Vision
Lesson 158
Posted by aplecompte on December 14th, 2009
"Into His Presence would I enter now," W-157 ushers in the experience of the joy of life, a touch of Heaven. This experience leaves me with an awareness of perfect Love, [metaphorically] a transformative vision of Christ's face, that I can offer everyone. The Holy Spirit has dreamed this journey for me.
In Lesson 158 Jesus gives me a gift--Christ's vision! This is the point of the lesson. "Our concern is with Christ's vision. This we can attain." Unlike the revelation of Oneness, I can learn vision. "Today I learn to give as I receive." I demonstrate vision in order to learn it. Jesus explains it clearly:
Christ's vision has one law. It does not look upon a body, and mistake it for the Son whom God created. It beholds a light beyond the body; an idea beyond what can be touched, a purity undimmed by errors, pitiful mistakes, and fearful thoughts of guilt from dreams of sin. It sees no separation. And it looks on everyone, on every circumstance, all happenings and all events, without the slightest fading of the light it sees.
This can be taught; and must be taught by all who would achieve it. It requires but the recognition that the world can not give anything that faintly can compare with this in value; nor set up a goal that does not merely disappear when this has been perceived. And this you give today: See no one as a body. Greet him as the Son of God he is, acknowledging that he is one with you in holiness.
Thus are his sins forgiven him, for Christ has vision that has power to overlook them all. In His forgiveness are they gone. Unseen by One they merely disappear, because a vision of the holiness that lies beyond them comes to take their place. It matters not what form they took, nor how enormous they appeared to be, nor who seemed to be hurt by them. They are no more. And all effects they seemed to have are gone with them, undone and never to be done.
Thus do you learn to give as you receive. And thus Christ's vision looks on you as well. This lesson is not difficult to learn, if you remember in your brother you but see yourself. If he be lost in sin, so must you be; if you see light in him, your sins have been forgiven by yourself. Each brother whom you meet today provides another chance to let Christ's vision shine on you, and offer you the peace of God.
And Lesson 159 wraps it all up.
To give is how to recognize you have received. It is the proof that what you have is yours. You understand that you are healed when you give healing. You accept forgiveness as accomplished in yourself when you forgive. You recognize your brother as yourself, and thus do you perceive that you are whole.
Christ's vision is the miracle in which all miracles are born. Christ beholds no sin in anyone. Christ's vision is the bridge between the worlds. This is the Holy Spirit's single gift; the treasure house to which you can appeal with perfect certainty for all the things that can contribute to your happiness. There is no sickness not already healed, no lack unsatisfied, no need unmet within this golden treasury of Christ.
So vision is another way to forgive. Rather than see a body, I recognize the spirit. (T-31.VI)
