Lesson 186

Salvation of the world depends on me.

Here is the statement that will one day take all arrogance away from every mind. Here is the thought of true humility, which holds no function as your own but that which has been given you. It offers your acceptance of a part assigned to you, without insisting on another role. It does not judge your proper role. It but acknowledges the Will of God is done on earth as well as Heaven. It unites all wills on earth in Heaven’s plan to save the world, restoring it to Heaven’s peace.

Let us not fight our function. We did not establish it. It is not our idea. The means are given us by which it will be perfectly accomplished. All that we are asked to do is to accept our part in genuine humility, and not deny with self-deceiving arrogance that we are worthy. What is given us to do, we have the strength to do. Our minds are suited perfectly to take the part assigned to us by One Who knows us well.

Today’s idea may seem quite sobering, until you see its meaning. All it says is that your Father still remembers you, and offers you the perfect trust He holds in you who are His Son. It does not ask that you be different in any way from what you are. What could humility request but this? And what could arrogance deny but this? Today we will not shrink from our assignment on the specious grounds that modesty is outraged. It is pride that would deny the Call for God Himself.

All false humility we lay aside today, that we may listen to God’s Voice reveal to us what He would have us do. We do not doubt our adequacy for the function He will offer us. We will be certain only that He knows our strengths, our wisdom and our holiness. And if He deems us worthy, so we are. It is but arrogance that judges otherwise.

There is one way, and only one, to be released from the imprisonment your plan to prove the false is true has brought to you. Accept the plan you did not make instead. Judge not your value to it. If God’s Voice assures you that salvation needs your part, and that the whole depends on you, be sure that it is so. The arrogant must cling to words, afraid to go beyond them to experience which might affront their stance. Yet are the humble free to hear the Voice which tells them what they are, and what to do.

Arrogance makes an image of yourself that is not real. It is this image which quails and retreats in terror, as the Voice for God assures you that you have the strength, the wisdom and the holiness to go beyond all images. You are not weak, as is the image of yourself. You are not ignorant and helpless. Sin can not tarnish the truth in you, and misery can come not near the holy home of God.

All this the Voice for God relates to you. And as He speaks, the image trembles and seeks to attack the threat it does not know, sensing its basis crumble. Let it go. Salvation of the world depends on you, and not upon this little pile of dust. What can it tell the holy Son of God? Why need he be concerned with it at all?

And so we find our peace. We will accept the function God has given us, for all illusions rest upon the weird belief that we can make another for ourselves. Our self-made roles are shifting, and they seem to change from mourner to ecstatic bliss of love and loving. We can laugh or weep, and greet the day with welcome or with tears. Our very being seems to change as we experience a thousand shifts in mood, and our emotions raise us high indeed, or dash us to the ground in hopelessness.

Is this the Son of God? Could He create such instability and call it Son? He Who is changeless shares His attributes with His creation. All the images His Son appears to make have no effect on what he is. They blow across his mind like wind-swept leaves that form a patterning an instant, break apart to group again, and scamper off. Or like mirages seen above a desert, rising from the dust.

These unsubstantial images will go, and leave your mind unclouded and serene, when you accept the function given you. The images you make give rise to but conflicting goals, impermanent and vague, uncertain and ambiguous. Who could be constant in his efforts, or direct his energies and concentrated drive toward goals like these? The functions which the world esteems are so uncertain that they change ten times an hour at their most secure. What hope of gain can rest on goals like this?

In lovely contrast, certain as the sun’s return each morning to dispel the night, your truly given function stands out clear and wholly unambiguous. There is no doubt of its validity. It comes from One Who knows no error, and His Voice is certain of Its messages. They will not change, nor be in conflict. All of them point to one goal, and one you can attain. Your plan may be impossible, but God’s can never fail because He is its Source.

Do as God’s Voice directs. And if It asks a thing of you which seems impossible, remember Who it is that asks, and who would make denial. Then consider this; which is more likely to be right? The Voice that speaks for the Creator of all things, Who knows all things exactly as they are, or a distorted image of yourself, confused, bewildered, inconsistent and unsure of everything? Let not its voice direct you. Hear instead a certain Voice, which tells you of a function given you by your Creator Who remembers you, and urges that you now remember Him.

His gentle Voice is calling from the known to the unknowing. He would comfort you, although He knows no sorrow. He would make a restitution, though He is complete; a gift to you, although He knows that you have everything already. He has Thoughts which answer every need His Son perceives, although He sees them not. For Love must give, and what is given in His Name takes on the form most useful in a world of form.

These are the forms which never can deceive, because they come from Formlessness Itself. Forgiveness is an earthly form of love, which as it is in Heaven has no form. Yet what is needed here is given here as it is needed. In this form you can fulfill your function even here, although what love will mean to you when formlessness has been restored to you is greater still. Salvation of the world depends on you who can forgive. Such is your function here.

