My Easter Miracle Journey
Easter has always held a special meaning for me.
My mother went into labor on Good Friday, and I was born in the early hours of Easter morning 1957, ten days after my parents had been told I had died in the womb.
My family said it was an Easter miracle.
As a student of A Course in Miracles, I’m into miracles. From the standpoint of the Course, a miracle is a shift in perspective from fear to love. And the best part of miracles?
They can happen every day.
Whenever I feel myself acknowledge my fearful thoughts or feelings (anger, resentment, stress) and meet those with love (compassion, forgiveness, presence) I experience a miracle.
When I open myself to this type of thinking, and ask the Divine within for guidance, my experience of life changes. While I may be dealing with chaos, instead of feeling helpless, I can begin to feel the true comfort, support and love that is always available.
Remembering that miracles can be simply a thought away is a daily practice for me. Learning...
I Could See Peace Instead of Listening to the Crazy in My Head
The photo above is me and my husband Joe, taken in one of our local parks last year.
Like most couples who’ve been together over 22 years, we’ve had our share of laughter and tears. It’s all part of marriage.
Recently Joe scheduled two cataract surgeries within nine days. I was concerned.
In my experience, Joe isn’t the best patient.
He’ll tell you he isn’t a patient man. He doesn’t like thinking he’s not in control of things. And he REALLY doesn’t like to be told “no.” Like “no driving for a few days” or “no exceptions to the multiple eye drops per day for the next five weeks.”
As we started this surgery process, I noticed something.
Joe was much more agreeable than normal. While he was a bit nervous, he was excited about the possibility of improved vision.
It was me who had the issue.
I had multiple scenarios playing in my head during the days leading up to the first surgery and the...
Align to Truth, Not Tragedy
Like many communities in the Unites States, my beloved Virginia has been rocked once again by multiple mass shootings this month.
Senseless. Devastating. Incomprehensible.
The reaction to such horrific events: public shock, the anguished cries of loved ones, stone faced politicians sending prayers to the affected families.
Enough.
Our opportunity is to align to the Truth, not the tragedy. Let me explain.
While Americans love to say we’re guided by our ideals of freedom, I disagree. We’re thoroughly and consistently motivated by fear.
Fear of the “other” (those of opposing political views, country of origin, race, religious beliefs, gender identification, and thousands of other delineating factors).
Fear of lack or “not enough” (seen through our monstrous consumer appetite and tendency for hoarding as well as deep issues around self-love).
And the fear of aging, loneliness, fear of not making the “correct” choices around food,...
Choosing Love in Difficult Situations
I wish it was easy for me to choose love in every life situation. It’s not. Sometimes I want to avoid a difficult conversation or pretend I don’t get scared when I hear disturbing news. Even with a consistent spiritual practice, I can still get triggered by a harsh comment, chaotic world event or when faced with a difficult decision.
After practicing degrees of avoidance, dodging, pretending and the occasional “forgetting” for decades, I’ve remembered the truth. All these tactics are simply an ego dance that keep me feeling constrained, stressed, uncomfortable and in conflict.
The truth is equally simple.
Every time I go within and ask Love for guidance on a specific issue or ask for help to react from love instead of fear, something miraculous happens.
There’s a shift.
Sometimes subtle, sometimes more pronounced but a definite shift to a feeling of peace. The shift is physical, mental, and emotional. My shoulders relax, the knot in my stomach...
Life in Reflection...
“What you experience in your external world is a reflection of your internal world.”
I can’t remember when I came across the teaching above or who I first heard it from, but I do remember that I immediately resonated with the message.
As the years have progressed and I’ve studied the mystics, neuroscience, and many of the great thinkers of our time my understanding has only deepened. I believe that what I “see” in my external world is indeed a reflection of my conscious and unconscious beliefs. Oh, I believe it, but I still forget. Here’s a recent example.
I’ve been supporting a friend who is struggling with a specific challenge. She is the most organized person I’ve ever met and is prepared for anything.
Worldwide shut down due to a pandemic? Prepared. Emergency home repairs? She’s got that covered. Extra...
Chaos as an Invitation to Love
So I bet you’d rather NOT get an invitation from “chaos,” even if it is to remember love.
But it happens. And it’s happening now.
While 2021 feels different than the chaos of 2020, there’s no doubt we’re all still facing much uncertainty. At home. At work. And in the world.
We’ve seen the recent global upheaval challenge institutions, tear open social wounds and force businesses to rethink the way they do everything. And it’s done something else.
Chaos brings with it an invitation to remember that which never changes.
The spiritual truth of universal love, compassion, kindness and recognizing oneness can anchor us to feelings of peace within, even when the winds of change are howling. That truth is felt deep inside when we allow the Divine wisdom of our own heart to comfort and guide us to love.
How can we do that? By remembering universal spiritual principles that lead us back to the truth.
#1 Love unites, fear separates.
The outside...
Finding Perfection in Perceived Chaos
Every so often I catch myself wondering when things will "calm down." In those times I remember that my perspective of life is what can "calm down," not necessarily the events that occur. And when I can remember that my thoughts create my experience, I get it. I'm able to see Divine Perfection amid my perceived chaos. Much of the time at least. Here’s an example I remember from a few years ago.
I decided to go to IKEA about 50 miles from home on a Friday afternoon and talked my strong son into coming (someone had to lift those boxes). My plan was simple: drive an hour, grab something to eat, quickly locate what I needed, check out and be back home before the afternoon rush hour began. I’d have plenty of time to go home, change and attend the visitation at the local funeral home that evening. All was good. Or so I thought.
But Life happened. We were late leaving the house, there was a problem with lunch, I couldn’t find all the items I wanted,...