Bringing light to darkness

The Course outlines a two-step process of first becoming a miracle worker and then being a miracle worker in the world. The first step of self-healing involves bringing the darkness to light . . . looking within without denial and offering our sense of sin, guilt and fear to spirit's judgment of innocence. This, along with the mental discipline of not justifying our anger and relinquishing the desire to attack, can be said to be the process of purification mentioned in Miracle Principle 7.

"Miracles are everyone's right, but purification is necessary first."

This also gives meaning to the idea, "being in the world, but not of it." The 'world' in this sense is referring to the world of fear, so not being of the world merely means to live without fear, or living in the world fearlessly.

"In this world you need not have tribulation because I have overcome the world.
That is why you should be of good cheer." T-4.I.13.10 (Cf. John 16:33)

Bringing the darkness to light for purification involves a sincere response to a simple request of spirit.

"The Holy Spirit asks of you but this; bring to Him every secret you have locked away from Him."

But, after the darkness is brought to the light, the next phase after is the time for bringing the light to darkness. In the first phase of purifying your own mind, the Holy Spirit brings the light to the darkness made open to him.

"Open every door to Him, and bid Him enter the darkness and lighten it away. At your request He enters gladly. He brings the light to darkness if you make the darkness open to Him. But what you hide He cannot look upon."

By the time we reach Chapter 18 in the Text, you become the bringer of light to the world.

"You who are now the bringer of salvation have the function of bringing light to darkness. The darkness in you has been brought to light. Carry it back to darkness, from the holy instant to which you brought it. We are made whole in our desire to make whole."

This is echoed in Workbook Lesson 159 -

"Christ's vision is the holy ground in which the lilies of forgiveness set their roots. This is their home. They can be brought from here back to the world, but they can never grow in its unnourishing and shallow soil. They need the light and warmth and kindly care Christ's charity provides. They need the love with which He looks on them. And they become His messengers, who give as they received.

"Take from His storehouse, that its treasures may increase. His lilies do not leave their home when they are carried back into the world. Their roots remain. They do not leave their source, but carry its beneficence with them, and turn the world into a garden like the one they came from, and to which they go again with added fragrance. Now are they twice blessed. The messages they brought from Christ have been delivered, and returned to them. And they return them gladly unto Him. Behold the store of miracles set out for you to give."

When the Course talks about the lilies of forgiveness it seems an obvious metaphor, and not a reference to a literal flower. Perhaps a lily of forgiveness is a metaphor for you.

Be the lily, and keep your roots set in heaven. Bless the world.