[acimlessons_list] PRACTICE SUMMARY (See Part II Practice Summary, and also Part I--November 13

[Allen Watson]

Lesson 317

"I follow in the way appointed me."

PRACTICE SUMMARY (See Part II Practice Summary, and also Part II
Introduction)

COMMENTARY

"I have a special place to fill; a role for me alone" (1:1).

There is a place for me in the plan of Atonement. There is something
that is meant specially for me to do, and until I find and fulfill my
part, "salvation waits" (1:2). My particular twist on the insanity of
separation needs to be healed before healing is complete.

I do believe we each have a particular part to play in the drama of
salvation. We each have a "special function" to fulfill, and part of
following the Holy Spirit is learning to discover what that role is. It
may not be anything grand or large in the public eye. It may be the
healing of one particular relationship. It might be, as it was with
Helen Schucman, bringing some message from God into this world. It might
be raising children and bringing them up from the perspective of a
healed mind. It might be tending bar and listening to the patrons with
forgiveness. But we do have a function, and we need to find and fill it.

Whatever it is, it will be some aspect of healing, some aspect of
alleviating guilt, some way of recognizing the Christ in those around
us. It will be a function which, in some way, gives and brings grace
into the world, for all functions within the plan of God fall into this
general category. Healing is our function here.

When I find my function I will find my happiness, for happiness is my
function. This is what I choose today. Today, Father, I pray:

"I'll go where You would have me go;
I'll do what You would have me do.
I'll be forever in love with You."

[If you have not heard the wonderful tape album by Donna Marie Carey,
"Real Love," which contains a song with the words I have just quoted,
all songs based on ACIM, I highly recommend it. Available from
Interfaith Fellowship, RR1, 459 Carol Dr., Monroe, NY 10950, for $10.]

"All my sorrows end in Your embrace" (2:5).

WHAT IS THE LAST JUDGMENT? (Part 7)

W-pII.10.4:1

"God's Final Judgment is as merciful as every step in His appointed plan
to bless His Son, and call him to return to the eternal peace He shares
with him."

The plan of God and its ending are characterized by one thing: mercy.
The final outcome will be mercy, and every step along the way to our
learning that will be merciful. God has a plan, and that plan is to call
us "to return to the eternal peace He shares" with us. No part of that
plan is anything but merciful.

Sometimes, even though we may believe that the ending will be merciful,
we think that harshness, pain and suffering are necessary along the way.
I don't think so. I believe that the merciful nature of the outcome
permeates the entire pathway. Every bit of it is aimed at release from
suffering. "There is no need to learn through pain" (T-21.I.3:1). When
we have already, in our blindness, chosen pain, it can be used to teach
us; but there is no need for it to be that way. God's only desire is to
release us from our suffering.

And in the end, He will. In the end, we will know the fullness of His
mercy, the consistency of His Love, and the shining radiance of His joy.
At the heart of the universe, God is an infinite expanse of welcome.

    COMMENTARIES ON LESSONS FROM THE WORKBOOK OF A COURSE IN MIRACLES
    by Allen Watson, with Practice Summaries by Robert Perry
    The Circle of Atonement--Visit our website at <http://www.circleofa.com>

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ Commentary by Allen Watson
+ Practice Summary: Robert Perry
+ Available in book format from The Circle
+ of Atonement (Vol. 1 reprint due soon, write us for info)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ The Workbook Commentaries are Copyright 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003
+ by The Circle of Atonement,
+ P.O. Box 4238,
+ W. Sedona, AZ 86340.
+ All rights reserved.
+
+ Please notify us of any intent to use them beyond the scope of this e-mail
+ list; write to info at circleofa.com.
+
+ WWW: <http://www.circleofa.com/>
+ Email: <info at circleofa.com>
+ Back Issues Lesson Archive: <http://www.circleofa.com/curwkbk.html>
+
Portions from Clarification of Terms (c) Copyright 1975, Psychotherapy:
Purpose, Process and Practice, (c) 1976, The Song of Prayer, (c) 1978, are
used by permission of the copyright holder, The Foundation for "A Course in
Miracles," 41397 Buecking Drive, Temecula, CA 92590.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To unsubscribe, send a message containing only one word: "unsubscribe",
to the appropriate address:

ACIMWKBK-LIST: acimwkbk_list-request at circleofa.com
ACIMLESSONS_LIST: acimlessons_list-request at circleofa.com

For additional information about unsubscribing, subscribing, and changing
settings for your subscription, send an e-mail message containing only the
Word "help" to either of the above two addresses, or visit the list websites
at http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/acimlessons_list or for
acimwkbk_list, use http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/acimwkbk_list
_______________________________________________
Tell your friends to subscribe. They can simply send an e-mail message to
either of the above addresses with one line in the message body:

    subscribe
_______________________________________________

Visit the new Circle of Atonement web site: <http://www.circleofa.com>

Support the Workbook commentaries! Make a donation to the Circle:
<https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=info%40circleofa.com&item_name=donat
ion+to+support+Workbook+commentaries&image_url=http%3A//www.circleofa.com/im
ages/main_title.gif&return=http%3A//www.circleofa.com&cancel_return=http%3A/
/www.circleofa.com&cn=Note+to+the+Circle&tax=0&currency_code=USD>

(If clicking the above link does not work, try copying it and pasting it
into the address field of your web browser, and clicking on "Go".)
_______________________________________________