This article was originally published in Miracles Magazine.
Look around the space youโre in. You are seeing the thoughts you hold in your mind, โpiecesโ of You, projected out from your mind into a million trillion conflicting forms, all seemingly real and ALL organized for one sole ego purpose โ to keep you mesmerized by the picture and believing that this world is real.
In choosing to listen to the voice of the ego, we opted to use the power of God to make ourselves forget that we ARE Godโs one Son. This is what the Course refers to as the โgreat amnesiaโ (T-19.IV.D.3). This amnesia plays out on a large scale as we look at the purpose of the world itself, which is to โhide from truth,โ (T-18.III.1) but we can also see this amnesia playing out in our every waking moment as well, if we are willing to look.
Recently, I was at a holiday gathering and heard a relative tell an inappropriate and crass joke about binge drinking despite the fact that a close family member of this same person died from complications due to alcoholism. โThatโs not funny,โ I thought to myself in silent judgment. My anger arose as I thought about how denial of substance abuse has been an entrenched family pattern that has traveled in my family for generations. In trying to quell my increasing anger and irritation, I thought, โThey live in total denial. They are simply refusing to wake up.โ I felt justified in this thought, and rested in my righteousness. โTheyย are refusing to wake up.โ I was innocent, they were guilty.
Letโs call this crass body, โUncle Mortyโ (humorously dubbed so by my friend and fellow author Alan Cohen, and my apologies to anyone reading named Morty!). We all have an โUncle Morty.โ The relative, the politician, the colleague who knows exactly what to do to press our buttons and elicit judgment, condemnation, and even horror within us. โTheyย donโt get it.ย Theyย are in their ego.ย Theirย rhetoric is offensive.ย Theyย are still asleep.โ Sound familiar?
Not surprisingly, even after days passed, I still felt unsettled and angry about this experience with my proverbial โUncle Morty.โ That is, until I had a conversation with my mom, also a dedicated student of the Course. โUncle Morty is a reflection of the part ofย yourย own mind that does not want to wake up,โ she said. That stopped me in my tracks. There was the โgreat amnesiaโ showing up yet again. ย This situation offered me bait to stay asleep to my Self, and I had taken it. But my momโs words immediately created the space I needed for a miracle to enter my mind.
โHowever much you wish he be condemned, God is in him.โ (T-26.IX.1)
Whoever may play the role of โUncle Mortyโ in your life, that person is there to either help YOU stay fixated on the dream of righteous judgment (according to the egoโs purpose) or they are there to help YOU wake up (if you allow Holy Spirit to re-purpose the relationship). When they press your buttons, they are playing out their part perfectly, presenting you with an opportunity to again choose your answer to this question:
โHow long, O Son of God, will you maintain the game of sin? Shall we not put away these sharp-edged children’s toys? How soon will you be ready to come home? Perhaps today? There is no sin. Creation is unchanged. Would you still hold return to Heaven back? How long, O holy Son of God, how long?โ (Workbook Part II, 4. What is Sin?)
This isnโt about Uncle Mortyโs awakening, itโs about YOUR willingness to waken. Are you willing to question EVERY belief that you hold, which is what weโre asked to do as Course students?
โTo learn this course requires willingness to question every value that you hold. Not one can be kept hidden and obscure but it will jeopardize your learning. No belief is neutral. Every one has the power to dictate each decision you make. For a decision is a conclusion based on everything that you believe.โ (T-24, Introduction)
When we are triggered by “Uncle Morty,” we have a grand opportunity to look WITH the Holy Spirit at the beliefs we hold in our own minds, thus moving us into action as miracle workers.
I often ask myself this question when I get hooked, โWhat is this situation showing me that I believe?โ Here are some of my uncovered beliefs that the “Uncle Mortyโs” in my life have given me the chance to look at when Iโve felt rattled (and I encourage you to make your own list as well):
- I believe that this world should be just
- I believe that the picture โout thereโ in the world should look differently
- I believe that Iโm Corinne and a body
- I believe that โtheyโ are a body
- I believe that there is โgoodโ and โbadโ in the world
- I believe the separation really happened
Once these beliefs are brought out to the light, I feel each one, own that it is in my mind, and then individually give those beliefs to Holy Spirit, asking for the miracle instead. I encourage you to do the same with your own list.
In uncovering our beliefs and bringing them to Spirit, we are literally demonstrating our willingness to be shown the truth, instead of our deciding how it needs to look on the level of form. In looking at these beliefs, I am willing to not stay in the โgreat amnesiaโ but instead open myself to an experiential certainty of knowing that โthis world is not [my] homeโ (T-25.VI.6). In questioning these beliefs, I am also withdrawing the egoโs modus operandi to project blame outside of myself, and instead acknowledge that I am the dreamer of this dream.
