My judgments have hurt me

Lesson 51 of A Course in Miracles

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.

Here is an introduction to a ten-day review period that the authors want you to read beforehand.

In Lesson 51, we’re asked to review the first five days of the Course.

(1) Nothing I see means anything. (ACIM, W-51.1:1)

(2) I have given what I see all the meaning it has for me. (ACIM, W-51.2:1)

(3) I do not understand anything I see. (ACIM, W-51.3:1)

(4) These thoughts do not mean anything.(ACIM, W-51.4:1)

(5) I am never upset for the reason I think. (ACIM, W-51.5:1)

I think the Course is telling us that we’ve been living in fear-based survival mode where we “see” threats that are actually illusions. In other words, “My judgments have hurt me, and I do not want to see according to them.” (ACIM, W-51.2:6)

When reviewing these messages, what I kept thinking was that anything that hurts me, that makes me feel bad, is an illusion. During the day, when a distressing thought came up or a bad memory was triggered, I ended up repeating to myself (borrowing from Lesson 50 as well), “My judgments have hurt me, but I am sustained by the Love of God.”

(Photo credit: Ivoronwik)