Forgiveness is the end of specialness. Only illusions can be forgiven, and then they disappear. Forgiveness is release from all illusions, and that is why it is impossible but partly to forgive. No one who clings to one illusion can see himself as sinless, for he holds one error to himself as lovely still. And so he calls it “unforgivable,” and makes it sin. How can he then give his forgiveness wholly, when he would not receive it for himself? For it is sure he would receive it wholly the instant that he gave it so. And thus his secret guilt would disappear, forgiven by himself.
It is not you who are so vulnerable and open to attack that just a word, a little whisper that you do not like, a circumstance that suits you not, or an event that you did not anticipate upsets your world, and hurls it into chaos. Truth is not frail. Illusions leave it perfectly unmoved and undisturbed. But specialness is not the truth in you. It [specialness] can be thrown off balance by anything. What rests on nothing never can be stable. However large and overblown it seems to be, it still must rock and turn and whirl about with every breeze.
The special ones are all asleep, surrounded by a world of loveliness they do not see. Freedom and peace and joy stand there, beside the bier on which they sleep, and call them to come forth and waken from their dream of death. …Open your eyes a little; see the savior [your brother] God gave to you that you might look on him, and give him back his birthright. It is yours. (A Course in Miracles, T-24.III.1;3;7:1-2,7. See also ACIM Text Q & A.)
The wish for specialness, to have something that is ours alone, is the basis for all conflict, fear and guilt in the world. To keep something that is ours alone, we must defend it. Believing we have something that is ours alone brings guilt with it. We treasure it but also realize that we are depriving our brothers of this treasure.
The changelessness of God’s Love given equally to all makes conflict impossible. There is nothing to defend. Everyone has all that is. We are united as one in God’s Love. To know this Love we must let go of the wish to keep something for ourselves alone. We must forgive this wish, for in the forgiving we clear away the barrier that hides the eternal Love of God from our awareness. This is how we waken from the dream of specialness to the joy of Heaven.
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