โThe secret of salvationย is but this: that you are doing this unto yourself.โ (T-27.VIII.10)
So will you let “Uncle Morty” be your savior? Will you let “Uncle Morty,” as a reflection of the beliefs you cherish in your mind, be your call to action in choosing to withhold nothing from Spirit?
โLet me behold my savior in this one You have appointed as the one for me to ask to lead me to the holy light in which he stands, that I may join with him.โ (Lesson 78)
The real reason we get hooked by difficult people is because there is part of our own mind that does not want to awaken. Getting hooked by the โotherโ is how we give the ego a banquet and literally feed it through our own judgment, strengthening our belief that there is in fact, an โother.โ Owning thisย unwillingnessย to heal has been key for me in healing debilitating anxiety and in experiencing abundant miracles.
โThe Holy Spirit asks only this little help of you: Whenever your thoughts wander to a special relationship which still attracts you, enter with Him into a holy instant, and there let Him release you. He needs only your willingness to share His perspective to give it to you completely. And your willingness need not be complete because His is perfect. It is His task to atone for yourย unwillingnessย by His perfect faith, and it is His faith you share with Him there. Out of your recognition of yourย unwillingnessย for your release, His perfect willingness is given you. Call upon Him, for Heaven is at His call. And let Him call on Heaven for you.โ (T-16.VI.12)
Instead of seeing “Uncle Morty” as an obstacle to peace,ย wouldย you be willing to see him as a vehicleย toย peace? A vehicle that drivesย youย to choose again, choosing more deeply for love than ever before? But remember, choosing for love means choosing to turn to the Holy Spirit, because itโs Spiritโs job to โchoose loveโ FOR us. We donโt know how to choose love, but we can allow Spirit in our own mind to make that choice for us. The vehicle to peace is therefore propelled forward by willingness to turn to Spirit within, to withhold nothing and question everything in the mind, even our ownย unwillingnessย to wake up.
The next time you are triggered by an โUncle Mortyโ practice these action steps:
- Be wholly honest with yourself about how you feel.
- Engage in the exercise above, โWhat is this situation showing me that I believe?โ
- As you think of the โotherโ who triggered you, say to yourself, โThis is me not wanting to wake up.โ Allow your compassion to increase.
- Find your willingness and offer it to Holy Spirit within, asking for the miracle instead.
- Trust that the answer IS THERE, the instant youโre ready to receive it.
My “Uncle Mortyโs” have given me a desire to wake up that is stronger than ever. For that, I am deeply grateful. I stand with you in your desire to awaken as well.
I’d love to hear what you got out of this article. Let me know by leaving a comment below.
Thank you Corinne. Now that, for many of us, Uncle Morty is running our country, it’s good to be reminded of these important truths. I tell myself and my friends that every day on our TV and in our news we have an opportunity to revert to ego and body or to turn to oneness, forgiveness and light. Such a gift! Thanks to your Mom too!
Hi Elizabeth! I totally agree, every moment we have a choice. We didn’t just choose for the separation once, we’re literally doing so each moment that we side with ego. So grateful to be joined with you on this path!
…love this, Corinne. Great recipe for all self-righteousness. I will be adding it to my “recipe” book.
I love that you have a “recipe” book! You’re so right… these are all “recipes” for peace and healing. Many blessings!
This was such a great reminder….
Thank you for sharing this…
I still find it challenging because I want to be the one to change it instead of asking Holy Spirit to change my seeing-
Hi Patti – You’re not alone! What you’re describing is exactly the same state we’re all in… we want to do it ourselves! For me, it’s only been through repeatedly learning that doing it myself gets me into trouble (i.e. anxiety, fear, conflict) that I’m finally getting the hang of stepping out of the way. ๐
One again – very good stuff! โUncle Morty is a reflection of the part of your own mind that does not want to wake up,โ Sometimes that is quite difficult to remember. I often catch myself after I started engaging rather than before! I just have to keep working it and things will get better. You Craig V. and Lisa N. have been a big help.
Paul, that sentence you quoted was a big eye opener for me too! The cool thing about this pathway is that even if we’re already engaging and totally forget to turn to HS, it’s OK. We can simply turn to HS after the fact or whenever it is that we remember. We can’t mess up – thank God! ๐
Love your article! Your way of expressing this process is helpful.
I’m so glad it was helpful, Nancy ๐
Thanks so much Corinne, one of my bigger issues is judging my own fears, specially in going back to my old nightmares, old anxieties, make me feel that I am not doing the Course right but then I realize that is just a trick of the ego and I give it to the HS as soon as I remember, thanks for your help =)
I soooo resonate with this, Patricia! I used to think that I was “failing” A Course in Miracles! ๐ But you’re totally right… it’s just another attempt of ego to get us to listen to it. Judging our own fears is a sneaky ego trap… so grateful we have HS to turn to for help.
