March 12, 2019

We have given away our inherent power simply by believing we are at the mercy of the world. It may seem that we are vulnerable, frail and easily destroyed. But this is a direct result of our belief that has made this seem real. The world we seem to see is the result of our perceptions and we continually reinforce our perceptions until we decide we want to see something better. Perhaps we cannot change all the happenings in the world, but we can change our perception of them. The Course teaches us that we can see anything differently if we are willing to do so. Spirit promises us It will guide our perception to a more correct perception. But we must be willing to be guided by Spirit. Perhaps Spirit is our Higher Consciousness. There are many ways to see this. We have anchored ourselves in fear and it has become an immoveable anchor in a fearful world.

We are created One with our Source, Oneness, God, or what ever we might label the force behind Creation. This is a fact. We may have denied it to ourselves, but it is a changeless fact. Even as we denied this fact of reality, there is a plan for reawakening our awareness of our Oneness, our connection, our divine wholeness and the power that brings. We are meant to be in the awareness of Heaven on earth as we journey through this physical plain in human form. The Course teaches us to look beyond the appearance of the world we think we see to the real world that lies beyond it. A world of wholeness, completeness and limitlessness is there waiting for us to let the scales drop form our eyes to reveal the light beyond.

If you were one with God and recognized this oneness, you would know God’s power is yours. But you will not remember this while you believe attack of any kind means anything. It is unjustified in any form, because it has no meaning. The only way it could be justified is if you and another were separate from the other, and all were separate from your Creator. For only then would it be possible to attack a part of the creation without the whole, the Created without the Creator; and to attack another without yourself or hurt yourself without the other feeling pain. And this belief you want. Yet wherein lies its value, except in the desire to attack in safety? Attack is neither safe nor dangerous. It is impossible. And this is so because the universe is one. You would not choose attack on its reality if it were not essential to attack to see it separated from its maker. And thus it seems as if love could attack and become fearful.   T-22.VI.12:1-12

Important to learn is that when we arrack another we attack ourselves and our Creator since we are all One.  When we believe we are separate, we believe we can attack another and it doesn’t affect us. The opposite is true – when we attack another we attack ourselves and our Creator. Look beyond any attack and see the call for love that is its true message. This message may seem to be well disguised, but if we open our eyes we will see the real message behind it. We call out for love because we want to return to the awareness of the love within us we have denied. But while we deny it we cannot see it until we are willing to relinquish our denial. The ones we encounter on our journey are the ones we get to learn from and teach. These are the ones we get to see differently. These are the ones we take by the hand and step together into the reawakening of our mutual holiness.

This is the function of your holy relationship. For what one thinks, the other will experience with them. What can this mean except your mind and another’s are one? Look not with fear upon this happy fact, and think not that it lays a heavy burden on you. For when you have accepted it with gladness, you will realize that your relationship is a reflection of the union of the Creator and the Created. From loving minds there is no separation. And every thought in one brings gladness to the other because they are the same. Joy is unlimited, because each shining thought of love extends its being and creates more of itself. There is no difference anywhere in it, for every thought is like itself.   T-22.VI.14:1-9

The light that joins us shines throughout the universe, and because it joins each of us and another, so it makes us one with our Creator. All creation is joined. Our relationship can also teach that the power of love is within us and our relationships which makes all fear impossible. This gift is given us to be used, and not denied or hidden. Let truth decide if you and the one you are in relationship with are separate or One, and let truth teach which is true. Let your thoughts and your actions in this world be guided by that within you that is One.

March 5, 2019

Our purpose in this world is to bring peace. This is not a superficial peace where there appears to be peace, but conflict ripples beneath the surface. This is a deep peace where all conflict is gone despite what appears on the surface. One might call this a deep knowing of the reality of our true peaceful nature. There is nothing but peace in Heaven. There is nothing but love in Heaven. There is no conflict in reality – none at all. This may be hard to accept when we seem to see conflict all around us. The conflict around us is an illusion. It is a distorted, twisted look at peace that appears as conflict only because we believe it is real. Why do we continually offer each other conflict? No one likes it. However, instead of refusing to be in conflict – looking beyond conflict – we look at conflict as the problem and thus try to resolve the symptom rather than the problem. The problem is unforgiveness.

