(I had the pleasure of doing the meditation several weeks ago at Atlanta Unity. Some commented that it helped them to remember...)
Good Morning. It’s our time to get still and to remember who we really are. So let’s quiet the outside world for just an instant.
Let’s imagine ourselves sitting not in this building, but in an open field. You hear the quiet creek behind you. You feel the cool breeze across your forehead.
And as you sit quietly, you see a person walking toward you. And yet there is something about this person walk that seems so alive, there something about their presence that seems so joyful.
And as the person comes closer, you feel from inside of you this rush of joy, this rush of love, this rush of acceptance. And as the person stands before you, you feel yourself engulfed in a wonderful, joyous light.
And you ask, “Who are you?”
And in your mind you hear the answer, “I am you.”
And in this moment, you once more feel that rush of love, your cup runneth over with joy and you ask, “You are me? But how?”
Once more, you hear the answer, “I am you. I am the you that God created. I am the you that you are always. I am the you who loves as God loves, I am all that you are.”
“You judge yourself not worthy. This is not true. You think you sin. This is not true. These are but idle dreams of a sleeping child. They are nothing. You are me, always me, always as God created you.”
And you ask, “How do I see you always?”
You hear the response, “Uncover your eyes and you will see as God sees. You judge your brothers as unworthy. This is not true. You think you see their sins. This is not true. As you see your brother you will see yourself. And as you see yourself you will see your brother. See your brother now as God sees him and you will see yourself, you will see me… always.”
And in quiet right now, you feel the love surrounding you and in silence experience that love now.
…
I am love, for that is how God created me. I am love, for that is how God created me. I am love, for that is how God created me. And so it is. And Amen.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
The Reunion Lesson
Earlier this month I attended my 35th high school reunion. As a paperboy living in a relatively poor section of metro DC, I received a scholarship to attend a New England prep school. St. Marks was pretty much straight out of the old Robin Williams film, The Dead Poet Society: coat and tie to classes, graduating class of 50, some very rich preppies. (Our year book categories included the typical "first to make a million" but also had "already has a million" - and included more than one name!)
My four years at St. Marks was quite an awakening for me on a number of levels. One of those levels was athletically. Though I entered 3rd form (9th grade) at 5'1", 97 pounds, by my senior year I was a starting defensive back on the football team, lettered in the sport, and was named honorable mentioned to the all-league team. My biggest claim to fame is that in our final game of the season against our arch rivals, I made two interceptions that turned the game around and led to our victory.
However, I couldn't tackle worth a lick. Looking back at it now, my basic issue was that I would hit people and hope that they would fall down. I never learned the important lesson of "tackling through" people by keeping your legs churning and placing your helmet in the right spot.
On the plane ride to the school for the reunion, I remembered a practice in which the then assistant coach, Mr. Large, lined me up in a one-on-one drill with one of our most bruising running backs. The drill starts on the five yard line. The running back tries to score, the defensive back tries to stop him. Usually every defender gets one chance and the drill is over. Some how I must have done something that had gotten Mr. Large upset that day, because he ran me through this drill about ten times. And each time the running back scored.
I don't remember the incident bothering me that much back then - other than the embarrassment of not being able to stop the running back. But thinking about it on the plane ride, I found myself getting angrier and angrier at Mr. Large as I put two and two together and came out with seventeen. Listen to my mind as it did its ego math.
"Mr. Large never believed I belonged on the team. From the beginning he thought I was too small and not tough enough. Instead of taking the opportunity to provide me instruction in how to tackle, he tried to humiliate me by setting me up to fail, again and again."
I saw Mr. Large at the reunion. He was retiring and he gave his "last lecture" that weekend by telling his moving story of coming to the school, sharing his gifts, and some of the lessons he learned along the way. I talked with him about our time together, but didn't mention the tackling drill.
On the flight home, I could still feel that twinge of outrage that tells me I feel I have been treated unjustly. I made a half-hearted attempt at using the forgiveness tools, but I clearly wasn't ready.
When we forgive, we give a heavenly interpretation for our earthly experience. We see that what we think others did to us never occurred because this earthly experience is just a dream of separation.
This morning was different. While meditating on the Forgiveness Principles, Mr. Large and the tackling drill came to mind. I envisioned Mr. Large and felt his sense of guilt about the incident. I saw myself saying to him, as I have envisioned many times J saying to me, "It is nothing. I am spirit. You can not hurt me. It is nothing." I saw myself giving him the gift of forgiveness, releasing him from his own guilt.
