The light of the world brings peace to every mind through my forgiveness. This is my lesson today, lesson 63. What this says to me is that if I want world peace all I need to do is forgive. That is so amazing and simple to me and it makes sense. What I read in the text today after I read the lesson was so perfect. I've noticed, though, that it always is. I've always found that no matter what I read in the text of A Course in Miracles it offers much insight for whatever lesson I may be practicing for the day.
For, instance, Chapter 15, "The Holy Instant", says that truth is always simple and that it's only ego ideas that are complex. I used to think that forgiveness was complex. The truth is I didn't really understand what forgiveness is. I thought, that basically by forgiving, I was condoning what someone did and letting it be okay that they did that thing.
Then I started to think that forgiveness was putting yourself in another person's shoes. Thinking, "oh, this isn't about me, they must just be having a bad day, or, this isn't about me they are just not happy with themselves." But what I realized with this idea of forgiveness was, that justifying someone's behavior didn't take away the hurt that I felt. What they did or said still hurt my feelings.
Now I understand that the point in time that I felt hurt by someone was in the past. It is not happening right now. Even the instant that someone does something hurtful, the next instant I can let it go. The thing is, when it comes to another human being's negative thoughts and feelings or words about me, I don't even need to let it hurt me anymore so then there is no need to forgive in the first place. I am understanding more and more each day that there is nothing wrong with who I really am, which is spirit.
As far as forgiving people that have hurt me in the past, I have done that. I have let go of any negative thoughts I have about that person, because it wasn't the person, it was their actions and ego reactions. Further, I have let go of the negative ideas I have created about myself in association with that past hurt. I do not want to bring the past into the present any longer. Why would I want to continue to have the same unpleasant experience over an over again for the rest of my life?
Besides, most of the people I have felt a need to forgive are not even in my life anymore. I was the one who continued to let that situation from the past to continue to affect me. It's crazy! That person is no longer doing anything to me anymore. I'm doing it to myself.
So, ultimately it is myself that I need to forgive. After reading the lesson today, I was wondering why I still feel sad, annoyed, angry, etc. I thought, "I can't think of anyone else that I need to forgive." As soon as I thought that, I became aware of the fact that I'm sitting there smoking a cigarette. Yes, I admit it, I smoke cigarettes. Isn't the first step admitting that I have a problem?
Wow! I feel so guilty about smoking. I think it's a disgusting habit and a lot of the time I think I'm a horrible person for doing it. "Why do I smoke," I ask. "For comfort," I say. Why would I need cigarettes to make me comfortable, when God is always with me. Well, I don't always think God is always with me. I still think I'm flawed often even though I've made great strides over the last few months. And I don't always think deserve peace, love and contentment of a divine nature.
One of my former spiritual teacher's and now one of my best friend's and I like to use the term mentor, Sheila, told me she thinks I smoke because I feel unloved. She's right about that. But it's not because someone told me I'm not lovable and there's no one in my life right now that is not loving to me. I don't love myself. I'm doing this to myself.
The second sentence of my lesson today says, "I am the means God has appointed for the salvation of the world." It says, "I am". So, it's not others I need to forgive, it is myself. Besides, are minds are connected so it would make sense that when I forgive someone I also forgive myself. When I forgive myself, I forgive the world!
Speaking of salvation, chapter 15, "The Holy Instant", says , "Every allegiance to a plan of salvation apart from Him (God) diminishes the value of His Will for you in your own mind. And yet it is your mind that is the host to him. Would you learn how perfect and immaculate is the holy alter on which your Father has placed Himself? This you will recognize in the holy instant , in which you have been willing to meet its conditions. You can claim the holy instant any time and anywhere you want it. "
Jesus says, in chapter 15, that my mind not need be completely pure to claim the holy instant but that I need to be willing to give up my impure thoughts. Jesus says, "You could live forever in the holy instant, beginning now and reaching to eternity, but for a very simple reason. Do not obscure the simplicity of this reason, for if you do, it will be only because you prefer not to recognize it and not to let it go. The simple reason, simply stated, is this: The holy instant is a time in which you receive and give perfect communication. This means, however, that it is a time in which your mind is open, both to receive and give. It is the recognition that all minds are in communication. It therefore seeks to change nothing, but merely to accept everything."
