Difference between revisions of "ACIM Workbook - Lesson 192"
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| − | I have a function God would have me fill. | + | I have a [[function]] [[God]] would have me fill. |
| − | It is your Father's holy Will that you complete Himself, and that your Self | + | It is [[your Father]]'s holy Will that you complete Himself, and that [[your Self]] |
| − | shall be His sacred Son, forever pure as He, of love created and in love | + | shall be His sacred Son, forever [[pure]] as He, of [[love]] created and in love |
preserved, extending love, creating in its name, forever one with God and | preserved, extending love, creating in its name, forever one with God and | ||
| − | with your Self. Yet what can such a function mean within a world of envy, | + | with your [[Self]]. Yet what can such a function mean within a world of [[envy]], |
| − | hatred and attack? | + | [[hatred]] and [[attack]]? |
| − | Therefore, you have a function in the world in its own terms. For who can | + | Therefore, you have a [[function]] in the world in its own terms. For who can |
| − | understand a language far beyond his simple grasp? Forgiveness represents | + | [[understand]] a language far beyond his simple grasp? [[Forgiveness]] represents |
| − | your function here. It is not God's creation, for it is the means by which | + | your function here. It is not God's [[creation]], for it is [[the means]] by which |
| − | untruth can be undone. And who would pardon Heaven? Yet on earth, you | + | untruth can be undone. And who would [[pardon]] [[Heaven]]? Yet on earth, you |
| − | need the means to let illusions go. Creation merely waits for your return to | + | need the means to let [[illusions]] go. Creation merely waits for your return to |
be acknowledged, not to be complete. | be acknowledged, not to be complete. | ||
| − | Creation cannot even be conceived of in the world. It has no meaning here. | + | [[Creation]] cannot even be conceived of in the world. It has no [[meaning]] here. |
| − | Forgiveness is the closest it can come to earth. For being Heaven-born, it | + | [[Forgiveness]] is the closest it can come to earth. For being Heaven-born, it |
| − | has no form at all. Yet God created One Who has the power to translate in | + | has no [[form]] at all. Yet God created One Who has the [[power]] to translate in |
| − | form the wholly formless. What He makes are dreams, but of a kind so | + | form the wholly formless. What He makes are [[dreams]], but of a kind so |
| − | close to waking that the light of day already shines in them, and eyes | + | close to waking that the [[light]] of day already shines in them, and eyes |
| − | already opening behold the joyful sights their offerings contain. | + | already opening behold the [[joyful]] sights their offerings contain. |
| − | Forgiveness gently looks upon all things unknown in Heaven, sees them | + | [[Forgiveness]] gently looks upon all things [[unknown]] in [[Heaven]], sees them |
disappear, and leaves the world a clean and unmarked slate on which the | disappear, and leaves the world a clean and unmarked slate on which the | ||
| − | Word of God can now replace the senseless symbols written there before. | + | Word of God can now replace the senseless [[symbols]] written there before. |
| − | Forgiveness is the means by which the fear of death is overcome, because it | + | Forgiveness is [[the means]] by which the fear of [[death]] is overcome, because it |
| − | holds no fierce attraction now and guilt is gone. Forgiveness lets the body | + | holds no fierce [[attraction]] now and [[guilt]] is gone. Forgiveness lets the [[body]] |
be perceived as what it is; a simple teaching aid, to be laid by when learning | be perceived as what it is; a simple teaching aid, to be laid by when learning | ||
is complete, but hardly changing him who learns at all. | is complete, but hardly changing him who learns at all. | ||
| − | The mind without the body cannot make mistakes. It cannot think that it | + | The [[mind]] without the body cannot make mistakes. It cannot think that it |
| − | will die, nor be the prey of merciless attack. Anger becomes impossible, and | + | will die, nor be the prey of merciless [[attack]]. [[Anger]] becomes impossible, and |
| − | where is terror then? What fears could still assail those who have lost the | + | where is [[terror]] then? What fears could still assail those who have lost the |
source of all attack, the core of anguish and the seat of fear? Only | source of all attack, the core of anguish and the seat of fear? Only | ||
| − | forgiveness can relieve the mind of thinking that the body is its home. Only | + | [[forgiveness]] can relieve the mind of thinking that the body is its [[home]]. Only |
| − | forgiveness can restore the peace that God intended for His holy Son. Only | + | forgiveness can restore the [[peace]] that God intended for His holy Son. Only |