And as I helped him release his guilt, my own anger and sense of injustice seemed to dissolve into nothingness. (The gift I give, I give unto myself.) I may have to repeat this exercise in the future should this sense of outrage about the tackling drill reoccur. Yet my sense is that the desire to release others from their guilt (whether they feel it or not) may help me remember to see them as they really are and release me from my own.
Give gifts this day!
In Joy,
Michael
My four years at St. Marks was quite an awakening for me on a number of levels. One of those levels was athletically. Though I entered 3rd form (9th grade) at 5'1", 97 pounds, by my senior year I was a starting defensive back on the football team, lettered in the sport, and was named honorable mentioned to the all-league team. My biggest claim to fame is that in our final game of the season against our arch rivals, I made two interceptions that turned the game around and led to our victory.
However, I couldn't tackle worth a lick. Looking back at it now, my basic issue was that I would hit people and hope that they would fall down. I never learned the important lesson of "tackling through" people by keeping your legs churning and placing your helmet in the right spot.
On the plane ride to the school for the reunion, I remembered a practice in which the then assistant coach, Mr. Large, lined me up in a one-on-one drill with one of our most bruising running backs. The drill starts on the five yard line. The running back tries to score, the defensive back tries to stop him. Usually every defender gets one chance and the drill is over. Some how I must have done something that had gotten Mr. Large upset that day, because he ran me through this drill about ten times. And each time the running back scored.
I don't remember the incident bothering me that much back then - other than the embarrassment of not being able to stop the running back. But thinking about it on the plane ride, I found myself getting angrier and angrier at Mr. Large as I put two and two together and came out with seventeen. Listen to my mind as it did its ego math.
"Mr. Large never believed I belonged on the team. From the beginning he thought I was too small and not tough enough. Instead of taking the opportunity to provide me instruction in how to tackle, he tried to humiliate me by setting me up to fail, again and again."
I saw Mr. Large at the reunion. He was retiring and he gave his "last lecture" that weekend by telling his moving story of coming to the school, sharing his gifts, and some of the lessons he learned along the way. I talked with him about our time together, but didn't mention the tackling drill.
On the flight home, I could still feel that twinge of outrage that tells me I feel I have been treated unjustly. I made a half-hearted attempt at using the forgiveness tools, but I clearly wasn't ready.
When we forgive, we give a heavenly interpretation for our earthly experience. We see that what we think others did to us never occurred because this earthly experience is just a dream of separation.
This morning was different. While meditating on the Forgiveness Principles, Mr. Large and the tackling drill came to mind. I envisioned Mr. Large and felt his sense of guilt about the incident. I saw myself saying to him, as I have envisioned many times J saying to me, "It is nothing. I am spirit. You can not hurt me. It is nothing." I saw myself giving him the gift of forgiveness, releasing him from his own guilt.
And as I helped him release his guilt, my own anger and sense of injustice seemed to dissolve into nothingness. (The gift I give, I give unto myself.) I may have to repeat this exercise in the future should this sense of outrage about the tackling drill reoccur. Yet my sense is that the desire to release others from their guilt (whether they feel it or not) may help me remember to see them as they really are and release me from my own.
Give gifts this day!
In Joy,
Michael
Sunday, June 20, 2010
My Only Desire is to Walk With You
Good Morning!
This morning I woke with such a strong sense and a renewed commitment to what I see as my highest ideal.
My only desire is to walk with You.
So what got me here this morning? Why did I wake this morning with that thought fresh on my mind? I think I have a clue.
My nephew and I were together yesterday evening. He was joining me to watch a soccer game in which my daughter was part of the half-time activities. The drive would require about 90 minutes round trip.
My nephew is in his late 20s and has struggled as we all do with negative thinking, self-limiting beliefs, and judgment of others. In his particular case, his thoughts have manifested as having to constantly deal with basic issues around work, housing, relationships, etc.
He and I had talked years before about The Disappearance of the Universe. My intention was to introduce him to a different way of looking at his world that he might find beneficial. He showed little interest at the time.
Yesterday, as we started our drive, I turned the car’s audio system from CD mode (I routinely have the CD version of The Disappearance playing) to AM radio mode to have the baseball game going as we drove.
