God is the only goal I have today.

 While the lesson says that God is our only goal today, which is a vertical perspective, the first line reminds us that we make that goal real for us through healing of relationships here...a horizontal perspective. And just in case we may think that the way to God is to retreat to a monastery to meditate and pray, the way of the course is through relationship. He says in this lesson that "there is no other way". Yet even forgiveness is an illusion  but it is an illusion that ends all other illusions. In the context of the discussion on sin, it is an illusion because sin is not real and we have not sinned though we believe we have because we have bought the ego's story that we have done something terribly wrong and are now guilty. Sin only seems real to us because the lesson says that it is "cherished by the mind". In other words, when we release  our belief in guilt and sin we will remember who we are. (1.3). And where we are is at home in God where we never left except in this dream that we are dreaming.

The course reminds us that sin is a false belief about what we have done to creation in order to establish our individual identity. We believe that God had to be killed in order for us to exist. And the ego tells us that that was a horrendous crime on our part and now we walk around feeling like we have done something terribly wrong but we can't place our finger on what that feeling is all about. Yet, there is a sense of something wrong about us that we try to compensate for by being good.

We are reminded of our belief in sin whenever we blame and judge others for their indiscretions as a way to make them guilty and in comparison present our own face of innocence. Thus we hope at the end they get punished by God and we get off scot free. But while the ego tells us that this is a way to be rid of our guilt, it does not let us see that this is precisely how we keep it and get buried deeper and deeper into the insanity. But now Jesus shows us our way out of this darkness by redirecting our senses to see innocence in our brother instead of guilt and sending out messengers of love instead of messengers that bring back evidence of our brother's guilt. We give over our grievances and judgments to have them reinterpreted for us.  It requires that we watch our minds for these judgments and when they come up realize that we are at a choice point where we either condemn or forgive. Which we choose determines our decision for heaven or hell. And where we think our brother is, is where we will see ourselves.  "The sword of judgment is the weapon that you give to the illusion of yourself, that it may fight to keep the space that holds your brother off unoccupied by love". (T.31.VII.9.2)  "Every time you feel a stab of anger, realize you hold a sword above your head.  And it will fall or be averted as you choose to be condemned or free". (W.PI.192.9.5) (W.PI.192.9.4)  Which will we choose? How much longer do we choose to suffer? Salvation is in our minds and the power of decision is our own.

In the section on "What is Sin?" we are reminded that sin is insanity where the mind actually seeks to replace the truth. Why would we ever want to do that?  What would truth reveal to us that we are so afraid of? Ultimately we are afraid to lose our specialness, our uniqueness and our identity. And thus we hold onto sin instead.  Through forgiveness, we release the blocks in our own mind to the awareness that we have never separated from God. And "forgiveness is the means by which our minds return to Him at last".

We would learn that we are not egos, with separate identities. We would learn that our reality is not contained in a body. We would learn that there is no death. Yet we fear to learn this as our sense of identity, individuality, specialness, and control all seem to be threatened. We hang onto our perceived small selves. And the world seems very real to us because we are always looking out through our senses which bring back evidence that we are looking for that the world of form is, indeed real, and people are guilty.   "Sin gave the body eyes, for what is there the sinless would behold? (1.4) 

When we perceive through our senses it is the ego gathering evidence to confirm to us that the world and everything in it that is happening, is very real. And the Course reminds us that the ego always speaks first. What does that mean? It means that our first thought is what the senses offer to the brain. And when this happens we immediately react. But now we are called to look at our reactions by being very vigilant about our interpretations  and asking for help to see our brothers through the eyes of Christ.  That is why it takes us so much work and discipline. It seems much easier to simply go with the "evidence" offered by the ego because we like being right about our interpreations. This "I know" mind must be released until we are willing to learn from the Holy Spirit rather than from the ego. This requires acknowledgment that we have been wrong about everything.  The conflict that arises in us when we take this step can be very unsettling. It is like the ground shifting under our feet without any solid footing in this new territory that we are entering.

Is God the only goal you have today? Is our only goal to hear God's Voice? The answer to this is given in Par. 2 of the section on sin. Here Jesus says that the "body was made by the mind in its efforts to deceive itself" "It's purpose is to strive."  When we strive for things of this world, the implication is that they are real and that they are of value to us. So most of us do have other goals for which we strive because we still think that there is something in the world that will make us happy. But this is all self deception. And the more we see this for ourselves, the more we will be willing to give up these attempts at self deception, and instead use our striving for another purpose which is to know the truth. Anything of the ego can be turned over to be used by the Holy Spirit for our awakening.

There is only one mind, but we have the illusion of many minds, all asleep and dreaming. So why did we set things up so miserably for ourselves? We have kept hidden from ourselves our secret goal which is to be the victim of others in all of our relationships so that we never have to get in touch with the real cause of our misery. We think that the world, beginning with our parents and continuing with all of our other relationships, is the cause of our unhappiness. But it is not. The world and all of our relationships are only a clever diversion that we have made to keep the real source of our unhappiness hidden from ourselves. What is that source? It is our all- consuming desire that the separation be real at any cost because we value our separate self that we think we are. But the truth is that we can't separate from truth. We can only be unaware of who we are.

