You do not change appearance, though you smile

   more frequently. Your forehead is serene,

   your eyes are quiet. And the ones who walk

   the world as you do recognize their own.

   Yet those who have not yet perceived the way

   will recognize you also, and believe

   that you are like them, as you were before.

   The world is an illusion. Those who choose

   to come to it are seeking for a place

   where they can be illusions, and avoid

   their own Reality. Yet as they find

   their own Reality is even here,

   then they step back and let It lead the way.

   What other choice is really theirs to make?

   To let illusion walk ahead of truth

   is madness. But to let illusion sink

   behind the truth, and let the truth stand forth

   as what it is, is simple sanity.

   This is the simple choice you make today.

   The mad illusion will remain awhile

   in evidence, for those to look upon

   who chose to come, and have not yet rejoiced

   to find they were mistaken in their choice.

   They cannot learn directly from the truth

   because they have denied that it is so.

   And so they need a teacher who perceives

   their madness, but who still can look beyond

   illusion to the simple truth in them.

   If truth demanded they give up the world,

   it would appear to them as if it asked

   the sacrifice of something that is real.

   Many have chosen to renounce the world

   while still believing its reality,

   and they have suffered from a sense of loss

   and have not been released accordingly.

   Others have chosen nothing but the world,

   and they have suffered from a sense of loss

   still deeper, which they did not understand.

   Between these paths there is another road

   which leads away from loss of every kind,

   for sacrifice and deprivation both

   are quickly left behind. This is the way

   appointed for you now. You walk this path

   as others walk, nor do you seem to be

   distinct from them, although you are indeed.

   Thus can you serve them while you serve yourself,

   and set their footsteps on the way which God

   has opened up to you, and them through you.

   Illusion still appears to cling to you

   that you may reach them. Yet it has stepped back,

   and it is not illusion that they hear

   you speak of, nor illusion which you bring

   their eyes to look on and their minds to grasp.

   Now can the truth, which walks ahead of you,

   speak to them through illusion, for the road

   leads past illusion now, while on the way

   you call to them that they may follow you.

   All roads will lead to this one in the end.

   For sacrifice and deprivation are

   paths which lead nowhere, choices for defeat,

   and aims which will remain impossible.

   All this steps back as truth comes forth in you,

   to lead your brothers from the ways of death,

   and set them on the way to happiness.

   Their suffering is but illusion. Yet

   they need a guide to lead them out of it,

   for they mistake illusion for the truth.

   Such is salvation's call, and nothing more.

   It asks that you accept the truth, and let

   It go before you, lighting up the path

   of ransom from illusion. It is not

   a ransom with a price. There is no cost,

   but only gain. Illusion can but seem

   to hold in chains the holy Son of God.

   It is but from illusions he is saved.

   As they step back he finds his Self again.

   Walk safely now yet carefully, because

   this path is new to you. And you will find

   that you are tempted still to walk ahead

   of truth, and let illusion be your guide.

   Your holy brothers have been given you

   to follow in your footsteps, as you walk

   with certainty of purpose to the truth.

   It goes before you now that they may see

   something with which they can identify;

   something they understand to lead the way.

   Yet at the journey's ending will there be

   no gap, no distance between truth and you.

   And all illusions, walking in the way

   you traveled, will be gone from you as well,

   with nothing left to keep the truth apart

   from God's completion, holy as Himself.

   Step back in faith, and let truth lead the way.

   You know not where you go. But One Who knows

   goes with you. Let Him lead you with the rest.

   When dreams are over, time has closed the door

   on all the things that pass, and miracles

   are purposeless, the holy Son of God

   will make no journeys. There will be no wish

   to be illusion rather than the truth.

   And we step forth towards this, as we progress

   along the way that truth points out to us.

   This is our final journey, which we make

   for everyone. We must not lose our way.

   For as truth goes before us so it goes

   before our brothers, who will follow us.

   We walk to God. Pause and reflect on this.

   Could any way be holier, or more

   deserving of your effort, of your love,

   and of your full intent? What way could give

   you more than everything, or offer less

   and still content the holy Son of God?

   We walk to God. The truth that walks before

   us now is One with Him, and leads us to

   where He has always been. What way but this

   could be a path that we would choose instead?

   Your feet are safely set upon the way

   that leads the world to God. Look not to ways

   which seem to lead you elsewhere. Dreams are not

   a worthy guide for you who are God's Son.

   Forget not He has placed His hand in yours,

   and given you your brothers' in His Trust

   that you are worthy of His Trust in you.

   He cannot be deceived. His Trust has made

   your pathway certain and your goal secure.

   You will not fail your brothers nor your Self.

   And now He asks but that you think of Him

   a while each day, that He may speak to you

   and tell you of His Love, reminding you

   how great His Trust, how limitless His Love.

   In your name and His Own, which are the same,

   we practice gladly with this thought today:

   "I will step back and let Him lead the way,

    For I would walk along the road to Him."