Lesson 22 - What I see is a form of vengeance.

Lesson 22: What I See is a Form of Vengeance

This lesson is an extension of what we've been working on – seeing how our thoughts shape our reality. Jesus brings us face to face with the idea that if we hold onto attack thoughts, we’ll inevitably see the world as a place of vengeance, where we expect things to strike back at us. Essentially, if we project anger onto the world, we perceive everything as a threat, and our own attacks feel justified as self-defence. It creates a vicious cycle – we attack, see attacks, defend ourselves, and so it continues.

It’s a grim way to live, isn’t it? But here’s the good news: it’s not real. None of this fear-driven perception is reality. The world we see is simply the result of our thoughts, and we made it that way by choosing to see separation and attack everywhere. And now, the lesson is asking us to question if this is really what we want. Deep down, do we actually want to see the world as something to be feared?

One of the most jarring parts of this lesson is the idea that what we fear, hate, or try to defend ourselves against doesn't actually exist. This world of vengeance we think we’re living in – where we feel like innocent victims or justified attackers – is all built on a thought system that’s not true. We can step out of that cycle and see things differently.

The practice today is simple. Look around at the world at least five times during the day, for a minute each time. And reflect on what we see with the phrases:

“I see only the perishable.”

“I see nothing that will last.”

“What I see is not real.”

“What I see is a form of vengeance.”

Afterwards, Jesus asks us to ask ourselves, "Is this the world I really want to see?" The answer should be obvious. What's your answer? This lesson is asking us to face that resistance. Do we want to keep seeing things through the lens of attack, or are we ready to let it go?

For me, this brings up the everyday moments where I feel slighted or irritated. It’s easy to feel justified in those feelings, but this lesson reminds me that any form of attack, whether it's a minor annoyance or full-blown anger, is a way of keeping myself stuck in a world that isn’t real.

The challenge here is being honest with ourselves. It’s about recognising that even small, fleeting thoughts of irritation are part of that attack cycle, and letting go of the belief that those thoughts are harmless. When we hold onto those thoughts, we’re keeping that “savage fantasy” alive, where the world seems poised to attack us.

Ultimately, Lesson 22 is about freeing ourselves from this way of thinking and once again confirming we have the power to see things differently. The more we question these attack thoughts, the more we open ourselves to peace.

So, is this the world you really want to see? Or are you ready to let go of those attack thoughts and see something else? The answer lies in our willingness to change how we see.

Let’s see it differently.

Bibliography:

A Course in Miracles. Foundation for Inner Peace. A Course in Miracles: Combined Volume, 3rd Edition. Foundation for Inner Peace, 2007. URL: https://acim.org.