Correction of a lasting nature, – and only this is true correction, –
cannot be made until the teacher of God has ceased to confuse
interpretation with fact, or illusion with truth. If he argues with his
pupil about a magic thought, attacks it, tries to establish its error or
demonstrate its falsity, he is but witnessing to its reality. Depression
is then inevitable, for he has “proved,” both to his pupil and himself
that it is their task to escape from what is real. And this can only be
impossible. Reality is changeless. Magic thoughts are but illusions.
Otherwise salvation would be only the same age old impossible dream in
but another form. Yet the dream of salvation has new content. It is not
the form alone in which the difference lies.

God’s teachers’ major lesson is to learn how to react to magic thoughts
wholly without anger. Only in this way can they proclaim the truth about
themselves. Through them, the Holy Spirit can now speak of the reality
of the Son of God. Now He can remind the world of sinlessness, the one
unchanged, unchangeable condition of all that God created. Now He can
speak the Word of God to listening ears, and bring Christ’s vision to
the eyes that see. Now is He free to teach all minds the truth of what
they are, so they will gladly be returned to Him. And now is guilt
forgiven, overlooked completely in His sight and in God’s Word.

Anger but screeches,“Guilt is real.” Reality is blocked out as this
insane belief is taken as replacement for God’s Word. The body’s eyes now
“see”; its ears alone are thought to hear. Its little space and tiny
breath become the measure of reality. And truth becomes diminutive and
meaningless. Correction has one answer to all this, and to the world
that rests on this:

“You but mistake interpretation for the truth. And you are wrong. But
a mistake is not a sin, nor has reality been taken from its throne by
your mistakes. God reigns forever, and His laws alone prevail upon you
and upon the world. His Love remains the only thing there is. Fear is
illusion, for you are like Him.”

In order to heal, it thus becomes essential for the teacher of God
to let all his own mistakes be corrected. If he senses even the faintest
hint of irritation in himself as he responds to anyone, let him
instantly realize that he has made an interpretation that is not
true. Then let him turn within to his Eternal Guide, and let Him judge
what the response should be. So is he healed, and in his healing is his
pupil healed with him. The sole responsibility of God’s teacher is to
accept the Atonement for himself. Atonement means correction, or the
undoing of errors. When this has been accomplished, the teacher of God
becomes a miracle worker by definition. His sins have been forgiven him,
and he no longer condemns himself. How can he then condemn anyone? And
who is there whom his forgiveness can fail to heal?