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Lesson 192: ”I have a function God would have me fill.”

Reframe: I have a role in supporting clarity and harmony.

Suggested Practice:

From the Introduction to Lessons 181-200:

”Our next few lessons make a special point of firming up your willingness to make your weak commitment strong; your scattered goals blend into one intent. ²You are not asked for total dedication all the time as yet. ³But you are asked to practice now in order to attain the sense of peace such unified commitment will bestow, if only intermittently. … And so we start our journey beyond words by concentrating first on what impedes your progress still. …⁴So we now attempt to go past all defenses for a little while each day. ⁵No more than this is asked, because no more than this is needed. ⁶It will be enough to guarantee the rest will come.”

Do two 15-minutes practices today.

Ponder this today:

“Therefore, hold no one prisoner. ²Release instead of bind, for thus are you made free. ³The way is simple. ⁴Every time you feel a stab of anger, realize you hold a sword above your head. ⁵And it will fall or be averted as you choose to be condemned or free. ⁶Thus does each one who seems to tempt you to be angry represent your savior from the prison house of death. ⁷And so you owe him thanks instead of pain.”

“Be merciful today. ²The Son of God deserves your mercy. ³It is he who asks that you accept the way to freedom now.⁴Deny him not. ⁵His Father’s Love for him belongs to you. ⁶Your function here on earth is only to forgive him, that you may accept him back as your Identity. ⁷He is as God created him. ⁸And you are what he is. ⁹Forgive him now his sins, and you will see that you are one with him.” (ACIM, W-192.9:1–10:9)

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Message

Today’s Lesson contains something that has stayed with me since I first read it in the 90s: the idea that withholding forgiveness is like holding someone prisoner—and that neither the prisoner nor the jailer is free. From the Lesson:

”²Who could be set free while he imprisons anyone? ³A jailer is not free, for he is bound together with his prisoner. ⁴He must be sure that he does not escape, and so he spends his time in keeping watch on him. ⁵The bars that limit him become the world in which his jailer lives, along with him. ⁶And it is on his freedom that the way to liberty depends for both of them.” (ACIM, W-192.8:2-6)

The visual is profound. As long as I withhold forgiveness from anyone, I suffer the consequences and forfeit my peace. Forgiveness, as I understand it from the Course, is seeing the Light in others and recognizing our oneness as Self.

I admit, it’s easier to see the Light in some people than in others. For the more challenging ones, it helps to remember that the Course calls them our “saviors from the prison house of death.” Those are the Course’s words, not mine.

Seeing my prisoners as saviors shifts everything. Take one person in particular: I can now see how they could be my savior. How? They show me just how far from peace, love, and joy I am capable of drifting. I can almost sense my ego mind cheering me on to go further, because it thrives on fear, anger, and suffering. So I understand what the Course means when it says the jailer is not free.

This awareness came to me while writing this post, re-reading paragraph 9 for the instructional section—especially the line about owing them thanks instead of pain. It gave me pause. How would they be my savior? And why thank them? In that pause—like a mini practice—it registered. An aha moment.

Now I can honestly look upon this person and others and recognize their role as my savior. They remind me: “Oh yeah. Thanks for reminding me that I’d rather be free than hold onto my grievances.” They remind me that I can choose between condemnation and freedom, pain and joy, hell and heaven.

I choose to see their Light as well as my own.

That’s the only function God would have me fill.

“When I agree to the Dude’s plan (to refrain from falling for anger and judgment), I discover I’ve got everything I’ve ever wanted.”
— “The Course in Miracles Experiment” by Pam Grout

Blessings & Peace,

Maureen,
The Mandala Lady

transforming soul whispers into mandalas & channeled messages
for clarity, peace, and joy

 About the 2026 Mandalas of the Day — ▶️ A Note About A Course in Miracles