The Forgiveness Function

Lesson 62 of A Course in Miracles

Welcome to Daily Miracles, a running commentary on the 365 lessons of A Course in Miracles, an influential spiritual text from the 1970s. I am James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as I go through this material for the first time.

Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world. (ACIM, W-62)

Illusions may come about in different ways. Some illusions may come from trauma, and we are stuck in “survival” mode, even if that means resorting to addictive behaviors as a means of escaping pain. Others may come from indoctrination, or belief systems we have been taught.

We can’t forgive ourselves for having illusions without forgiving others. They are acting out based on their own illusions, and it is not our responsibility to have them forgive themselves; only they can do that based on their own realizations.

To be the light is to be free from obligations. To “honor their father and their mother” because it’s in the Ten Commandments isn’t being the light. To give to the poor because Jesus said so isn’t being the light.

To be the light is to love others because you genuinely love others, and you love them because you have forgiven them. You have forgiven them not for any wrong they might have done to you or…