Lesson 83
My happiness and my function are one.
Today let us review these ideas:
W-pI.83.1. (65) My only function is the one God gave me.
2 I have no function but the one God gave me. 3 This recognition releases me from all conflict, because it means I cannot have conflicting goals. 4 With one purpose only, I am always certain what to do, what to say and what to think. 5 All doubt must disappear as I acknowledge that my only function is the one God gave me.
W-pI.83.2. More specific applications of this idea might take these forms:
2 My perception of this does not change my function.
3 This does not give me a function other than the one God gave me.
4 Let me not use this to justify a function God did not give me.
My Thoughts
As I contemplate this lesson, I remind myself that my function is forgiveness. I forgive the world and I forgive the idea of a world. I do this as I notice grievances whether they are directed at others or myself or situations within the world. As I forgive the idea of a world outside my mind, I realize that I am always only forgiving myself for my untrue beliefs.
Through this forgiveness practice, my mind becomes peaceful and I am happy. These are the effects of forgiveness and so I chose a single goal, the peace of God. In this way, if I lose my peace, I know immediately that there is a thought in my mind that need to be forgiven. I act immediately, and peace is restored because I have forgiven. Any thought I have is a perception, just a way to see things. If it is a perception that leads away from peace, I have asked the ego for meaning.
Loss of peace reminds me to change my mind and instead of asking for the ego interpretation, I ask for the Holy Spirit’s interpretation. And so, my perception does not change my function. Instead, my perception shows me that this is an opportunity to accept my function of forgiveness. I know this is what is needed because what I had chosen previously did not meet my goal of peace and happiness.
W-pI.83.3. (66) My happiness and my function are one.
2 All things that come from God are one. 3 They come from Oneness, and must be received as one. 4 Fulfilling my function is my happiness because both come from the same Source. 5 And I must learn to recognize what makes me happy, if I would find happiness.
W-pI.83.4. Some useful forms for specific applications of this idea are:
2 This cannot separate my happiness from my function.
3 The oneness of my happiness and my function remains wholly unaffected by this.
4 Nothing, including this, can justify the illusion of happiness apart from my function.
My Thoughts
In the past, I often thought that it was important that I was right and that others saw that I was right. Being right was my goal and my function and I was dedicated to it. I tried over and over to make being right both my function and what made me happy and it never worked. Eventually, my desire for something that did work brought me to the Course where I discovered the problem and corrected it. I hardly ever defend myself because I don’t care how anyone sees me. Being seen as right is no longer my function.
An example of this is my relationship with my children. They don’t believe the way I do and are not interested in it at all. In fact, at times they oppose it, and if they knew more about it, they would probably oppose it more strongly and more often. I used to think I needed to help them understand what I believe and why. I used to think that if I could just get them interested in the Course, they would see how right I am.
But my efforts to influence them didn’t work and didn’t help our relationship. And it did not make me happy. Now that I realize this, I have let all that go. They are exactly where they need to be at this time. They don’t need to be where I am and I don’t need to be right. Our relationships are better and I am happier. I forgave the idea that I could be happy only if my children were on a spiritual path. That made it possible to be happy without them doing anything to bring that about.
It is the same with A Course in Miracles. I teach and facilitate courses and post a lot of Facebook. When I first started, I thought it was my function to impart knowledge and to help everyone see how right I was. I laugh at that now. I was like an unhealed healer, and that meant I was not a healer. As I continued my study, I grew in two ways. I received my healing through genuine practice and that made me a better teacher.
But most importantly, I forgave the idea that I was in charge of anyone else’s path. I forgave the idea that I had an image as a teacher that I needed to uphold. It was just another form of believing my function was to be right. Now, I offer what I am learning and if it inspires someone else, I am happy for that. If it doesn’t, if they disagree with me, I am happy anyway. If they need inspiration, they will find it from a different teacher, one they are more in tune with. My function is not to be right; my function is forgiveness of every belief that does not bring peace to me and all of the Sonship.