We’re into triple digits now, we’ve come this far now in our practicing, assuming we all began on January 1st. Almost one-third through the WB, amazing how seeming time flies!
I love what Ken writing about Jesus’ statement in paragraph two, sentences five and six, 2:5-6, and that is:
“The Holy Spirit provides His answer of forgiveness for every problem of guilt and attack we have made. Thus it is, once we have chosen to experience relationships through His eyes rather than our own, that every person we meet is “sent” to us, because every person offers us yet another opportunity to forgive. Every encounter therefore becomes a holy one, for in each is found Jesus’ reminder that because he is always with us, God’s one Son is as well.”
He quotes from T-8.III.4 which is:
“When you meet anyone, remember it is a holy encounter. As you see him you will see yourself. As you treat him you will treat yourself. As you think of him you will think of yourself. Never forget this, for in him you will find yourself or lose yourself. Whenever two Sons of God meet, they are given another chance at salvation. Do not leave anyone without giving salvation to him and receiving it for yourself. For I am always there with you, in remembrance of you.”
About Jesus’ reference to sadness:
Jesus is describing the joy of knowing you have been forgiven. No matter what you believe you have done to others, yourself or God, it has had no effect on reality. The source of guilt is the belief that our “sin” has affected reality. All sadness comes from believing this illusion; all joy from accepting its unreality. Moreover, this passage highlights for us again the all-inclusive nature of salvation: one Son is all Sons; one smile is all smiles; one light is all lights – the truth of Oneness is absolute and universal.”
He continues with:
“This does not mean you should put on a happy face, nor that you should stop yourself from feeling sad. However, when you do feel sad, know it comes from your mind’s thought of sadness, born of having chosen the ego over God. Then ask Jesus for help to change your mind so that you may take your part in God’s plan to save His Son from suffering and pain.”
About your part or my part being essential to God’s plan for salvation:
“If you identify your part with forgiveness, when you are sad you know it is because you hold onto a grievance, believing it is salvation. You are thereby, again, telling Jesus that he is wrong and you are right. A paraphrase of Lesson 5 applies here: I am never sad for the reason I think. My sadness never comes from circumstances beyond me – whether in my body or another’s – but from my mind’s decision to attack instead of forgive, to follow the ego instead of the Holy Spirit. That is why salvation is simple. As we have already seen: one problem, one solution.”
Finally, with regard to Jesus stating “You but receive according to God’s plan, and never lose or sacrifice or die”, Ken writes:
“This theme will be reiterated in the lessons to come: The ego teaches us that sacrifice is asked of us by a God Who says we can be happy only through striking a deal with Him that results in our pain, suffering and loss. In our everyday lives, this ontological bargain emerges in the shadowy fragment that says I cannot be happy unless I give you something that you want, because if I do not, you are not going to give me what I want. For the ego, therefore, sacrifice is the means of finding happiness through the special relationships’ principle of giving to get. Salvation, however, teaches that giving and receiving are the same, the process of love in which no one loses and everyone gains.”
Giving to get or giving and receiving are one. Which will it be for me? I need not sacrifice, I need not suffer, I need not believe I need any special relationships. If I am dependent upon anyone or anything for my happiness, I am engaged with ego, period. If I truly want peace, freedom, liberation and happiness, the happiness to which Jesus refers, I must muster the little willingness to release all grievances.
As I wrote yesterday, the Holy Spirit and/or Jesus do the heavy lifting. When and if we try to do more as in trying too hard, I am guilty of that, we are believing that we have to get to the state of mind that deserves to be helped when the whole idea is He will meet us where we are, not where we want to be. All we have to do, I have to do is lay down my arms, lay down my dreams, forget about my little thoughts and foolish goals for five minutes every hour that I am able to remember.
Yep, will do!
Have a lovely day!
Love,
Gayle
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