Lesson 136
Sickness is a defense against the truth.
Gary Renard, speaker and writer on A Course in Miracles, often discusses one of the main lessons in the Course is, “We are not this body.” I love hearing Gary speak because with his northeast accent it comes out something like, “We are not this bawdy.” Just thinking of it puts a smile on my face. Gary is correct, one of the main points in A Course in Miracles is to bring attention to the correct purpose of the body. The body is not what we are, yet there is importance in how we use it.
In an unaware state we have known the body to keep us separate from one another. We look around and appear to see different bodies in various colors, shapes, and sizes. This idea automatically feeds into the notion that we must be separate. But this is only to the mind’s eye and plays useful as it aids in the quickening of how soon we forget that although we appear to be in different bodies, we are of One Heart. Because we put so much stock in the importance of the body, when anything goes wrong with it, such as illness, we immediately feel threatened and defense. But what if that defense is what led us to being sick?
On one hand our bodies are resilient vessels but on the other hand this vessel is delicate and in need of care. We are human after all and the body was not intended to be immortal. Its sole purpose is only to be used to experience that which is immortal, our souls. If you think about it, the body is our vehicle in which to experience this life. It is the only one we have. It is not a hand me down and we do not get to trade it in or buy a new model when we get our own jobs and make our own money. As Kenny Loggins (who remarkably looks like Jesus on his album covers, see below) says in his 1979 song, “This is it!” Yep, this, the body we have, is it folks! Thus, should we not care for this precious vessel?
“If you let your mind harbor attack thoughts, yield to judgement or make plans against uncertainties to come, you have again misplaced yourself, and made a bodily identity which will attack the body, for the mind is sick” (ACIM Lesson 136 19:2).
To use our vessel for our advantage is a means of making the mind-body connection. Today we explore the toxicity of attacking thoughts and how they manifest as a defense mechanism in the body. Any ache, pain, or illness can be seen as the body’s defense and a call for a deeper exploration of the mind. It can also be seen as a ploy to hide the Truth.
“The aim of all defenses is to keep the truth from being whole. The parts are seen as if each one were whole within itself” (ACIM Lesson 136 2:4-5).
The world will tell us that sickness or illness is a sign of weakness, fragility, and death. We have two options when illness manifests, we can use it as a tool to awaken or a means to continue the separation. As you know well enough from being ill yourself, it is tougher to remember you are a Child of God, whole, holy, loved, eternal, harmless, and at peace, when the body signals anything but that. Pain, misery, and suffering begin to override the right-minded thoughts and we fall prey to the perceptions of separation.
“It is this quick forgetting of the part you play in making your “reality” that makes defenses seem to be beyond your own control. But what you have forgot can be remembered, given willingness to reconsider the decision which is doubly shielded by oblivion” (ACIM Lesson 136 5:1-2).
In this manner does the body become the shielder of the truth, making aligning with the Mind of God the utmost importance. It is only through correcting our Vision that we can see the Truth in all situations, even in what appears to be a dire for our vessel. The body is our tool until death do us part. It is up to us if we want to see the beauty in that or the demise. It is the difference between experiencing The Word versus just knowing The Word. Either one you choose, you are still the same peace, whole and holy Child of God. The question is do you want to fully remember and experience that, or not?
“Defenses are plans to defeat what cannot be attacked. What is unalterable cannot change. And what is wholly sinless cannot sin” (ACIM Lesson 136 11:6-8).
If we fall sick or ill, it does not mean that we did anything wrong. It is simply a call to love ourselves more and to pause and ask ourselves, “What can I learn from this? What is asking for my attention? What desires to be known?” In this, we no longer see separation but the Light. With compassion we come to understand the body as a magnificent tool to aid in our understanding of the conscious awakening.
“Truth has a power far beyond defense, for no illusions can remain where truth has been allowed to enter. And it comes to any mind that would lay down its arms, and cease to play with folly” (ACIM Lesson 136 14:1-2).
In our fast paced world, it is tough to honor ourselves when we get sick. We look for the quick fix so that we can go on with our lives without skipping a beat. It is understandable how this can be so depending on your circumstances. Regardless, I encourage you to do what you can to explore any illness. Begin to see how your body reacts when you talk kindly to it, when you treat it to a bubble bath, when you eat nourishing food, when you surround yourself with supportive and loving beings. I encourage to explore what it means to you to answer to your body’s call for love. It is not separate; it is part of the Whole. How can use it as so? It is part of your function here on earth. As we stated above, you only get one body, treat it wisely, treat it lovingly.
In remembering that God is ever-present, right here, right now, and that our perfection and harmlessness is but a breath away, no time is needed to heal, albeit in some cases it may appear to take time for the body to catch up. True healing, not of this world, happens in the holy instant.
“Yet what He wills is here, and you remain as He created you” (ACIM Lesson 136 13:5).
The reliance of the human body and spirit is impressive. From stories of restored strength to overcoming the odds, what the body is capable of is truly miraculous. This leads us to a concept we learned in Lesson 76, “I am under no laws but God’s,” as we note the many times we have witnessed those who have defied medicine and the traditional laws of the body. Although we are not this body, we claim the Divinity that travels through and uses the body for the purpose of the awakening.
As we practice today, explore the mind-body connection and uncover where there are still unknown defenses rising to protect us from that which is nothing at all. Also, come to recognize the healing abilities we posses. It may not translate immediately to the body as we know it, but it does translate immediately to our experience as the Light of the World. Allow love to arise to heal any misguided thoughts that you are anything but perfect, whole, holy, healed, loved, and at peace. In this, do you really use the “bawdy” for its intended purpose. Namaste.
Just for fun…
As a side note as we speak of precious vessels:
A photo of Kenny Loggins is on the left, and Jesus is on the right.
Similar, right?