So what this is saying is that to have perfect communication with God, which would mean to bring peace to every mind, is that I have nothing to hide. I am willing to let go of all of my false thoughts about myself and others and the world. Jesus says also in this section that every thought I would hide cuts me off from perfect communication. That even though the Holy Spirit is always ready to share in perfect communication, if I think I can keep any of my thoughts hidden then I'm not ready to share in perfect communication.
But really it seems so simple to have perfect communication and to claim the holy instant. Just be totally willing to both give and receive. Be willing to give everything and receive everything. To have my mind totally open. I am willing to have no private thoughts. The last paragraph of this section says, "For what you would hide is hidden from you. In your practice then, try only to be vigilant against deception, and seek not to protect the thoughts you would keep to yourself. Let the Holy Spirit's purity shine them away, and bring all your awareness to the readiness for purity He offers you. Thus will He make you ready to acknowledge that you are host to God, and hostage to no one and to nothing."
So I admit to the Holy Spirit, I do have a problem. I have impure and negative thoughts about myself, but I'm willing to give them up so my thoughts may become pure and I can take my place in the salvation of the world.
This section of the text also talks about Christmas as the celebration of the birth of holiness into the world. It says, "It is beyond all your littleness to give the gift of God, but not beyond you. For God would give Himself through you."
I love Christmas time. Why not make every moment Christmas time? Most people during the one day of the year we celebrate Christmas set aside their grievances to give gifts and spend time with family. Even my Step-dad who is full of grievances, sets them aside so the family may have a joyous day. I have to say, I love my Step-dad dearly. He never once made me feel unloved or any different than his biological daughter. But, that man has more grievances than anyone I know, nearly everyday there is a new one. Somehow he manages to forget them one day out the year.
So lets set aside all of our grievances and give the gift of God and allow God to give of himself through us. We can celebrate the holiness of each and every one of us so Christmas can be everyday. In lesson 63, Jesus says we are holy. "How holy are you who have the power to bring peace to every mind! How blessed are you who can learn to recognize the means for letting this be done through you! What purpose could you have that would bring you greater happiness?"
What other purpose would bring me greater happiness? I can't think of anything else. When I have a grievance I am unhappy and it is such a burden. When I let it all go, what a weight is lifted off! Forgiveness is the means to bring about peace.
For, instance, Chapter 15, "The Holy Instant", says that truth is always simple and that it's only ego ideas that are complex. I used to think that forgiveness was complex. The truth is I didn't really understand what forgiveness is. I thought, that basically by forgiving, I was condoning what someone did and letting it be okay that they did that thing.
Then I started to think that forgiveness was putting yourself in another person's shoes. Thinking, "oh, this isn't about me, they must just be having a bad day, or, this isn't about me they are just not happy with themselves." But what I realized with this idea of forgiveness was, that justifying someone's behavior didn't take away the hurt that I felt. What they did or said still hurt my feelings.
Now I understand that the point in time that I felt hurt by someone was in the past. It is not happening right now. Even the instant that someone does something hurtful, the next instant I can let it go. The thing is, when it comes to another human being's negative thoughts and feelings or words about me, I don't even need to let it hurt me anymore so then there is no need to forgive in the first place. I am understanding more and more each day that there is nothing wrong with who I really am, which is spirit.
As far as forgiving people that have hurt me in the past, I have done that. I have let go of any negative thoughts I have about that person, because it wasn't the person, it was their actions and ego reactions. Further, I have let go of the negative ideas I have created about myself in association with that past hurt. I do not want to bring the past into the present any longer. Why would I want to continue to have the same unpleasant experience over an over again for the rest of my life?
Besides, most of the people I have felt a need to forgive are not even in my life anymore. I was the one who continued to let that situation from the past to continue to affect me. It's crazy! That person is no longer doing anything to me anymore. I'm doing it to myself.
So, ultimately it is myself that I need to forgive. After reading the lesson today, I was wondering why I still feel sad, annoyed, angry, etc. I thought, "I can't think of anyone else that I need to forgive." As soon as I thought that, I became aware of the fact that I'm sitting there smoking a cigarette. Yes, I admit it, I smoke cigarettes. Isn't the first step admitting that I have a problem?
