Simply stated, miracles are a natural consequence of joining. (C:10.11)
I have been sitting, the last few days, with a friend who has been in a crisis situation. As it began to ebb a little, even though much uncertainty still surrounded it, he spoke of it as a naturally occurring miracle. It brought me up short. I have tended to think of naturally occurring miracles when things are going well. This last year or so of having A Course of Love republished is a fine example. Everything about it felt like a miracle. It was unexpected. It moved quickly. Nothing about it was effortful (even though much work was done). The outcome has been fantastic.
Everyone has their share of troubles, and so have I, both before and since A Course of Love came to me. Initially, I didn’t expect troubles of any magnitude to continue to enter my post ACOL life. I started out with a faith that seemed perfectly warranted, a faith that my life would steadily get easier and more peaceful—and with less effort.
Since then, I’ve had conversations with many ACOL readers who expected the same thing I did. Life was going to get better … immediately. Many, including me, felt we were going to be able to let go of things like worrying over money … without consequences arising from our inattention. But then my family’s coffee shop failed, the recession hit and my husband’s business failed, my dad died, a family member’s addiction came to light, I developed frozen shoulder … I could go on and on. Life continued, in other words, to be life, unfolding as it does.
I can say that after troubling times had passed, I’d almost always see the miracle that came of the situation. But not during.
And yet, as my friend and I talked, I began to see that I have come to accept what comes as what is meant to come, but that it now has nothing to do with seeing through rose-colored glasses or expecting only “the good” to arrive. It is a bit like the way Pema Chödrön describes meditation, saying that as we continue with it, we see that it isn’t “about getting it right or attaining some ideal state. It’s about being able to stay present with ourselves.”
Being able to stay present with ourselves. What a great blessing. What a miracle.
Thankyou Mari
Its so easy to blame ourselves when we do not feel good and experience challenges in life…I can feel…
“I should have come further in my spirituality, than to experience all this challenges or pain”
Right before I read your blog I was thinking about how I have a thoughtpattern that thinks that I cannot fully enjoy the here and now until I feel perfect health and no symptoms show up.
When I realized that, I felt, – What if this is my best time in life, what if this is really a blessing and I can as well start to enjoy this time exactly as it is… Because I am well enough to enjoy life most of the time, I have a lot of time to do what I love…I can rest and dive into ACOL.. I get to know so many wonderful new ACOL friends…I am.living on a beautiful place… With nice people around me..amd so on…..
I think that its the thought that something should be in another way, that something is wrong… that has hindered me from enjoying and being thankful here and now. And also not trusting that I am cared for in the future..
I can see that “dedicating all thought to unity can help me a lot to remember that I am united with my true self, with God, with Love, peace and therefore all is well.
And I can se that so many miracles and blessing already has come out of this.
To accept what comes as what is meant to come gives me release…enjoying myself here and now.
Thankyou for sharing
Love Anne
Mari, It’s the time of year when I gather my thoughts on the charities I want to support. I believe that support should be given where I am fed; and I am getting fed in a big way as I go through the book – A Course in Love. I have been reading ACIM – on my fourth reading, and meanwhile had picked up ACOL. Blew me out of the water, especially when I realized I was not so much interested in going further with ACIM. I soon realized that I truly have completed my “learning” phase and am firmly entrenched in developing sustainability of my Christ Consciousness. It resonates pure truth….so…along those lines, I was wondering if there is a specific way to donate to your Cause, and/or to providing this Word to those who have also reached the completion of their “learning” period and are ready even though (like myself) they do not know it yet. I feel a need to support you in what has brought me to my current space. I am forever grateful..
thank you
Arlene
Atlanta, GA
” being able to stay present with ourselves” being the presence and so it is.. Heart to Heart Robyn
Lovely, Robyn. Thank you.
How could we ever really know what is “good” or “bad”; either for us, for our loved one o even for the whole planet or universe? Isn’t that judging? And from what base?
After many many years of trying to control the world, wanting it to fit my desires and aims, ( and at times believing that it worked) I gradually finally learned to accept the world as it is, in fact as I perceived it. And then it appears as it is: naturally plentiful and benevolent. For me the miracle was that acceptation.
HIS Plan is perfect. All always finally works for the best of all and for all. Faith is essential. And from that faith, I rediscovered love; because it involved letting go of “my” views and personal desires.
All is so simple.
At some point I had written a series of three books, which were never published, the title of which was Welcoming ( l’Accueil). The intention was clear. Now the vision and the experience are clear. No more fighting. Just welcoming. Peace has come.
I understand that there are no other problems then the ones we keep building — to try and justify our separation illusion. Insane.
The nature of life is continuous creation: movement, being and expression. There is nothing bad. All is fine. Love reigns.