| − | forgiveness can persuade the Son to look again upon his holiness. | + | forgiveness can persuade the Son to look again upon his [[holiness]]. |
| − | With anger gone, you will indeed perceive that, for Christ's vision and the | + | With [[anger]] gone, you will indeed [[perceive]] that, for Christ's [[vision]] and the |
| − | gift of sight, no sacrifice was asked, and only pain was lifted from a sick | + | gift of sight, no [[sacrifice]] was asked, and only pain was lifted from a sick |
| − | and tortured mind. Is this unwelcome? Is it to be feared? Or is it to be hoped | + | and [[tortured]] mind. Is this unwelcome? Is it to be feared? Or is it to be [[hoped]] |
for, met with thanks and joyously accepted? We are one, and therefore give | for, met with thanks and joyously accepted? We are one, and therefore give | ||
| − | up nothing. But we have indeed been given everything by God. | + | up nothing. But we have indeed been given [[everything]] by God. |
| − | Yet do we need forgiveness to perceive that this is so. Without its kindly | + | Yet do we need [[forgiveness]] to [[perceive]] that this is so. Without its kindly |
| − | light we grope in darkness, using reason but to justify our rage and our | + | [[light]] we grope in [[darkness]], using reason but to justify our [[rage]] and our |
| − | attack. Our understanding is so limited that what we think we understand is | + | attack. Our understanding is so [[limited]] that what we think we understand is |
| − | but confusion born of error. We are lost in mists of shifting dreams and | + | but [[confusion]] born of [[error]]. We are lost in mists of shifting dreams and |
fearful thoughts, our eyes shut tight against the light; our minds engaged in | fearful thoughts, our eyes shut tight against the light; our minds engaged in | ||
worshipping what is not there. | worshipping what is not there. | ||
| − | Who can be born again in Christ but him who has forgiven everyone he sees | + | Who can be born again in [[Christ]] but him who has forgiven everyone he sees |
| − | or thinks of or imagines? Who could be set free while he imprisons anyone? | + | or thinks of or [[imagines]]? Who could be set free while he imprisons anyone? |
| − | A jailer is not free, for he is bound together with his prisoner. He must be | + | A jailer is not free, for he is bound together with his [[prisoner]]. He must be |
| − | sure that he does not escape, and so he spends his time in keeping watch on | + | sure that he does not [[escape]], and so he spends his time in keeping watch on |
him. The bars that limit him become the world in which his jailer lives, | him. The bars that limit him become the world in which his jailer lives, | ||
| − | along with him. And it is on his freedom that the way to liberty depends for | + | along with him. And it is on his [[freedom]] that the way to liberty depends for |
both of them. | both of them. | ||
Therefore, hold no one prisoner. Release instead of bind, for thus are you | Therefore, hold no one prisoner. Release instead of bind, for thus are you | ||
| − | made free. The way is simple. Every time you feel a stab of anger, realize | + | made free. The way is [[simple]]. Every time you [[feel]] a stab of [[anger]], [[realize]] |
you hold a sword above your head. And it will fall or be averted as you | you hold a sword above your head. And it will fall or be averted as you | ||
| − | choose to be condemned or free. Thus does each one who seems to tempt | + | [[choose]] to be [[condemned]] or [[free]]. Thus does each one who seems to [[tempt]] |
| − | you to be angry represent your savior from the prison house of death. And | + | you to be angry represent your [[savior]] from the prison house of [[death]]. And |
| − | so you owe him thanks instead of pain. | + | so you owe him thanks instead of [[pain]]. |
| − | Be merciful today. The Son of God deserves your mercy. It is he who asks | + | Be [[merciful]] today. The Son of God deserves your mercy. It is he who asks |
| − | that you accept the way to freedom now. Deny him not. His Father's Love | + | that you [[accept]] the way to [[freedom]] now. [[Deny]] him not. His Father's Love |
| − | for him belongs to you. Your function here on earth is only to forgive him, | + | for him belongs to you. Your [[function]] here on earth is only to forgive him, |
| − | that you may accept him back as your Identity. He is as God created him. | + | that you may accept him back as your [[Identity]]. He is as God created him. |
And you are what he is. Forgive him now his sins, and you will see that you | And you are what he is. Forgive him now his sins, and you will see that you | ||
are one with him. | are one with him. | ||
[[Category: Workbook I]] | [[Category: Workbook I]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Forgiveness]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:55, 23 September 2015
I have a function God would have me fill.