It took all of 15 seconds for me to recognize the gift before me. I turned off the radio and reminded my nephew of the discussion we had years before and gave him a basic overview of The Disappearance and asked if it was okay if I play it as we drive.
By the time we had arrived at the soccer game, we had stopped the audio several times to talk about various passages and he had laughed frequently at the author’s irreverent humor. He was particularly intrigued by the idea that this world was not created by God. He found the material answered some life-long questions of his, but raised many more.
By the time we had arrived back home we had gotten part way through the second of the six CDs. He asked if he could copy the CDs for his own use. Of course I told him no because that would be copyright infringement. And I gladly gave him my CDs.
His openness to the radical thinking that has become the center of my own spiritual development was a gift to me. Listening to his questions and the way he was viewing the material renewed in me my own commitment to walking this path. I believe it was his interest and enthusiasm that resulted in me waking this morning with the thought.
My only desire is to walk with You.
As A Course in Miracles often reiterates, giving a gift is the only way to make it yours. May you give many gifts this day!
In Joy,
Michael
This morning I woke with such a strong sense and a renewed commitment to what I see as my highest ideal.
My only desire is to walk with You.
So what got me here this morning? Why did I wake this morning with that thought fresh on my mind? I think I have a clue.
My nephew and I were together yesterday evening. He was joining me to watch a soccer game in which my daughter was part of the half-time activities. The drive would require about 90 minutes round trip.
My nephew is in his late 20s and has struggled as we all do with negative thinking, self-limiting beliefs, and judgment of others. In his particular case, his thoughts have manifested as having to constantly deal with basic issues around work, housing, relationships, etc.
He and I had talked years before about The Disappearance of the Universe. My intention was to introduce him to a different way of looking at his world that he might find beneficial. He showed little interest at the time.
Yesterday, as we started our drive, I turned the car’s audio system from CD mode (I routinely have the CD version of The Disappearance playing) to AM radio mode to have the baseball game going as we drove.
It took all of 15 seconds for me to recognize the gift before me. I turned off the radio and reminded my nephew of the discussion we had years before and gave him a basic overview of The Disappearance and asked if it was okay if I play it as we drive.
By the time we had arrived at the soccer game, we had stopped the audio several times to talk about various passages and he had laughed frequently at the author’s irreverent humor. He was particularly intrigued by the idea that this world was not created by God. He found the material answered some life-long questions of his, but raised many more.
By the time we had arrived back home we had gotten part way through the second of the six CDs. He asked if he could copy the CDs for his own use. Of course I told him no because that would be copyright infringement. And I gladly gave him my CDs.
His openness to the radical thinking that has become the center of my own spiritual development was a gift to me. Listening to his questions and the way he was viewing the material renewed in me my own commitment to walking this path. I believe it was his interest and enthusiasm that resulted in me waking this morning with the thought.
My only desire is to walk with You.
As A Course in Miracles often reiterates, giving a gift is the only way to make it yours. May you give many gifts this day!
In Joy,
Michael
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
What I See is What I Get
Good Morning!
Many of us are old enough to remember the Flip Wilson line, “What you see is what you get.” Well, more and more I am becoming aware that, “What I see is what I get.”
Lesson 181 from A Course in Miracles has put this in my face.
Perception has a focus. It is this that gives consistency to what you see. Change but this focus, and what you behold will change accordingly. Your vision now will shift, to give support to the intent which has replaced the one you held before. Remove your focus on your brother’s sins, and you experience the peace that comes from faith in sinlessness.
All my life I have been a “process improver” – someone who has been rewarded with accolades and monetarily for my ability to perceive issues and find ways to successfully address them.
This can be helpful in the business world, yet not so helpful spiritually, for, What I see is what I get.
If we accept for a second that this life I am living is my dream, not someone else’s, then what I focus on I will indeed get more of. If I seek out errors in others, that is indeed what I will see and that will indeed be how I experience that person (and, by the way, how I will experience myself). Yet if I seek out, look for, insist that I focus on the gifts that each brings, I will indeed see these and recognize more the gifts I bring, rather than my awful self-judgments.
How does this play out in my life?
More and more, I am seeing that there are conversations I can no longer have with other people. I can’t spend time in conversations that focus on what is “wrong” with my co-workers, my family members, my friends. And I can no longer have those same conversations in my head with myself.
Of course this can sound pretty Pollyannaish, not realistic, not seeing what is really there. However… What I see is what I get.
