Morning and Evening Review: W-97 and W-98
1. W-97 “I am spirit.” I
²I am the Son of God.
³No body can contain my spirit,
nor impose on me any limitation God did not create.
2. W-98 “I will accept my part in God’s plan for salvation.” II
²What function can be mine but to accept the Word of God,
Who has created me to be what I am and forever will be?
3. On the hour:
²“I am spirit.”
4. On the half hour:
²“I will accept my part in God’s plan for salvation.”
I Although the human experience is lived from a personal identity, the truth is that this identity—the character you believe yourself to be—is nothing more than a mental construct based on beliefs. The individual mind, being limited by its separation, can operate only within the realm of belief, never within that of knowledge. For this reason, every thought that arises from the idea of “I” is, in reality, an interpretation—a belief more or less useful, but always provisional.
The Course proposes mental training that helps distinguish between personal and transpersonal experiences. The latter—such as a revelation, for example—are uncommon, since the voice of the ego is usually more present and active. Therefore, much of spiritual practice involves working with beliefs which, though imperfect, can be aligned with truth and serve as temporary guidance.
A clear example is the statement “I am spirit.” From the perspective of the Course, this is not yet a certainty based on direct experience, but a useful belief that directs the mind toward truth. To affirm “I am spirit” does not mean that this knowledge has already been attained, but that one has decided to place the will in alignment with it. It is a voluntary step within the process of transformation, sustained until the belief becomes experience.
These kinds of true beliefs act as provisional supports. They are consciously chosen, even when other, more deeply rooted beliefs—such as identification with a role or a bodily image—still operate in the background. Often one simultaneously wishes to be spirit and to maintain an identity in the world, which creates inner conflict. This division is part of the healing process and requires patience, honesty, and compassion toward oneself.
Spiritual practice does not demand the abandonment of worldly activity, but rather the relinquishment of the importance attributed to it that reinforces the idea of being a body. What transforms is not what is done, but the meaning assigned to what is done. Change begins when those actions are no longer performed to reaffirm an egoic identity, but as part of a more conscious and detached movement.
To accept one’s role in God’s plan means to recognize that the essential function is to be happy and to extend that happiness. When that priority becomes genuine, it reorders the internal hierarchy of values and gives meaning to the practice. It is not a matter of forcing oneself to be happy at all times, but of remembering that this is the direction—without guilt for not always achieving it.
Ultimately, transformation is a matter of focus. The more present the idea of being spirit is, the more one reacts and lives from that awareness. To repeat, remember, and apply these ideas with intention is part of a profound mental hygiene: a daily work of cleansing, surrender, and return to truth.
II Not only are you Spirit; you also have work to do. You’ve just been hired.
At last, you’re no longer unemployed. One could say that now you’re a Spirit with quite a lot of work. The task you’ve been given is actually quite simple: you’re only asked to save the world. Seen rightly, it’s not such a difficult job—it’s a simple job of demolition. Moreover, you’ve been told that as soon as you’ve dismantled everything, you can return home to join a party that’s already in full swing. So get to work—and quickly. You’ve already been given all the tools you need and the instructions for using them. If you have any doubts, ask the foreman.
To begin, you may remind yourself of the following:
“My role in God’s plan for salvation is to be happy and to contribute to the happiness of others. That will be my priority. I will remain attentive to it, for that is my deepest desire.
And what will I do, then? Whatever I can. Always whatever I can. But without guilt. If at any moment I do not feel happy, I will not punish myself for it, because doing so would undo the progress made. Guilt only adds more unhappiness. This is not about demands, but about direction—about maintaining the right Course.”
Do not forget it today. You already know what your task is.