T. 17. IV. 5 – 10. Jesus: “The insane go to extremes to protect their thought systems, but they can only do so insanely! All their defenses, then, are as insane as the beliefs they are devised to protect. The separation, as a thought system, has nothing in it, no part, no ‘reason,’ and no attribute that is not insane. All of its ‘protection’ is built into it, and just as insane as the whole!
The special relationship, which is separation’s chief defense, must therefore be insane! You should have but little difficulty now in realizing that the thought system the special relationship protects is but a system of delusions. It is essential to realize that all defenses do what they would defend. Why they work is that they offer you the very insanity that you would have them defend!
Every defense operates by giving you ‘gifts,’ and the gift is always a miniature of the thought system the defense protects, and always set within an irresistible ‘golden frame.’ The frame is highly elaborate, set with precious jewels, deeply carved and polished to a blinding gleam. The purpose of such a glittering frame is to make you think it has great value in itself, thus diverting your attention from the actual picture within the frame. But the frame without the picture you cannot have! Your ego’s defenses merely operate to make you think you can.
The special relationship has the most imposing and deceptive frame of all the defenses the ego uses. The entirety of the ego’s thought system is offered here, surrounded by a frame so imposing that the picture is almost obliterated from sight. Into the frame are woven all sorts of fanciful and fragmented ‘illusions of love,’ set in place with dreams of sacrifice and self-aggrandizement, while interlaced with gilded threads of self-destruction! The glitter of blood shines like rubies, and the tears are faceted like diamonds, to gleam in the dim light in which the offering is made.
Do not let the frame distract you! Look straight at the picture now! This ‘gift’ has been given you for your damnation, and if you accept it you will believe that you are damned. You cannot have the frame without the picture! What you have valued before is but the frame, for there you see no conflict.
Yet the frame is only the shiny wrapping for the gift of conflict! The frame is not the gift! Be not deceived by the most superficial aspects of the ego’s thought system, for these aspects enclose the whole, complete in every way. Death lies in this glittering gift. Let not your gaze dwell on the hypnotic gleaming of the frame. Look straight at the picture, and realize that death is what is being offered you!
That is why the holy instant is so important in the defense of truth. The truth itself needs no defense, but you do need defense against your acceptance of the gift of death. When you who are truth accept an idea so dangerous to truth, you ‘threaten’ the truth in your mind with destruction. And so your defense must now be undertaken, that the truth be kept whole for you!
The power of Heaven, the Love of God, the tears of Christ, and the joy of His eternal Spirit are marshaled to defend you from your own attack. For you attack Them, being part of Them, and They must save you, for They love Themselves as they love you.”