Vision depends upon today’s idea. The light is in it, for it reconciles
all seeming opposites. And what is light except the resolution, born of
peace, of all your conflicts and mistaken thoughts into one concept
which is wholly true? Even that one will disappear because the Thought
behind it will appear instead, to take its place. And now we are at
peace forever, for the dream is over now.
True light which makes true vision possible is not the light the body’s
eyes behold. It is a state of mind which has become so unified that
darkness cannot be perceived at all. And thus what is the same is seen
as one, while what is not the same remains unnoticed, for it is not
there.
This is the light which shows no opposites, and vision, being healed,
has power to heal. This is the light that brings your peace of mind to
other minds, to share it and be glad that they are one with you and with
themselves. This is the light which heals because it brings single
perception, based upon one frame of reference from which one meaning
comes.
Here are both giving and receiving seen as different aspects of one
Thought Whose truth does not depend on which is seen as first, nor which
appears to be in second place. Here it is understood that both occur
together, that the Thought remain complete. And in this understanding is
the base on which all opposites are reconciled, because they are
perceived from the same frame of reference which unifies this Thought.
One thought, completely unified, will serve to unify all thought. This
is the same as saying one correction will suffice for all correction, or
that to forgive one brother wholly is enough to bring salvation to all
minds. For these are but some special cases of one law which holds for
every kind of learning, if it be directed by the One Who knows the
truth.
To learn that giving and receiving are the same has special usefulness,
because it can be tried so easily and seen as true. And when this
special case has proved it always works in every
circumstance where it is tried, the thought behind it can be generalized
to other areas of doubt and double vision. And from there it will
extend, and finally arrive at the one Thought Which underlies them all.
Today we practice with the special case of giving and receiving. We will
use this simple lesson in the obvious because it has results we cannot
miss. To give is to receive. Today we will attempt to offer peace to
everyone, and see how quickly peace returns to us. Light is tranquility,
and in that peace is vision given us, and we can see.
So we begin the practice periods with the instruction for today, and
say:
“To give and to receive are one in truth.
I will receive what I am giving now.”
Then close your eyes, and for five minutes think of what you would hold
out to everyone to have it yours. You might, for instance, say:
“To everyone I offer quietness.”
“To everyone I offer peace of mind.”
“To everyone I offer gentleness.”
Say each one slowly, and then pause a while, expecting to receive the
gift you gave, and it will come to you in the amount in which you gave
it. You will find you have exact return, for this is what you asked. It
might be helpful, too, to think of one to whom to give your gifts. He
represents the others, and through him you give to all.
Our very simple lesson for today will teach you much. Effect and cause
will be far better understood from this time on, and we will make much
faster progress now. Think of the exercises for today as quick advances
in your learning, made still faster and more sure each time you say:
“To give and to receive are one in truth.”