THE GIFTS OF GOD — Sondra Ray and Markus Ray on A Course in Miracles

We crucify ourselves with our "attack thoughts." First we have them toward ourselves, which are self-harming, then we "blame" the hurt on someone or something outside of ourselves. And if we can't find a particular "villian" to which we can blame our hurt, we blame God in the end. God is giving me this horrible situation. I must be guilty. I must be deserving of this "punishment." Guilt is an attack on ourselves, and this is the point of this lesson—it is but ourselves we crucify. We can just as easily forgive ourselves for whatever it is, and see our inherent innocence. We were mistaken, yes, but not guilty. The thread out of this labyrinth of our self-destructive tendency is forgiveness—total and unequivocal—of ourself first, and then of everyone and everything else. Forgiveness will heal us and dissolve all self-harm.

Do we walk the world feeling connected to every living thing? And then, do we see Life in every atom of creation throughtout the entire cosmos? The rocks are alive. A particle of dust is alive. What we generally consider an "inanimate thing" is alive with some Energy of having been created. Therefore, EVERYTHING is alive, and we are connected to it. What we do with one iota of a "thing" affects how we relate to the whole. Can we behave as though the Life in all things matters? Especially our brothers and sisters, our fellow humans. Love would connect us to them. And Gratitude and Love walk together. We can connect with Everything and Everyone if we want to. We simply need to see things differently. What is the advantage of this universal connection? We have the opportunity to end the separation and restore our awareness back to the Heavenly state of Pure Joy.

Who are we? We are either the "ego" that we made up, or we are the unlimited Being that God Created whole and complete. This is a fundamental question we must ask ourself to be aligned with A Course in Miracles. "I am the Holy Son of God Himself" (or Herself). To the ego in organized "Christianity" this would be the epitome of arrogance. ACIM would maintain that actually it is "arrogance" to deny our Identity as the Son (Daughter) of God Himself. We are familiar with this denial that casues us pain and suffering. The state of affairs requires a big shift in our perspective on our true Identity. If we deny our own Identity, we will go mad as we get sick, age, and die. This Lesson is the antidote for the "Denial of our true Identity." We posit the truth within our mind and whole being. "I am the holy Son of God Himself." This is a statement of a fact. Humble in its acceptance of the Simple Truth.

Could we accept the fact that we determine if we enter into a Heavenly state of mind or stay in a self imposed "hell" that we have made up for ourselves? This Lesson is a Declaration of Independence from the pain and suffering of our past experiences. We are talking about a state of Being that is outside the realm of "experience." This can rise above and transcend our past in this physical dimension. This dimesion we are seeking is beyond physicality. This is a realm outside of the physicality of the body. We direct our mind toward a dimension that is above the "battleground" of pain. Physical experience is not the "ultimate reality." Some Idea in the Mind of God, which is Love, Peace and Joy, is the Thought we need to choose and think. Then we can say, Heaven is the decision I must make and do make. We choose between illusions of the ego our the Truth of our Christ Self.

What is the impact on our being of true words? Do they affect us? Do they "get into our psyche?" Do they help us to "drop the old" that did not serve our highest Good? Today's Lesson #189 has the potential to liberate us from the memories of failed attempts we have made to make contact with Pure Joy and to maintain this constant state of our Divine Being. We do not know the way to God's Love, but we have called and He/She has answered us. Can we trust that God knows the way to us, but we do not know the way to Him/Her, and that is all OK?  We ave called and God, the Divine Father/Mother/Child as One is answering us now. Can we trust in that Love to come to us, irrespective of any efforts we might make to facilitate this contact?

Can we connect with our reality? This light of Creation is in us. Can we allow it to shine through us? We can give our personal lies credence, or we can look past this darkness toward the light. The peace of God, which emanates from this light, is "shining in us now" whether we acknowledge it or not. It is there, but we have been distracted in our vision of a darkened self of the ego. Forgiving ourself for this error is essential to restore our vision of the light again. The Peace of God is all encompassing, and it is more powerful than the mistakes we have made. Admitting the falseness of our perception begins to invoke the help of the Christ to restore our vision back to truth, back to a "forgiven world" in which we accept the inner correction given us through the Peace of God.

We bless the world by blessing ourselves. Sacrifice is over. It does not gain us, or anyone else, anything. “Giving is proof of having." And when we give something true, we gain in the giving. Giving will increase what we possess. Also, through what we give away, we increase the storehouse of goodness in ourselves. I bless myself by blessing the world, and vice versa. By our giving an idea away, we strengthen it. If we give our joy away, everyone benefits. It we give our anger away, everyone retracts and feels bad. “Protect all things of value by the act of giving them away." We give the Gifts of God away and therefore, we increase them in ourselves. The content is what we are giving away. The "form" may change, but the Love underneath the form is always a blessing to ourselves and to the world.

Do we really believe we can make a difference? Do we have certainty of our Holy Function here on earth? Do we want to be part of true strength, wisdom, and holiness that is our divine inheritance... or would we rather stay in our personal goals and doubts of our ego's predominance? This is a statement of my Divine Function. "Salvation of the world depends on me." This is true humility. We are given the directions to rise to meet our true function here on earth. It is our function to join our will with the Will of God, and to gladly bring the vibrations of Heaven to these earthly planes. This is a new and joyous responsibility. But we must first let go of our own "personal polite hell" in our self. Then we must ask, "Where would You have me go; What would you have me do; What would You have me say and to whom?"

There is an awareness of Peace that is Absolute, according to this Lesson. It rises above all other desires, so we have to let go of lesser goals and "wanting" that the Lesson calls "dreams." When we share this reality with others, it is increased in everyone, most of all ourselves. But are we willing to relinquish other goals that have not given us this total peace and satisfaction? We have made compromises, and yet more compromises to acquire things we think we really want, only to witness them falling short of satisfaction, and ending up in the ephemera of dreams. This Lesson gives us the one place that is Eternal and constant—The Peace of God. It is the first "Gift of God" —Peace. Do we want it above all else? Only you can answer that in yourself.

What is this "Name of God" to which we make a call, and invocation? We seek to know our true Self as God Created us to be. Self Identity is our main concern here in Life. This Name unites us in the Oneness of Reality, of our Self, of our Creator. It is beyound our thinking. It is the Emptiness of a non physical Reality. A true contact with the Spirit is held out today for us to realize. We call upon God's Name. What is the Gift, the Benefit from this call? Most people are not in touch with this Higer Reality. We live in a level of awareness that keeps us in a "survival of the body" mode. But this call to our True Identity is a conscious action today. Let's follow it through to the full realization of our Higher God Created Self.