"When fear is expressed, we recognise it as anger, abuse, disease, pain, greed, addiction, selfishness, obsession, corruption, violence, and war." --- A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles written by Marianne Williamson.
What an incredible statement!!!
I never thought about all of those things as coming from my fear. When you stop to think about it though, how true that statement is.
I have read the statement that everything that is not love is fear. I just didn't get it as clear as this statement makes it for me.
Are you living with fear or love?
Patricia
8 comments:
I, too, believe that everything that is not love is fear. For me, it is especially helpful to remember this when someone does something which I don't understand, or which seems negative to me. It helps me to have compassion for that person when I can see that they are reacting from fear.
Hi Patricia -
Thought you would be interested in the original quote from A Course in Miracles. Marianne has paraphrased it.
"The course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught.
It does aim, however, at removing the blocks to the awareness of love's presence, which is your natural inheritance.
The opposite of love is fear, but what is all-encompassing can have no opposite."
Divine Essence, thank you for your comment. I agree with you. Forgiveness is easier when I see that a person is just reacting out of fear. That includes forgiveness for myself.
Corinne, thanks for sharing the full quote from A Course in Miracles. I have read quite a few of Marianne's books over the years and thoroughly enjoyed each of them. I have never studied the book A Course in Miracles itself. I have a copy of it but haven't taken the time to read it. We even have a class on it taught at my Unity church. Something seems to keep me from taking the class each time I think about it.
WOW! I never would have thought of it like that either until you said it. It makes complete sense though. People who are at war or abusive etc are fearful of something. I know there are a lot of things I am fearful of, failing is a big one.
Good question. Are you living from love or fear?
If I were to be honest with you, I'd say both. I have some issues I need to grapple with that causes me to feel fear.
But I am closer to taking steps I need to make things right.
I read a great book by Steve Chandler "Fearless". He said fear happens because we are afraid of losing something. Interesting statement, isn't it?
Think about it. Fear of losing money, a loved one, our possessions, etc. etc.
That's why it's so important to learn how to detach. Boy, that's a tough one!
Like you and everyone else on this planet, I continue to be a "work in progress."
But I do want to be "fearless" one day. But is there a such a thing as leading a totally ferless life?
I'm not so sure.
Jenny, I know what you mean. That is how it hit me too.
Stephen, once upon a time, my entire life seemed to be lived out of fear. Thank God that isn't true today. I also recognise when I am in fear quicker usually. Like you said, I am also a work in progress. Most of my wanting to be perfect came from a fear of failure and fear of losing the approval of others.
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