“Give me your blessing, holy Son of God.”
Today we practice differently, and take a stand against our anger that
our fears may disappear and offer room to love. Here is salvation in
the simple words in which we practice with today’s idea. Here is the
answer to temptation which can never fail to welcome in the Christ
where fear and anger had prevailed before. Here is Atonement made
complete, the world passed safely by and Heaven now restored. Here
is the answer of the Voice of God.
Complete abstraction is the natural condition of the mind. But
part of it is now unnatural. It does not look on everything as one. It
sees instead but fragments of the whole, for only thus could it invent
the partial world you see. The purpose of all seeing is to show you
what you wish to see. All hearing but brings to your mind the sounds
it wants to hear.
Thus were specifics made. And now it is specifics we must use in
practicing. We give them to the Holy Spirit that He may employ
them for a purpose which is different from the one we gave to them.
Yet He can use but what we made to teach us from a different point
of view, so we can see a different use in everything.
One brother is all brothers. Every mind contains all minds, for
every mind is one. Such is the truth. Yet do these thoughts make clear
the meaning of creation? Do these words bring perfect clarity with
them to you? What can they seem to be but empty sounds, pretty,
perhaps; correct in sentiment, yet fundamentally not understood nor
understandable. The mind that taught itself to think specifically can
no longer grasp abstraction in the sense that it is all-encompassing.
We need to see a little that we learn a lot.
It seems to be the body that we feel limits our freedom, makes
us suffer and at last puts out our life. Yet bodies are but symbols of a
concrete form of fear. Fear without symbols calls for no response, for
symbols can stand for the meanings. Love needs no symbols, being
true. But fear attaches to specifics, being false.
Bodies attack but minds do not. This thought is surely
reminiscent of our text, where it is often emphasized. This is the
reason bodies easily become fear’s symbols. You have many times
been urged to look beyond the body, for its sight presents the symbol
of love’s “enemy” Christ’s vision does not see. The body is the target
for attack, for no-one thinks he hates a mind. Yet what but mind
directs the body to attack? What else could be the seat of fear except
what thinks of fear?
Hate is specific. There must be a thing to be attacked. An enemy
must be perceived in such a form he can be touched and seen and
heard, and ultimately killed. When hatred rests upon a thing, it calls
for death as surely as God’s Voice proclaims there is no death. Fear is
insatiable, consuming everything its eyes behold; seeing itself in
everything; compelled to turn upon itself and to destroy.
Who sees a brother as a body sees him as fear’s symbol. And he
will attack because what he beholds is his own fear external to
himself, poised to attack, and howling to unite with him again.
Mistake not the intensity of rage projected fear must spawn. It
shrieks in wrath, and claws the air in frantic hope it can reach to its
maker and devour him.
This do the body’s eyes behold in one whom Heaven cherishes,
the angels love and God created perfect. This is his reality. And in
Christ’s vision is his loveliness reflected in a form so holy and so
beautiful that you could scarce refrain from kneeling at his feet.Yet
you will take his hand instead, for you are like him in the sight that
sees him thus.
Attack on him is enemy to you, for you will not perceive that in
his hands is your salvation. Ask him but for this, and he will give it to
you. Ask him not to symbolize your fear. Would you request that love
destroy itself? Or would you have it be revealed to you and set
you free?
Today we practice in a form we have attempted earlier. Your
readiness is closer now, and you will come today nearer Christ’s
vision. If you are intent on reaching it, you will succeed today. And
once you have succeeded, you will not be willing to accept the
witnesses your body’s eyes call forth. What you will see will sing to
you of ancient melodies you will remember. You are not forgot in
Heaven. Would you not remember it?
Select one brother, symbol of the rest, and ask salvation of him.
See him first as clearly as you can in that same form to which you are
accustomed. See his face, his hands and feet, his clothing. Watch him
smile, and see familiar gestures which he makes so frequently. Then
think of this; what you are seeing now conceals from you the sight of
one who can forgive you all your sins; whose sacred hands can take
the nails which pierce your own away, and lift the crown of thorns
which you have placed upon your bleeding head.
Ask this of him that he may set you free:
“Give me your blessing, holy Son of God.
I would behold you with the eyes of Christ,
And see my perfect sinlessness in you.”
And He will answer Whom you called upon, for He will hear the
Voice of God in you, and answer in your own. Behold him now
whom you had seen as merely flesh and bone, and recognize that
Christ has come to you.
Today’s idea is your safe escape from anger and from fear. Be
sure you use it instantly, should you be tempted to attack a brother
and perceive in him the symbol of your fear. And you will see him
suddenly transformed from enemy to Savior; from the devil
into Christ.
Britney Shawley added:
Select one brother, symbol of the rest, and ask salvation of him. See him first as clearly as you can, in that same form to which you are accustomed. See his face, his hands and feet, his clothing. Watch him smile, and see familiar gestures which he makes so frequently. Then think of this: What you are seeing now conceals from you the sight of one who can forgive you all your sins; whose sacred hands can take away the nails which pierce your own, and lift the crown of thorns which you have placed upon your bleeding head. Ask this of him, that he may set you free: Give me your blessing, holy Son of God. I would behold you with the eyes of Christ, and see my perfect sinlessness in you.
And He will answer Whom you called upon. For He will hear the Voice for God in you, and answer in your own. Behold him now, whom you have seen as merely flesh and bone, and recognize that Christ has come to you. Today's idea is your safe escape from anger and from fear. Be sure you use it instantly, should you be tempted to attack a brother and perceive in him the symbol of your fear. And you will see him suddenly transformed from enemy to savior; from the devil into Christ.