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

I will there be light. Can we “will” that any situation comes to peace and harmony? This lesson guarantees that we can. Furthermore, it is our responsibility to put others in this light, especially ones with whom we may have “grievances.” There is no will but God’s for us to come to peace and harmony, free of all grievances. Is this the day we will make our will one with God’s and give up our grievances? You decide.

1) I will there be light.

2) There is no will but God's.

Only God's plan for salvation will work. What is it? Holding grievances is the opposite of that. The grievances we hold, the attack thoughts we project about external people and things, is in opposition to our "salvation." Do we want a peaceful world or do we choose to live in the conflicts of our own grievances and opinions? 

1) Only God's plan for salvation will work. 

2) Holding grievances is an attack on God's plan for salvation. 

My grievances hide the light in me. Would I rather be in the dark, or give up my grievances and be in the light. This is the choice I have to make. We all have to make this decision. In this one choice is our “salvation,” and that comes from us. Therefore, “salvation” comes from us as well.

1) My grievances hide the light of the world in me.

2) My salvation comes from me.

Love created me like itself. Would I then judge the perfection in which I was created? This is a great opportunity to look upon our Self and undo the ego that is distracted by grievances. Love holds no grievances is the next lesson. Can we have a new way of living, in which all grievances are dropped. We are either in the celebration of Love, or we are forgiving that which we formerly judged. Our function is to not hold grievances of any kind. 

1) Love created me like itself.

2) Love holds no grievances.

My only function is the one God gave me. Are we with our function? Forgiveness is it, as the light of the world. Accepting this function brings happiness and only happiness. My happiness and my function are one. Can we trust that this is so? The lessons confront our ego to let go. Can we do that? 

1) My only function is the one God gave me. 

2) My happiness and my function are one. 

Today’s Review tells us the light of the world, which is realized through forgiveness, brings peace to every mind. That is a function we all have. Can we remember it is the question? The ego wants to forget it. This is why we have to remind ourselves. “Let me not forget my function.” The challenge is clearly to forgive in situations that tempt us to reaction.

1) The light of the world brings peace to every mind through my forgiveness.

2) Let me not forget my function.

In this year we give to God, are we giving ourselves to the practice of miracles? Today begins the Review II. We are asked to give 15 minutes twice in the day to contemplating the two lessons given: one in the morning, and one in the evening. This is an opportunity to see how committed we are. Are we holding ourselves accountable in this process? Are we holding Jesus accountable in His providence of miracles? These are pertinent questions to ask ourselves now. Here are the two thoughts for today: 

“Let me recognize my problems have been solved.” This Lesson is confronting us to give up the thoughts in us which have manufactured problems. We are to apply the lesson to any situation that is unsettling: “Let me recognize this problem has been solved.” Can we do it though, in the midst of the very conditions of the situation? That is the test, isn’t it? Sondra and Markus look at this lesson in relationship to an actual real life “problem” with their “noisy neighbor.”

What is our problem? This Lesson #79 says it is only one—our imagined separation from our Source Energy. The separation into believing we are an ego, and forgetting our Sacred Source, is the only problem we need to “solve.” Instead of having many “problems,” we have only one. This is it. What is the solution? Recognizing that it is impossible to be “separated,” and that we can be in constant contact with our Source. This remembrance is the beginning of solving all problems.

This lesson makes it very clear: will we choose miracles or grievances? This is our choice, and we receive the results of our choice. Heaven or hell? The power of life or the illusion of death? The lesson applies this to relationships, and asks us to take the person we “hate” the most, and see them as our “savior” in the practice—a very sobering and important exercise.