Connie , I read the article in Miracles mag. which lead me to you and your web site which I am grateful for , as far as relating to the article it hit home with me in two ways, first I have Uncle Mort’s in my dream caused my need to be right (ego) and secondly I realized that with my actions and words I can be a Uncle Mort in my brothers life which also from my need to be right also (ego) , Thanks again for helping see myself in all ways ,realizing that by being aware of my thoughts I can change how see others , myself in any situation thus freeing myself of the burden of being the me I made . Tom Smola
Hi Tom! I LOVE your comment… it’s so true that we can all be “Uncle Mort” when we come from our need to be right/ego. It is such a blessing that we can look upon this honestly within ourselves. Seeing it clearly WITH Spirit is how we invite healing in. Much love to you brother! Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
This article was amazing & divinely rich!! I definitely needed to receive this message at this exact time that I’m writing this message because this article gave me the clarification that I needed in regards to a few family members in my life. I love how you pointed out the fact that when we think the OTHER person needs to be awaken that just means we’re the ones that need to. Thank you for this gem of a message Corrine! ๐โบ๏ธ
Thank you Vasilios! I’m always sharing what I NEED to learn lol! The Course gives us no slack… healing always must come from in our own minds first, despite the temptation to want to blame others. Many blessings to you brother!
I have a problem holding on to guilt, and I had trouble forgiving myself for not only what I did but for what I did NOT do! I found a nice little prayer in chapter 20 that is very poetic and often brings tears to my eyes.
โ Take this from me and look upon it, judging it for me. Let me not see it as a sign of sin and death, nor use it for destruction. Teach me how NOT to make of it an obstacle to peace, But let You use it FOR me, to facilitate its coming.โ
God Bless
Bob
Bob, this is one of my most favorite prayers in ACIM! I have it on my wall too! It is so powerful… it brings tears to my eyes too! So grateful to share this path with you my friend!
Beautiful, inspiring and helpful. Thank you, lovely sister. I have diligently studied and argued๐ with ACIM for 24 years…or with the Holy Spirit, concerning my mother(whom I deeply love). She is my morty. This article gave me pratical help for future dealings with her. Seeing her “flaws” as my unawakened part of my mind makes sense. I knew the irritation I experienced originated within my mind….I just didn’t know how to heal it. And along came this article. I am committed to now heal this division I have with her by taking responsibility and accepting the guidance from the Holy Spirit. I feel determined and more peaceful after reading this. Thank you, kindly!
Stephanie your comment inspires me so much! Seeing your willingness to heal shows me the willingness that is present in my own mind. THANK YOU for your commitment… it helps me too! Much love to you sister! xo
Hi Corinne! I always wished to send a comment to you saying how I love your way of writing and speak but I always procrastinated. I am from Brazil and your videos and posts gave me a great help in studying the Course since I found you in the web, some years ago.
I loved this post, mainly because it touchs a theme very present in our everyday lives and also because it met me where I am currently studying: the theme of Resistance. When you said: “there is part of our own mind that does not want to awaken”, it took me back to the book Ending our resistance to Love, which I am studying now. I use to say that some people (like the wonderful Kenneth Wapnick) have didactics in the vein, and certainly your way of writing shows this in you. Thanks for your contribution! =)
Tatiane
Hi Tatiane!
Thank you SO much for writing. Your words of love and support are so meaningful to me. I’m so glad to hear that the timing was divine for this post and that it is in line with the topic you are studying – resistance. It’s SO important that we look (WITH Spirit) at the part of our mind that does not want to waken. This part loves being a “small self” (in other words there is part of me that loves being “Corinne!”). I must take responsibility for this part and bring it to the light for healing. I’m so grateful to share this journey with you across “seeming” continents. ๐ Sending you so much love sister! xo
Hi Corinne!
I love this article! It resonated with me very deeply. I have a “Morty” very close to me and dealing with him is such a struggle. I have been in constant search of how and why my reactions are what they are, and why does he think that way! (Because in my mind, he has the problem!). Wow, this was such a wake up for me. I have a long way to go to truly understanding and changing my thinking. I am on the journey though! Every page I read in ACIM, every article I read is helping me to “clear the way”. Thank you so much for your words and thoughts.
Hi Corinne, I have just spent a couple of hours perusing your website and signing up for the Sunday evening ACIM group. I am so moved by the way you express yourself and teach Course concepts. You are very easy to listen to and such a compassionate listener. I really LOVED this post and got soooo much from it! Thank you for all that you do. I am truly looking forward to spending more time with you and your teachings of ACIM. I can so relate to your perspective. I can’t even imagine how much time you are putting into all of this. I am truly grateful for you!