Ch. 12. I. 6 – 8. Jesus: “There is but one Teacher of reality, Who understands what it is. He does not change His Mind about reality because reality does not change. Although your interpretations of reality are meaningless in your divided state, His remain consistently true. He gives them to you because they are for you. Do not attempt to ‘help’ a brother in your own way, for you cannot help yourself!
By applying the Holy Spirit’s interpretation of the reactions of others more and more consistently, you will gain an increasing awareness that His criteria are equally applicable to you. For to recognize fear is not enough to escape from it, although the recognition is necessary to demonstrate the need for escape. The Holy Spirit must still translate the fearful thoughts into truth for you. If after recognizing the fear, you were left with it intact, you would have taken a step away from reality, not towards it. Yet we have repeatedly emphasized the need, as a crucial first step in undoing the ego, to recognize your fear and face it without disguise or dissociation.
Consider how well the Holy Spirit’s interpretation of the motives of others will then serve you! Having taught you to accept only loving thoughts in others, and to regard everything else as an appeal for help, your Teacher has taught you that the very occurrence of fear itself is an appeal for help! This is what ‘recognizing fear’ really means. If you do not protect it from the light of truth, the Holy Spirit will reinterpret it for you! That is the ultimate value in learning to perceive attack as a call for love.