LESSON 159

June 8

"I give the miracles I have received."

PRACTICE SUMMARY

Purpose: To receive the miracle of Christ's vision by opening His storehouse in your mind, and then by giving His miracles and vision away.

Morning/Evening Quiet Time: 5 minutes - at least; 10 - better; 15 even better; 30 or more - best

Open the storehouse of your mind and receive the miracle of Christ's vision.

Hourly Remembrance: as the hour strikes, for more than 1 minute (reduce if circumstances do not permit)

Sit quietly and receive Christ's vision. Thank God for His gifts in the previous hour. And let His Voice tell you what He wants you to do in the coming hour.

Frequent Reminder: Repeat idea. Give the miracles you have received.

Response To Temptation: Whenever you feel tempted, repeat idea.

COMMENTARY

You might notice that today's lesson title is almost the same as yesterday's: "Today I learn to give as I received." There is definitely a commonality of thought that runs through these two lessons, even extending two lessons back. They all talk of Christ's vision. They are all presenting a picture of the holy instant as a key part of our spiritual practice, although that term is not specifically mentioned in every lesson.

The general picture being presented is of our ongoing spiritual practice. It is this: We enter frequently into a holy instant. There, we experience a touch of eternity or Heaven, a taste of the knowledge of the truth. While we cannot carry this experience back with us to the world, we can carry back what that experience is like, translated into perception; this is called "the vision of Christ," which is manifested in forgiveness.

In this lesson, the holy instant is only hinted at by such phrases as, "Let us an instant dream with Him" (10:6), or, "Receive them now by opening the storehouse of your mind, where they are laid" (2:5). The Holy Instant is the "treasure house" we come to, the place in which we receive the gifts of Christ's vision. We must receive before we can give.

But we cannot recognize, or become fully aware, of what we have received until we give it away: "To give is how to recognize you have received. It is the proof that what you have is yours" (1:7-8). The extension of Christ's vision is an integral part of the plan of salvation presented by the Course. It is what brings us to certainty. This is quite similar to the principle taught by AA, that you stay sober by helping someone else to stay sober. Here, "You understand that you are healed when you give healing. You accept forgiveness as accomplished in yourself when you forgive." It is only as we bring the "lilies" of forgiveness from the holy instant, where we received them, and distribute them into the world that we truly know we are forgiven. It is in giving away miracles that we receive them.

Father, help me today to realize that I am rich. The storehouse of my mind is filled with miracles. I can come to this storehouse and, in this holy instant, receive them. You entrust them to me for the giving. Let me pause often today, to meet here with You, and then carry these treasures forth to offer them to the world. This is my whole purpose in life; this is why I am here.