I sit in prayer this morning, aware of both the challenge of this compelling time, and the beautiful gifts it has to offer. What a dichotomy. I hold each of you in prayer with me as I sit, knowing that Health, Wholeness, and Joy is alive in each of us now.

As I began reading a new book last night, I found this quote…a paraphrase from A Course in Miracles: “Free will does not mean that you establish the curriculum; only that you can elect what you want to take at a given time.” I decided to review the full quotation, as I have always enjoyed the Course and have not taught it, or even looked at it in many years. What is actually says is this: “This is a course in miracles. It is a required course. Only the time you take it is voluntary. Free will does not mean that you can establish the curriculum. It means only that you can elect what you want to take at a given time. The course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however, at removing the blocks to the awareness of love’s presence, which is your natural inheritance. The opposite of love is fear, but what is all-encompassing can have no opposite. This course can be summed up very simply in this way: Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God.”

I have always enjoyed the Course and its introduction. I, too, believe that this spiritual journey we are on is not optional. We will all find our way Home, to our connection with That Which is Greater Than All Of Us, each in our own time and in our own way. This is what helps me to maintain my faith. I have come to believe that now is the time for me to consciously make that journey of Spirit; and that I can choose the difficulty with which I experience whatever is happening. When I remain grounded in Love, whatever is occurring feels easier and more graceful. And when I forget and fall into fear, I contract…things feel harder and the grace is more difficult to see. I had forgotten what a great set of tools is offered by A Course in Miracles.

Here are a couple of statements from chapter one that may serve as helpful contemplations today.

1. “There is no order of difficulty in miracles.” A miracle is a miracle. There is no small or large in miracles. They are all expressions of Love in action. One is as natural as another.
2. “Miracles occur naturally as expressions of Love.” It is important to remember that if I am in fear, I cannot be simultaneously in Love…and so miracles cannot happen.
3. “Prayer is the medium of miracles.” Prayer is how I communicate with Infinite Intelligence. All of my thoughts, words, and feelings are transmitted into the All-That-Is that I call God. When my prayer is one of fear and worry, Intelligence can only say ‘Yes’. And when I am grounded in love, seeing the Highest and Best unfolding, Spirit also says ‘Yes’. God can only say ‘Yes’…this is Spiritual Law, the Law of Correspondence. Whatever energy I am sending into the Great Mind is the energy that is returned to me. I can use this Law for my highest and most joyful experience by attending to my thoughts and feelings. I can make sure that through my thought, through my prayer, love is sent and received. In this way, love can be expressed and appear in the form of what I would call a miracle.

It is important to remember that a miracle is not something outside of what is natural. It is just the opposite. A miracle is that which happens when I don’t allow my negative thought patterns to get in the way of the Love, the Freedom, the Peace, and the Beauty that are seeking to be expressed. Miracles are my natural state of being. Everything that is Life-Affirming is a miracle. Our world is in need of miracle-minded people right now. We are in need of human beings who are willing to put fear to rest, who abide and have faith in God’s Love first and foremost. Our world is crying out for beings who are willing to live their lives firmly grounded in Love and Love alone.

I am raising my hand…raising my heart. I am open to a miracle today…how about you?

May we all be well…stay in touch…know our unity…and thrive!

And may we know the Absolute Beauty and Wonder of this Grace-filled, once-in-a lifetime day…