Perhaps today is a day for you to give this thought an opportunity to be a blessing to you. I invite you this day to decide with me to focus on and see only the gifts in everyone. Let your thoughts, words and actions with each person align with this view. And let’s see what we get!
If you would like, let me know how this works for you at www.practicingforgiveness.blogspot.com.
In Joy,
Michael
Many of us are old enough to remember the Flip Wilson line, “What you see is what you get.” Well, more and more I am becoming aware that, “What I see is what I get.”
Lesson 181 from A Course in Miracles has put this in my face.
Perception has a focus. It is this that gives consistency to what you see. Change but this focus, and what you behold will change accordingly. Your vision now will shift, to give support to the intent which has replaced the one you held before. Remove your focus on your brother’s sins, and you experience the peace that comes from faith in sinlessness.
All my life I have been a “process improver” – someone who has been rewarded with accolades and monetarily for my ability to perceive issues and find ways to successfully address them.
This can be helpful in the business world, yet not so helpful spiritually, for, What I see is what I get.
If we accept for a second that this life I am living is my dream, not someone else’s, then what I focus on I will indeed get more of. If I seek out errors in others, that is indeed what I will see and that will indeed be how I experience that person (and, by the way, how I will experience myself). Yet if I seek out, look for, insist that I focus on the gifts that each brings, I will indeed see these and recognize more the gifts I bring, rather than my awful self-judgments.
How does this play out in my life?
More and more, I am seeing that there are conversations I can no longer have with other people. I can’t spend time in conversations that focus on what is “wrong” with my co-workers, my family members, my friends. And I can no longer have those same conversations in my head with myself.
Of course this can sound pretty Pollyannaish, not realistic, not seeing what is really there. However… What I see is what I get.
Perhaps today is a day for you to give this thought an opportunity to be a blessing to you. I invite you this day to decide with me to focus on and see only the gifts in everyone. Let your thoughts, words and actions with each person align with this view. And let’s see what we get!
If you would like, let me know how this works for you at www.practicingforgiveness.blogspot.com.
In Joy,
Michael
Sunday, April 18, 2010
This Morning - Seeing Through A Different Set of Glasses
Have you had the experience of seeing something differently because of the glasses you were wearing?
This morning I woke with what for me was a powerful connection. Suppose a spiritual master came to you and said, “I can see that you are close to your spiritual awakening and that you have only a few things that seem to be blocking your awareness and standing in the way of your enlightenment. If you would like, I am willing to spend 30 minutes each day mentoring you, providing you insights and giving you the instruction you seem to need. In addition, I will leave you with something to do each day that will help speed up the transformation you are seeking. Are you willing?”
Wow! What a gift that would be! How grateful I would be to that spiritual master for his/her devotion to me. What an honor and how humbly it would be – the seeming specialness of being singled out.
Would I rearrange my life around those 30 minutes each day? Would I figure out how, even when I travelled to the west coast, how to get those 30 minutes in? Would I tell my overseas clients when I travelled to Europe or the Middle East or even Australia that I would need to take 30 minutes in the middle of the work day to do this important work?
You bet I would!
This morning, I was reading Lesson 169 in A Course in Miracles, “By grace I live. By grace I am released.” And for the first time in the 20 years that I’ve been on this particular spiritual journey did I see ACIM through this set of glasses. This morning, I saw myself sitting at the Master’s feet as He gave me instruction for the day and the lesson to carry with me. This morning, for the first time I felt His devotion for me and was humbled and grateful. And I recognize that each of us has indeed been “singled out.” This morning, I realized that when I see ACIM through these glasses, my heart yearns to return His devotion with my own. This morning, I wanted just one thing, to be as devoted to my awakening as He was.
How our glasses make a difference! Have you had a similar awakening on your spiritual journey?
In Joy,
Michael
(P.S. – thanks for all the insightful responses to my question of balancing wholeness with running a company. I’ll be blogging on those responses in the future.)
This morning I woke with what for me was a powerful connection. Suppose a spiritual master came to you and said, “I can see that you are close to your spiritual awakening and that you have only a few things that seem to be blocking your awareness and standing in the way of your enlightenment. If you would like, I am willing to spend 30 minutes each day mentoring you, providing you insights and giving you the instruction you seem to need. In addition, I will leave you with something to do each day that will help speed up the transformation you are seeking. Are you willing?”
