LESSON 353
December 19
"My eyes, my tongue, my hands, my feet today
Have but one purpose; to
be given Christ
To use to bless the world with miracles."
PRACTICE SUMMARY
(See Part II Practice Summary, and also Part II Introduction)
COMMENTARY
These last ten lessons (not counting the final one) represent the state of mind to which the Course seeks to bring us. In this lesson we see the final outworking of the Course's thoughts about the body. Not that the body becomes ignored, despised or neglected, but rather that its every part be used to bless the world with miracles. The body is not attacked or belittled; rather, it is given a new purpose, shared with Christ.
"Father, I give all that is mine today to Christ, to use in any way that best will serve the purpose that I share with Him. Nothing is mine alone, for He and I have joined in purpose" (1:1-2).
In Heaven our function is creation, something that apparently we can't quite fully understand until our mind awakes to Heaven, but here our function is the pure reflection of creation: the giving of miracles, the extension of forgiveness. You might say our function here is recognizing creation, since to forgive is to acknowledge my brother as God created him, and not as I have made him through the projection of my own guilt.
Let me, then, as much as in me is, this day join myself with Christ's purpose. Let me give my hands, my eyes, my tongue, my feet to him. Why not silently pray and, very specifically, do exactly that. "Father, I give my hands to Christ today to be used only for the purpose I share with him: to bless the world with miracles." Then repeating the same thing for other parts of my body. Remember this thought through the day and renew your gift to Christ, calling your mind back to its true purpose every time you can remember.
"Thus has learning come almost to its appointed end. A while I work with Him to serve His purpose. Then I lose myself in my Identity, and recognize that Christ is but my Self" (1:3-5).
When we have reached the point where we truly have given everything we have to Him to be used for His purpose, we have almost completed the curriculum. All that is left is to stay a little while longer, serving His purpose, sharing the light with minds that still are clouded. This is almost descriptive of an avatar, an enlightened master who is on earth only to serve those not so far along.
When that time of service is over, I will "lose myself in my Identity, and recognize that Christ is but my Self." The ego self will dissolve and disappear; the individual will cease as a separate thing--which it never was in reality--and expand into the One Self of Christ. Nothing will be lost in this process except our separateness.
My heart, do not despair if this seems far beyond you now. It is far nearer than you dare believe. You are much more than you think you are. Simply, in gladness, give yourself to this purpose. The Holy Spirit will provide the means. Be willing simply to move in this direction, and do not judge how near or far you are, how easy or how difficult you think the way. Simply be willing for it to be. Be not anxious or restless if it seems to elude you; restlessness is only a delaying tactic. Rest, my heart. Trust. Angels watch with you, awaiting the birth of the Christ in you. Have no fear. Rejoice!
Copyright © 1996, The Circle of Atonement, Sedona,
Arizona, USA.
All rights reserved.