216: Review of Lesson 196: It can be but myself I crucify.

Reframe: I am responsible for my own suffering through resistance.

Suggested Practice:

Overall Approach to the Review of Lessons 181-200:

“Besides the time you give morning and evening, which should not be less than fifteen minutes, and the hourly remembrances you make throughout the day, use the idea as often as you can between them. ³Each of these ideas alone would be sufficient for salvation, if it were learned truly. ⁴Each would be enough to give release to you and to the world from every form of bondage, and invite the memory of God to come again. …

“These practice sessions … are centered round a central theme with which we start and end each lesson. ²It is this:

³I am not a body. ⁴I am free.
⁵For I am still as God created me.

Special thought for today’s Lesson: 

196: It can be but myself I crucify.

²All that I do I do unto myself. ³If I attack, I suffer. ⁴But if I forgive, salvation will be given me. (ACIM, W-216.1:2-4)

⁶The day begins and ends with this. ⁷And we repeat it every time the hour strikes, or we remember, in between, we have a function that transcends the world we see. ⁸Beyond this, and a repetition of the special thought we practice for the day, no form of exercise is urged, except a deep relinquishment of everything that clutters up the mind, and makes it deaf to reason, sanity and simple truth. (ACIM, W-rVI.in.1:1–3:8)

“…Permit no idle thought to go unchallenged. ³If you notice one, deny its hold and hasten to assure your mind that this is not what it would have. ⁴Then gently let the thought which you denied be given up, in sure and quick exchange for the idea we practice for the day.”

“When you are tempted, hasten to proclaim your freedom from temptation, as you say:”

This thought I do not want. ³I choose instead _____________

“And then repeat the idea for the day, and let it take the place of what you thought.” (ACIM, W-rVI.in.5:1–6:4)

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Message

Most, if not all, of our suffering comes from resisting what is. The situation itself doesn’t cause the suffering—our reaction to it does.

Example: I’m walking along a path, content. I come to a wall blocking my way, stretching far in both directions. The wall is neutral. It’s not good or bad. What matters is my response.

If I follow the ego, I see a problem. I don’t want the wall there, so I feel frustration, annoyance, anger. I might yell at it, kick it, or complain to passersby about how this wall victimizes me. In every case, I’m the one suffering. My fixation on wanting the wall gone overrides my peace, and ironically, I’m avoiding the situation by not facing it.

If I follow the Divine mind, I see it clearly: a wall blocking my path. I accept it’s there, pause, get my bearings, and assess—all while maintaining my peace as best I can. From there, I can ask the Holy Spirit to help me see differently. I can look for help, walk along the wall to find an opening, an end, or a ladder. Maybe I can climb over. Maybe I turn back, trusting that’s for the best. Or I note to bring something next time. Either way, my peace holds.

Same situation. Different mind. That’s what determines whether I suffer.

I put this into practice today. The situation: a hot day, smoke from nearby wildfires polluting the air. My ego reaction? Whine about the heat and complain about the smoke—self-inflicted suffering. Instead, I chose to respond: yes, it’s hot and smoky, but I have A/C that cools and filters. So I don’t take my walk today or do any yard work—I can exercise inside and tackle indoor projects I’ve been putting off for ages.

Same situation. Different mind. That’s the practice.

“If the body acts up, it’s the mind that needs correction. But only 100 percent of the time.”
— “The Course in Miracles Experiment” by Pam Grout

Blessings & Peace,

Maureen,
The Mandala Lady

transforming soul whispers into mandalas & channeled messages
for clarity, peace, and joy

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