Although you are One Self, you experience yourself as two; as both good
and evil, loving and hating, mind and body. This sense of being split
into opposites induces feelings of acute and constant conflict, and
leads to frantic attempts to reconcile the contradictory aspects of this
self-perception. You have sought many such solutions, and none of them
has worked. The opposites you see in you will never be compatible. But
one exists.
The fact that truth and illusion cannot be reconciled no matter how you
try, what means you use and where you see the problem, must be accepted
if you would be saved. Until you have accepted this, you will attempt
endless lists of goals you cannot reach; a senseless series of
expenditures of time and effort, hopefulness and doubt, each one as
futile as the one before, and failing as the next one surely will.
Problems that have no meaning cannot be resolved within the framework
they are set. Two selves in conflict could not be resolved, and good and
evil have no meeting place. The self you made can never be your Self,
nor can your Self be split in two, and still be what it is, and must
forever be.
A mind and body cannot both exist. Make no attempt to reconcile the two,
for one denies the other can be real. If you are physical your mind is
gone from your self-concept, for it has no place in which it could be
really part of you. If you are Spirit, then the body must be meaningless
to your reality.
Spirit makes use of mind as means to find Its Self-expression. And the
mind which serves the Spirit is at peace and filled with joy. Its power
comes from Spirit, and it is fulfilling happily its function here. Yet
mind can also see itself divorced from Spirit, and perceive itself
within a body it confuses with itself. Without its function then, it has
no peace, and happiness is alien to its thoughts.
Yet mind apart from Spirit cannot think. It has denied its Source of
strength, and sees itself as helpless, limited and weak. Dissociated
from its function now, it thinks it is alone and separate, attacked by
armies massed against itself and hiding in the body’s frail support. Now
must it reconcile unlike with like, for this is what it thinks that it
is for.
Waste no more time on this. Who can resolve the senseless conflicts
which a dream presents? What could the resolution mean in truth? What
purpose could it serve? What is it for? Salvation cannot make illusions
real, and solve a problem that does not exist. Perhaps you hope it
can. Yet would you have God’s plan for the release of His dear Son bring
pain to him, and fail to set him free?
Your Self retains Its thoughts, and they remain within your mind and in
the Mind of God. The Holy Spirit holds salvation in your mind, and
offers it the way to peace. Salvation is a thought you share with God,
because His Voice accepted it for you and answered in your name that it
was done. Thus is salvation kept among the Thoughts your Self holds dear
and cherishes for you.
We will attempt today to find this Thought, Whose presence in your mind
is guaranteed by Him Who speaks to you from your One Self. Our hourly
five minute practicing will be a search for Him within your mind.
Salvation comes from this One Self through Him Who is the bridge between
your mind and It.
Wait patiently, and let Him speak to you about your Self, and what your
mind can do, restored to It and free to serve Its Will.
Begin by saying this:
“Salvation comes from my one Self. Its thoughts are mine to use.”
Then seek Its thoughts, and claim them as your own.
These are your own real thoughts you have denied, and let your mind go
wandering in a world of dreams, to find illusions in their place. Here
are your Thoughts, the only ones you have. Salvation is among Them; find
it there.
If you succeed, the Thoughts that come to you will tell you you are
saved, and that your mind has found the function that it sought to lose.
Your Self will welcome it, and give it peace. Restored in strength, it
will again flow out from Spirit to the Spirit in all things created by
the Spirit as Itself. Your mind will bless all things. Confusion done,
you are restored, for you have found your Self.
Your Self knows that you cannot fail today. Perhaps your mind remains
uncertain yet a little while. Be not dismayed by this. The joy
your Self experiences It will save for you, and it will yet be yours in
full awareness. Every time you spend five minutes of the hour seeking
Him Who joins your mind and Self, you offer Him another treasure to be
kept for you.
Each time today you tell your frantic mind salvation comes from your One
Self, you lay another treasure in your growing store. And all of it is
given everyone who asks for it, and will accept the gift. Think, then,
how much is given unto you to give this day, that it be given you!