Complaining to the wrong person.
Day 18: When Holy Spirit wants to teach a lesson, it often appears more than once. On the same vacation that I mentioned in ACIM Lesson 17, I had another strange encounter in the elevator. This time, with two men, who spontaneously started complaining, loudly, in my direction.
“Why are they looking at me?”, I thought to myself as I shifted my expression to, ignoring-you-right-now. I wore my new jacket with the name of the resort on it. Did they think I was an employee?
Or maybe they thought I looked too happy. I was happy! I had a great time.
There were two older Japanese ladies standing behind them looking at the ground.
When the doors opened, the men walked out. One of them made eye contact with me. I had a choice at that moment.
- Instigate, saying something belligerent like, “What are you looking at?” But that would engage him further, and I didn’t want to do that.
- Sympathize. But I didn’t agree with his frustration. No, everything wasn’t perfect. But I had a great time. None of the things he mentioned would have mattered if he had enjoyed the people he traveled with. And again, I didn’t want to talk to him.
- Suggest he speak to someone who could do something about it. Pfft! Hey, I’m on holiday. He is not my problem to solve. And, I didn’t want to speak to him.
- Ignore him. Bingo! How lovely and simple. And how grateful am I not to be on vacation with someone as miserable as he was at that moment.
Complaining because misery loves company.
The right answer is that I don’t have to engage just because someone pops off in the lift. By extension, just because someone is in a bad mood doesn’t mean I have to stop feeling happy.
My ignoring game is strong! And that was also the answer for the angry woman in the lift from yesterday’s ACIM Lesson 17. Both tried the same attack to get me to respond. Both were foiled by me ignoring them. I stayed happy in neutral space. They stayed miserable in the Split Zone.
I am not alone in experiencing the effects of my seeing. ACIM Lesson 18
“The idea for today is another step in learning that the thoughts which give rise to what you see are never neutral or unimportant. It also emphasizes the idea that minds are joined, which will be given increasing stress later on. Today’s idea does not refer to what you see as much as to how you see it.”
ACIM Lesson 18: 1-2
Complaining that I want to stay longer!
But wait! There’s more! Holy Spirit reminded me of another end-of-vacation time.
There was this kid that I’d seen several times dancing at the beach parties with his parents. Nobody was having a better time than him.
On the last day, I wheeled my suitcase past him. He was crying his eyes out. I thought to myself, “I know how you feel, kid. No one wants to go home yet. Just one more day would be so nice.”
None of the things those men were complaining about would have killed this kid’s mood. Based on what I’ve learned from ACIM, that kid was in the Unified Mind space.
And those miserable men were in the Split Mind gap.
I see no neutral things. I have no neutral thoughts. ACIM Lessons 16 and 17
I realize that we’re just getting started with these lessons, but I’m in a hurry to learn how to stop blocking Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Fear, anger and frustration are keeping me in the Split Zone. I want out!
Through these memories, Holy Spirit is showing me that when I pay attention to the wrong things (start complaining), I separate myself from peace and happiness.
Complaining that I’m behind with my posting.
Note to the reader: I’m happy to say that I’m current with my plan to read the daily lessons in the A Course in Miracles Workbook (ACIM) and to watch the daily ACIM videos from Coreen Walson and Nouk Sanchez. But I am behind in writing my daily reflections. And I am okay with that.
Maybe if I made shorter posts, I could move faster. However, these lessons are shifting my thinking. Therefore, I need time to process the pushing and pulling that’s going on inside my mind.
For instance, when I get upset about something, I’m noticing whether I’m in split mind vs unified mind. That observation keeps me focused on the course, but also adds to my upset. How do I get out of the split mind space when I’m already upset?
Well, that is what ACIM is here to teach us. There are 365 lessons in total. With something new to learn every day, patience and consistency are key to moving forward.
One clue to shifting from anxiety, upset or frustration is to express gratitude for what is going well. Seek and ye shall find. There’s always something good. Even if it’s just that you learned what not to do next time. The shift from angst to grateful might feel severe, but it does work. Give it a try!
A Course in Miracles (ACIM), Lesson 18 video
I am not alone in experiencing the effects of my seeing. ACIM Lesson 18
In this video lesson, Nouk and Coreen mention a couple of Bible verses.
The explanation of the parable of the yeast was new to me. It expresses the idea that Jesus came quietly to transform the hearts of man, not like a triumphant conqueror ready to take over. The Jews were expecting a kick-ass-and-take-names-old-testament-style-king. But instead, Jesus brought the tools he knows we need to fight spiritual warfare here on Earth in the First Heaven.
AI: The Parable of the Yeast (Matthew 13:33) means the Kingdom of Heaven starts small, often unseen, but its influence (the Gospel/Holy Spirit) works silently and powerfully to transform individuals and society from within, spreading gradually until everything is affected, much like yeast permeating dough.
In the end-of-vacation examples above, the men influenced me in the direction of Split Mind (River of Shame) and the kid pulled me towards Unified Mind (River of Grace). The men were heavy-handed, but the kid warmed my heart. I know which leader I choose to follow.
Bible quotes mentioned by Coreen:
Jesus told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like leaven (sour dough) which a woman took and covered over in three measures of meal or flour till all of it was leavened.
Matthew 13:33 AMPC
Jesus said, “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 18:19-20 NIV
A Course In Miracles (ACIM): Workbook Lesson 18 (full text – free to read)
Disclaimer for quotes: I use an AI tool to capture quotes. It corrects grammar as people are speaking. Why? It’s very annoying. But, it is quick. And the relevance of the quote isn’t changed. So, what do you think? Are these robots a help or a hindrance? Only time will tell.
DramaGuru Academy is here to teach you how to navigate the situations in your life. Through Demon Spotting lessons, we reveal the patterns of any demon who is interfering with you and your loved ones. We show you how to stare those demons down as you advance confidently from the First Heaven, through the Second Heaven, towards the Third Kingdom of Heaven.
