“All that I give is given to myself.”
Today’s idea, completely alien to the ego and the thinking of the
world, is crucial to the thought reversal which this course will bring
about. If you believed this statement there would be no problem in
complete forgiveness, certainty of goal, and sure direction. You would
understand the means by which salvation comes to you, and would
not hesitate to use it now.
Let us consider what you do believe in place of this idea. It seems
to you that other people are apart from you, and able to behave in
ways which have no bearing on your thoughts, nor theirs on yours.
Therefore your attitudes have no effect on them, and their appeals for
help are not in any way related to your own. You further think that
they can sin without affecting your perception of yourself, while you
can judge their sin and yet remain apart from condemnation and
at peace.
When you “forgive” a sin there is no gain to you directly. You
give charity to one unworthy merely to point out that you are better,
on a higher plane than he whom you forgive. He has not earned
your charitable tolerance, which you bestow on one unworthy of the
gift because his sins have lowered him beneath a true equality with
you. He has no claim on your forgiveness. It holds out a gift to him
but hardly to yourself.
Thus is forgiveness basically unsound; a charitable whim,
benevolent yet undeserved; a gift bestowed at times, at other times
withheld. Unmerited, withholding it is just, nor is it fair that you
should suffer when it is withheld. The sin which you forgive is not
your own. Someone apart from you committed it. And if you then
are gracious unto him by giving him what he does not deserve, your
gift is no more yours than was his sin.
If this be true, forgiveness has no grounds on which to rest
dependably and sure. It is an eccentricity in which you sometimes
choose to give indulgently an undeserved reprieve. Yet it remains
your right to let the sinner not escape the justified repayment for his
sin. Think you the Lord of Heaven would allow the world’s salvation
to depend on this? Would not His care for you be small indeed if
your salvation rested on a whim?
You do not understand forgiveness. As you see it, it is but a
check upon overt attack, without requiring correction in your mind.
It cannot give you peace as you perceive it. It is not a means for your
release from what you see in someone other than yourself. It has no
power to restore your unity with him to your awareness. It is not
what God intended it to be for you.
Not having given Him the gift He asks of you, you cannot
recognize His gifts, and think He has not given them to you. Yet
would He ask you for a gift unless it was for you? Could He be
satisfied with empty gestures, and evaluate such petty gifts as worthy
of His Son? Salvation is a better gift than this, and true forgiveness, as
the means by which it is attained, must heal the mind that gives, for
giving is receiving. What remains as unreceived has not been given,
but what has been given must have been received.
Today we try to understand the truth that giver and receiver are
the same. You will need help to make this meaningful because it is so
alien to the thoughts to which you are accustomed. But the Help
you need is there. Give Him your faith today and ask Him that He
share your practicing in truth today. And if you only catch a tiny
glimpse of the release which lies in the idea we practice for today, this
is a day of glory for the world.
Give fifteen minutes twice today to the attempt to understand
today’s idea. It is the thought by which forgiveness takes its proper
place in your priorities. It is the thought that will release your mind
from every bar to what forgiveness means, and let you realize its
worth to you.
In silence close your eyes upon the world which does not
understand forgiveness, and seek sanctuary in the quiet place where
thoughts are changed and false beliefs laid by. Repeat today’s idea,
and ask for help in understanding what it really means. Be willing to
be taught. Be glad to hear the Voice of truth and healing speak to
you, and you will understand the words He speaks, and recognize He
speaks your words to you.
As often as you can, remind yourself you have a goal today; an aim
which makes this day of special value to yourself and all your brothers.
Do not let your mind forget this goal for long, but tell yourself:
“All that I give is given to myself.
The Help I need to learn that this is true
Is with me now. And I will trust in Him.”
Then spend a quiet moment, opening your mind to His correction
and His Love. And what you hear of Him you will believe, for what
He gives will be received by you.
Brittany Shawley added:
Today we try to understand the truth that giver and receiver are the same. You will need help to make this meaningful, because it is so alien to the thoughts to which you are accustomed. But the Help you need is there. Give Him your faith today, and ask Him that He share your practicing in truth today. And if you only catch a tiny glimpse of the release that lies in the idea we practice for today, this is a day of glory for the world.
"All that I give is given to myself. The Help I need to learn
that this is true is with me now. And I will trust in Him."
