1. Forgiveness is the end of specialness. 2Only illusions can be forgiven, and then they disappear. 3Forgiveness is release from all illusions, and that is why it is impossible but partly to forgive. 4No one who clings to one illusion can see himself as sinless, for he holds one error to himself as lovely still. 5And so he calls it “unforgivable,” and makes it sin. 6How can he then give his forgiveness wholly, when he would not receive it for himself? 7For it is sure he would receive it wholly the instant that he gave it so. 8And thus his secret guilt would disappear, forgiven by himself.
2. Whatever form of specialness you cherish, you have made sin. 2Inviolate it stands, strongly defended with all your puny might against the Will of God. 3And thus it stands against yourself; your enemy, not God’s. 4So does it seem to split you off from God, and make you separate from Him as its defender. 5You would protect what God created not. 6And yet, this idol that seems to give you power has taken it away. 7For you have given your brother’s birthright to it, leaving him alone and unforgiven, and yourself in sin beside him, both in misery, before the idol that can save you not.
3. It is not you who are so vulnerable and open to attack that just a word, a little whisper that you do not like, a circumstance that suits you not, or an event that you did not anticipate upsets your world, and hurls it into chaos. 2Truth is not frail. 3Illusions leave it perfectly unmoved and undisturbed. 4But specialness is not the truth in you. 5It can be thrown off balance by anything. 6What rests on nothing never can be stable. 7However large and overblown it seems to be, it still must rock and turn and whirl about with every breeze.
4. Without foundation nothing is secure. 2Would God have left His Son in such a state, where safety has no meaning? 3No, His Son is safe, resting on Him. 4It is your specialness that is attacked by everything that walks and breathes, or creeps or crawls, or even lives at all. 5Nothing is safe from its attack, and it is safe from nothing. 6It will forevermore be unforgiving, for that is what it is; a secret vow that what God wants for you will never be, and that you will oppose His Will forever. 7Nor is it possible the two can ever be the same, while specialness stands like a flaming sword of death between them, and makes them enemies.
5. God asks for your forgiveness. 2He would have no separation, like an alien will, rise between what He wills for you and what you will. 3They are the same, for neither One wills specialness. 4How could They will the death of love itself? 5Yet They are powerless to make attack upon illusions. 6They are not bodies; as one Mind They wait for all illusions to be brought to Them, and left behind. 7Salvation challenges not even death. 8And God Himself, Who knows that death is not your will, must say, “Thy will be done” because you think it is.
6. Forgive the great Creator of the universe, the Source of life, of love and holiness, the perfect Father of a perfect Son, for your illusions of your specialness. 2Here is the hell you chose to be your home. 3He chose not this for you. 4Ask not He enter this. 5The way is barred to love and to salvation. 6Yet if you would release your brother from the depths of hell, you have forgiven Him Whose Will it is you rest forever in the arms of peace, in perfect safety, and without the heat and malice of one thought of specialness to mar your rest. 7Forgive the Holy One the specialness He could not give, and that you made instead.
7. The special ones are all asleep, surrounded by a world of loveliness they do not see. 2Freedom and peace and joy stand there, beside the bier on which they sleep, and call them to come forth and waken from their dream of death. 3Yet they hear nothing. 4They are lost in dreams of specialness. 5They hate the call that would awaken them, and they curse God because He did not make their dream reality. 6Curse God and die, but not by Him Who made not death; but only in the dream. 7Open your eyes a little; see the savior God gave to you that you might look on him, and give him back his birthright. 8It is yours.
8. The slaves of specialness will yet be free. 2Such is the Will of God and of His Son. 3Would God condemn Himself to hell and to damnation? 4And do you will that this be done unto your savior? 5God calls to you from him to join His Will to save you both from hell. 6Look on the print of nails upon his hands that he holds out for your forgiveness. 7God asks your mercy on His Son and on Himself. 8Deny Them not. 9They ask of you but that your will be done. 10They seek your love that you may love yourself. 11Love not your specialness instead of Them. 12The print of nails is on your hands as well. 13Forgive your Father it was not His Will that you be crucified.