INITIAL INSIGHT: “Let us not fight our function. We did not establish it. It is not our idea. The means are given us by which it will be perfectly accomplished. All that we are asked to do is to accept our part in genuine humility, and not deny with self-deceiving arrogance that we are worthy. What is given us to do, we have the strength to do. Our minds are suited perfectly to take the part assigned to us by One Who knows us well.”

This lesson says that the salvation of the world depends on me, but not me alone. I only need to do my part, but I must do my part because it is necessary to the whole. This one paragraph answers all objections. I am worthy, I have the strength, and I am perfectly suited to do my part. I don’t even have to worry about what my part is, that will be shown to me as the need arises. In the end, everyone’s part is to awaken, but in the meantime, we each have things to do.

Some things I have been led to do include studying A Course in Miracles, becoming ordained, writing a book, accepting students, presenting at conferences and workshops, becoming aware of my thoughts and deciding which ones I choose to believe, learning to hear the Voice for God, and learning to meditate.

If I were applying for these jobs, I would have been turned away. There was nothing about me that would make anyone think I could do these things. But as it turns out, I am perfectly suited for each part I have been given. All I had to do was lay my false humility aside and say yes. My life was a series of opportunities to fulfill each part. Some I had to work on for years and some I just needed to say yes in spite of fear. But all, as it turns out, were doable.

“Do as God’s Voice directs. And if It asks a thing of you which seems impossible, remember Who it is that asks, and who would make denial. Then consider this; which is more likely to be right? The Voice That speaks for the Creator of all things, Who knows all things exactly as they are, or a distorted image of yourself, confused, bewildered, inconsistent and unsure of everything? Let not its voice direct you. Hear instead a certain Voice, which tells you of a function given you by your Creator Who remembers you, and urges that you now remember Him.”

In the last paragraph, Jesus emphasizes that forgiveness is our function here and that this is what the world depends on us doing. Like love, forgiveness takes on many forms depending on need. In fact, forgiveness itself is a form of love. Sometimes saying I forgive you is neither needed or appropriate, but I love you might be the thing another needs to hear. Maybe giving a homeless man a little money is the way to forgive the idea of lack and to express love at the same time. I never know what form love and forgiveness will take until I receive that information from within. All I have to do is stay open to hear and willing to do.

DAILY APPLICATION: The first and primary part we do to save the world is to save ourselves. That is why Jesus says that our only function is to accept the Atonement for ourselves. I spent years working toward that function and am still doing so, though more quickly and certainly now. In addition to this, we also are given a specific part to play in the Atonement. Some parts seem big, like Helen scribing the Course. Other parts seem small, like my sister in law whose greatest desire is to be kind. Our part is not for us to decide. It is given us.

I was thinking of the Biblical story of Moses who was told that his part was to speak and lead. He had a speech impediment and argued that he was obviously not the one for the job. And yet, God knew something about him that Moses was unaware of. And He knew Moses was perfect for the job. If you knew me when I was young, you would never have figured me for a minister or a teacher of spirituality.

On the contrary, I was the poster child for sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Then you could throw in irresponsibility, unworthiness and fearfulness, the things the sex, drugs, and rock and roll were helping me to hide from myself and everyone else. My life seemed designed to prove that I could never answer a call from God and God knew it and would call on someone qualified.

But then I found A Course in Miracles and ever so slowly I came around. What I was asked to do was a whole lot of inner work. I didn’t have to stick my neck out and say to the world, “Listen to me. I am here to save the world.” I was just asked to do the Lessons. That took me years, but as Jesus says, he will teach us to be like him if we want him to, and if we don’t, he will wait until we change our mind. This is what happened.

I was asked to watch my mind vigilantly and to choose God instead of ego. That took years, too, and I still do it. It was scary sometimes until I learned a little about not being guilty for what I found. But it wasn’t scary like speaking out is scary. But very slowly, I realized I was going to have to step out into the world with my message. Because of my fear, it started slowly. I wrote stories of my life that showed how the Course was helping me. I started posting the thoughts I was given in a yahoo group.

Each time I would post something, I would be so afraid sometimes I would cry. I thought people would read what I wrote and see me for the fraud I was secretly afraid I was. But I kept doing it, just as I had finally kept doing the lessons, just as I had kept watching my mind even though I was afraid of what I would find. This is all that is asked of us, that we just keep doing what God would have us do.

I don’t know why I was chosen to write. I always wanted to write (the seed planted for this purpose I am sure) but every time I tried it came out horrible. This didn’t change until I started writing for Spirit. I was amazed I was chosen to speak, and am still surprised when that works out. I kind of got that I am a natural teacher, surprised but accepting of that. But the rest was a real revelation.

