Giving and Receiving

"To give and to receive are one in truth." -- A Course in Miracles

This holiday season is known for the giving and receiving of cards and gifts and parties and feasts... and love, of course. We simply assume that love is another commodity that we choose to give or not. The same with peace and gentleness and kindness. We think we can give or withhold these 'things'. And indeed it appears that we can.

We know from many of our previous conversations that all perception is a lens we adopt to view ourselves and therefore our world... because all perception is always and without exception my own state of mind projected out there. And this is the key to the real mystery of giving and receiving.

A Course in Miracles says that how we see our brother is how we see ourselves. And that what we give the world (the way we see it) is always our choice, and is exactly what we are receiving in return. This is the simplest of decisions and yet completely counter intuitive to our education in the world up until now. We believe that we must see the world through the eyes of 'experience'... which means, the projections of our parents and teachers that we have learned thus far. This is the way of the world.

But there is another way. As we see and perceive, we are giving. As we see and perceive, we receive. Don't take my word for it, try it. It is easily demonstrable. Offer love and peace to any difficult situation or person (silently, of course). And in exact proportion to your own sincerity and giving, you will receive the same, instantaneously. It is simply the way of it in Truth. This is true cause and effect.

So in this season of giving and receiving, I am choosing to give a wonderful gift to my Self, a gift of endless Love and Peace. I see this for you and give it as my blessing. And I always receive what I am giving now.