Today we practice differently, and take a stand against our anger that
our fears may disappear and offer room to love. Here is salvation in the
simple words in which we practice with today’s idea. Here is the answer
to temptation which can never fail to welcome in the Christ where fear
and anger had prevailed before. Here is Atonement made complete, the
world passed safely by and Heaven now restored. Here is the answer of
the Voice of God.
Complete abstraction is the natural condition of the mind. But part of
it is now unnatural. It does not look on everything as one. It sees
instead but fragments of the whole, for only thus could it invent the
partial world you see. The purpose of all seeing is to show you what you
wish to see. All hearing but brings to your mind the sounds it wants to
hear.
Thus were specifics made. And now it is specifics we must use in
practicing. We give them to the Holy Spirit that He may employ them for
a purpose which is different from the one we gave to them. Yet He can
use but what we made to teach us from a different point of view, so we
can see a different use in everything.
One brother is all brothers. Every mind contains all minds, for every
mind is one. Such is the truth. Yet do these thoughts make clear the
meaning of creation? Do these words bring perfect clarity with them to
you? What can they seem to be but empty sounds, pretty, perhaps; correct
in sentiment, yet fundamentally not understood nor understandable. The
mind that taught itself to think specifically can no longer grasp
abstraction in the sense that it is all-encompassing. We need to see a
little that we learn a lot.
It seems to be the body that we feel limits our freedom, makes us suffer
and at last puts out our life. Yet bodies are but symbols of a concrete
form of fear. Fear without symbols calls for no response, for symbols
can stand for the meanings. Love needs no symbols, being true. But fear
attaches to specifics, being false.
Bodies attack but minds do not. This thought is surely reminiscent of
our text, where it is often emphasized. This is the reason bodies easily
become fear’s symbols. You have many times been urged to look beyond the
body, for its sight presents the symbol of love’s “enemy” Christ’s
vision does not see. The body is the target for attack, for no-one
thinks he hates a mind. Yet what but mind directs the body to attack?
What else could be the seat of fear except what thinks of fear?
Hate is specific. There must be a thing to be attacked. An enemy must be
perceived in such a form he can be touched and seen and heard, and
ultimately killed. When hatred rests upon a thing, it calls for death as
surely as God’s Voice proclaims there is no death. Fear is insatiable,
consuming everything its eyes behold; seeing itself in everything;
compelled to turn upon itself and to destroy.
Who sees a brother as a body sees him as fear’s symbol. And he will
attack because what he beholds is his own fear external to himself,
poised to attack, and howling to unite with him again. Mistake not the
intensity of rage projected fear must spawn. It shrieks in wrath, and
claws the air in frantic hope it can reach to its maker and devour him.
This do the body’s eyes behold in one whom Heaven cherishes, the angels
love and God created perfect. This is his reality. And in Christ’s
vision is his loveliness reflected in a form so holy and so beautiful
that you could scarce refrain from kneeling at his feet. Yet you will
take his hand instead, for you are like him in the sight that sees him
thus.
Attack on him is enemy to you, for you will not perceive that in his
hands is your salvation. Ask him but for this, and he will give it to
you. Ask him not to symbolize your fear. Would you request that love
destroy itself? Or would you have it be revealed to you and set you
free?
Today we practice in a form we have attempted earlier. Your readiness is
closer now, and you will come today nearer Christ’s vision. If you are
intent on reaching it, you will succeed today. And once you have
succeeded, you will not be willing to accept the witnesses your body’s
eyes call forth. What you will see will sing to you of ancient melodies
you will remember. You are not forgot in Heaven. Would you not remember
it?
Select one brother, symbol of the rest, and ask salvation of him.
See him first as clearly as you can in that same form to which you are
accustomed. See his face, his hands and feet, his clothing. Watch him
smile, and see familiar gestures which he makes so frequently. Then
think of this; what you are seeing now conceals from you the sight of
one who can forgive you all your sins; whose sacred hands can take the
nails which pierce your own away, and lift the crown of thorns which you
have placed upon your bleeding head.
Ask this of him that he may set you free:
“Give me your blessing, holy Son of God.
I would behold you with the eyes of Christ,
And see my perfect sinlessness in you.”
And He will answer Whom you called upon, for He will hear the Voice of
God in you, and answer in your own. Behold him now whom you had seen as
merely flesh and bone, and recognize that Christ has come to you.
Today’s idea is your safe escape from anger and from fear. Be sure you
use it instantly, should you be tempted to attack a brother and perceive
in him the symbol of your fear. And you will see him suddenly
transformed from enemy to Savior; from the devil into Christ.