Wow! What a gift that would be! How grateful I would be to that spiritual master for his/her devotion to me. What an honor and how humbly it would be – the seeming specialness of being singled out.
Would I rearrange my life around those 30 minutes each day? Would I figure out how, even when I travelled to the west coast, how to get those 30 minutes in? Would I tell my overseas clients when I travelled to Europe or the Middle East or even Australia that I would need to take 30 minutes in the middle of the work day to do this important work?
You bet I would!
This morning, I was reading Lesson 169 in A Course in Miracles, “By grace I live. By grace I am released.” And for the first time in the 20 years that I’ve been on this particular spiritual journey did I see ACIM through this set of glasses. This morning, I saw myself sitting at the Master’s feet as He gave me instruction for the day and the lesson to carry with me. This morning, for the first time I felt His devotion for me and was humbled and grateful. And I recognize that each of us has indeed been “singled out.” This morning, I realized that when I see ACIM through these glasses, my heart yearns to return His devotion with my own. This morning, I wanted just one thing, to be as devoted to my awakening as He was.
How our glasses make a difference! Have you had a similar awakening on your spiritual journey?
In Joy,
Michael
(P.S. – thanks for all the insightful responses to my question of balancing wholeness with running a company. I’ll be blogging on those responses in the future.)
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Balancing Wholeness with Running a Company
I have a question for you.
How do you balance this idea of recognizing our wholeness with running a company and having to make judgments about people and their fit with the company’s environment?
A Course in Miracles is clear – Seek not to change the other person, but instead to change your mind about the other person. I have made efforts to practice this thought in my life. When I find myself desiring someone to change, my key strategy for practicing forgiveness has been to remember, “J would not have a problem with this person, so why do I?” And then I am able to remember that this is my dream, and I can lovingly join with the person, rather than judge the person, and share the thought, “You may find it easier if you…” And then the person has the choice to, whenever the person is ready, to choose once again.
And the Disappearance of the Universe has taught me that my judgment is indeed a call for love. That the person is helping me see an area inside of me requiring forgiveness. That the so called “minor irritation” that I feel is hiding an intense rage and this person is offering me an opportunity to choose once again. And often times, I step up and do my forgiveness work.
At the office, however, I find this more challenging. In my role in this dream life as a leader of a company, I believe it is my responsibility to cultivate a positive culture in which people are encouraged to grow. There are a set of company values we live by, talk about, and take seriously. And I believe I am responsible to others in the company to play my role.
There have been times when I have let people go because they did not fit the culture. From an earthly standpoint, this makes sense. We have company goals and values and the person is out of alignment with these. From a practicing forgiveness standpoint, I’m conflicted. With my practicing forgiveness hat on, I would want to see the judgment for what it is and keep the person in my direct experience as an opportunity for me to find my way home. This person is showing me the way to healing. And I believe the loving act is for me to work on myself, not to find the other person lacking.
So, how do you balance this idea of recognizing our wholeness with running a company and having to make judgments about people and their fit with the company’s environment?
Let me know your comments on this.
In Joy,
Michael
How do you balance this idea of recognizing our wholeness with running a company and having to make judgments about people and their fit with the company’s environment?
A Course in Miracles is clear – Seek not to change the other person, but instead to change your mind about the other person. I have made efforts to practice this thought in my life. When I find myself desiring someone to change, my key strategy for practicing forgiveness has been to remember, “J would not have a problem with this person, so why do I?” And then I am able to remember that this is my dream, and I can lovingly join with the person, rather than judge the person, and share the thought, “You may find it easier if you…” And then the person has the choice to, whenever the person is ready, to choose once again.
And the Disappearance of the Universe has taught me that my judgment is indeed a call for love. That the person is helping me see an area inside of me requiring forgiveness. That the so called “minor irritation” that I feel is hiding an intense rage and this person is offering me an opportunity to choose once again. And often times, I step up and do my forgiveness work.
At the office, however, I find this more challenging. In my role in this dream life as a leader of a company, I believe it is my responsibility to cultivate a positive culture in which people are encouraged to grow. There are a set of company values we live by, talk about, and take seriously. And I believe I am responsible to others in the company to play my role.
