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− | I have a function God would have me fill. | + | I have a [[function]] [[God]] would have me fill. |
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− | It is your Father's holy Will that you complete Himself, and that your Self | + | It is [[your Father]]'s holy Will that you complete Himself, and that [[your Self]] |
− | shall be His sacred Son, forever pure as He, of love created and in love | + | shall be His sacred Son, forever [[pure]] as He, of [[love]] created and in love |
| preserved, extending love, creating in its name, forever one with God and | | preserved, extending love, creating in its name, forever one with God and |
− | with your Self. Yet what can such a function mean within a world of envy, | + | with your [[Self]]. Yet what can such a function mean within a world of [[envy]], |
− | hatred and attack? | + | [[hatred]] and [[attack]]? |
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− | Therefore, you have a function in the world in its own terms. For who can | + | Therefore, you have a [[function]] in the world in its own terms. For who can |
− | understand a language far beyond his simple grasp? Forgiveness represents | + | [[understand]] a language far beyond his simple grasp? [[Forgiveness]] represents |
− | your function here. It is not God's creation, for it is the means by which | + | your function here. It is not God's [[creation]], for it is [[the means]] by which |
− | untruth can be undone. And who would pardon Heaven? Yet on earth, you | + | untruth can be undone. And who would [[pardon]] [[Heaven]]? Yet on earth, you |
− | need the means to let illusions go. Creation merely waits for your return to | + | need the means to let [[illusions]] go. Creation merely waits for your return to |
| be acknowledged, not to be complete. | | be acknowledged, not to be complete. |
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− | Creation cannot even be conceived of in the world. It has no meaning here. | + | [[Creation]] cannot even be conceived of in the world. It has no [[meaning]] here. |
− | Forgiveness is the closest it can come to earth. For being Heaven-born, it | + | [[Forgiveness]] is the closest it can come to earth. For being Heaven-born, it |
− | has no form at all. Yet God created One Who has the power to translate in | + | has no [[form]] at all. Yet God created One Who has the [[power]] to translate in |
− | form the wholly formless. What He makes are dreams, but of a kind so | + | form the wholly formless. What He makes are [[dreams]], but of a kind so |
− | close to waking that the light of day already shines in them, and eyes | + | close to waking that the [[light]] of day already shines in them, and eyes |
− | already opening behold the joyful sights their offerings contain. | + | already opening behold the [[joyful]] sights their offerings contain. |
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− | Forgiveness gently looks upon all things unknown in Heaven, sees them | + | [[Forgiveness]] gently looks upon all things [[unknown]] in [[Heaven]], sees them |
| disappear, and leaves the world a clean and unmarked slate on which the | | disappear, and leaves the world a clean and unmarked slate on which the |
− | Word of God can now replace the senseless symbols written there before. | + | Word of God can now replace the senseless [[symbols]] written there before. |
− | Forgiveness is the means by which the fear of death is overcome, because it | + | Forgiveness is [[the means]] by which the fear of [[death]] is overcome, because it |
− | holds no fierce attraction now and guilt is gone. Forgiveness lets the body | + | holds no fierce [[attraction]] now and [[guilt]] is gone. Forgiveness lets the [[body]] |
| be perceived as what it is; a simple teaching aid, to be laid by when learning | | be perceived as what it is; a simple teaching aid, to be laid by when learning |
| is complete, but hardly changing him who learns at all. | | is complete, but hardly changing him who learns at all. |
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− | The mind without the body cannot make mistakes. It cannot think that it | + | The [[mind]] without the body cannot make mistakes. It cannot think that it |
− | will die, nor be the prey of merciless attack. Anger becomes impossible, and | + | will die, nor be the prey of merciless [[attack]]. [[Anger]] becomes impossible, and |
− | where is terror then? What fears could still assail those who have lost the | + | where is [[terror]] then? What fears could still assail those who have lost the |
| source of all attack, the core of anguish and the seat of fear? Only | | source of all attack, the core of anguish and the seat of fear? Only |
− | forgiveness can relieve the mind of thinking that the body is its home. Only | + | [[forgiveness]] can relieve the mind of thinking that the body is its [[home]]. Only |
− | forgiveness can restore the peace that God intended for His holy Son. Only | + | forgiveness can restore the [[peace]] that God intended for His holy Son. Only |
