Lesson 335
I choose to see my brothers sinlessness.
“What could restore Your memory to me, except to see my brother’s sinlessness? His holiness reminds me that he was created one with me, and like myself. In him I find my Self, and in Your Son I find the memory of You as well” (ACIM Lesson 335 2:1-3).
The power of choice…how great it is! To let this power invade every fiber of our being can be exhilarating and at the same time combative. There are many instances where we do not want to see our power of choice. When suffering feels overwhelming, inevitable, and insurmountable, this is when we resist our power the most. It is not to say that we choose to be a victim of rape or abuse or molestation or anything of the like. It is to say that we have the power to choose how we perceive our circumstances in the wide range of possibilities in the human experience. To love, is a choice. To suffer, is a choice. To complain, is a choice. To be in gratitude, is a choice. Each one listed can sometimes be easier said than done but in the end, it is a choice.
“Forgiveness is a choice” (ACIM Lesson 335 1:1).
Forgiveness as a choice is a practice. We can either fall for the trick of the ego that shows us we are in separate bodies in threat of death by another or we can let the ego remind us of the illusion of dissociation of man. It is up to how we want to look at the world. Again, do we want to see love or fear? Do we want to see forgiveness or judgement? Identifying with the ego can merely be a wake up call to remember the Light we all share and that if one wants to see such Light, merely look upon your brothers and sisters with such vision.
“I choose to see what I would look upon, and this I see, and only this. My brother’s sinlessness shows me that I would look upon my own. And I will see it, having chosen to behold my brother in its holy light” (ACIM Lesson 335 1:5-7).
We have used the example before that if you want the person in the mirror to smile at you, you must dare to smile first. We also know it to be true that “When you smile, the whole world smiles back at you.” The end of the dream, of all suffering, starts and ends with you.
Each day, my living mantra is, “I choose love.” No matter what is happening around me, or within, I can always choose that. No one can take that power away from me unless I allow it. Thus, no matter what happens in the news, “I choose love.” No matter who happens to be in political power, “I choose love.” If no one smiles back at me throughout the day, “I choose love.” If I feel ill, “I choose love.” If I have moments of worry, “I choose love.” Regardless of the state of the world or my loved ones or if I appear to be standing alone in my choice, “I still choose love,” over and over and over again. To me, this is the best thing I can offer the world because it does not come from me, it comes through me, from Her, God. It so happens this mantra is the title of a song by Shawn Gallaway, “I Choose Love,” with lyrics that perfectly portray the journey of forgiveness and seeing all of our fellow souls in their Light. If you have not heard this song, I highly encourage you to do so (video below). This song has the magical power of one of those ditties that lingers in your head for ages. I couldn’t imagine a better song to repeat over and over in my head, reinforcing the power of choice that lies within me, always.
I can see laughter, or I can see tears
I see a choice, love or fear
What do you choose?
I can see peace, or I can see war
I can see sunshine, or I can see a storm
What do you choose?
Now I choose to live with freedom flying
From my heart, where the light keeps shining
I choose to feel the whole world crying
For the strength that we can rise above
I choose Love
I choose Love
So what do you choose? Forgiveness or fear? Love? Healing? You hold the eternal power to awaken to the Light that is around you and within you. The paintbrush is in your hand, what do you choose? Dare to be a Holy Visionary and see the world differently. See only Love. Namaste.