Child of peace, the light has come to you. The light you bring you do not recognize, and yet you will remember. Who can deny themselves the vision that they bring to others? And who would fail to recognize a gift they let be laid in Heaven through themselves? The gentle service that you give the Holy Spirit is service to yourself. You who are now Spirit’s means must love all that Spirit loves. And what you bring is your remembrance of everything that is eternal. No trace of anything in time can long remain in a mind that serves the timeless. And no illusion can disturb the peace of a relationship that has become the means of peace.   T-22.VI.6:1-9

Look upon the one you are in relationship with in this moment. Look on them with complete forgiveness, excluding no error and hiding nothing. There is no mistake anywhere you cannot overlook from complete forgiveness. No form of suffering can block our sight, preventing us from seeing past it. Recognize each form of illusion as a mistake; a shadow through which we may walk completely undismayed. Remember, forgiveness is not tolerance of anyone’s mistakes, it is looking beyond the appearance of mistakes to the truth of who they really are – to see the love, light and peace that is their true being. We may think they have sinned, but it is our own mistaken perception that sees them as sinful. Complete forgiveness is looking beyond the appearance of sim to their holiness which lies beyond the unholy appearance we think we see through our own judgment of them.

You will see your value through another’s eyes, and each one is released as they behold their savior in place of the attacker who they thought was there. Through this releasing is the world released. This is your part in bringing peace. For you have asked what is your function here, and have been answered. Seek not to change it, nor to substitute another goal. This one was given you, and only this. Accept this one and serve it willingly, for what the Holy Spirit does with gifts you give another, to whom Spirit offers them, and where and when, is up to Spirit. Sprit will bestow them where they are received and welcomed. Spirit will use every one of them for peace. Nor will one little smile or willingness to overlook the tiniest mistake be lost to anyone.   T-22.VI.8:1-10

We need not worry if the appearance of the healing appears in time, for Spirit directs the healing we offer to another to occur when another is ready to receive it. This is the holy purpose of the illusion of time. Know that you have completely forgiven another and looked beyond any appearance of nonacceptance to their holiness. In this way we are another’s savior. A holy relationship is one that has been transformed by one or the other through complete forgiveness – excluding no one error or mistake. It is universal blessing to look on what our Creator loves with charity. Leave to Spirit the function to extend forgiveness in It’s own time. We need only concern ourselves with offering forgiveness. Offer the tiny gifts that extend forever. Spirit will take each tiny gift and make it a potent force for peace. Each little gift of love is a source of healing for everyone. Each little gift we offer to each other lights up the world. Look away from darkness and toward the holiness in each other. Light is lain gently in each quiet smile of faith and confidence with which we bless each other. Be the blessing you are.

February 26, 2019

We always are free to choose. We are also free to choose again if what we chose does not work for us. Do we want freedom of the body or of the mind? We cannot have both. Which do we value? Which is our goal? One we see as means; the other, we see as end. Also, of body and mind, one must serve the other and lead to its predominance, increasing its importance by diminishing the importance of the other. Means always serve the end, and as the end is reached the value of the means decreases, eclipsed entirely when they are recognized as having no function. We all yearn for freedom and try to find it. We will seek for it where we believe it is and can be found. We will believe it possible of mind or body, and we will make the other serve our choice as means to find it. Our ultimate choice is between the body – separation – and the mind – Oneness. Our choice indicates what we value – at least for the moment.

When we choose freedom of the body – or separation – we relegate the mind to serving and supporting the belief in separation. One might also call this serving the belief in sin. This is a situation so contradictory and so impossible that anyone who chooses this has no idea of what is valuable. It is utter insanity since it supports a belief in unreality. But even in the face of utter insanity, Spirit patiently and gently waits, sure we will eventually make the only real choice. For Spirit knows this mad decision was made by one as dear to Oneness as love is to itself. Spirit’s vigilance on our behalf never waivers, even as our own vigilance waivers.

Spirit easily changes the roles of means and end once we dicide to allow Spirit to guide our mind, making the freedom of our mind the end and using the body as a means to that end. To serve this end, the body must be perceived as sinless, because the goal is sinlessness. The lack of contradiction makes the soft transition from means to end as easy as is the shift from hate to gratitude before forgiving eyes. In this transition our relationship with another becomes holy, serving to heal both our minds in the reawakening of the awareness of our Oneness.

