Lesson 348
I have no cause for anger or for fear. For You surround me. And in every need that I perceive, Your grace suffices me.
“Father, let me remember You are here, and I am not alone. Surrounding me is everlasting Love. I have no cause for anything except the perfect peace and joy I share with You. What need have I for anger or for fear? Surrounding me is perfect safety. Can I be afraid, when Your eternal promise goes with me? Surrounding me is perfect sinlessness. What can I fear, when You created me in holiness as perfect as Your Own?” (ACIM Lesson 348 1:1-8).
Anger is one of fear’s most overwhelming disguises. There is no separation between the two and there is no mistaking that behind the mask of anger, there lies the face of fear. Anger is the expression, and fear its roots.
Anger can often be the ego’s final hold on us, as with such a dark form one can often be too leery to investigate its roots. Anger is the toughest armor the ego can wear. But the Light can always melt it away. This armor has a crack somewhere, that is guaranteed, but in order to find it, we must come to know this armor and find its weakness so the Light can begin to infiltrate. As we befriend this armor, for investigatory purposes, we see that it doesn’t hold the power we thought it had. It cannot overwhelm us. It cannot over power us. And, most importantly, it is not Who we are. It is a decoy because beyond its exterior is just a soul that is scared: scared of losing an identity, scared of not being enough, scared it has done something wrong, scared something will be taken away, scared of being alone, scared that anger is her true identity, scared of suffering, scared of being hurt, scared of being alone….and the list can go on and on. But the main point is that behind the hardened exterior of anger is an innocent soul scared of itself. That is all.
Today, we gently walk with that innocent soul. We ask her about her fears and we listen with a loving heart. We bring the words she speaks to the Light of our sinlessness and introduce her to the Mother-God that has never judged her, left her side, or withheld Her love from her for one single moment. We invite her to look around and see that she is always surrounded by Love, and in doing so we show our innocence that there is no need for anger or fear, and that it can be released.
Some of us have been angry for far too long. It is time we put it aside and see it for what it is, fear in disguise. And in releasing its hold on our heart, we peacefully return to our eternal embrace held in God’s grace. Namaste.
