OrEd-T-16.7-Bridge to the Real World
59. The search for the special relationship is the sign that I equate myself with the ego and not with God. For the special relationship has value only to the ego. Unless a relationship has special value, it has no meaning to the ego. The ego perceives ALL love as special. This is not like the relationship of God and His Son, and cannot be natural. All relationships that are not like this one must be unnatural. For God created love as He would have it, and gave it as it is. Love has no meaning except as its Creator defined it by His Will. It is impossible to define love otherwise and understand it.
60. Love is freedom. To look for love by placing myself in bondage is to separate myself from love. For the love of God, I will seek no longer for union in separation nor for freedom in bondage! As I release, so will I be released. I will not forget this, or love will be unable to find me and comfort me. There is a way the Holy Spirit asks for my help if I would have His help. The holy instant is His most helpful tool in protecting me from the attraction of guilt, the real lure in the special relationship. I do not recognize that guilt is the real appeal of the special relationship, for the ego has taught me that freedom lies in the specialness.
61. The special relationship is totally meaningless without a body. I must value the body to value the special relationship. And I will keep what I value. The special relationship is a device for limiting my self to a body, and for limiting my perception of others to bodies. If the Great Rays were seen, they would prove the total lack of value of the special relationship. By seeing the Great Rays, the value of the body would be gone. My investment in seeing the body would disappear, and I would see a world I value.
62. On this side of the bridge, I see the world of separate bodies seeking to join each other in separate unions, and to become one by losing. When two individuals seek to become one, they are trying to decrease their magnitude. Each would deny his power, for the separate union excludes the universe. Far more is left outside than would be taken in. For God is left without, and nothing taken in. If one such union were made in perfect faith, the universe would enter into it. Yet the special relationship which the ego seeks, does not include even one whole individual. For the ego wants only part of him, and sees only this part and nothing else.
63. Across the bridge, it is so different! For a time the body is still seen, but not exclusively, as it is seen here. For the little spark which holds the Great Rays within it, is also visible. And this spark cannot long be limited to littleness. Once I have crossed the bridge, the value of the body is so diminished in my sight, that I will see no need at all to magnify it. I will realize that the only value the body has is to enable me to bring my brothers to the bridge with me, and to be released there together.
64. The new perspective I will gain from crossing over will be to understand where Heaven is. From here it seems to be outside and across the bridge. Yet, as I cross to join it, it will join me, and become one with me. And I will think in glad astonishment that for all this, I gave up nothing! The joy of Heaven, which has no limit, is increased with each light that returns to take its rightful place within it. I wait no longer, for the love of God and myself. And the holy instant speeds me on the way, as I let it come to me!
65. I do not fear that I will be abruptly lifted up and hurled into reality. Time is kind, and if I use it for reality, it will keep gentle pace with me in my transition. The only urgency is in dislodging my mind from its fixed position here. I will still have a home and frame of reference. The period of disorientation which precedes the actual transition is far shorter than the time it took to fix my mind so firmly on illusions. Delay will cause pain now more than before, only because I realize it is delay, and that escape from pain is really possible. I could not find even the illusion of love in any special relationship now. I am no longer wholly insane, and I would recognize the guilt of self-betrayal for what it is. I find hope and comfort in this.
66. Nothing I seek to strengthen in the special relationship is really part of me. And I cannot keep part of the thought system which taught me IT was real, and understand the Thought that really knows what I am. I have allowed the Thought of my reality to enter my mind, and because I invited it, it will abide with me. My love for it will not allow me to betray myself, and I could not enter into a relationship where the Thought of my reality could not go with me. For I would not be apart from it.
67. I am glad I have escaped from the mockery of salvation which the ego offered me. I will not look back with longing on the travesty the ego made of my relationships. No one need suffer, for I have come too far to yield to the illusion of the beauty and holiness of guilt. Only the wholly insane could look on death, suffering, sickness and despair and see guilt that way. What guilt has made is ugly, fearful, and very dangerous. There is no illusion of truth and beauty there. I am thankful that there is a place where truth and beauty wait for me. I go to meet them gladly, and learn how much awaits me for the simple willingness to give up nothing because it is nothing.
68. The Holy Spirit asks only this little help of me. Whenever my thoughts wander to a special relationship which still attracts me, I enter with Him into a holy instant and there let Him release me. He needs only my willingness to share His perspective, to give it to me completely. And my willingness need not be complete, because His is perfect. It is His task to atone for my unwillingness by His perfect faith, and it is His faith I share with Him there. With the recognition of my unwillingness for my release, His perfect willingness is given me. I call upon Him, for Heaven is at His call. I let Him call on Heaven for me.
