Line 5: |
Line 5: |
| | | |
| | | |
− | God's Will for me is perfect happiness. | + | [[God's Will]] for me is perfect [[happiness]]. |
| | | |
| Today we will continue with the theme of happiness. This is a key idea in | | Today we will continue with the theme of happiness. This is a key idea in |
− | understanding what salvation means. You still believe it asks for suffering | + | [[understanding]] what [[salvation]] means. You still believe it asks for suffering |
− | as penance for your "sins." This is not so. Yet you must think it so while | + | as [[penance]] for your "[[sins]]." This is not so. Yet you must think it so while |
| you believe that sin is real, and that God's Son can sin. | | you believe that sin is real, and that God's Son can sin. |
| | | |
− | If sin is real, then punishment is just and cannot be escaped. Salvation thus | + | If sin is real, then [[punishment]] is just and cannot be [[escaped]]. Salvation thus |
| cannot be purchased but through suffering. If sin is real, then happiness | | cannot be purchased but through suffering. If sin is real, then happiness |
− | must be illusion, for they cannot both be true. The sinful warrant only death | + | must be [[illusion]], for they cannot both be true. The sinful warrant only [[death]] |
− | and pain, and it is this they ask for. For they know it waits for them, and it | + | and [[pain]], and it is this they ask for. For they know it waits for them, and it |
| will seek them out and find them somewhere, sometime, in some form that | | will seek them out and find them somewhere, sometime, in some form that |
− | evens the account they owe to God. They would escape Him in their fear. | + | evens the account they owe to God. They would escape Him in their [[fear]]. |
| And yet He will pursue, and they can not escape. | | And yet He will pursue, and they can not escape. |
| | | |
− | If sin is real, salvation must be pain. Pain is the cost of sin, and suffering | + | If sin is real, salvation must be [[pain]]. Pain is the cost of sin, and suffering |
| can never be escaped, if sin is real. Salvation must be feared, for it will kill, | | can never be escaped, if sin is real. Salvation must be feared, for it will kill, |
− | but slowly, taking everything away before it grants the welcome boon of | + | but slowly, taking [[everything]] away before it grants the welcome boon of |
− | death to victims who are little more than bones before salvation is appeased. | + | death to [[victims]] who are little more than bones before salvation is appeased. |
− | Its wrath is boundless, merciless, but wholly just. | + | Its [[wrath]] is boundless, merciless, but wholly just. |
| | | |
− | Who would seek out such savage punishment? Who would not flee | + | Who would seek out such [[savage]] punishment? Who would not flee |
− | salvation, and attempt in every way he can to drown the Voice which offers | + | salvation, and attempt in every way he can to drown the [[Voice]] which offers |
− | it to him? Why would he try to listen and accept Its offering? If sin is real, | + | it to him? Why would he try to [[listen]] and [[accept]] Its offering? If sin is real, |
− | its offering is death, and meted out in cruel form to match the vicious | + | its offering is death, and meted out in [[cruel]] form to match the vicious |
| wishes in which sin is born. If sin is real, salvation has become your bitter | | wishes in which sin is born. If sin is real, salvation has become your bitter |
− | enemy, the curse of God upon you who have crucified His Son. | + | [[enemy]], the [[curse]] of God upon you who have [[crucified]] His Son. |
| | | |
− | You need the practice periods today. The exercises teach sin is not real, and | + | You need the [[practice]] periods today. The [[exercises]] teach sin is not real, and |
| all that you believe must come from sin will never happen, for it has no | | all that you believe must come from sin will never happen, for it has no |
− | cause. Accept Atonement with an open mind, which cherishes no lingering | + | [[cause]]. Accept [[Atonement]] with an open [[mind]], which cherishes no lingering |
− | belief that you have made a devil of God's Son. There is no sin. We practice | + | belief that you have made a [[devil]] of God's Son. There is no sin. We practice |
| with this thought as often as we can today, because it is the basis for today's | | with this thought as often as we can today, because it is the basis for today's |
| idea. | | idea. |
| | | |
− | God's Will for you is perfect happiness because there is no sin, and | + | [[God's Will]] for you is [[perfect]] [[happiness]] because there is no sin, and |
− | suffering is causeless. Joy is just, and pain is but the sign you have | + | suffering is causeless. [[Joy]] is just, and pain is but the [[sign]] you have |
− | misunderstood yourself. Fear not the Will of God. But turn to it in | + | misunderstood yourself. [[Fear]] not the Will of God. But turn to it in |
− | confidence that it will set you free from all the consequences sin has | + | [[confidence]] that it will set you free from all the consequences sin has |
− | wrought in feverish imagination. Say: | + | wrought in feverish [[imagination]]. Say: |
| | | |
| <center>''God's Will for me is perfect happiness.''</center> | | <center>''God's Will for me is perfect happiness.''</center> |
| <center>''There is no sin; it has no consequence.''</center> | | <center>''There is no sin; it has no consequence.''</center> |
| | | |
− | So should you start your practice periods, and then attempt again to find the | + | So should you start your [[practice]] periods, and then attempt again to find the |
− | joy these thoughts will introduce into your mind. | + | joy these thoughts will introduce into [[your mind]]. |
| | | |
| Give these five minutes gladly, to remove the heavy load you lay upon | | Give these five minutes gladly, to remove the heavy load you lay upon |
− | yourself with the insane belief that sin is real. Today escape from madness. | + | yourself with the [[insane]] [[belief]] that sin is real. Today escape from madness. |
− | You are set on freedom's road, and now today's idea brings wings to speed | + | You are set on [[freedom]]'s road, and now today's idea brings wings to speed |
− | you on, and hope to go still faster to the waiting goal of peace. There is no | + | you on, and hope to go still faster to the waiting goal of [[peace]]. There is no |
| sin. Remember this today, and tell yourself as often as you can: | | sin. Remember this today, and tell yourself as often as you can: |
| | | |
| <center>''God's Will for me is perfect happiness.''</center> | | <center>''God's Will for me is perfect happiness.''</center> |
− | <center>''This is the truth, because there is no sin.''</center> | + | <center>''This is the [[truth]], because there is no sin.''</center> |
| | | |
| | | |