This holy relationship, lovely in its innocence, mighty in strength, and blazing with a light far brighter than the sun that lights the sky you see, is chosen of your Creator as a means for Your Creator’s Own plan. Be thankful that it serves yours not at all. Nothing entrusted to it can be misused, and nothing given it but will be used. This holy relationship has the power to heal all pain, regardless of its form. Neither you nor your friend alone can serve at all. Only in your joint will does healing lie. For here your healing is, and here will you accept At-One-ment. And in your healing is Oneness healed because your will and your friend’s are joined.   T-22.VI.4:1-8

The return to the awareness that our relationship with another is holy and always has been brings the return of the awareness of the light within all of us to our minds. The ancient song of Peace echoes in our minds as it always has, but went unheard for a time while we denied it. We now rest again in Oneness as peace of mind wells up again in our consciousness.

Before a holy relationship there is no sin. The form of error is no longer seen, and reason, joined with love, looks quietly on all confusion, observing merely, “This was a mistake.” And then the same At-One-ment you accepted in your relationship corrects the error, and lays a part of Heaven in its place. How blessed are you who let this gift be given! Each part of Heaven that you bring is given you. And every empty place in Heaven that you fill again with the eternal light you bring, shines now on you. The means of sinlessness can know no fear because they carry only love with them.   T-22.VI.5:1-7

As we allow Spirit to gently guide the redefining of means and end to our mind, open your mind’s eye to the light within each One and see them and yourself sinless once again. Look beyond the appearance of sinfulness to the reality of sinlessness. See that you are surrounded by the peace and love of Heaven. Bask in It’s healing love and rest in your return to the awareness of who you really are. We are Peace unlimited.

February 19, 2019

Have you ever heard someone say, “Thou protesteth too loudly?” It’s usually in response to a very vigorous defense of something one does not want to admit may not be true or real. When we have given our allegiance to our own egoic thought system, we want to vigorously defend any questioning of whatever thought we have aligned with. We don’t really care whether our thought is wrong or right, we just want to insist it’s right no matter what. We’ve invested our worth in it being right. We are reluctant to consider any questioning of our thought at all. This is the way we persist in the world of separation. We have become invested in the world of separation and are reluctant to even entertain the thought that this may not be real – that it may be an illusion. We are afraid that questioning this illusory thought may weaken us. And so, we see ourselves as being weak.

In this seeming weakness our egoic thought system wants defenses to justify what goes against the truth, flies in the face of reason and makes no sense. This is an invitation to insanity, to save us from the truth. We would thus be saved from what we fear – truth. Our egoic thought system’s belief in separation needs great defense, and at enormous cost. All that Spirit offers must be defended against and sacrificed. The idea of separation is carved into a block out of our own peace and laid between us and the return of peace.

Yet how can peace be so fragmented? It is still whole, and nothing has been taken from it. See how the means and the material of evil dreams are nothing. In truth you and your another stand together, with nothing in between. Oneness holds your hands, and what can separate whom Oneness has joined as one with Oneness? It is your Source Whom you would defend against. Yet it remains impossible to keep love out. Source rests with you in quiet, undefended and wholly undefending, for in this quiet state alone is strength and power. Here can no weakness enter, for here is no attack and therefore no illusions. Love rests in certainty. Only uncertainty can be defensive. And all uncertainty is doubt about yourself.   T-22.V.3:1-12

Fear is weak – little and meaningless. Fear is insignificant before the quiet strength of those whom love has joined! Fear is our “enemy,” – a frightened mouse that would attack the universe. How could it succeed? Its feeble squeaks boast of its omnipotence and would drown out the hymn of praise to its Source that every heart throughout the universe sings as one forever. Which is stronger? We and our friend are not joined together by this mouse, but by Oneness. Can a mouse betray those Oneness has joined?