There have been times when I have let people go because they did not fit the culture. From an earthly standpoint, this makes sense. We have company goals and values and the person is out of alignment with these. From a practicing forgiveness standpoint, I’m conflicted. With my practicing forgiveness hat on, I would want to see the judgment for what it is and keep the person in my direct experience as an opportunity for me to find my way home. This person is showing me the way to healing. And I believe the loving act is for me to work on myself, not to find the other person lacking.
So, how do you balance this idea of recognizing our wholeness with running a company and having to make judgments about people and their fit with the company’s environment?
Let me know your comments on this.
In Joy,
Michael
Sunday, January 31, 2010
No Greater Love Than This
One of the passages in the Disappearance of the Universe that stands out for me comes in Chapter 2 before Arten describes the four major attitudes of learning that we all go through (dualism, semi-dualism, non-dualism, and pure non-dualism). Arten explains that we will interpret the exact same scripture differently depending upon in which attitude of learning we are currently engaged.
I had that same experience earlier today sitting in church. The minister at Perimeter referenced this scripture from chapter 15 of the Gospel of John: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
I had read this scripture many times. I understood the traditional Christian meaning as Jesus laying down his life as savior to all people. For most of my adult life, however, I had thought of this scripture in terms of Jesus’ decision to use the crucifixion as an opportunity to show us that we are spirit and that there is no death.
This morning was different. The words transformed for me… There is no greater love than this, that a person would lay down his ego – the life he thought he was leading - for his friends. There is no greater love than to let go of your ego in every situation, to let go of any need to control any situation, to have a certain result, or to judge in any way. There is no greater love than to let go and to live in such a way that reminds all people that they are as God created them.
As I think about my coming week, I see myself walking with this thought on the front burner of my mind…to show my brother love by letting go of the self I thought I was and to instead express the love of God in every situation. To remember when I feel that telltale sign of frustration or anger to instead be still and release what I am thinking I am so that the me that I really am can come forth.
It’s going to be a fun week!
I invite your comments below. In particular, are there scriptures that you know interpret differently as you continue on your chosen path?
In Joy,
Michael
I had that same experience earlier today sitting in church. The minister at Perimeter referenced this scripture from chapter 15 of the Gospel of John: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
I had read this scripture many times. I understood the traditional Christian meaning as Jesus laying down his life as savior to all people. For most of my adult life, however, I had thought of this scripture in terms of Jesus’ decision to use the crucifixion as an opportunity to show us that we are spirit and that there is no death.
This morning was different. The words transformed for me… There is no greater love than this, that a person would lay down his ego – the life he thought he was leading - for his friends. There is no greater love than to let go of your ego in every situation, to let go of any need to control any situation, to have a certain result, or to judge in any way. There is no greater love than to let go and to live in such a way that reminds all people that they are as God created them.
As I think about my coming week, I see myself walking with this thought on the front burner of my mind…to show my brother love by letting go of the self I thought I was and to instead express the love of God in every situation. To remember when I feel that telltale sign of frustration or anger to instead be still and release what I am thinking I am so that the me that I really am can come forth.
It’s going to be a fun week!
I invite your comments below. In particular, are there scriptures that you know interpret differently as you continue on your chosen path?
In Joy,
Michael
Saturday, January 23, 2010
J's Transformation
I have been highly blessed in my life by a continuing five-year study of The Disappearance of the Universe. For those who are not familiar, the book’s premise is quite startling – it is allegedly an account of 17 visits to the author by two ascended masters who provoke a self-admitted slacker to practice the kind of forgiveness principles that transformed Jesus to his full awareness of his oneness with God.
The in-your-face, direct teaching style is both abrupt for some and quite effective for others. The 100% alignment by the ascended masters with A Course In Miracles makes it a powerful affirmation of the ACIM principles and an excellent first read for those unfamiliar with ACIM.
For me, one of the most powerful passages is the description the ascended masters give of the transformation of Jesus, or J as they call him. The description provides a road map for the “journey without distance” back to God. Each time I read it, I found myself inspired and renewed in my desire and commitment to learn to walk this earth as J did.
The Transformation of Jesus (From The Disappearance of the Universe, pages 39-40)
J was neither judgmental or a reactionary…If nothing is outside of your mind, then to judge it is to grant it power over you; and to not judge it is to withdraw its power over you. This certainly contributes to the end of your suffering. But our brother J didn’t stop there.
