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− | Heaven is the decision I must make. | + | [[Heaven]] is the [[decision]] I must make. |
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− | In this world Heaven is a choice, because here we believe there are | + | In this world Heaven is a [[choice]], because here we [[believe]] there are |
− | alternatives to choose between. We think that all things have an opposite, | + | [[alternatives]] to choose between. We think that all things have an [[opposite]], |
− | and what we want we choose. If Heaven exists there must be hell as well, | + | and what we want we choose. If Heaven exists there must be [[hell]] as well, |
− | for contradiction is the way we make what we perceive, and what we think | + | for [[contradiction]] is the way we make what we [[perceive]], and what we think |
| is real. | | is real. |
| | | |
− | Creation knows no opposite. But here is opposition part of being "real." It is | + | [[Creation]] knows no opposite. But here is opposition part of [[being]] "real." It is |
− | this strange perception of the truth that makes the choice of Heaven seem to | + | this strange perception of the [[truth]] that makes the choice of Heaven seem to |
| be the same as the relinquishment of hell. It is not really thus. Yet what is | | be the same as the relinquishment of hell. It is not really thus. Yet what is |
− | true in God's creation cannot enter here until it is reflected in some form the | + | true in God's creation cannot enter here until it is [[reflected]] in some [[form]] the |
− | world can understand. Truth cannot come where it could only be perceived | + | world can [[understand]]. [[Truth]] cannot come where it could only be [[perceived]] |
− | with fear. For this would be the error truth can be brought to illusions. | + | with [[fear]]. For this would be the [[error]] truth can be brought to [[illusions]]. |
| Opposition makes the truth unwelcome, and it cannot come. | | Opposition makes the truth unwelcome, and it cannot come. |
| | | |
− | Choice is the obvious escape from what appears as opposites. Decision lets | + | Choice is the obvious [[escape]] from what appears as opposites. [[Decision]] lets |
− | one of conflicting goals become the aim of effort and expenditure of time. | + | one of [[conflicting]] goals become the aim of [[effort]] and expenditure of time. |
− | Without decision, time is but a waste and effort dissipated. It is spent for | + | Without decision, [[time]] is but a waste and effort dissipated. It is spent for |
| nothing in return, and time goes by without results. There is no sense of | | nothing in return, and time goes by without results. There is no sense of |
| gain, for nothing is accomplished; nothing learned. | | gain, for nothing is accomplished; nothing learned. |
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− | You need to be reminded that you think a thousand choices are confronting | + | You need to be reminded that you [[think]] a thousand [[choices]] are confronting |
| you, when there is really only one to make. And even this but seems to be a | | you, when there is really only one to make. And even this but seems to be a |
− | choice. Do not confuse yourself with all the doubts that myriad decisions | + | choice. Do not [[confuse]] yourself with all the [[doubts]] that myriad decisions |
| would induce. You make but one. And when that one is made, you will | | would induce. You make but one. And when that one is made, you will |
− | perceive it was no choice at all. For truth is true, and nothing else is true. | + | [[perceive]] it was no choice at all. For truth is true, and nothing else is true. |
− | There is no opposite to choose instead. There is no contradiction to the | + | There is no opposite to choose instead. There is no [[contradiction]] to the |
| truth. | | truth. |
| | | |
− | Choosing depends on learning. And the truth cannot be learned, but only | + | Choosing depends on [[learning]]. And the [[truth]] cannot be learned, but only |
− | recognized. In recognition its acceptance lies, and as it is accepted it is | + | [[recognized]]. In recognition its [[acceptance]] lies, and as it is accepted it is |
− | known. But knowledge is beyond the goals we seek to teach within the | + | known. But [[knowledge]] is beyond the goals we seek to teach within the |
− | framework of this course. Ours are teaching goals, to be attained through | + | framework of [[ACIM|this course]]. Ours are teaching goals, to be [[attained]] through |
| learning how to reach them, what they are, and what they offer you. | | learning how to reach them, what they are, and what they offer you. |
| Decisions are the outcome of your learning, for they rest on what you have | | Decisions are the outcome of your learning, for they rest on what you have |
| accepted as the truth of what you are, and what your needs must be. | | accepted as the truth of what you are, and what your needs must be. |
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− | In this insanely complicated world, Heaven appears to take the form of | + | In this insanely [[complicated]] world, [[Heaven]] appears to take the form of |
− | choice, rather than merely being what it is. Of all the choices you have tried | + | [[choice]], rather than merely being what it is. Of all the choices you have tried |
− | to make this is the simplest, most definitive and prototype of all the rest, the | + | to make this is the [[simplest]], most definitive and [[prototype]] of all the rest, the |
| one which settles all decisions. If you could decide the rest, this one remains | | one which settles all decisions. If you could decide the rest, this one remains |
| unsolved. But when you solve this one, the others are resolved with it, for | | unsolved. But when you solve this one, the others are resolved with it, for |
− | all decisions but conceal this one by taking different forms. Here is the final | + | all decisions but [[conceal]] this one by taking different forms. Here is the final |
− | and the only choice in which is truth accepted or denied. | + | and the only choice in which is truth [[accepted]] or [[denied]]. |
| | | |
− | So we begin today considering the choice that time was made to help us | + | So we begin today [[considering]] the choice that [[time]] was made to help us |
