Lesson 20: I am determined to see.

Jan '24 (edited) • Feed

🧩 FREE WILL AND CHOICE

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🌟 This lesson is one of a kind. Breaking off the lesson style and instructions he got us used to, Jesus starts by sharing with us what he has been doing so far in his teaching approach, what is important, and why.

📘 "This approach has been intentional, and very carefully planned. ⁴We have not lost sight of the crucial importance of the reversal of your thinking. ⁵The salvation of the world depends on it." (ACIM, W-20.1:3-5)

🌟 What he has been doing is guiding us as gently as possible without infringing upon our free will. What is important and why is the reversal of our thinking as everyone's salvation depends on it.

Jesus wants us on board, but not as blinded followers. It is of the utmost importance for us to understand that we want happiness, peace, and salvation. And that's the only reason why we should have any motivation to go through the mind training he's offering. Without our willingness, the training can't operate its transformational effect on our minds. In other words, Jesus is telling us, to be sure that we are doing this because we want this, not because we feel coerced to do it.

📘 "Your decision to see is all that vision requires." (ACIM, W-20.3:1)

🌟 It's like we're reaching the end of a free trial and are being asked if we want to continue with the premium version. If that's what we want, all it takes is to claim and mean it: "I am determined to see. I am determined to see that my peace, happiness, and salvation depend on the reversal of my thinking. And to reverse my thinking, I will strive to remember the truth, I will listen and follow the instructions I am given by Jesus and the Holy Spirit of my own free will." For the Matrix lovers out there, we are finely meeting Morpheus, he's offering us the truth and presenting us with the choice to accept it or not.

🧩 AN UNTRAINED MIND CAN ACCOMPLISH NOTHING

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📘 "You want salvation. ⁴You want to be happy. ⁵You want peace. ⁶You do not have them now, because your mind is totally undisciplined, and you cannot distinguish between joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, love and fear. ⁷You are now learning how to tell them apart." (ACIM, W-20.2:3-7)

🌟 Wanting our freedom is the first step, but we have yet to undo a lifelong of conditioning. We can see it as we get caught up in life and its abundance of catalysts. Jesus is telling us that this is normal at this stage. We are juniors but we can be trained to choose with more discernment. He then promises in a passage that sounds more biblical that the outcome is our freedom, along with our brothers and sisters freedom, because minds are joined, and because it is God's will that we would be free:

📘 "Your decision to see is all that vision requires. ²What you want is yours. ³Do not mistake the little effort that is asked of you for an indication that our goal is of little worth. ⁴Can the salvation of the world be a trivial purpose? ⁵And can the world be saved if you are not? ⁶God has one Son, and he is the resurrection and the life. ⁷His will is done because all power is given him in Heaven and on earth. ⁸In your determination to see is vision given you." (ACIM, W-20.3:1-8)

🎯 MINDFULNESS AND REMEMBERING

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📘 "4. The exercises for today consist in reminding yourself throughout the day that you want to see. ²Today’s idea also tacitly implies the recognition that you do not see now. ³Therefore, as you repeat the idea, you are stating that you are determined to change your present state for a better one, and one you really want.

5. Repeat today’s idea slowly and positively at least twice an hour today, attempting to do so every half hour." (ACIM, W-20.4:1–5:1)

🌟 From our usual two to a maximum of four periods of exercise, we move to a repetition of the idea every half hour. This is a smart move from Jesus. First, it serves the obvious purpose of acknowledging that we currently do not see with his eyes but are willing to change. Secondly, it will for most of us be a humbling exercise because it will show us how untrained we are yet, how much we are forgetful of our choice for peace, happiness, and salvation. Jesus tells us no to be upset by it and to simply give it our best try. We are currently in a deep state of amnesia and it will take some effort to remember the truth.

🎯 REMINDER OF THE LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT

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📘 "The extra repetitions should be applied to any situation, person or event that upsets you. ⁴You can see them differently, and you will. ⁵What you desire you will see. ⁶Such is the real law of cause and effect as it operates in the world." (ACIM, W-20.5:3-6)

🌟 In the last four lines of this lesson, Jesus subtly reminds us to be specific by applying the idea to any person or circumstance that is troubling our peace of mind during the day. He also reminds us that what we want to see, we will see. We are that powerful. If we choose to see our victimizer in a brother, that is what we will see, with its trail of misery, fear, anger, guilt, and whatnot... If we choose to see a call for love from another aspect of our Self, that's what we will see.

💙😎 What will it be, Neo? 😎❤️

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* My comment on this lesson follows my studying of the in-depth comment of the same lesson by Kenneth Wapnick in his published work, Journey through the Workbook of "A Course in Miracles". While it may sometimes contain my thoughts on it, it is essentially my humble take and summary of the masterful work of Kenneth. I share them here in the hope that someone might find them helpful.

** I also share, in these ACIM posts, the wallpaper images that I use on my phone and change every day to help me commit to my lesson, in the hope that some might enjoy them as well. Here is the link to a Dropbox folder where you can download the lessons's wallpaper for mobile I have uploaded so far.

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