Sacred Life Sunday

After reading my Anything but Wordless Wednesday post this week, Elspeth shared that she and a friend have begun to study A COURSE IN MIRACLES and asked how studying the COURSE for 17 years has been for me. As I sit down to write this morning, I believe the most significant effects of my studies may be:

1. the subtle but life-changing shift in my perception of everything I encounter
2. a desire to find peace in all things ... always
3. choosing happiness over being "right" more consistently
4. that forgiveness of others leads to forgiveness of self
5. only my thoughts can hurt me and I can choose to see and think differently in each moment
6. miracles happen all the time and we see them when we slow down and notice
7. all things are "echoes of the Voice of God"
8. love is the way I walk in gratitude
9. we are not alone, but all one
10. I am one with Spirit ... I need but step back and listen to be led and this is true for everyone

There are, of course, many more changes I could share ... but these are central to my way of being in the world these days. Each time I revisit the daily lessons, I understand more deeply and release more "baggage" ... mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I'm led to books and authors in serendipitous ways when their message is most needed as "an assist" along the way.

Mary sent me this video link in email and after watching, I explored the associated website and found the following text of the poem illustrated with lovely images in the video. I offer both to you this morning if you have the time and inclination to reflect with me today.

THE INTERVIEW WITH GOD I dreamed I had an interview with God. “So you would like to interview me?” God asked. “If you have the time” I said. God smiled. “My time is eternity.” “What questions do you have in mind for me?” “What surprises you most about humankind?” God answered... “That they get bored with childhood, they rush to grow up, and then long to be children again.” “That they lose their health to make money... and then lose their money to restore their health.” “That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live in neither the present nor the future.” "That they live as if they will never die, and die as though they had never lived.” God’s hand took mine and we were silent for a while. And then I asked... “As a parent, what are some of life’s lessons you want your children to learn?” “To learn they cannot make anyone love them. All they can do is let themselves be loved.” “To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others.” “To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.” “To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in those they love, and it can take many years to heal them.” “To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.” “To learn that there are people who love them dearly, but simply have not yet learned how to express or show their feelings.” “To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it differently.” “To learn that it is not enough that they forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves.” "Thank you for your time," I said humbly. "Is there anything else you would like your children to know?" God smiled and said, “Just know that I am here... always.” -author unknown

I recall discovering Neale Donald Walsch's 1st book CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD and feeling surprised to see that it read like my own journals. I can't help but wonder how many of us there are who dialogue with Spirit in similar ways. I'd love to know.

The Workbook ends with this reminder:
"You do not walk alone. God's angels hover near and all about. His Love surrounds you, and of this be sure; that I will never leave you comfortless."

How's THAT for blessed assurance?