Lesson 61

I am the light of the world.

W-pI.61.1. Who is the light of the world except God’s Son? 2 This, then, is merely a statement of the truth about yourself. 3 It is the opposite of a statement of pride, of arrogance, or of self-deception. 4 It does not describe the self-concept you have made. 5 It does not refer to any of the characteristics with which you have endowed your idols. 6 It refers to you as you were created by God. 7 It simply states the truth.

Oh, my! I remember reading this for the first time. Such mixed emotions! I was blown away by the thought and I was appalled by the thought. I certainly didn’t live my life like I was the light of the world and thought the world was in trouble if it was trying to see by my puny little light. On the other hand, who was I to say that I was not the light of the world? If being the light of the world simply meant that I am as God created me, then I must be the light of the world. Beneath all the skepticism, was a tiny ray of hope.

W-pI.61.2. To the ego, today’s idea is the epitome of self-glorification. 2 But the ego does not understand humility, mistaking it for self-debasement. 3 Humility consists of accepting your role in salvation and in taking no other. 4 It is not humility to insist you cannot be the light of the world if that is the function God assigned to you. 5 It is only arrogance that would assert this function cannot be for you, and arrogance is always of the ego.

The first reading of this lesson left me afraid of my arrogance as I said to myself that I was the light of the world, but Jesus is telling us that accepting God’s Will is not arrogance. It is humility. It makes me think of Moses who resisted God insisting he wasn’t cut out for it. That was me, arguing with God, insisting I wasn’t the one who was the light of the world. I thought I was being humble but, really, it was pure ego arrogance. Obviously, I came around. ~smile~

W-pI.61.3. True humility requires that you accept today’s idea because it is God’s Voice which tells you it is true. 2 This is a beginning step in accepting your real function on earth. 3 It is a giant stride toward taking your rightful place in salvation. 4 It is a positive assertion of your right to be saved, and an acknowledgment of the power that is given you to save others.

Now, I often think about my part in the Atonement and I accept it in complete humility. I have the right to be saved, not because I am special above others, but because like all the others, I am God’s Son, His creation and what I am is not my right to decide. I can reject what I am, but I cannot change what I am. I have lost interest in rejecting my Self. In so doing, I have gladly accepted my role in the healing of the mind we all share.

I do what needs to be done. I work diligently and in joy to undo the ego thought system and free the mind of its self-imposed imprisonment. We were created to be free and to think that we could be imprisoned in these bodies with these limitations is ridiculous and I refuse to believe it or accept it anymore. I also accept all roles Jesus assigns me without false pride or false humility.

W-pI.61.4. You will want to think about this idea as often as possible today. 2 It is the perfect answer to all illusions, and therefore to all temptation. 3 It brings all the images you have made about yourself to the truth, and helps you depart in peace, unburdened and certain of your purpose.

W-pI.61.5. As many practice periods as possible should be undertaken today, although each one need not exceed a minute or two. 2 They should begin with telling yourself:

3 I am the light of the world. 4 That is my only function. 5 That is why I am here.

6 Then think about these statements for a short while, preferably with your eyes closed if the situation permits. 7 Let a few related thoughts come to you, and repeat the idea to yourself if your mind wanders away from the central thought.

I am thinking of a situation that I have failed to release to the Holy Spirit in spite of the fact I have taken to Him with the idea of release and yet left with it still intact in my mind. It seems a little thing compared to all the healing I have received over the years and yet it looms big in my mind. I think it is maybe the last bastion of the ego and for some crazy reason, I am holding onto it. I am going to use the lesson for today as a way to finally release this.

I am going to approach this with love, appreciation and an open mind. This is not war. It is a simple undoing, an unraveling of a tangled mess. When someone undoes their knitting, they reverse their stitches. This is what I am doing with my thoughts. I begin where I am, gladly allowing my mind to be aware of the tangled thoughts and with each one, reversing what I thought before as I say that 3 I am the light of the world. 4 That is my only function. 5 That is why I am here. This is going to be amazing!

W-pI.61.6. Be sure both to begin and end the day with a practice period. 2 Thus you will awaken with an acknowledgment of the truth about yourself, reinforce it throughout the day, and turn to sleep as you reaffirm your function and your only purpose here. 3 These two practice periods may be longer than the rest, if you find them helpful and want to extend them.

W-pI.61.7. Today’s idea goes far beyond the ego’s petty views of what you are and what your purpose is. 2 As a bringer of salvation, this is obviously necessary. 3 This is the first of a number of giant steps we will take in the next few weeks. 4 Try today to begin to build a firm foundation for these advances. 5 You are the light of the world. 6 God has built His plan for the salvation of His Son on you.

I accept my role gladly and will remember today’s lesson, using it often, building a firm foundation for my next assignment. How could I take this lightly when God has built His plan for salvation on me?