 The world is the effect and not the cause of how we feel, no matter how much we may have convinced ourselves otherwise. So we need to change our thoughts about the world by looking within our own minds to uncover the blocks that we have placed there to the awareness of love's presence. The world is just an outward picture of our inward condition. Thus it serves a very important purpose as a classroom to look at bringing this picture back into our own mind so that we can see our unhealed perceptions. This is not an easy process. We are learning to flex this forgiveness muscle which takes practice. It is not always easy when we are looking out at madness.  But the madness is our curriculum for healing. It does not matter if it comes in a movie, in nature, in circumstances in our lives, in people who seemingly attack us--it is all just our curriculum in whatever form it takes. Whatever unloving thoughts are brought up, in whatever form they appear (uneasiness, depression, anger, fear, worry, attack, insecurity, and so on-see lesson 39) we need to become aware of them and recognize that this is not the truth about who we are.

 So everything in the world provides many opportunities to forgive. All of the things of this world have no other purpose and no other value except this. Can I simply learn to be grateful for the curriculum of this world and allow it to be the beautiful classroom that it is for my awakening? It has no other purpose than this. "And so my Father, would I come to You in Your appointed way". And his appointed way is that we forgive. In fact, that is the only way to God. No matter which path is chosen to God, the Manual affirms that the central theme is "God's Son is guiltless". What this means is that no matter which path we choose, the underlying theme must be this. Why? Because when sin is cherished in our mind we block God out. And the only way to let go of sin is to overlook it in our brother. When we forgive our brother we can let go of our own guilt and see our own innocence. So today when we say: "God is  the only goal I have today" it requires that we forgive because that is our way to God.  

Love and blessings, Sarah  

⁴⁷ The fear of God is fear of life and not of death. Yet He remains the only place of safety. In Him is no attack, and no illusion in any form stalks Heaven. Heaven is wholly true. No difference enters, and what is all the same cannot conflict. You are not asked to fight against your wish to murder. But you are asked to realize the form it takes conceals the same intent. And it is this you fear and not the form. What is not love is murder. What is not loving must be an attack. Every illusion is an assault on truth, and every one does violence to the idea of love because it seems to be of equal truth.

⁴⁸ What can be equal to the truth yet different? Murder and love are incompatible. Yet if they both are true, then must they be the same and indistinguishable from one another. So will they be to those who see God's Son a body. For it is not the body that is like the Son's Creator. And what is lifeless cannot be the Son of Life. How can a body be extended to hold the universe? Can it create and be what it creates? And can it offer its creations all that it is and never suffer loss?

⁴⁹ God does not share His function with a body. He gave the function to create unto His Son because it is His own. It is not sinful to believe the function of the Son is murder, but it is insanity. What is the same can have no different function. Creation is the means for God's extension, and what is His must be His Son's as well. Either the Father and the Son are murderers or neither is. Life makes not death, creating like itself.

⁵⁰ The lovely light of your relationship is like the love of God. It cannot yet assume the holy function God gave His Son, for your forgiveness of one another is not complete as yet, and so it cannot be extended to all creation. Each form of murder and attack that still attracts you and that you do not recognize for what it is limits the healing and the miracles you have the power to extend to all. Yet does the Holy Spirit understand how to increase your little gifts and make them mighty. Also He understands how your relationship is raised above the battleground, in it no more. This is your part-to realize that murder in any form is not your will. The overlooking of the battleground is now your purpose.

⁵¹ Be lifted up and from a higher place look down upon it. From there will your perspective be quite different. Here in the midst of it, it does seem real. Here you have chosen to be part of it. Here murder is your choice. Yet from above, the choice is miracles instead of murder. And the perspective coming from this choice shows you the battle is not real and easily escaped. Bodies may battle, but the clash of forms is meaningless. And it is over when you realize it never was begun. How can a battle be perceived as nothingness when you engage in it? How can the truth of miracles be recognized if murder is your choice?

⁵² When the temptation to attack rises to make your mind darkened and murderous, remember you can see the battle from above. Even in forms you do not recognize, the signs you know. There is a stab of pain, a twinge of guilt, and above all, a loss of peace. This you know well. When it occurs, leave not your place on high but quickly choose a miracle instead of murder. And God Himself and all the lights of Heaven will gently lean to you and hold you up. For you have chosen to remain where He would have you, and no illusion can attack the peace of God together with His Son.

⁵³ See no one from the battleground, for there you look on him from nowhere. You have no reference-point from where to look, where meaning can be given what you see. For only bodies could attack and murder, and if this is your purpose, then you must be one with them. Only a purpose unifies, and those who share a purpose have a mind as one. The body has no purpose and must be solitary. From below, it cannot be surmounted. From above, the limits it exerts on those in battle still are gone and not perceived. The body stands between the Father and the Heaven He created for His Son because it has no purpose.

⁵⁴ Think what is given those who share their Father's purpose and who know that it is theirs! They want for nothing. Sorrow of any kind is inconceivable. Only the light they love is in awareness, and only love shines upon them forever. It is their past, their present, and their future always the same, eternally complete, and wholly shared. They know it is impossible their happiness could ever suffer change of any kind. Perhaps you think the battleground can offer something that you can win. Can it be anything that offers you a perfect calmness and a sense of love so deep and quiet that no touch of doubt can ever mar your certainty? And that will last forever?

⁵⁵ Those with the strength of God in their awareness could never think of battle. What could they gain but loss of their perfection? For everything fought for on the battleground is of the body-something it seems to offer or to own. No one who knows that he has everything could seek for limitation, nor could he value the body's offerings. The senselessness of conquest is quite apparent from the quiet sphere above the battleground. What can conflict with everything? And what is there that offers less, yet could be wanted more? Who with the love of God upholding him could find the choice of miracles or murder hard to make?

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