The Gift of Lilies

Chapter 20 – 2. The Gift of Lilies

Look upon all the trinkets made to hang upon the body, or to cover it or for
its use. See all the useless things made for its eyes to see. Think on the
many offerings made for its pleasure, and remember all these were made to
make seem lovely what you hate. Would you employ this hated thing to
draw your brother to you, and to attract his body’s eyes? Learn you but offer
him a crown of thorns, not recognizing it for what it is, and trying to justify
your own interpretation of its value by his acceptance. Yet still the gift
proclaims his worthlessness to you, as his acceptance and delight
acknowledges the lack of value he places on himself.
 
Gifts are not made through bodies, if they be truly given and received. For
bodies can neither offer nor accept; hold out nor take. Only the mind can
value, and only the mind decides on what it would receive and give. And
every gift it offers depends on what it wants. It will adorn its chosen home
most carefully, making it ready to receive the gifts it wants by offering them
to those who come unto its chosen home, or those it would attract to it. And
there they will exchange their gifts, offering and receiving what their minds
judge to be worthy of them.
 
Each gift is an evaluation of the receiver and the giver. No one but sees his
chosen home as an altar to himself. No one but seeks to draw to it the
worshippers of what he placed upon it, making it worthy of their devotion.
 
And each has set a light upon his altar, that they may see what he has placed
upon it and take it for their own. Here is the value that you lay upon your
brother and on yourself. Here is your gift to both; your judgment on the Son
of God for what he is. Forget not that it is your savior to whom the gift is
offered. Offer him thorns and you are crucified. Offer him lilies and it is
yourself you free.
 
I have great need for lilies, for the Son of God has not forgiven me. And can
I offer him forgiveness when he offers thorns to me? For he who offers
thorns to anyone is against me still, and who is whole without him? Be you
his friend for me, that I may be forgiven and you may look upon the Son of
God as whole. But look you first upon the altar in your chosen home, and
see what you have laid upon it to offer me. If it be thorns whose points
gleam sharply in a blood-red light, the body is your chosen home and it is
separation that you offer me. And yet the thorns are gone. Look you still
closer at them now, and you will see your altar is no longer what it was.
 
You look still with the body’s eyes, and they can see but thorns. Yet you
have asked for and received another sight. Those who accept the Holy
Spirit’s purpose as their own share also his vision. And what enables him to
see his purpose shine forth from every altar now is yours as well as his. He
sees no strangers; only dearly loved and loving friends. He sees no thorns
but only lilies, gleaming in the gentle glow of peace that shines on
everything he looks upon and loves.
 
This Easter, look with different eyes upon your brother. You have forgiven
me. And yet I cannot use your gift of lilies while you see them not. Nor can
you use what I have given unless you share it. The Holy Spirit’s vision is no
idle gift, no plaything to be tossed about a while and laid aside. Listen and
hear this carefully, nor think it but a dream, a careless thought to play with,
or a toy you would pick up from time to time and then put by. For if you do,
so will it be to you.
 
You have the vision now to look past all illusions. It has been given you to
see no thorns, no strangers and no obstacles to peace. The fear of God is
nothing to you now. Who is afraid to look upon illusions, knowing his
savior stands beside him? With him, your vision has become the greatest
power for the undoing of illusion that God himself could give. For what
God gave the Holy Spirit, you have received. The Son of God looks unto
you for his release. For you have asked for and been given the strength to
look upon this final obstacle, and see no thorns nor nails to crucify the Son
of God, and crown him king of death.
 
Your chosen home is on the other side, beyond the veil. It has been
carefully prepared for you, and it is ready to receive you now. You will not
see it with the body’s eyes. Yet all you need you have. Your home has
called to you since time began, nor have you ever failed entirely to hear.
 
You heard, but knew not how to look, nor where. And now you know. In
you the knowledge lies, ready to be unveiled and freed from all the terror
that kept it hidden. There is no fear in love. The song of Easter is the glad
refrain the Son of God was never crucified. Let us lift up our eyes together,
not in fear but faith. And there will be no fear in us, for in our vision will be
no illusions; only a pathway to the open door of Heaven, the home we share
in quietness and where we live in gentleness and peace, as one together.
 
Would you not have your holy brother lead you there? His innocence will
light your way, offering you its guiding light and sure protection, and
shining from the holy altar within him where you laid the lilies of
forgiveness. Let him be to you the savior from illusions, and look on him
with the new vision that looks upon the lilies and brings you joy. We go
beyond the veil of fear, lighting each other’s way. The holiness that leads us
is within us, as is our home. So will we find what we were meant to find by
him who leads us.
 
This is the way to Heaven and to the peace of Easter, in which we join in
glad awareness that the Son of God is risen from the past, and has awakened
to the present. Now is he free, unlimited in his communion with all that is
within him. Now are the lilies of his innocence untouched by guilt, and
perfectly protected from the cold chill of fear and withering blight of sin
alike. Your gift has saved him from the thorns and nails, and his strong arm
is free to guide you safely through them and beyond. Walk with him now
rejoicing, for the savior from illusions has come to greet you, and lead you
home with him.
 
Here is your savior and your friend, released from crucifixion through your
vision, and free to lead you now where he would be. He will not leave you,
nor forsake the savior in his pain. And gladly will you walk the way of
innocence together, singing as you behold the open door of Heaven and
recognize the home that called to you. Give joyously to one another the
freedom and the strength to lead you there. And come before each other’s
holy altar where the strength and freedom wait, to offer and receive the
bright awareness that leads you home. The lamp is lit in both of you for one
another. And by the hands that gave it to your brother shall both of you be
led past fear to love.