This was my reading for this morning in A Course in Miracles. It's words on forgiveness are so beautiful that I wanted to share them with you. From Workbook lesson 122:
Even if it is only a vague feeling of discomfort, I know it must be forgiven. I may not understand what it is that is making me feel uncomfortable, but I go ahead and apply one of my forgiveness processes to it anyway.
Then I think. I look into my past and I look deep into my heart. What is it about this situation that is unsettling me? What false beliefs do I hold in my unconsciousness that are causing me to experience fear or anger or hurt or frustration? How can I tie the feelings I am experiencing this day to experiences in my past?
What do I believe about the world and about myself? Deep down in the dark recesses of my mind, do I secretly believe that I am not worthy of happiness, love and safety? Do I believe there is not enough good for the rest of the world and me too? Do I believe I am unloveable? Do I believe I am guilty and deserve to be punished? Beliefs like these and many others silently run our lives, causing us to behave eradically and often in ways that harm ourselves and others.
Looking deep at our beliefs, tracking them down to their source, remembering which events in our lives originally created these beliefs and forgiving, forgiving, forgiving is the way to happiness. I try to forgive every aspect I can dig up. I forgive the people and events causing me discomfort today, the people and events from its source in my past, the false belief I have embedded in my unconscious mind and any other experiences or thoughts I can discover in my consciousness that relate to this topic.
Doing this kind of mind cleaning and purifying does take commitment, but it pays off in spades. As we forgive the world around us, slowly but steadily our trust and comfort in our world begins to build.
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If you are unsure how to begin to forgive on this level, my book, "Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness" explains how you can successfully use forgiveness to create happiness in your life.
What could you want forgiveness cannot give? Do you want peace? Forgiveness offers it. Do you want happiness, a quiet mind, a certainty of purpose, and a sense of worth and beauty that transcends the world? Do you want care and safety, and the warmth of sure protection always? Do you want a quietness that cannot be disturbed, a gentleness that never can be hurt, a deep abiding comfort, and a rest so perfect it can never be upset?
All this forgiveness offers you and more. It sparkles on your eyes as you awake, and gives you joy with which to meet the day. It soothes your forehead while you sleep, and rests upon your eyelids so you see no dreams of fear and evil, malice and attack. And when you wake again, it offers you another day of happiness and peace. All this forgiveness offers you, and more.
Forgiveness lets the veil be lifted up that hides the face of Christ from those who look with unforgiving eyes upon the world. It lets you recognize the Son of God, and clears your memory of all dead thoughts so that remembrance of your Father can arise across the threshold of your mind. What would you want forgiveness cannot give? What gifts but these are worthy to be sought? What fancied value, trivial effect or transient promise, never to be kept, can hold more hope than what forgiveness brings?
Why would you seek an answer other than the answer that will answer everything? Here is the perfect answer, given to imperfect questions, meaningless requests, halfhearted willingness to hear, and less than halfway diligence and partial trust. Here is the answer! Seek for it no more. You will not find another one instead.If ever I find myself feeling less than content, I know I have forgiveness work to do. I search my mind for the source of my unforgiveness. Who am I feeling annoyed with? Is there anyone or any thing that is bringing this particular form of fear into my life?
Even if it is only a vague feeling of discomfort, I know it must be forgiven. I may not understand what it is that is making me feel uncomfortable, but I go ahead and apply one of my forgiveness processes to it anyway.
Then I think. I look into my past and I look deep into my heart. What is it about this situation that is unsettling me? What false beliefs do I hold in my unconsciousness that are causing me to experience fear or anger or hurt or frustration? How can I tie the feelings I am experiencing this day to experiences in my past?
What do I believe about the world and about myself? Deep down in the dark recesses of my mind, do I secretly believe that I am not worthy of happiness, love and safety? Do I believe there is not enough good for the rest of the world and me too? Do I believe I am unloveable? Do I believe I am guilty and deserve to be punished? Beliefs like these and many others silently run our lives, causing us to behave eradically and often in ways that harm ourselves and others.
Looking deep at our beliefs, tracking them down to their source, remembering which events in our lives originally created these beliefs and forgiving, forgiving, forgiving is the way to happiness. I try to forgive every aspect I can dig up. I forgive the people and events causing me discomfort today, the people and events from its source in my past, the false belief I have embedded in my unconscious mind and any other experiences or thoughts I can discover in my consciousness that relate to this topic.
Doing this kind of mind cleaning and purifying does take commitment, but it pays off in spades. As we forgive the world around us, slowly but steadily our trust and comfort in our world begins to build.
Forgive and be forgiven. As you give you will receive. --Also from Workbook Lesson 122Peace flows into our minds and we become happy.
If you are unsure how to begin to forgive on this level, my book, "Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness" explains how you can successfully use forgiveness to create happiness in your life.
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