It is your Father's holy Will that you complete Himself, and that your Self shall be His sacred Son, forever pure as He, of love created and in love preserved, extending love, creating in its name, forever one with God and with your Self. Yet what can such a function mean within a world of envy, hatred and attack?
Therefore, you have a function in the world in its own terms. For who can understand a language far beyond his simple grasp? Forgiveness represents your function here. It is not God's creation, for it is the means by which untruth can be undone. And who would pardon Heaven? Yet on earth, you need the means to let illusions go. Creation merely waits for your return to be acknowledged, not to be complete.
Creation cannot even be conceived of in the world. It has no meaning here. Forgiveness is the closest it can come to earth. For being Heaven-born, it has no form at all. Yet God created One Who has the power to translate in form the wholly formless. What He makes are dreams, but of a kind so close to waking that the light of day already shines in them, and eyes already opening behold the joyful sights their offerings contain.
Forgiveness gently looks upon all things unknown in Heaven, sees them disappear, and leaves the world a clean and unmarked slate on which the Word of God can now replace the senseless symbols written there before. Forgiveness is the means by which the fear of death is overcome, because it holds no fierce attraction now and guilt is gone. Forgiveness lets the body be perceived as what it is; a simple teaching aid, to be laid by when learning is complete, but hardly changing him who learns at all.
The mind without the body cannot make mistakes. It cannot think that it will die, nor be the prey of merciless attack. Anger becomes impossible, and where is terror then? What fears could still assail those who have lost the source of all attack, the core of anguish and the seat of fear? Only forgiveness can relieve the mind of thinking that the body is its home. Only forgiveness can restore the peace that God intended for His holy Son. Only forgiveness can persuade the Son to look again upon his holiness.
With anger gone, you will indeed perceive that, for Christ's vision and the gift of sight, no sacrifice was asked, and only pain was lifted from a sick and tortured mind. Is this unwelcome? Is it to be feared? Or is it to be hoped for, met with thanks and joyously accepted? We are one, and therefore give up nothing. But we have indeed been given everything by God.
Yet do we need forgiveness to perceive that this is so. Without its kindly light we grope in darkness, using reason but to justify our rage and our attack. Our understanding is so limited that what we think we understand is but confusion born of error. We are lost in mists of shifting dreams and fearful thoughts, our eyes shut tight against the light; our minds engaged in worshipping what is not there.
Who can be born again in Christ but him who has forgiven everyone he sees or thinks of or imagines? Who could be set free while he imprisons anyone? A jailer is not free, for he is bound together with his prisoner. He must be sure that he does not escape, and so he spends his time in keeping watch on him. The bars that limit him become the world in which his jailer lives, along with him. And it is on his freedom that the way to liberty depends for both of them.
Therefore, hold no one prisoner. Release instead of bind, for thus are you made free. The way is simple. Every time you feel a stab of anger, realize you hold a sword above your head. And it will fall or be averted as you choose to be condemned or free. Thus does each one who seems to tempt you to be angry represent your savior from the prison house of death. And so you owe him thanks instead of pain.
Be merciful today. The Son of God deserves your mercy. It is he who asks that you accept the way to freedom now. Deny him not. His Father's Love for him belongs to you. Your function here on earth is only to forgive him, that you may accept him back as your Identity. He is as God created him. And you are what he is. Forgive him now his sins, and you will see that you are one with him.
