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There’s No Place Like Home — Choosing the Altar Now

by Revs. Deb & Paul Phelps, O.M.C.

In preparing for this article we invited the Holy Spirit to select the topic for us to share. We did this by first joining in holy purpose, quieting our minds and randomly opening up the Course. We know from experience that, when we practice this, Holy Spirit always selects the ‘perfect’ topic for us for that moment in our lives. This time, Holy Spirit gave us Text, Chapter 20, Section II: The Gift of Lilies.

In this reading, Jesus shares with us the idea of how we have used the body as a separation device and that we have a choice through forgiveness to see beyond the body to the unity and innocence that we share in reality. He helps us see that through the body we only offer punishment to both our brothers and ourselves. Through this choice of fear and separation that we have made, we hold no value in the truth of our brothers or in ourselves and therefore we believe that Love has no place in us.

We cannot give to one another by seeing bodies. It is only on the level of the mind that we can truly give and receive. Through our minds, we choose which gift we will offer to our brother and to ourselves. The gift is either love or fear. We can only offer one or the other. The gift we offer reflects the core belief we hold and therefore experience through our interactions with our brothers.

Jesus speaks to us as our brother in Christ. Jesus sees us as whole and suggests that we too can see our brothers as he sees us all. He reminds us that it is always our decision which gift we offer and receive. When we choose forgiveness, we let go of what we think we see and the vision of truth is revealed to us. When we choose otherwise, we see a grim image that reflects our belief in guilt. We cause ourselves pain when we choose to punish and blame.

Throughout the Course Jesus reminds us over and over again of the importance of practicing forgiveness — forgiveness of our brothers, ourselves, and the illusion of the world that seems to be around us. He tells us that when we forget to forgive our brothers, it is ourselves we are actually crucifying. “Offer him thorns and you are crucified. Offer him lilies and it is yourself you free.” (T-20.II.3:8)

He knows that there is something much better waiting for us and he wants us to receive these gifts waiting for us from the Holy Spirit. “Those who accept the Holy Spirit’s purpose as their own share also His vision.” (T-20.II.5:3)

In joining with the Holy Spirit and sharing His purpose, we will also share His vision. In our willingness we have received the vision that we are all whole. In His vision, we see one another as “dearly loved and loving friends.” (T-20.II.5:5) There is peace within us as we accept this gift within.

Carefully hidden deep within our minds is an altar. This altar contains the Christ Light of our true Self. This is the Light of God’s Love. With a little willingness and practice we can become aware of the Light and peace that lies beyond what we see with the body’s eyes. The Holy Spirit is joyfully and patiently standing by, waiting for our slightest invitation to receive His gift of Christ’s vision. When we begin to experience the Christ Light, we will begin to recognize that everything we see with the body’s eyes is just an illusion. We will begin to recognize that we are not separate from God or our brothers, but in fact we are all in Heaven with God right now.

“You have the vision now to look past all illusions. It has been given you to see no thorns, no strangers and no obstacles to peace. …With him, your vision has become the greatest power for the undoing of illusion that God Himself could give. For what God gave the Holy Spirit, you have received.” (T-20.II.7:1-2,5-6)

“[Your brother’s] innocence will light your way, offering you its guiding light and sure protection, and shining from the holy altar within him where you laid the lilies of forgiveness.” (T-20.II.9:2)

We can practice experiencing the Christ Light within our minds by practicing true forgiveness, remembering that forgiveness means completely ‘letting go’ or ‘forgetting’ the illusion of separate bodies living in the world.

Jesus instructs us how to practice this in many of the Workbook Lessons. We practice by sitting down, stilling all our thoughts and waiting for Holy Spirit in quiet expectation of His gifts. By doing this, eventually we will hit the gap within our mind of complete stillness. In that instant, the miracle of the Light of Christ within us will suddenly flash into the perception of our mind’s eye. It is clearer than day and the body’s gentle shift into peaceful bliss is both unmistakable and undeniable. We will have discovered the Truth within and our salvation.

Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves. By helping us let go of the illusion, the Holy Spirit will show us our true Home. If we use His precious gift, then we will see past all the illusions of the world. We will see peace instead of conflict. There will be no more fear of our brothers, the world and God.

We will come to recognize that we are the Son of God. We are the savior of the world. This is the truth that we are searching for. It is up to us to change our thoughts and as we do this, all our perceived brothers will receive the release from the nails that we have chosen to keep them and ourselves entrapped in pain. Home is waiting for us; we just have to brush past the flimsy veil that we have used to keep It from our sight. The reminder Jesus gives us here is that all you need you have.

This reminds us of the message we received while watching The Wizard of Oz recently. At the end of Dorothy’s journey, she came to recognize that she had always possessed the means within her to go home. When she finally made the choice to stop seeking outside of herself to find the way home, she was able to close her eyes, go within and proclaim, “There’s no place like home.” And so the same is true for us. We seem to be traveling on the yellow brick spiritual road. Sometimes we are distracted and sidetracked; sometimes we believe we will find what we need in a great spiritual wizard or guru. Instead, the pathway to the open door of Heaven is right there within us. It can be found within the place of quietness and peace within our mind.

“Your chosen home is on the other side, beyond the veil. It has been carefully prepared for you, and it is ready to receive you now. You will not see it with the body’s eyes. Yet all you need you have. Your home has called to you since time began, nor have you ever failed entirely to hear. You heard, but knew not how to look, nor where. And now you know. In you the knowledge lies, ready to be unveiled and freed from all the terror that kept it hidden. …And there will be no fear in us, for in our vision will be no illusions; only a pathway to the open door of Heaven, the home we share in quietness and where we live in gentleness and peace, as one together.” (T-20.II.8:1-8,12)

ust like Dorothy eventually figured out that she had a choice either to keep believing in the illusion or to remember the true Home within, Jesus, too, wants us to know that we can choose this right now. When Dorothy woke up from the dream, her companions in Oz were joyously at home with her. Jesus wants us to know that we have a choice and when we make it, we will find ourselves joyfully at Home with our brothers as well.

“And gladly will you and your brother walk the way of innocence together, singing as you behold the open door of Heaven and recognize the home that called to you.” (T-20.II.11:3)

Revs. Deb and Paul Phelps are Pathways of Light ministers living at Pathways of Light in Kiel, Wisconsin.

© 2005, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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