If you but recognized how little stands between you and your awareness of your union with each other! Be not deceived by the illusions it presents of size and thickness, weight, solidity and firmness of foundation. Yes, to the body’s eyes it looks like an enormous solid body, immovable as is a mountain. Yet within you is a Force that no illusions can resist. This body only seems to be immovable; this Force is irresistible in truth. What, then, must happen when they come together? Can the illusion of immovability be long defended from what is quietly passed through and gone beyond?   T-22.V.5:1-7

Set aside your belief in separation. Look beyond what appears to be a huge blockade to the freedom of love and peace beyond. The blockade is not real, it is an illusion made from our belief in separation. As we look beyond that illusion, the blockade fades to nothingness. We see our companions as they truly are – One with us and each other. Joy rises in our hearts as we hear the ancient hymn of peace and love that wells up within our minds reminding us of who we really are. Only our unwillingness to overlook what seems immovable and impenetrable and forgive each other our misperceptions that hinder our awareness of the peace, love and joy of the Oneness we really are. Be willing and realize the truth about yourself and all the universe where all is well.

February 12, 2019

We may wonder how many branches in the road we must encounter on our journey. And how many times we must make that decision about which road to take. Perhaps we are coming again and again to the same branching in the road. Perhaps we have made the same choice time and again to take the road of separation and come back to the same branching, even though it may seem to be a different branching. The whole purpose of coming this far is to decide which branching we will take now. The way we came no longer matters, for it can no longer serve us. When we reach this far, we can no longer make the wrong decision, although we can delay. There is no part of our journey that seems more hopeless and futile than standing where the road branches, and not deciding on which way to go.

The first few steps along the correct way we chose may seem hard. And we may think we can still go back and make the other choice. This is not so. A choice made with the power of Heaven to uphold it cannot be undone. Our way is decided. There will be no part of Heaven and Truth withheld from us if we acknowledge this.

We stand with each other, here in this holy place, before the veil of separation that hangs between us and Truth. Let the veil be lifted! Raise it together, for it is nothing but a veil that stands between us. One of us alone will see it as a solid block, and not realize how thin the veil is that separates us. It is almost over in our awareness, and peace has reached us even here, before the veil. Think what will happen after the veil is lifted. The Love of Truth will light our faces, and shine into a darkened world that needs the light. And from this holy place Truth will return with us.  We will become Truth’s messenger, returning Truth to Itself.

Think of the loveliness that you will see, who walk with Truth! And think how beautiful will you and another look to the other! How happy you will be to be together, after such a long and lonely journey where you walked alone. The gates of Heaven, open now for you, will you now open to the sorrowful. And none who looks upon the Truth in you but will rejoice. How beautiful the sight you saw beyond the veil, which you will bring to light the tired eyes of those as weary now as once you were. How thankful will they be to see you come among them, offering Christ’s forgiveness to dispel their faith in sin.   T-22.IV.4:1-7

As we journey together, we will each gently see each other’s mistakes corrected for each other. For in another’s sight our loveliness is their salvation, which they would protect from harm. We will be each other’s strong protector from everything that seems to rise between us. We shall walk the world with Truth, whose message has not yet been given everyone. We are here to let this message be received. The offer is still open and it waits acceptance. It is received from those who have accepted it. Into our joined hands is it safely given, for those of us who share it are its willing guardian and protector. The awareness of Grace is given all of us who share this Love. We realize it is ours forever. All barriers, obstacles and veils that seem to block our awareness of Truth and Love fade in the sharing of this Love. We need simply to let it shine from within us for it to make its message of hope, freedom and release from suffering apparent to everyone who needs this miracle to free them.

How easy is it to offer this miracle to everyone! No one who has received it for themselves could find it difficult. For by receiving it, they learned it was not given them alone. Such is the function of a holy relationship; to receive together and give as you received. Standing before the veil, it still seems difficult. But hold out your hand, joined with another’s, and touch this heavy-seeming block, and you will learn how easily your fingers slip through its nothingness. It is no solid wall. And only an illusion stands between you and another, and the holy Self you share together.   T-22.IV.7:1-8

Look within to your relationships and accept their holiness, offering the miracle of freedom and hope to all the world. Take the hand of another and step on the correct road to the awareness of your wholeness in Light and Love.

