The Branching of the Road

Chapter 22 – 5. The Branching of the Road

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, for it is but a veil that stands between you. Either you 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 faces, and shine from them 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 messengers, returning him unto himself.
 
Think of the loveliness that you will see, who walk with him! And think
how beautiful will each of you 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 each will be the others 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 joined hands is it safely given, for
you who share it have become its willing guardians and protectors.
 
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 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 joined hands 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 the holy self you share.