…If God is perfect and eternal, then by definition anything He creates would also have to be perfect and eternal…Since there is obviously nothing in this world that is perfect and eternal, J was able to see the world for what it was – nothing…J made a complete and uncompromising distinction between God and everything else – everything else being totally insignificant except for the opportunity it provided to listen to the Holy Spirit’s interpretation of it, instead of the world’s…
J learned to overlook perception and choose with the perfect Love of spirit on a consistent basis. The vital distinction between perfect spirit and the world of change allowed him to hear the Voice of the Holy Spirit more and more, which in turn allowed a process to unfold where he could forgive more and more.
The Voice for truth got louder and stronger until J got to the point where he could listen to just this one Voice and see right through everything else. Finally, J became, or better, he re-became what this Voice represents – his and your true reality as spirit and oneness with the Kingdom of Heaven.
The in-your-face, direct teaching style is both abrupt for some and quite effective for others. The 100% alignment by the ascended masters with A Course In Miracles makes it a powerful affirmation of the ACIM principles and an excellent first read for those unfamiliar with ACIM.
For me, one of the most powerful passages is the description the ascended masters give of the transformation of Jesus, or J as they call him. The description provides a road map for the “journey without distance” back to God. Each time I read it, I found myself inspired and renewed in my desire and commitment to learn to walk this earth as J did.
The Transformation of Jesus (From The Disappearance of the Universe, pages 39-40)
J was neither judgmental or a reactionary…If nothing is outside of your mind, then to judge it is to grant it power over you; and to not judge it is to withdraw its power over you. This certainly contributes to the end of your suffering. But our brother J didn’t stop there.
…If God is perfect and eternal, then by definition anything He creates would also have to be perfect and eternal…Since there is obviously nothing in this world that is perfect and eternal, J was able to see the world for what it was – nothing…J made a complete and uncompromising distinction between God and everything else – everything else being totally insignificant except for the opportunity it provided to listen to the Holy Spirit’s interpretation of it, instead of the world’s…
J learned to overlook perception and choose with the perfect Love of spirit on a consistent basis. The vital distinction between perfect spirit and the world of change allowed him to hear the Voice of the Holy Spirit more and more, which in turn allowed a process to unfold where he could forgive more and more.
The Voice for truth got louder and stronger until J got to the point where he could listen to just this one Voice and see right through everything else. Finally, J became, or better, he re-became what this Voice represents – his and your true reality as spirit and oneness with the Kingdom of Heaven.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Walking in the Spirit
A Course in Miracles teaches us that deep inside we all know that we are strangers here; that deep inside, we all know that this world we call our life is not our home at all; and that, even in this strange land, we do not walk alone; that the Holy Spirit – the voice for God – walks with us and reminds us of our true home with God.
With the start of the new year I have been more intent than ever to walk with the Holy Spirit, to “listen” for that voice, and to follow the guidance that I have felt. I think of this idea of walking with Spirit as a kind of Holy Communion, a joining in which, as the song says, I release and I let go of anything I think I want and let the Holy Spirit guide me to my real life. There is a sense of inner joy as my heart opens wide to the experience of being only here for God.
And of course there is that “ping pong” effect that Pursah talks about in The Disappearance of the Universe in which I bounce back and forth from those moments in which I am walking in the Spirit, and the other 95% of the time when I am caught up in the concerns of the world! And at the same time, I have avoided behaviors in my life which I don’t feel good about because my naturally tendency is, at those times, to cut-off the Holy Communion to avoid experiencing guilt. Does that sound like a reenactment of the Separation or what? In my head I recognize that I can’t change what God has made and that these behaviors, like everything else, need to be, and will be, forgiven.
And despite the ping-ponging, these first few days of 2010 have felt like a different year and a different experience. The sense of peace and joy is wonderful, as well as the knowledge that, as I follow, I am being blessed and others are being blessed as well. And, of course, the lessons continue.
Last week I flew out to Los Angeles for a speaking engagement on my latest book (Buying Styles – Selling the Way Your Customer Buys). When I arrived at the hotel around 10 pm, I realized I had forgotten to pack a tie with my suit. Now I was going to be speaking before 100 sales execs from a financial software company – I felt it was important to dress the part. So my first thought was disappointment with my Guidance. “Spirit, I have been walking with you this entire week. Why didn’t the thought come to not forget the tie?” And though the tie was a little thing, the disappointment was not. All through the week I had been receiving guidance on what to do, what to say, and so I felt somewhat abandoned on this.
