Line 4: |
Line 4: |
| | | |
| | | |
− | Healing and Atonement are not related; they are identical. There is no order | + | [[Healing]] and [[Atonement]] are not related; they are [[identical]]. There is no order |
− | of difficulty in miracles because there are no degrees of Atonement. It is the | + | of difficulty in [[miracles]] because there are no degrees of Atonement. It is the |
− | one complete concept possible in this world, because it is the source of a | + | one complete [[concept]] possible in this world, because it is the source of a |
− | wholly unified perception. Partial Atonement is a meaningless idea, just as | + | wholly [[unified]] [[perception]]. Partial Atonement is a meaningless idea, just as |
− | special areas of hell in Heaven are inconceivable. Accept Atonement and | + | special areas of [[hell]] in [[Heaven]] are inconceivable. Accept Atonement and |
− | you are healed. Atonement is the Word of God. Accept His Word and what | + | you are healed. Atonement is the [[Word of God]]. [[Accept]] His Word and what |
| remains to make sickness possible? Accept His Word and every miracle has | | remains to make sickness possible? Accept His Word and every miracle has |
− | been accomplished. To forgive is to heal. The teacher of God has taken | + | been accomplished. To [[forgive]] is to heal. The [[teacher of God]] has taken |
− | accepting the Atonement for himself as his only function. What is there, | + | accepting the Atonement for himself as his only [[function]]. What is there, |
| then, he cannot heal? What miracle can be withheld from him? | | then, he cannot heal? What miracle can be withheld from him? |
| | | |
− | The progress of the teacher of God may be slow or rapid, depending on | + | The [[progress]] of the [[teacher of God]] may be slow or rapid, depending on |
− | whether he recognizes the Atonement's inclusiveness, or for a time excludes | + | whether he recognizes the Atonement's [[inclusiveness]], or for a [[time]] [[excludes]] |
− | some problem areas from it. In some cases, there is a sudden and complete | + | some [[problem]] areas from it. In some cases, there is a sudden and complete |
− | awareness of the perfect applicability of the lesson of the Atonement to all | + | [[awareness]] of the perfect applicability of the lesson of the Atonement to all |
| situations, but this is comparatively rare. The teacher of God may have | | situations, but this is comparatively rare. The teacher of God may have |
− | accepted the function God has given him long before he has learned all that | + | accepted the [[function]] God has given him long before he has [[learned]] all that |
| his acceptance holds out to him. It is only the end that is certain. Anywhere | | his acceptance holds out to him. It is only the end that is certain. Anywhere |
− | along the way, the necessary realization of inclusiveness may reach him. If | + | along the way, the necessary [[realization]] of inclusiveness may reach him. If |
− | the way seems long, let him be content. He has decided on the direction he | + | the way seems long, let him be content. He has [[decided]] on the direction he |
| wants to take. What more was asked of him? And having done what was | | wants to take. What more was asked of him? And having done what was |
| required, would God withhold the rest? | | required, would God withhold the rest? |
| | | |
− | That forgiveness is healing needs to be understood, if the teacher of God is | + | That [[forgiveness]] is [[healing]] needs to be understood, if the [[teacher of God]] is |
− | to make progress. The idea that a body can be sick is a central concept in | + | to make [[progress]]. The idea that a [[body]] can be sick is a central concept in |
− | the ego's thought system. This thought gives the body autonomy, separates | + | the [[ego]]'s thought system. This thought gives the body [[autonomy]], separates |
− | it from the mind, and keeps the idea of attack inviolate. If the body could be | + | it from [[the mind]], and keeps the idea of [[attack]] inviolate. If the body could be |
− | sick Atonement would be impossible. A body that can order a mind to do as | + | sick [[Atonement]] would be impossible. A body that can order a [[mind]] to do as |
− | it sees fit could merely take the place of God and prove salvation is | + | it sees fit could merely take the place of God and prove [[salvation]] is |
− | impossible. What, then, is left to heal? The body has become lord of the | + | impossible. What, then, is left to heal? The body has [[become]] lord of the |
− | mind. How could the mind be returned to the Holy Spirit unless the body is | + | mind. How could the mind be returned to the [[Holy Spirit]] unless the body is |
| killed? And who would want salvation at such a price? | | killed? And who would want salvation at such a price? |
| | | |
− | Certainly sickness does not appear to be a decision. Nor would anyone | + | Certainly sickness does not appear to be a [[decision]]. Nor would anyone |
− | actually believe he wants to be sick. Perhaps he can accept the idea in | + | actually believe he wants to be sick. Perhaps he can [[accept]] the idea in |
− | theory, but it is rarely if ever consistently applied to all specific forms of | + | [[theory]], but it is rarely if ever consistently applied to all specific forms of |
− | sickness, both in the individual's perception of himself and of all others as | + | [[sickness]], both in the [[individual]]'s [[perception]] of himself and of all others as |
− | well. Nor is it at this level that the teacher of God calls forth the miracle of | + | well. Nor is it at this level that the [[teacher of God]] calls forth the [[miracle]] of |
