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.