January 29, 2019

We have discussed reason in the previous chapter and earlier in this chapter. Reason is an incorruptible tool that is already within us and is protected from the egoic thought system we made up to support the idea of separation. Reason will guide our mind to correct thinking if we will turn our attention away from our egoic thought system to the Vision within us, for reason and the egoic thought system cannot coexist in our awareness. Reason’s goal is to make plain, and therefore obvious. We can see reason. This is not a play on words, for here is the beginning of vision that has meaning. Vision is literally sense. For it is plain, and what is obvious is not ambiguous. Vision, as Reason, can be understood. And here do reason and the ego separate, to go their separate ways.

The ego’s whole continuance depends on its belief you cannot learn this course. Share this belief, and reason will be unable to see your errors and make way for their correction. For reason sees through errors, telling you what you thought was real is not. Reason can see the difference between sin and mistakes, because it wants correction. Therefore, it tells you what you thought was uncorrectable can be corrected, and thus it must have been an error. The ego’s opposition to correction leads to its fixed belief in sin and disregard of errors. It looks on nothing that can be corrected. Thus does the ego damn, and reason save.   T-22.III.2:1-7

Reason understands that sin is not real except that it can serve as a block to the awareness of the peace that surrounds us always. Reason makes way for peace and brings us to a state of mind in which healing can be given to us. Our belief in sin is a block, set like a heavy locked gate across the road to peace. No one who looks on it without the help of reason would dare try to pass it. The body’s eyes perceive it as solid granite, so thick it would be madness to attempt to pass it. Yet reason sees through it easily, because it is an error. The form this blockade takes cannot conceal its emptiness from reason’s eyes. Reason, when we choose to see it, always looks beyond the appearance of whatever stands in the way to our own awareness of peace in our lives.

Our egoic thought system is attracted only to the form of error. It does not recognize meaning or see whether or not meaning is even there. Everything we see with the body’s eyes is a mistake, an error in perception, a distorted fragment of the whole without the meaning that the whole would give. Yet mistakes, regardless of their form, can be corrected. Our egoic thought system is invested in keeping those mistakes seeming real to reinforce the blocks to peace it has placed in our minds.

Reason will tell you that the form of error is not what makes it a mistake. If what the form conceals is a mistake, the form cannot prevent correction. The body’s eyes see only form. They cannot see beyond what they were made to see. And they were made to look on error and not see past it. Theirs is indeed a strange perception, for they can see only illusions, unable to look beyond the granite block of sin, and stopping at the outside form of nothing. To this distorted form of vision the outside of everything, the wall that stands between you and the truth, is wholly true. Yet how can sight that stops at nothingness, as if it were a solid wall, see truly?   T-22.III.5:1-8

Take a moment. Stop and consider this. The body’s eyes are part of the world of form. Reason will show us vision – a way of seeing beyond the appearance of the world of form. The world is temporary. It will change, it will erode, it will always change its appearance. Mo two of us will ever perceive the world the same. Vision shows us what is permanent and unchangeable beyond what the body’s eyes see. Take a moment and ask your Higher Holy Spirit, your Higher Power within you, for guidance in seeing with your Vision to see beyond the appearance of what you currently see. This is the divine guidance – the divine Vision we seek. This is where the truth about who and what we really are lies. Open your mind to this shift in perception and step into the peace and love that is your natural state of being.

January 22, 2019

What is our perception of ourselves, each other and the world we see? What we see reveals what we think about ourselves and each other. Our view of ourselves, each other ad the world reveals whether we are “seeing” through the lens of separation or the vision of Oneness. The lens of separation shows us the misery, judgement and unhappiness we have projected on the world. The vision of Oneness reveals the love and peace that is the realty condition of all that is real. Releasing the need to be separate from each other opens our minds to the reality and fullness of love and peace present in Oneness.

Look closer at the world you think you see and that you believe is real. This world appears to have power. Yet it appears to have any power only because we have placed our faith and belief in the idea of separation and the thoughts supported by that belief. This belief takes us captive. This belief limits our freedom, our limitlessness and our wholeness. No longer need we hold these beliefs to be true. Our inherent wholeness in our Oneness shines with the light of the Great Rays of Love and Peace. These Great Rays cannot be extinguished. They are the truth of love and peace dwelling within our true nature. All limitation and unworthiness fades away in this great light within us. And we need simply accept that which is already ours.

