My only function is the one God gave me.I
1. Today’s idea reaffirms your commitment to salvation.
²It also reminds you that you have no other function but this.
³Clearly, both thoughts are necessary in order to reach a wholehearted commitment.
⁴Yet salvation cannot be your only goal while you still assign value to others. II
⁵Fully accepting salvation as your one and only function necessarily involves two phases.
⁶The first is the recognition that your function is salvation.
⁷The second is the relinquishment of all other goals you have invented for yourself. III
2. Only thus can you take your rightful place among the Saviors of the world.
²Only thus can you truly say, “My only function is the one God gave me.”
³And only thus will you find peace of mind.
3. Today, and during the coming days, set aside ten to fifteen minutes for a longer practice period in which you will try to understand and accept what today’s idea really means.
²This idea offers you an escape from all the difficulties you perceive.
³It places in your hands the key to the door of peace, which you yourself have closed.
⁴And it is the answer to all the seeking you have undertaken since the beginning of time.
4. If possible, try to do the longer practice sessions at approximately the same time each day.
²Also try to decide in advance when that time will be, and to adhere to it as best you can.
³The purpose of doing this is to organize your day in a way that sets aside time for God, just as you do for all the trivial goals and pursuits you will follow.
⁴This is part of the long-range training your mind needs so that the Holy Spirit can use it consistently in accordance with the purpose He shares with you. IV
5. Begin this longer practice by reviewing today’s idea.
²Then close your eyes, repeat the idea silently once more, and carefully examine your mind for any thoughts that arise.
³At first, do not try to focus only on thoughts related to today’s idea.
⁴Rather, try to notice any thought that comes up and interferes with it.
⁵Observe each one as it appears, without engaging with it or becoming concerned, and then dismiss it by saying:
⁶This thought reflects a goal that is blocking me from accepting my only function.
6. As time goes on, the interfering thoughts will become harder to find.
²Nevertheless, spend another minute trying to uncover a few of the idle thoughts that may have previously slipped by unnoticed, but do not strain or become anxious.
³Then say to yourself:
⁴Let my true function be written upon this clean slate.
⁵You do not need to use these exact words, but try to reach a state of willingness in which your illusory goals can be replaced by the truth.
7. Finally, repeat today’s idea once more and devote the remainder of the practice to quietly reflecting on how important this is to you.
²Think of the relief you will feel when you accept it, for it will resolve your conflicts once and for all.
³And also realize how deeply you truly want salvation, despite the foolish ideas you may still hold to the contrary.
8. In the shorter practice periods, which should be done at least once every hour, use this form in applying today’s idea:
²My only function is the one God gave me.
³I want no other and I have no other.
⁴At times, close your eyes as you practice, and at others, keep them open and look around you.
⁵What you now see will change entirely when you wholeheartedly accept today’s idea.
I The identity of something is its meaning, and the meaning of something is its function; therefore, the identity of anything is its function. Identity is the same as function.
Your function, then, is to be what you are—to exercise your identity. Your function is to realize and live fully the Love, the Truth, and the Power (the three aspects of Being) with which you came into existence when God created you.
II If you attempt to be something other than what you truly are, you will be completely lost in that peripheral self that is your ego. You will “malfunction,” and your heart—that infallible guide of your mind—will let you know it.
Your function in this world is salvation, which, in reality, is nothing more than recovering your true function: to create in eternity as your Father creates. Thus, we can interpret salvation as a “transitory” function, one that is understandable only in illusory terms. You, Son of God, have no need to be saved from anything, for God created you eternally perfect. But you, ego, are certainly in great need of being saved from that which never happened, but which you believe in within your dream of separation. Realize that this Lesson speaks of the function of the character, of the egoic mind—the one who is doing this Course.
That little self knows and manages only illusions, so what else can you speak to it of but illusions? Salvation, or Atonement, is the benevolent illusion through which the individual mind awakens to its true identity.
Therefore, save yourself by being in this world who you truly are: the Love, the Truth, and the Power of God’s Peace, for that is your happiness.
III The idea for today has a dynamic perfectly opposite to that of the preceding Lessons. It is a Lesson in taking away, not in adding.
Imagine your mind as an untended garden to which you have invited a gardener—Jesus—to make it orderly and beautiful. Now look at what that gardener has done. In Lessons 61, 62, and 63, He planted some seeds that, in time, will become a beautiful plant bearing wonderful fruit—the fruits of your forgiveness. In yesterday’s Lesson, number 64, the gardener devoted Himself to tending the plant and watering it.
Today’s Lesson, however, is very different. The gardener knows that it is now necessary to remove all the weeds growing wild in the neglected garden. The thing is, this gardener cannot perform that task; He can only plant seeds. He cannot remove anything from the garden, because it is you who planted those things—you who are the lord, master, and owner of the garden. He cannot take away anything that you have put there.
