ACIM Edmonton - Sarah's Reflections

Lesson  62
 Forgiveness is my function
as the light of the world. 

This lesson says that we have an important function here as the light of the world and that is to forgive. This is the second in our giant stride lessons. This lesson is about recognizing that the light that we are is as a result of our authorship by God. He is the Source of that light. When we give over the blocks which keep the light from our awareness then it can shine through us. And we know that the light is in us when we undertake our function in the world which is to forgive. How we know is because to give is to receive and we have witnesses to that receiving. With forgiveness comes our happiness. That should be motivating enough for us to want to do these lessons. All of our unhappiness comes from the guilt that we hold in our minds. Our purpose in this world will only be achieved when we undertake our function of forgiveness which releases the guilt.

We were talking yesterday about friends who have retired from work. Some of them died soon after and others are experiencing depression. That is how important having meaning in our lives is. We can see how it is tied to our happiness and sense of purpose that we are here doing what we were meant to do. Our purpose here is to learn where our happiness is. And in this lesson we learn that our happiness is in the mind that has chosen to forgive. This is what makes our lives here meaningful. To the ego, we were born to die. But to the Holy Spirit we were born to learn who we really are and we do that through forgiveness.  What we apply our talents and abilities to, in this world, is only the backdrop for the function we all have, which is to forgive. So, while we all have unique capacities and talents and bring different gifts to the world, they are all to be used for one purpose and that is for the function of forgiveness. But in order to understand what that might look like in the world, we need to look more carefully as to what forgiveness of the world and of our brother really is.

First we need to recognize that the ego feels strengthened through anger and attack. When we puff up with anger and attack, there is a sense of being strong. "I'm not taking crap from anyone" we say and we feel momentarily powerful as a result. We have established our boundaries and will not let anyone take advantage. Isn't that the reason that we give ourselves for our attacks?  Yet, in the long run, or even the short run, we run out of steam and start to feel crappy ourselves. The ego has told us to place our guilt "out there" on someone who we feel has wronged us. We want to hold others responsible for our own unhappiness.  But then we start feeling guilty ourselves because our own guilt is reinforced through attack. In other words, any attack we make on a brother is an attack on ourselves, something the ego never wants us to see. And thus, instead of giving our guilt away, it is simply reinforced through attack. 

It is the separation that created the problem in the first place. That is why Jesus says in paragraph 2.3 that we denied our "Identity by attacking Creation and its Creator." It was an instant when we chose to separate from our Creator and thus chose to forget who we are as the Christ Self at one with our Source. Now we see ourselves as individuals with unique personalities. But in that process the world of dreams seemed to arise. That is how we lost ourselves and made an image of ourselves. Chapter 31 has a lot to say about this making of the self concept. "The learning of the world is built upon a concept of the self adjusted to the world's reality." (T.31.V.1.1) [CH 31.V.43 original edition] Truth is revealed only when these concepts of ourselves have been laid aside. Thus our job is to raise every concept we hold about ourselves to doubt and question. Thus truth can enter when the slate of one's mind is made free of concepts that crowd out it (truth) out.

But if attack feels like strength to the ego, doesn't forgiveness feel weak? After all, if we don't stand up for our rights, compete to win, set our boundaries, assert ourselves, get what we want, affirm our position, stand our ground, fight for what we consider fair and right, won't we just be taken advantage of? If we don't attack, in other words, who will look after our needs? We will be run over. That is what the ego tells us. Yet in paragraph 3 we read that all this does is call upon our own weakness. "Remember that in every attack you call upon your own weakness" (3.1) So instead of affirming our strength through attack we are reminding ourselves how weak we really are. Then he goes on to say that "each time you forgive you call upon the strength of Christ in you" (3.1) So we have it all wrong.

