The real world holds a counterpart for each unhappy thought reflected in your world; a sure correction for the sights of fear and sounds of battle which your world contains. ²The real world shows a world seen differently, through quiet eyes and with a mind at peace. ³Nothing but rest is there. ⁴There are no cries of pain and sorrow heard, for nothing there remains outside forgiveness. ⁵And the sights are gentle. ⁶Only happy sights and sounds can reach the mind that has forgiven itself.
⁴The world it sees arises from a mind at peace within itself. ⁵No danger lurks in anything it sees, for it is kind, and only kindness does it look upon.
The real world is the symbol that the dream of sin and guilt is over, and God’s Son no longer sleeps. ²His waking eyes perceive the sure reflection of his Father’s Love; the certain promise that he is redeemed. ³The real world signifies the end of time, for its perception makes time purposeless. (A Course in Miracles What Is the Real World?, W-pII.8.2;3:4-4:3. See also ACIM Lesson 291 Insights.)
Symbols, by definition, are not real. They can represent illusions or reality. What a symbol means to us depends upon our belief which assigns meaning that fits what we want to be true. If we want specialness and separation, the world we see with the body’s eyes will be perceived as real. But if we want to be the Self God created one with Him, the oneness of Love will be recognized as real.
Our willingness to accept the ego’s symbols representing denial of God’s Love needs to be forgiven. The ego’s denial comes from its rejection of the oneness of God’s Love. Forgiveness frees us from that rejection and welcomes the gift of Love that created us one with God. Our perceptions in the world, every day, all day, are an opportunity to forgive the world for the separation we believe it represents.
As we let the Holy Spirit shine the Light of Love on our perceptions, we see past the ego’s projections to the presence of Love that joins us with our Creator. Forgiveness is the key to happiness.
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