No! Not one! Not only do we truly possess nothing, but, in a sense, we have nothing to give.

On the contrary, whatever we are, whatever we call our own, is a free gift received from God, a loan from his lavishness—except for our pain, which is truly ours.

The way of perfection implies the giving of all: there is not the slightest doubt about it. But does that giving mean we are then totally impoverished? That we have less? That we are depriving ourselves of the noble privileges of man?

If we give our wealth, it is to the All-Wealthy, who often repays us in surprising ways, even in this life.

If we give our freedom, it is to the All-Free, who delivers us from the slavery of secondary causes and from the tyranny of our own selves.

If we give our life, it is to the All-Living, who transposes our puny deeds into glorious accomplishments of his will. If we give our love, it is to Love itself who fills our deepest cravings, not with passing joys, human companionships, pleasures lost as fast as they are gained, but with the utmost and actual perfection of the very Principle by which we are drawn to love.

Nothing is lost. All is gained. Much is received even right now in the form of peace and gladness and lightheartedness. And all is finally received in heaven through the gift of God himself who is the very essence of the loveableness of everything we love.

Reprinted with permission from Alleluia Press, Allendale, NJ 07401.