LESSON 98
I will accept my part in God’s plan for salvation.
The guiltless have no fear, for they are safe and recognize their safety. They do not appeal to magic, nor invent escapes from fancied threats without reality. They rest in quiet certainty that they will do what it is given them to do. They do not doubt their own ability because they know their function will be filled completely in the perfect time and place. They took the stand which we will take today, that we may share their certainty and thus increase it by accepting it ourselves.
I must still harbor guilt because I still suffer fear and do not recognize my safety. I still appeal to magic for help when I am sick. I still invent escapes from reality rather than always going to Spirit with what seems to be the problem. For instance, feeling exhausted from a busy day and instead of sitting in silence to have my balance restored, I switch on the TV to silence the inner unhappy voice. I know that guilt is in my mind, but I also know that it is not so much guilt as I used to have and I don’t suffer it easily. I know that as I release the belief in guilt my certainty in my purpose will increase and it will be much easier to fulfill it.
“4 They will be with us; all who took the stand we take today will gladly offer us all that they learned and every gain they made. Those still uncertain, too, will join with us, and, borrowing our certainty, will make it stronger still. While those as yet unborn will hear the call we heard, and answer it when they have come to make their choice again. We do not choose but for ourselves today.”
When I feel like nothing is happening, and when I end the day knowing I didn’t live up to my own expectations, and when it looks like the world is beyond redemption, I read this paragraph. I bring myself back to my simple part and I realize that many who have already accomplished their part are with me. They stand witness that this can be done, and more than that, they offer me what they have gained.
At least I know my purpose and I know I want to fulfil it. I see how important it is and how great the reward. This certainty keeps me trying even after a day of forgetfulness or a day of distractions where it seemed I failed. There are many who are uncertain yet, who have not made that decision, and in my practice with all my seen and unseen help, those who are not sure will borrow our certainty, and in so doing make will make it stronger still.
Even those who yet unborn will hear the call we heard and will answer it when they come here. It is so encouraging to know that I am not alone. I had not before even realized that being alone was a great unacknowledged fear. How strange it must have been to feel alone the very first time it happened. How strange and disconcerting to be one with all there is, to never feel alone and separate from the Source of Love.
What a shock it must have been! I think I am not over it yet. I think that is the reason I used to run from relationship to relationship always trying to get what I lost in the moment of the tiny mad idea. It never worked because union is not about taking from someone, but about sharing and I seemed to have forgotten how to do that when I chose separateness. But now, this morning, I am being invited to join again with my precious selves in a glorious purpose that will touch us all and bring us closer to unity. How could I say not to that?
Give Him the words, and He will do the rest. He will enable you to understand your special function. He will open up the way to happiness, and peace and trust will be His gifts; His answer to your words. He will respond with all His faith and joy and certainty that what you say is true. And you will have conviction then of Him Who knows the function that you have on earth as well as Heaven. He will be with you each practice period you share with Him, exchanging every instant of the time you offer Him for timelessness and peace.
In that terrible moment when fear and guilt entered the mind of the Son, God placed the Call for Love right there where it was needed, not to force the Son into submission. Love does not force, it only allows.
The Call for Love was given us in love that we might always find our way back to sanity and joy, that we may not be ever separate from our Source even if we chose for a while to be unaware. The Call is our Guide, the Answer, our Healer, and our Comforter. We are so loved.
Tell Him once more that you accept the part that He would have you take and help you fill, and He will make you sure you want this choice, which He has made with you and you with Him.
I am intrigued by this sentence. First, I will tell him once more (ignore yesterday’s half-hearted effort, please) once more I accept my part. I am eternally grateful that I have certain, unfailing help in fulfilling my part. And then he tells me that My Help will make sure I want this choice. No matter how much I say that my only desire is to awaken to the peace of God, it seems that there are other things I want as well, and often other things I want instead.
How very seldom it is that I follow the simple instructions without fail. But if I do my part in spite of my evident hesitancy, if I just do it anyway, He will help me… no, he will make sure I want this choice. So I just have to push through my reluctance and He will do the rest so that never again will I hesitate because I will want what is being offered.
And if that frisson of feeling that rushed through me at the thought of my will being manipulated like that, Jesus answers it before I even realized it had happened. He made that choice with e and I made it with Him. He is not manipulating me back, he is fulfilling our desire for perfect union according to my own will.
Regina’s Tips
What is God’s plan for salvation? In the language of the Course, it is forgiveness. What is forgiveness? It is removing your attention from the untrue.
Removing attention from problems.
Removing attention from grievances.
Removing attention from fears.
Removing attention from regrets.
Removing attention from jealousies and envies.
Removing attention from judgments.
Removing attention from all of our ideas about how other people should be.
Removing attention from all thoughts about our weaknesses and shortcomings.
Removing attention from our doubts that the truth is true.
Today’s lesson says, “We take a stand on but one side today. We side with truth and let illusions go. We will not vacillate between the two, but take a firm position with the One.”
My Thoughts
This part of the lesson I have down pat. The problem thoughts have not stopped coming, but seldom do I place any belief in them, and when I do temporarily fall for them, it is very temporary, indeed. The part I have problems with is the mind too undisciplined to give those five minutes every hour. It is so little to give and still I fail to do so. That is the part that requires my attention.
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