[acimlessons_list] Review II, Lesson 81 - March 22

[Sue Roth]

Review II, Lesson 81 - March 22

"I am the light of the world." (1st half of day) 

"Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world." (2nd half)

 PRACTICE SUMMARY

LONGER: 1 time, about 15 minutes

* For 3 or 4 minutes, read over the ideas and comments slowly (repeatedly if
you wish) and think about them.

* Close eyes and spend remainder listening quietly and attentively. There is
a message for you. Be confident you will receive it, for it belongs to you
and you want it. If you have distracting thoughts realize they have no
meaning or power. Replace them with your will to succeed. Trust it to carry
you past distractions. If your mind still wanders, repeat first phase of
exercise.

REMARKS: Regard these exercises as dedication to God. Refuse to be
distracted. Be determined to assume your function today.

SHORTER: Frequent

First half of day: "I am the light of the world."

Second half of day: "Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world."

RESPONSE TO TEMPTATION:

You may use these specific forms or your own words:

First half of day: "Let me not obscure the light of the world in me." "Let
the light of the world shine through this appearance." "This shadow will
vanish before the light."

Second half of the day: "Let this help me learn what forgiveness means."
"Let me not separate my function from my will." "I will not use this for an
alien purpose." 

COMMENTARY

"I am the light of the world." Lighting up the world is my function. The
Course is teaching us to remember Who we are, and to begin to live as Who we
are. We are lights, and we can live as lights in this world, by our
forgiveness sharing the happy news of freedom from all guilt. As St. Francis
of Assissi prayed, "Lord, make me the instrument of Thy peace." May I leave
everyone I meet a little brighter today. May the world seem a little less
dark for everyone I encounter. May each one I touch feel more loveable as a
result of meeting me. May I ask to see the light in every situation; may I
respond to darkness with light.

"Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world." If I do not feel
like the light of the world this day, let me forgive another; everyone I
forgive will show me the light in myself. It's even OK that I don't yet
understand what true forgiveness really is; that can't stop me if I am
willing to learn, and <I am willing>. Every situation that seems to bring
distress is a chance to learn what forgiveness really is. I don't want to
use the circumstances of my day for any purpose other than God's. Let
everything be grist for the mill.

*********** Additional Review Notes **************

Subject: One or two?

A few of you have written to me questioning whether this review calls for
one or two longer practice periods. The review's Introduction can be
understood either way. Robert Perry, who wrote the practice summaries, sees
only one longer period devoted to both ideas for review. Those who have
questioned see it calling for two 15-minute periods, one in the morning for
the first idea, one later in the day for the second idea. For a long time I
saw it that way, too.

The relevant portions of the review instructions are these:

"1. 2 We will begin where our last review left off, and cover two ideas each
day. 3 The earlier part of each day will be devoted to one of these ideas,
and the latter part of the day to the other. 4 We will have one longer
exercise period, and frequent shorter ones in which we practice each of
them.

2. 1 The longer practice periods will follow this general form: Take about
fifteen minutes for each of them, and begin by thinking about the ideas for
the day, and the comments that are included in the assignments. 2 Devote
some three or four minutes to reading them over slowly, several times if you
wish, and then close your eyes and listen."

1:4 seems to imply a single long practice period, and "frequent" short ones.
But 2:1 speaks of "longer practice periods," plural. It could be referring
to the ten periods, one per day, over the days of review. Frankly, until I
talked with Robert last year, I thought these instructions meant for us to
do two longer periods daily. It made sense, one idea for each longer review.
However, in 2:1, the instructions for "each of them," that is for each
longer review, tell us to think about "the ideas [plural] for the day." So
this seems to be speaking of a single period in which we think about both
ideas.

I don't think it matters a whole lot. If you want to do one, review both
ideas in it. If you want to do two, review one idea for each period. The
bulk of each period, after the first 3 or 4 minutes, are to be spent simply
listening quietly for a message. One time, two times; hey, do it five times
if you are up to it! We can use all the practice we can get!