18. How Is Correction Made?
M-18.1. Correction of a lasting nature,—and only this is true correction,—cannot be made until the teacher of God has ceased to confuse interpretation with fact, or illusion with truth. 2 If he argues with his pupil about a magic thought, attacks it, tries to establish its error or demonstrate its falsity, he is but witnessing to its reality. 3 Depression is then inevitable, for he has "proved," both to his pupil and himself, that it is their task to escape from what is real. 4 And this can only be impossible. 5 Reality is changeless. 6 Magic thoughts are but illusions. 7 Otherwise salvation would be only the same age-old impossible dream in but another form. 8 Yet the dream of salvation has new content. 9 It is not the form alone in which the difference lies.
M-18.2. God's teachers' major lesson is to learn how to react to magic thoughts wholly without anger. 2 Only in this way can they proclaim the truth about themselves. 3 Through them, the Holy Spirit can now speak of the reality of the Son of God. 4 Now He can remind the world of sinlessness, the one unchanged, unchangeable condition of all that God created. 5 Now He can speak the Word of God to listening ears, and bring Christ's vision to eyes that see. 6 Now is He free to teach all minds the truth of what they are, so they will gladly be returned to Him. 7 And now is guilt forgiven, overlooked completely in His sight and in God's Word.
M-18.3. Anger but screeches, "Guilt is real!" 2 Reality is blotted out as this insane belief is taken as replacement for God's Word. 3 The body's eyes now "see"; its ears alone can "hear." 4 Its little space and tiny breath become the measure of reality. 5 And truth becomes diminutive and meaningless. 6 Correction has one answer to all this, and to the world that rests on this:
M-18.4. In order to heal, it thus becomes essential for the teacher of God to let all his own mistakes be corrected. 2 If he senses even the faintest hint of irritation in himself as he responds to anyone, let him instantly realize that he has made an interpretation that is not true. 3 Then let him turn within to his eternal Guide, and let Him judge what the response should be. 4 So is he healed, and in his healing is his pupil healed with him. 5 The sole responsibility of God's teacher is to accept the Atonement for himself. 6 Atonement means correction, or the undoing of errors. 7 When this has been accomplished, the teacher of God becomes a miracle worker by definition. 8 His sins have been forgiven him, and he no longer condemns himself. 9 How can he then condemn anyone? 10 And who is there whom his forgiveness can fail to heal?
