Daily Inspiration

How to Have a Joyous Day

Forgiveness is the key to happiness.

Here is the answer to your search for peace. Here is the key to meaning in a world that seems to make no sense. Here is the way to safety in apparent dangers that appear to threaten you at every turn, and bring uncertainty to all your hopes of ever fin­d­ing quietness and peace. Here are all questions answered; here the end of all uncertainty ensured at last.

The unforgiving mind is full of fear, and offers love no room to be itself; no place where it can spread its wings in peace and soar above the turmoil of the world.

Forgiveness is acquired. It is not inherent in the mind, which cannot sin. As sin is an idea you taught yourself, forgiveness must be learned by you as well, but from a Teacher other than yourself, Who represents the other Self in you. Through Him you learn how to forgive the self you think you made, and let it disappear. Thus you return your mind as one to Him Who is your Self, and Who can never sin [separate from God].

Each unforgiving mind presents you with an opportunity to teach your own how to forgive itself. Each one awaits release from hell through you, and turns to you imploringly for Heaven here and now. It has no hope, but you become its hope. And as its hope, do you become your own. The unforgiving mind must learn through your forgiveness that it has been saved from hell. And as you teach salvation, you will learn. Yet all your teaching and your learning will be not of you, but of the Teacher Who was given you to show the way to you. (A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 121, W-pI.121.1;2:1;6-7. See also ACIM Lesson 121 Insights.)

We have convinced ourselves that we have successfully separated from God. We believe we are alone and capable of judging a world we perceive is outside of us. We believe that learning this lesson is essential for our survival. Yet it is a lesson that teaches us an illusionary self-image is real. Judgment maintains the seeming reality of this delusion.

This is why forgiveness is the means to awaken from this delusion of fear, guilt and unhappiness. The practice of taking all our judgments to the Holy Spirit to receive His lesson in Love opens the door to let in God’s joy. We let in His Love, which we naturally extend to the world when we accept His gift. Joy is an attribute of His Love, so it could be said that forgiveness is the key to Love. Forgiveness is Love’s reflection in the world (W-pII.352).

Today let us join in the practice of accepting the Holy Spirit’s forgiving vision in place of our judgments. It will be a joyous day indeed.

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