Only our thoughts in separation have been impossible. Freedom from these limiting thoughts cannot be impossible. It is impossible to look upon each other as enemies and recognize them for who they really are. Yet it is possible to recognize them for what they are in Oneness. What Oneness has given to our holy relationship is recognized there. We receive from others what Oneness has given them for us just as they receive the same from us. No more does the “special relationship” made in separation have any reality for us at all.

Beyond the body that you interposed between you and another, and shining in the golden light that reaches it from the bright, endless circle that extends forever, is your holy relationship, beloved of Oneness. How still it rests, in time and yet beyond, immortal yet on earth. How great the power that lies in it. Time waits upon its will, and earth will be as it would have it be. Here is no separate will, nor the desire that anything be separate. Its will has no exceptions, and what it wills is true. Every illusion brought to its forgiveness is gently overlooked and disappears. For at its center Oneness has been reborn, to light Its home with vision that overlooks the world. Would you not have this holy home be yours as well? No misery is here, but only joy.   T-22.II.12:1-10

All you need do to dwell in quiet here in Oneness is share this holy vision. Quickly and gladly is this holy vision given anyone who is but willing to see another sinless. And no one can remain beyond this willingness, if you would be released entirely from all effects of sin. Would you have partial forgiveness for yourself? Can you reach Heaven while a single sin still tempts you to remain in misery? Heaven is the home of perfect purity, and Oneness created it for you. Look on your holy friend, sinless as yourself, and let them lead you there.   T-22.II.13:1-7

Accept your home in Heaven on earth as you allow your relationships to be healed and recognized holy. Every moment, every situation, every encounter, is an opportunity to recognize each other’s sinlessness and offer the miracle of healing and receive it yourself. As each relationship is transformed to holiness, we step into the awareness of who we really are.

January 15, 2019

What are we willing to choose, misery or joy? This is a choice between ourselves and an illusion of ourselves. What is our true desire? Sure, we all want joy, and no one wants misery. Yet we tend to be unwilling to completely let go of the familiar misery to step into joy. Joy and misery cannot co-exist. If we don’t know what to let go of, let go of everything.  What is real will remain. What is misery will fade into nothingness. When we truly let go of everything, joy will rise in the place misery was. Attaining joy, love and peace is possible.

This is a crucial period in this course, for here the separation of you and the ego must be made complete. For if you have the means to let the Holy Spirit’s purpose be accomplished, they can be used. And through their use will you gain faith in them. Yet to the ego this must be impossible, and no one undertakes to do what holds no hope of ever being done. You know what your Creator wills is possible, but what you made believes it is not so. Now must you choose between yourself and an illusion of yourself. Not both, but one. There is no point in trying to avoid this one decision. It must be made. Faith and belief can fall to either side, but reason tells you misery lies only on one side and joy upon the other.   T-22.II.6:1-10

When you make this choice, do not forget that you are also making this choice for your brother, your sister, your friend. We are all One and so we cannot leave each other behind. Joy is not just for the few, but for all and cannot be realized or recognized in separation. It is recognized in joining. It is recognized in Oneness. True joy is shared by all of creation. True joy is meaningless unless we recognize it in all. Offer each other joy. Joy is limitless and permeates everything – all reality. The deepness of joy is unfathomable. It is either wholly true or wholly false and thus is either experienced wholly or not at all. We have been waiting to choose between the joy of Heaven and the misery of hell. Until we choose Heaven, we are in hell and misery.

There is no part of Heaven you can take and weave into illusions. Nor is there one illusion you can enter Heaven with. A savior cannot be a judge, nor mercy condemnation. And vision cannot damn, but only bless. Whose function is to save, will save. How Spirit will do it is beyond your understanding, but when must be your choice. For time you made, and time you can command. You are no more a slave to time than to the world you made.   T-22.II.8:1-8

It is your choice and no one else’s. It is not another’s choice that you reluctantly go along with. It must be your free choice. Your friends are waiting for you to make that choice and begin to see their holiness along with your own. Release the blocks to the flow of love in all your relationships, allowing healing, and transforming all to holy relationships. Here we enter the gates of Heaven. Here we leave behind even the concept of hell. Joy is our holy destiny. Make the choice to let go of every barrier to the flow of that joy now.