− | make. Such is its holy purpose, now transformed from the intent you gave | + | make. Such is its holy [[purpose]], now [[transformed]] from the [[intent]] you gave |
− | it; that it be a means for demonstrating hell is real, hope changes to despair, | + | it; that it be a means for [[demonstrating]] [[hell]] is real, [[hope]] [[changes]] to despair, |
− | and life itself must in the end be overcome by death. In death alone are | + | and life itself must in the end be overcome by [[death]]. In death alone are |
− | opposites resolved, for ending opposition is to die. And thus salvation must | + | opposites resolved, for ending opposition is to die. And thus [[salvation]] must |
− | be seen as death, for life is seen as conflict. To resolve the conflict is to end | + | be seen as death, for life is seen as [[conflict]]. To resolve the conflict is to end |
| your life as well. | | your life as well. |
| | | |
− | These mad beliefs can gain unconscious hold of great intensity, and grip the | + | These mad [[beliefs]] can gain [[unconscious]] hold of great [[intensity]], and grip the |
− | mind with terror and anxiety so strong that it will not relinquish its ideas | + | [[mind]] with [[terror]] and [[anxiety]] so strong that it will not relinquish its ideas |
− | about its own protection. It must be saved from salvation, threatened to be | + | about its own [[protection]]. It must be saved from salvation, threatened to be |
− | safe, and magically armored against truth. And these decisions are made | + | safe, and magically [[armor]]ed against truth. And these decisions are made |
| unaware, to keep them safely undisturbed; apart from question and from | | unaware, to keep them safely undisturbed; apart from question and from |
− | reason and from doubt. | + | [[reason]] and from doubt. |
| | | |
− | Heaven is chosen consciously. The choice cannot be made until alternatives | + | [[Heaven]] is chosen consciously. The choice cannot be made until [[alternatives]] |
− | are accurately seen and understood. All that is veiled in shadows must be | + | are accurately seen and [[understood]]. All that is veiled in [[shadows]] must be |
| raised to understanding, to be judged again, this time with Heaven's help. | | raised to understanding, to be judged again, this time with Heaven's help. |
− | And all mistakes in judgment that the mind had made before are open to | + | And all mistakes in judgment that [[the mind]] had made before are open to |
− | correction, as the truth dismisses them as causeless. Now are they without | + | [[correction]], as the truth dismisses them as causeless. Now are they without |
| effects. They cannot be concealed, because their nothingness is recognized. | | effects. They cannot be concealed, because their nothingness is recognized. |
| | | |
− | The conscious choice of Heaven is as sure as is the ending of the fear of | + | The [[conscious]] choice of Heaven is as sure as is the ending of the [[fear]] of |
− | hell, when it is raised from its protective shield of unawareness, and is | + | [[hell]], when it is raised from its protective shield of unawareness, and is |
− | brought to light. Who can decide between the clearly seen and the | + | brought to [[light]]. Who can decide between the clearly seen and the |
| unrecognized? Yet who can fail to make a choice between alternatives when | | unrecognized? Yet who can fail to make a choice between alternatives when |
− | only one is seen as valuable; the other as a wholly worthless thing, a but | + | only one is seen as valuable; the other as a wholly worthless [[thing]], a but |
− | imagined source of guilt and pain? Who hesitates to make a choice like | + | imagined source of [[guilt]] and [[pain]]? Who [[hesitates]] to make a choice like |
| this? And shall we hesitate to choose today? | | this? And shall we hesitate to choose today? |
| | | |
− | We make the choice for Heaven as we wake, and spend five minutes | + | We make the choice for [[Heaven]] as we [[wake]], and spend five minutes |
− | making sure that we have made the one decision that is sane. We recognize | + | making sure that we have made the one [[decision]] that is sane. We recognize |
− | we make a conscious choice between what has existence and what has | + | we make a conscious choice between what has [[existence]] and what has |
− | nothing but an appearance of the truth. Its pseudo-being, brought to what is | + | nothing but an [[appearance]] of the [[truth]]. Its pseudo-being, brought to what is |
− | real, is flimsy and transparent in the light. It holds no terror now, for what | + | real, is flimsy and [[transparent]] in the light. It holds no [[terror]] now, for what |
− | was made enormous, vengeful, pitiless with hate, demands obscurity for | + | was made enormous, vengeful, pitiless with [[hate]], demands obscurity for |
− | fear to be invested there. Now it is recognized as but a foolish, trivial | + | fear to be invested there. Now it is recognized as but a [[foolish]], [[trivial]] |
− | mistake. | + | [[mistake]]. |
| | | |
− | Before we close our eyes in sleep tonight, we reaffirm the choice that we | + | Before we close our eyes in [[sleep]] tonight, we reaffirm the [[choice]] that we |
| have made each hour in between. And now we give the last five minutes of | | have made each hour in between. And now we give the last five minutes of |
− | our waking day to the decision with which we awoke. As every hour | + | our [[waking]] day to the decision with which we awoke. As every hour |
− | passed, we have declared our choice again, in a brief quiet time devoted to | + | passed, we have declared our choice again, in a brief [[quiet]] time devoted to |
− | maintaining sanity. And finally, we close the day with this, acknowledging | + | maintaining [[sanity]]. And finally, we close the day with this, acknowledging |
| we chose but what we want: | | we chose but what we want: |
| | | |
− | <center>''Heaven is the decision I must make.''</center> | + | <center>''Heaven is the [[decision]] I must make.''</center> |
− | <center>''I make it now, and will not change my mind,''</center> | + | <center>''I make it now, and will not [[change]] my mind,''</center> |
| <center>''because it is the only thing I want.''</center> | | <center>''because it is the only thing I want.''</center> |
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| [[Category: Workbook I]] | | [[Category: Workbook I]] |