Wow! I feel so guilty about smoking. I think it's a disgusting habit and a lot of the time I think I'm a horrible person for doing it. "Why do I smoke," I ask. "For comfort," I say. Why would I need cigarettes to make me comfortable, when God is always with me. Well, I don't always think God is always with me. I still think I'm flawed often even though I've made great strides over the last few months. And I don't always think deserve peace, love and contentment of a divine nature.
One of my former spiritual teacher's and now one of my best friend's and I like to use the term mentor, Sheila, told me she thinks I smoke because I feel unloved. She's right about that. But it's not because someone told me I'm not lovable and there's no one in my life right now that is not loving to me. I don't love myself. I'm doing this to myself.
The second sentence of my lesson today says, "I am the means God has appointed for the salvation of the world." It says, "I am". So, it's not others I need to forgive, it is myself. Besides, are minds are connected so it would make sense that when I forgive someone I also forgive myself. When I forgive myself, I forgive the world!
Speaking of salvation, chapter 15, "The Holy Instant", says , "Every allegiance to a plan of salvation apart from Him (God) diminishes the value of His Will for you in your own mind. And yet it is your mind that is the host to him. Would you learn how perfect and immaculate is the holy alter on which your Father has placed Himself? This you will recognize in the holy instant , in which you have been willing to meet its conditions. You can claim the holy instant any time and anywhere you want it. "
Jesus says, in chapter 15, that my mind not need be completely pure to claim the holy instant but that I need to be willing to give up my impure thoughts. Jesus says, "You could live forever in the holy instant, beginning now and reaching to eternity, but for a very simple reason. Do not obscure the simplicity of this reason, for if you do, it will be only because you prefer not to recognize it and not to let it go. The simple reason, simply stated, is this: The holy instant is a time in which you receive and give perfect communication. This means, however, that it is a time in which your mind is open, both to receive and give. It is the recognition that all minds are in communication. It therefore seeks to change nothing, but merely to accept everything."
So what this is saying is that to have perfect communication with God, which would mean to bring peace to every mind, is that I have nothing to hide. I am willing to let go of all of my false thoughts about myself and others and the world. Jesus says also in this section that every thought I would hide cuts me off from perfect communication. That even though the Holy Spirit is always ready to share in perfect communication, if I think I can keep any of my thoughts hidden then I'm not ready to share in perfect communication.
But really it seems so simple to have perfect communication and to claim the holy instant. Just be totally willing to both give and receive. Be willing to give everything and receive everything. To have my mind totally open. I am willing to have no private thoughts. The last paragraph of this section says, "For what you would hide is hidden from you. In your practice then, try only to be vigilant against deception, and seek not to protect the thoughts you would keep to yourself. Let the Holy Spirit's purity shine them away, and bring all your awareness to the readiness for purity He offers you. Thus will He make you ready to acknowledge that you are host to God, and hostage to no one and to nothing."
So I admit to the Holy Spirit, I do have a problem. I have impure and negative thoughts about myself, but I'm willing to give them up so my thoughts may become pure and I can take my place in the salvation of the world.
This section of the text also talks about Christmas as the celebration of the birth of holiness into the world. It says, "It is beyond all your littleness to give the gift of God, but not beyond you. For God would give Himself through you."
I love Christmas time. Why not make every moment Christmas time? Most people during the one day of the year we celebrate Christmas set aside their grievances to give gifts and spend time with family. Even my Step-dad who is full of grievances, sets them aside so the family may have a joyous day. I have to say, I love my Step-dad dearly. He never once made me feel unloved or any different than his biological daughter. But, that man has more grievances than anyone I know, nearly everyday there is a new one. Somehow he manages to forget them one day out the year.
So lets set aside all of our grievances and give the gift of God and allow God to give of himself through us. We can celebrate the holiness of each and every one of us so Christmas can be everyday. In lesson 63, Jesus says we are holy. "How holy are you who have the power to bring peace to every mind! How blessed are you who can learn to recognize the means for letting this be done through you! What purpose could you have that would bring you greater happiness?"
What other purpose would bring me greater happiness? I can't think of anything else. When I have a grievance I am unhappy and it is such a burden. When I let it all go, what a weight is lifted off! Forgiveness is the means to bring about peace.
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