ACIM T-4. Introduction, P 3. The journey to the cross should be the last “useless journey.” Do not dwell upon it, but dismiss it as accomplished.
ACIM Chapter 4, Introduction P 3
Introduction P 3
3 The journey to the cross should be the last “useless journey.” Do not dwell upon it, but dismiss it as accomplished. If you can accept it as your own last useless journey, you are also free to join my resurrection. Until you do so your life is indeed wasted. It merely re-enacts the separation, the loss of power, the futile attempts of the ego at reparation, and finally the crucifixion of the body, or death. Such repetitions are endless until they are voluntarily given up. Do not make the pathetic error of “clinging to the old rugged cross.” The only message of the crucifixion is that you can overcome the cross. Until then you are free to crucify yourself as often as you choose. This is not the gospel I intended to offer you. We have another journey to undertake, and if you will read these lessons carefully they will help prepare you to undertake it.
The useless journey or the journey to the cross is death in its many forms. It is sickness, loss, lack, hatred, anger, fear, judgment, jealousy, and depression. Can you think of any other forms of suffering that you choose? All suffering is a form of death. Then, of course, there is the death of the body, the coup de gras, the final proof that I am not what God created, that I am indeed my own creation. The journey through suffering and finally to my death is my ultimate victory against God.
Reenacting the Crucifixion
Jesus overcame death, and in doing so, it is done. All that is required of me is that I accept this gift, and then it is done for me, too. His was meant to be the last useless journey, done for all of us and done for the last time. Instead, we have chosen sacrifice (a form of death). We have chosen to follow in his footsteps, endlessly reenacting the crucifixion while rejecting the resurrection, which proved that death is not real. Resurrection is proof that the ego/body/ cannot overcome God’s Will.
I say “we” because it is what we all do when we buy into sickness, suffering, and death as inevitable parts of life. Jesus says this is a wasted life. It merely re-enacts the separation, the loss of power, the futile attempts of the ego at reparation, and finally the crucifixion of the body, or death. This time I am determined to stop reenacting the separation and to choose resurrection instead.
There are many little ways I can do this. Each one is helpful to achieve resurrection, at least until the one that finally tips me over. I like to think of it this way. I forgive, and there is a crack in the ego blocks, and a little light gets in. With this light, I see another opportunity to forgive, and the crack widens. I keep doing this until the light blazes throughout my mind, and there is no more darkness. Then there is nothing left to forgive because darkness cannot withstand the light.
Staying Vigilant
In the meantime, I stay vigilant for the dark thoughts so that I can let the light shine them away. My focus right now is on the thoughts that hide my brother’s brilliance from my awareness. This morning, I had a fleeting thought that someone I know is not holy. Well, it tried to flee past my attention, but I caught it. I realized that this happens each time I think of this one, so I stopped what I was doing and talked to Jesus about it. This is what he reminded me of.
You cannot enter God’s Presence if you attack His Son. (ACIM, T-11.IV.5:6). This person is part of the Sonship, so if I want to see myself in God’s presence again, I must forgive my judgments of her. And this: ³Remember, then, when you are tempted to attack a brother, that his instant of release is yours. (ACIM, T-15.I.12:3) My judgments are an attack; in attacking her, I attack myself.
And this: ⁴It is not up to you to change your brother, but merely to accept him as he is. (ACIM, T-9.III.6:4) All through the Course, I am told not to judge and not to attack. We go Home together because we are together. So, I must see myself as one with each of my brothers if I want to go Home. The ego argues that I can’t like everyone and that not liking this woman is not a mortal sin. No, it is not, but it is a mortal error because it imprisons me in the split mind. In choosing to judge, I am wasting my life. No more! I am done reenacting the separation.
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