− | healing. He overlooks the mind <and> body, seeing only the face of Christ | + | [[healing]]. He overlooks the mind ''and'' body, seeing only the face of [[Christ]] |
− | shining in front of him, correcting all mistakes and healing all perception. | + | [[shining]] in front of him, [[correcting]] all mistakes and [[healing]] all [[perception]]. |
− | Healing is the result of the recognition, by God's teacher, of who it is that is | + | Healing is the result of the [[recognition]], by God's teacher, of who it is that is |
| in need of healing. This recognition has no special reference. It is true of all | | in need of healing. This recognition has no special reference. It is true of all |
− | things that God created. In it are all illusions healed. | + | things that God created. In it are all [[illusions]] healed. |
| | | |
− | When a teacher of God fails to heal, it is because he has forgotten Who he | + | When a [[teacher of God]] [[fails]] to heal, it is because he has forgotten Who he |
| is. Another's sickness thus becomes his own. In allowing this to happen, he | | is. Another's sickness thus becomes his own. In allowing this to happen, he |
− | has identified with another's ego, and has thus confused him with a body. In | + | has identified with another's [[ego]], and has thus [[confused]] him with a [[body]]. In |
− | so doing, he has refused to accept the Atonement for himself, and can | + | so doing, he has refused to [[accept]] the [[Atonement]] for himself, and can |
− | hardly offer it to his brother in Christ's Name. He will, in fact, be unable to | + | hardly offer it to his brother in Christ's Name. He will, in [[fact]], be unable to |
| recognize his brother at all, for his Father did not create bodies, and so he is | | recognize his brother at all, for his Father did not create bodies, and so he is |
− | seeing in his brother only the unreal. Mistakes do not correct mistakes, and | + | seeing in his brother only the unreal. [[Mistakes]] do not [[correct]] mistakes, and |
− | distorted perception does not heal. Step back now, teacher of God. You | + | [[distorted]] perception does not heal. Step back now, teacher of God. You |
| have been wrong. Lead not the way, for you have lost it. Turn quickly to | | have been wrong. Lead not the way, for you have lost it. Turn quickly to |
| your Teacher, and let yourself be healed. | | your Teacher, and let yourself be healed. |
| | | |
− | The offer of Atonement is universal. It is equally applicable to all | + | The offer of [[Atonement]] is [[universal]]. It is equally applicable to all |
− | individuals in all circumstances. And in it is the power to heal all | + | [[individuals]] in all circumstances. And in it is the [[power]] to [[heal]] all |
− | individuals of all forms of sickness. Not to believe this is to be unfair to | + | individuals of all forms of sickness. Not to [[believe]] this is to be unfair to |
| God, and thus unfaithful to Him. A sick person perceives himself as | | God, and thus unfaithful to Him. A sick person perceives himself as |
− | separate from God. Would you see him as separate from you? It is your task | + | [[separate]] from God. Would you see him as separate from you? It is your task |
− | to heal the sense of separation that has made him sick. It is your function to | + | to heal the sense of separation that has made him sick. It is your [[function]] to |
− | recognize for him that what he believes about himself is not the truth. It is | + | recognize for him that what he [[believes]] about himself is not the [[truth]]. It is |
− | your forgiveness that must show him this. Healing is very simple. | + | your [[forgiveness]] that must show him this. [[Healing]] is very [[simple]]. |
| Atonement is received and offered. Having been received, it must be | | Atonement is received and offered. Having been received, it must be |
− | accepted. It is in the receiving, then, that healing lies. All else must follow | + | accepted. It is in the [[receiving]], then, that [[healing]] lies. All else must follow |
− | from this single purpose. | + | from this single [[purpose]]. |
| | | |
− | Who can limit the power of God Himself? Who, then, can say which one | + | Who can limit the [[power of God]] Himself? Who, then, can say which one |
| can be healed of what, and what must remain beyond God's power to | | can be healed of what, and what must remain beyond God's power to |
− | forgive? This is insanity indeed. It is not up to God's teachers to set limits | + | [[forgive]]? This is [[insanity]] indeed. It is not up to [[God's teachers]] to set [[limits]] |
| upon Him, because it is not up to them to judge His Son. And to judge His | | upon Him, because it is not up to them to judge His Son. And to judge His |
| Son is to limit his Father. Both are equally meaningless. Yet this will not be | | Son is to limit his Father. Both are equally meaningless. Yet this will not be |
− | understood until God's teacher recognizes that they are the same mistake. | + | [[understood]] until God's teacher recognizes that they are the same mistake. |
− | Herein does he receive Atonement, for he withdraws his judgment from the | + | Herein does he receive [[Atonement]], for he withdraws his [[judgment]] from the |
| Son of God, accepting him as God created him. No longer does he stand | | Son of God, accepting him as God created him. No longer does he stand |
− | apart from God, determining where healing should be given and where it | + | apart from God, determining where [[healing]] should be given and where it |
| should be withheld. Now can he say with God, "This is my beloved Son, | | should be withheld. Now can he say with God, "This is my beloved Son, |
− | created perfect and forever so." | + | created [[perfect]] and forever so." |
| | | |
| | | |