Fear: the alien god

Welcome to Daily Miracles, a running commentary on the 365 lessons of A Course in Miracles, an influential spiritual text from the 1970s. I am James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as I go through this material for the first time. 

 Lesson 170

There is no cruelty in God and none in me. (ACIM, W-170)

The opening paragraph is radical in its implications:

No one attacks without intent to hurt. ²This can have no exception. ³When you think that you attack in self-defense, you mean that to be cruel is protection; you are safe because of cruelty. ⁴You mean that you believe to hurt another brings you freedom. ⁵And you mean that to attack is to exchange the state in which you are for something better, safer, more secure from dangerous invasion and from fear. (ACIM, W-170.1:1-5)

As within, so without. The resources a national government consumes in the name of safety and security are resources that could have been used for life-enhancing goods and services. Likewise, the more time and energy I invest to keep what's "mine," the less I am able to enjoy it. I might fire talented employees before they advance and replace me in the company hierarchy. I might try to control my romantic partner's whereabouts because I'm jealous and don't want them socializing with attractive people.

The more defenses a nation builds, the more impoverished it becomes. The more defenses a person builds to protect their status, the more miserable they become.

I've heard it said that "the opposite of love is fear." But love has no opposite. This lesson tells us that fear isn't an opposite, it's an alien god.

James Leroy Wilson writes Daily Miracles, The Daily Bible Chapter, JL lls, and The MVP Chase. Thanks for your subscriptions and support! You may contact him for your writing, editing, and research needs: jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com.

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