It is quite likely that you will deny having planted those aberrant things yourself. Perhaps you will say that others planted them, or that the wind brought them. But that is not true. Only you hold the key to your garden; no one can do anything there without your permission. If you believe otherwise, you do not know yourself well. No one—not Jesus, not even God Himself—can alter your garden in the slightest. In fact, to say that Jesus has planted seeds in your garden or watered them is not exactly true. He has merely brought you the seeds and left them at the garden gate for you to plant, tend, and water. No one can enter your garden or touch anything there; it is strictly private.
Well, that is not exactly so either, because the fence around the garden is something you yourself have put up, and that is precisely what has made that little plot of an infinite landscape that stretches beyond the horizon a private, personal space. And to be even more precise, it must be said that the fence limiting your “property” is imaginary. In truth, that fence is more like a proclamation you made to the four winds, claiming that small space for yourself alone, and, of course, that had to be respected until you decided to revoke it. Such is your power.
Given this situation, in today’s Lesson the gardener tells you, quite sensibly, that unless you uproot those barren plants that have never borne fruit, your new crop will not prosper—it is impossible. The fertile soil of your garden cannot effectively nourish everything you have planted there. All the plants will compete for nourishment. So you will have to choose what to keep and what to remove. And remember, the process of uprooting belongs to you alone, for you have already declared to everyone that not even God may enter your garden.
This process of uprooting the weeds of your mental garden is essential for the seeds of forgiveness and peace to flourish. The weeds represent those thoughts of judgment, resentment, and fear that you have cultivated over time. Though they may seem deeply rooted and difficult to remove, you have the power to choose to release them.
Each time you uproot a weed, you make space for the light of love and truth to shine more brightly in your mind. This act of clearing is not a punishment but a liberation. By letting go of what does not serve you, you allow your garden to become a reflection of the beauty and harmony that have always been within you.
So today, become aware of the weeds that have grown in your garden. Acknowledge that you planted them, but also remember that you have the power to remove them. With each thought of forgiveness, you are pulling up one of those barren weeds and making room for the fruits of peace and happiness to grow in abundance.
The gardener—Jesus—is there to guide and support you, but the choice to clear your garden is yours. Trust that in doing so, you are fulfilling your function as the light of the world and contributing to the salvation of all.
[iv] The truth is that if your little garden is in chaos, it is because you have been lazy and irresponsible. First, you came up with the foolish idea of having a garden just for yourself, and then you did nothing about it. Your power is immense, your will always fulfills itself, but your decisions always carry consequences. If you plant a lemon tree, do not expect to harvest oranges. If you think that is possible, it is because you believe in magic and think you can cheat the sacred law of cause and effect.
The human being is not evil, but childish; he does not need to learn new things, but to mature; he need not seek great revelations, but rather stop drugging himself with childish fantasies. A happy life requires a sound mind—that is, a mind that is ordered and directed toward a single purpose, in which there are not multiple aspirations and opposing desires competing with one another, stressing and weakening it. That is why this Lesson is devoted to making you aware of your mental dispersion and the many interests that fragment your mind and disturb your heart.
The call to discipline may well intimidate you, but be honest—do you think it is possible to achieve anything without it? If you think so, you still believe in magic, and your childish mind harbors fantasies that some fairy godmother will fix the problems you yourself have created. Do not waste time—mature, get to work, choose well, and begin discarding what does not serve you.
If you are still afraid of making such radical changes in your way of thinking, do the following: tell yourself that you will do exactly what these Lessons say, precisely as instructed here, but only for a set period. Put all your will and all your strength into fulfilling what is asked of you scrupulously, and open your eyes wide. Look with absolute honesty at the effects this is having on your life, and then make a decision: continue with this path, now with more confidence and filled with faith; or throw this book away and look for something else; or carry on as before—but never stop halfway.
Remember that the process of bringing order to your mind and your life is not a punishment but a liberation. By clearing the clutter and focusing on what is essential, you are creating space for peace and clarity to blossom. It is not about renouncing everything you love, but about discerning what truly nourishes you and brings you closer to your purpose.
Discipline need not be synonymous with rigidity or suffering. It can be an act of love toward yourself, a way of honoring your potential and your capacity to create a meaningful life. Each time you choose to focus on what truly matters, you are taking a step toward maturity and fulfillment.
So, even if it may seem difficult at first, trust the process. The fruits of discipline and inner order are incomparable: a calm mind, a peaceful heart, and a life aligned with your true Being. Do not fear making radical decisions if necessary; sometimes that is the only path to genuine happiness.