When
you come to the place where the branch in the road is quite apparent, you cannot go ahead.
You must go either one way or the other. For now if you go straight ahead, the way you
went before you reached the branch, you will go nowhere. The whole purpose of coming this
far was to decide which branch you will take now. The way you came no longer matters. It
can no longer serve. No one who reaches this far can make the wrong decision, although he
can delay. And there is no part of the journey that seems more hopeless and futile than
standing where the road branches, and not deciding on which way to go.
It
is but the first few steps along the right way that seem hard, for you have chosen,
although you still may think you can go back and make the other choice. This is not so. A
choice made with the power of Heaven to uphold it cannot be undone. Your way is decided.
There will be nothing you will not be told, if you acknowledge this.
And
so you and your brother stand, here in this holy place, before the veil of sin that hangs
between you and the face of Christ. Let it be lifted! Raise it together with your brother,
for it is but a veil that stands between you. Either you or your brother alone will see it
as a solid block, nor realize how thin the drapery that separates you now. Yet it is
almost over in your awareness, and peace has reached you even here, before the veil. Think
what will happen after. The love of Christ will light your face, and shine from it into a
darkened world that needs the light. And from this holy place He will return with you, not
leaving it nor you. You will become His messenger, returning Him unto Himself.
Think
of the loveliness that you will see, who walk with Him! And think how beautiful will you
and your brother look to the other! How happy you will be to be together, after such a
long and lonely journey where you walked alone. The gates of Heaven, open now for you,
will you now open to the sorrowful. And none who looks upon the Christ in you but will
rejoice. How beautiful the sight you saw beyond the veil, which you will bring to light
the tired eyes of those as weary now as once you were. How thankful will they be to see
you come among them, offering Christ’s forgiveness to dispel their faith in sin.
Every
mistake you make, your brother will gently have corrected for you. For in his sight your
loveliness is his salvation, which he would protect from harm. And you will be your
brother's strong protector from everything that seems to rise between you both. So shall
you walk the world with me, whose message has not yet been given everyone. For you are
here to let it be received. God’s offer still is open, yet it waits acceptance. From
you who have accepted it is it received. Into your hand, joined with your brother's, is it
safely given, for you who share it have become its willing guardian and protector.
To
all who share the Love of God the grace is given to the givers of what they have received.
And so they learn that it is theirs forever. All barriers disappear before their coming,
as every obstacle was finally surmounted that seemed to rise and block their way before.
This veil you and your brother lift together opens the way to truth to more than you.
Those who would let illusions be lifted from their minds are this world’s saviors,
walking the world with their Redeemer, and carrying His message of hope and freedom and
release from suffering to everyone who needs a miracle to save him.
How
easy is it to offer this miracle to everyone! No one who has received it for himself could
find it difficult. For by receiving it, he learned it was not given him alone. Such is the
function of a holy relationship; to receive together and give as you received. Standing
before the veil, it still seems difficult. But hold out your hand, joined with your
brother’s, and touch this heavy–seeming block, and you will learn how easily
your fingers slip through its nothingness. It is no solid wall. And only an illusion
stands between you and your brother, and the holy Self you share together.
A Course in Miracles Chapter 22