What has happened is that over time I figured out that I am a messenger. I don’t choose the message or the recipient. I just do my job the best I can, that is to deliver the message without changing it or interfering with it in any way. I don’t do it perfectly, but I do it willingly, and evidently, it is good enough. And with each message I deliver, I am gifted with the message.

I still experience doubts and fears in my life, but not in my purpose. I don’t care how anyone reacts to the message. It doesn’t need my protection. I don’t care what people think of me as the messenger. That is not my business. I’m just doing my job. I am incredibly grateful that my part in saving the world has been revealed to me, and that I said yes.

I also understand that teaching and ministering and speaking are parts of that plan, but not the most important part. I was given the job of allowing my mind to be healed, accepting the Atonement for myself, of learning what it means to forgive, of learning that I am one with everything, that I am love. This part is given to everyone.

Each person has a certain role to play. Being a loving mother or wife might be the part. Healing an ancient hatred might be the part. Learning to live an ordinary life peacefully might be the plan for someone. But whatever the plan for us, to accept the plan and do our part in the salvation of the world, we only need to set aside the arrogant belief that we know better what we can do.

INSIGHTS FROM HOLY SPIRIT: The Holy Spirit has led me step by step to where I am now. Everything is so much easier now because I trust the Holy Spirit and believe Jesus when he tells us that we can do whatever he asks of us and that he will hold our hand if that makes us feel safer. I used to have this underlying anxiety about everything I did on my spiritual path, afraid I was doing it wrong or not enough of it, that I was failing. Now, I don’t even question any of it. I assume I am doing exactly what is needed and if not, the Holy Spirit will get me the message to do it differently. Instead of questioning myself all the time and worrying about it, I wait with curiosity and happy anticipation for what comes next.

GRATITUDE: Holy Spirit, I have no words to express the depth of my gratitude.

REGINA’S TIPS

Today’s lesson is a reminder of how important the purpose of awakening is. The salvation of the world depends on our awakening. Although most people may not realize it consciously, they want us to awaken.

Is this true?

Yes, most definitely. Although most of the world may not consciously know it, the heart and soul of each person values awakening more than any other human accomplishment. How do we know that?

As one example, who is more revered in the hearts of most people, Jesus or Caesar Augustus? Both lived at the same time. Most people know at least a little about each man and his accomplishments. Who is loved more? Who touches people’s hearts and minds more?

You see, even though people in general are not consciously aware of it, everyone knows awakening is the most important thing a person can do in a lifetime, and everyone celebrates awakening when it is achieved.

Today’s lesson encourages us to accept awakening as the role given to us by God. Some people may think it is arrogant to think that our individual spiritual paths have such monumental importance, but this lesson points out that is confusion regarding what arrogance is and what humility is. According to the lesson, arrogance is any thought that says awakening is not our God-given function. It could be the thought that I am not worthy of awakening, or it could be the thought that there is something else I want to do. Any thought that denies awakening as my role in this lifetime is arrogance.

Humility is accepting my role with all of my heart, all of my soul and all of my mind.

Today’s lesson asks us to listen to God’s Voice that He may “reveal to us what He would have us do.” That means, listen to the part of you that is always coaching you toward awakening. It speaks to us all through the day. We just need to tap into it, so that we hear its instructions in every instant and can choose to follow them every step of the way.

There are two things that will help us hear (or feel) this Voice within us:

First, we must want to hear (or intuitively feel) this Voice over the personal thoughts in the mind.

Second, it is helpful to ask for this Voice’s guidance. Because the Voice speaks to us all through the day, we want to ask for its guidance all through the day.

A good message that helps us learn to do that is “The Purpose of Surrender” from The Teachings of Inner Ramana. That message encourages us to ask within, “What am I to do now?” throughout the day. It says that this question is a fully inclusive question, which also includes, “How shall I see this?”, “What am I to hear?”, “How shall I respond?”, etc. In other words, when we use the question “What am I to do now?” we are asking inner spiritual intuition to guide us in every aspect of our day.

Today’s lesson says, “He has Thoughts which answer every need His Son perceives.” This means that inner spiritual intuition will provide guidance for every situation we find ourselves in. In NTI Acts, the Inner Voice says:

In each circumstance and every situation along the way to Me, I am there with you, offering help and guidance. Never am I not there. Never can you make a mistake that will drive Me away. But it is also true that you can only hear My Word and accept My Help if you are willing to see that the answer to all things is Me.

If you choose to limit the circumstances in which I may help, My Help is limited. If you choose to solve your problems on your own, My answer remains unheard. Always, I am with you, able to help. Always, without exception, I am there. But you must be willing to know Me and accept Me in order to receive Me as yours.

Yesterday we inquired into our desires to discover what we truly want, and then we asked for that directly. Today, let’s remember to ask for guidance from the One who knows how to lead us to what we truly want. Let’s let that One guide in every detail of our life.