− | forgiveness can persuade the Son to look again upon his holiness. | + | forgiveness can persuade the Son to look again upon his [[holiness]]. |
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− | With anger gone, you will indeed perceive that, for Christ's vision and the | + | With [[anger]] gone, you will indeed [[perceive]] that, for Christ's [[vision]] and the |
− | gift of sight, no sacrifice was asked, and only pain was lifted from a sick | + | gift of sight, no [[sacrifice]] was asked, and only pain was lifted from a sick |
− | and tortured mind. Is this unwelcome? Is it to be feared? Or is it to be hoped | + | and [[tortured]] mind. Is this unwelcome? Is it to be feared? Or is it to be [[hoped]] |
| for, met with thanks and joyously accepted? We are one, and therefore give | | for, met with thanks and joyously accepted? We are one, and therefore give |
− | up nothing. But we have indeed been given everything by God. | + | up nothing. But we have indeed been given [[everything]] by God. |
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− | Yet do we need forgiveness to perceive that this is so. Without its kindly | + | Yet do we need [[forgiveness]] to [[perceive]] that this is so. Without its kindly |
− | light we grope in darkness, using reason but to justify our rage and our | + | [[light]] we grope in [[darkness]], using reason but to justify our [[rage]] and our |
− | attack. Our understanding is so limited that what we think we understand is | + | attack. Our understanding is so [[limited]] that what we think we understand is |
− | but confusion born of error. We are lost in mists of shifting dreams and | + | but [[confusion]] born of [[error]]. We are lost in mists of shifting dreams and |
| fearful thoughts, our eyes shut tight against the light; our minds engaged in | | fearful thoughts, our eyes shut tight against the light; our minds engaged in |
| worshipping what is not there. | | worshipping what is not there. |
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− | Who can be born again in Christ but him who has forgiven everyone he sees | + | Who can be born again in [[Christ]] but him who has forgiven everyone he sees |
− | or thinks of or imagines? Who could be set free while he imprisons anyone? | + | or thinks of or [[imagines]]? Who could be set free while he imprisons anyone? |
− | A jailer is not free, for he is bound together with his prisoner. He must be | + | A jailer is not free, for he is bound together with his [[prisoner]]. He must be |
− | sure that he does not escape, and so he spends his time in keeping watch on | + | sure that he does not [[escape]], and so he spends his time in keeping watch on |
| him. The bars that limit him become the world in which his jailer lives, | | him. The bars that limit him become the world in which his jailer lives, |
− | along with him. And it is on his freedom that the way to liberty depends for | + | along with him. And it is on his [[freedom]] that the way to liberty depends for |
| both of them. | | both of them. |
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| Therefore, hold no one prisoner. Release instead of bind, for thus are you | | Therefore, hold no one prisoner. Release instead of bind, for thus are you |
− | made free. The way is simple. Every time you feel a stab of anger, realize | + | made free. The way is [[simple]]. Every time you [[feel]] a stab of [[anger]], [[realize]] |
| you hold a sword above your head. And it will fall or be averted as you | | you hold a sword above your head. And it will fall or be averted as you |
− | choose to be condemned or free. Thus does each one who seems to tempt | + | [[choose]] to be [[condemned]] or [[free]]. Thus does each one who seems to [[tempt]] |
− | you to be angry represent your savior from the prison house of death. And | + | you to be angry represent your [[savior]] from the prison house of [[death]]. And |
− | so you owe him thanks instead of pain. | + | so you owe him thanks instead of [[pain]]. |
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− | Be merciful today. The Son of God deserves your mercy. It is he who asks | + | Be [[merciful]] today. The Son of God deserves your mercy. It is he who asks |
− | that you accept the way to freedom now. Deny him not. His Father's Love | + | that you [[accept]] the way to [[freedom]] now. [[Deny]] him not. His Father's Love |
− | for him belongs to you. Your function here on earth is only to forgive him, | + | for him belongs to you. Your [[function]] here on earth is only to forgive him, |
− | that you may accept him back as your Identity. He is as God created him. | + | that you may accept him back as your [[Identity]]. He is as God created him. |
| And you are what he is. Forgive him now his sins, and you will see that you | | And you are what he is. Forgive him now his sins, and you will see that you |
| are one with him. | | are one with him. |
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| [[Category: Workbook I]] | | [[Category: Workbook I]] |
| + | [[Category: Forgiveness]] |