Dec 16th 2015 Review II
Lesson 85
Review of Lessons 69 - 70
- Intention: We are now ready for another review. We will begin where our last review left off, and cover two ideas each day. The earlier part of each day will be devoted to one of these ideas, and the latter part of the day to the other. For each idea, we will have one longer exercise period, and frequent shorter ones in which we practice each of them.
- Long Practice: Spend a total of about fifteen minutes thinking about each each idea and
its associated comments. Devote some three or four minutes to reading
them over slowly, several times if you wish, then close your eyes and
spend the rest of the time listening attentively.
Repeat the first phase of the exercise (reading slowly) if you find your mind wandering, but try to spend the major part of the time listening quietly but attentively. There is a message waiting for you. Be confident that you will receive it. Remember that it belongs to you, and that you want it.
Do not allow your intent to waver in the face of distracting thoughts. Realize that, whatever form such thoughts may take, they have no meaning and no power. Replace them with your determination to succeed. Do not forget that your will has power over all fantasies and dreams. Trust it to see you through, and carry you beyond them all.
Regard these practice periods as dedications to the way, the truth and the life. Refuse to be sidetracked into detours, illusions and thoughts of death. You are dedicated to salvation. Be determined each day not to leave your function unfulfilled.
- Short Practice: Repeat
the original form of the idea often, and apply it for general
situations. When appropriate, use the specific forms included in the
comments which follow the statements of the ideas. These, however, are
merely suggestions. It is not the particular words you use that matter.
(69) My grievances hide the light of the world in me.
My grievances show me what is not there, and hide from me what I would see. Recognizing this, what do I want my grievances for? They keep me in darkness and hide the light. Grievances and light cannot go together, but light and vision must be joined for me to see. To see, I must lay grievances aside. I want to see, and this will be the means by which I will succeed.
Specific applications for this idea might be made in these forms:
Let me not use this as a block to sight.
The light of the world will shine all this away.
I have no need for this. I want to see.
(70) My salvation comes from me.
Today I will recognize where my salvation is. It is in me because its Source is there. It has not left its Source, and so it cannot have left my mind. I will not look for it outside myself. It is not found outside and then brought in. But from within me it will reach beyond and everything I see will but reflect the light that shines in me and in itself..
These forms of the idea are suitable for more specific applications:
Let this not tempt me to look away from me for my salvation.
I will not let this interfere with my awareness of the Source of my salvation.
I will not let this interfere with my awareness of the Source of my salvation.
This has no power to remove salvation from me.
Insights/Comments:
- We are the light of the world, and forgiveness is the means by which we fulfill our function to light the world, bringing joy to ourselves and all others. Grievances hide the light within us and so our world appears dark and joyless. Grievances arise whenever we forget our true identity as the holy children of God and begin to think of ourselves in terms that reflect the opposite of what we truly are: as separate individuals instead of unified with our siblings and our Creator; as limited by circumstances instead of limitless; as mortal instead of immortal, etc. Our Creator created us perfect, Spirit and free, yet when we forget this, we think we are our self-created egos.
Whenever we think of ourselves as less than the perfection God created we have forgotten our identity and function, and are therefore less than truly happy, for our happiness depends on fulfilling our function. Our lack of perfect happiness then is the indication that we have forgotten our identity and function, and are caught up in some grievance, wanting things to be other than the way they are. Whenever we fell unhappy we can remind ourselves to let go of whatever grievance we are attached to, so that we can remember our identity and function, and return to happiness. This is our means of salvation: by letting go of grievances we are choosing happiness and our function instead of illusions of righteousness.
To think that our happiness depends on things being other than the way they are, guarantees unhappiness because it goes against God's Will and leaves us constantly trying to "change" things to what we think will make us happy. But understanding that our happiness depends only on fulfilling our function, guarantees our happiness because that is in accord with God's Will. He made us for that purpose; it is our raison d'etre (reason for being,) our divine purpose, our joy, and our destiny to complete.
It is fortunate that our happiness and salvation comes from being what we already are--the light of the world, for this guarantees its fulfillment. It is a function we can no more fail to fulfill, than can the Sun fail to shine, the wind to blow, fire to burn, or the Earth to spin. Everything in creation has its function and is destined to fulfill that function because it is inherent, and we are not exceptions to this rule. Our salvation is inherent within us, yet we do have the choice of deciding when we will fulfill that function, and until we decide, we simply delay our perfect happiness.
It is not that we have to strive and struggle to perform our function, for then there would be the possibility of failure, but since we are already naturally equipped to perform our function, it is therefore natural, easy and effortless. We cannot fail in our function, but we can fail to recognize this, which leaves us unhappy. Yet the simple solution is to forgive ourselves, because it is God's Will that we succeed, so it is guaranteed.
