"THERE IS NO CRUELTY IN GOD AND NONE IN ME."

We make what we defend against.  By our own defense against it, it is real and inescapable.  Lay down our arms, and only then do we perceive it false.  

No one attacks without the intent to hurt.  There are no it is real and inescapable.    exception.   When we think that we attack in self-defense, we mean that to be cruel is protection; we think we are safe because of cruelty.  We   mean that we believe to hurt another person brings us freedom.  To attack is to exchange the state in which we are for something better, safer, more secure from dangerous invasion and from fear.

How insane is the idea that to defend from fear is to attack.  Fear is fed with blood to make it grow and swell. Therefore, fear is protected, not escaped.  It is the enemy without that we attack.  Our defense sets up an enemy within us; an alien thought at war with us, depriving us of peace, splitting our mind into two camps which seem wholly  irreconcilable.  Love now has an "enemy," an opposite; and fear, the alien, now needs our defense against the threat of what we really are.

It is obvious ideas must leave their source, for it is we who make attack, and must have first conceived of it.  Yet we attack outside ourselves, and separate our minds from God who is to be attacked, with perfect faith the split we made is real.   The attributes of love bestowed upon its "enemy."   Fear becomes our safety and protector of peace, to which we turn for solace and escape from doubts about our strength, and hope of rest in quiet.

We do not defy God's power.  This is the the time of our release from slavery.  Do we think that fear is the escape from fear.  The choice we make NOW is certain.  Do our eyes belong to Christ, and He looks through them?  Do our voice belongs to God and echoes His?  Now do our hearts remain at peace?  Now has fear made way for love, as God Himself replaces cruelty.

 Let us pray:  "Father, we are like You.  No cruelty abides in us, for there is none in You.  Your peace is ours.  We bless the world with what we have received from You alone.  We choose again, and make our choice for all our brothers and sisters, knowing they are one with us.  We bring them Your salvation as we have received it now.  We give thanks for them who render us complete.  In them we see Your glory, and in them we find our peace.  Holy are we because  Your holiness has set us free.  And we give thanks.  Amen."