Thus when we attack we affirm our weakness and when we forgive we demonstrate our power that is the Christ in us. That is totally opposite to how we think now. This is because only a weak self can be attacked. Do you remember lesson 26 which says "My attack thoughts are attacking my invulnerability?". In other words attack assumes a self that can be attacked which is a weak self. Forgiveness on the other hand, assumes a self that is invulnerable and can't be hurt. It is the truth about us as God's Son. So when we choose forgiveness we are saying, "You did nothing. You did not attack me. I can't be attacked. I am invulnerable to attack. I choose to see you sinless so I can see myself that way as well. Thus I choose strength through my forgiveness." Can you see how we have it all backward? Can you see that as we take up our function in the world to forgive, we will be reminding ourselves each time of our invulnerability, our strength and thus reclaiming our Identity? This is our motivation for forgiveness. And this is our choice for happiness.

Clearly Jesus tells us that God wants us to have a happy day and we want this too. But we don't know what will make us happy. He tells us that using this idea frequently and doing this practice is how we can have a happy day. And others will share in this happiness with us. The effort that we put into this practice can add immeasurably to the kind of day we have. He is not asking us to sacrifice what we think brings happiness into our lives. He is asking us to recognize that truly it is about doing this practice that can change the kind of day we have. Not only that but "It will help those around you, as well as those who seem to be far away in space and time, to share this happiness with you." (4.3) To really get that, we need to recognize that the power that is working through us is really awesome. It can bring light and joy to someone far away which is understandable at one level, but when we are reminded that it can even help those far away in time, then we are affecting those who have gone before us and are yet to come. That is an amazing thought. Does this mean that I can make a difference to the joy of someone who is no longer on this earth plane? It seems so. And it is so because we are one mind. Our separateness is just an illusion. There is only One Son.

What we need to do is become more and more sensitive to our reactions, whether we judge them as negative or positive. They are the important clues to what is going on in our minds. So then, we can shift our attention from the events and circumstances around us and focus entirely on our own thoughts. Our feelings, reactions and perceptions are all useful to the Holy Spirit because they make for the classroom where He uses all of them that we bring to awareness so we can learn forgiveness. It is important to recognize that forgiveness is a process that occurs in the mind in the context of a relationship because the only thing I am forgiving is my own projections that I have placed on someone. When I take responsibility for that projection then I see that "Illusions about myself and the world are one." (2.1) In other words, the world is an idea that we made up as a projection of the source which is the mind. Our only escape from this world of sin, guilt and fear is to recognize that ideas do not leave their source and if the source of it all is in the mind then we have all power available to us to change our minds.

 When we truly learn forgiveness through this practice in this classroom where we find ourselves, then we will know that the world and all of our experiences in it are made up. Only then will we stop reacting to its insanity. So the goal now is to become very sensitive to our reactions and not pretend they are not there. I find that this takes immense honesty. Instead of defending and rationalizing, we need to look squarely at our ego responses. How do we know that they are of the ego? By how we feel. Any distress, anxiety, anticipation frustration, worry, jealousy, excitement, anger, despair are all triggers that we have thoughts, beliefs and concepts that need to be given over for healing. We can make another choice. We don't have to wait. We can do it NOW.

So in this practice, close your eyes if possible and say to yourself "Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world. I will fulfill my function that I may be happy" (5.2-3) Do this as frequently as possible throughout the day starting your day in the morning and ending it in the evening with this lesson spending more time on it both morning and evening.

 Consider your function and the happiness and release it will bring you. "Let related thoughts come freely, for your heart will recognize these words and in your mind is the awareness they are true." (5.5-6) It is not about making up thoughts but listening deeply and let thoughts come forth that remind you of the truth of this lesson. The truth is already in your mind.  The only way we can be truly happy is by bringing all of our darkness to the light. So we must be willing to take responsibility for our projections and bringing them to the Holy Spirit. "Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world. I would fulfill my function that I may be happy."    Should your attention wander, repeat the idea and add "I would remember this because I want to be happy" (5.7)

Love and blessings, Sarah