The talk went very well and I was inspired to take a few additional risks with the audience that proved highly impactful for them. During the debrief that followed with the client contact, she said she liked the content, loved the way I kept the group engaged, and appreciated the way I was dressed! The implication was that I was wearing a suit, yet without a tie it was just the right touch of informality.
Leaving the presentation hall, I could only smile and think, "O ye of little faith.” Rather than questioning why I hadn’t received guidance to remember the tie, a different thought would have been, “I guess this is not something I will need,” or “No worries. Everything I need will be provided.”
May this day be a day of Holy Communion for you as you walk this day in the spirit!
In Joy,
Michael
With the start of the new year I have been more intent than ever to walk with the Holy Spirit, to “listen” for that voice, and to follow the guidance that I have felt. I think of this idea of walking with Spirit as a kind of Holy Communion, a joining in which, as the song says, I release and I let go of anything I think I want and let the Holy Spirit guide me to my real life. There is a sense of inner joy as my heart opens wide to the experience of being only here for God.
And of course there is that “ping pong” effect that Pursah talks about in The Disappearance of the Universe in which I bounce back and forth from those moments in which I am walking in the Spirit, and the other 95% of the time when I am caught up in the concerns of the world! And at the same time, I have avoided behaviors in my life which I don’t feel good about because my naturally tendency is, at those times, to cut-off the Holy Communion to avoid experiencing guilt. Does that sound like a reenactment of the Separation or what? In my head I recognize that I can’t change what God has made and that these behaviors, like everything else, need to be, and will be, forgiven.
And despite the ping-ponging, these first few days of 2010 have felt like a different year and a different experience. The sense of peace and joy is wonderful, as well as the knowledge that, as I follow, I am being blessed and others are being blessed as well. And, of course, the lessons continue.
Last week I flew out to Los Angeles for a speaking engagement on my latest book (Buying Styles – Selling the Way Your Customer Buys). When I arrived at the hotel around 10 pm, I realized I had forgotten to pack a tie with my suit. Now I was going to be speaking before 100 sales execs from a financial software company – I felt it was important to dress the part. So my first thought was disappointment with my Guidance. “Spirit, I have been walking with you this entire week. Why didn’t the thought come to not forget the tie?” And though the tie was a little thing, the disappointment was not. All through the week I had been receiving guidance on what to do, what to say, and so I felt somewhat abandoned on this.
The talk went very well and I was inspired to take a few additional risks with the audience that proved highly impactful for them. During the debrief that followed with the client contact, she said she liked the content, loved the way I kept the group engaged, and appreciated the way I was dressed! The implication was that I was wearing a suit, yet without a tie it was just the right touch of informality.
Leaving the presentation hall, I could only smile and think, "O ye of little faith.” Rather than questioning why I hadn’t received guidance to remember the tie, a different thought would have been, “I guess this is not something I will need,” or “No worries. Everything I need will be provided.”
May this day be a day of Holy Communion for you as you walk this day in the spirit!
In Joy,
Michael
Sunday, January 3, 2010
MP3 - Getting Ready For Heaven
Michael's Talk - Getting Ready for Heaven; Unity Christ Center, June 2006 - MP3
Part 1 (11 minutes)
Part 2 (11 minutes)
Part 3 (11 minutes)
Part 4 (13 minutes)
ALL PARTS - Getting Ready for Heaven(46 minutes)
Handout for Getting Ready for Heaven
Part 1 (11 minutes)
Part 2 (11 minutes)
Part 3 (11 minutes)
Part 4 (13 minutes)
ALL PARTS - Getting Ready for Heaven(46 minutes)
Handout for Getting Ready for Heaven
Friday, January 1, 2010
A New Year, New Forgiveness Opportunities!
Welcome to 2010! My prayer for you and for me is that this year is the year we choose more often to join with the Holy Spirit and with our brothers and sisters. I believe my biggest forgiveness lesson this past year is recognizing more than ever the importance of joining.
When I am living at my highest levels of awareness, it is fun to watch how my reactions to people lead me to join or not join with them. At work, when someone I trust makes a mistake, I join with them. I see the mistake as just an error to be corrected. Yet when someone I don't trust makes a mistake, my instinctive response, "Here we go again. Another mistake." Instead of joining with them, my thoughts are of separation -- I'm over here and the other person, the person who made the mistake, is over there.
As The Course in Miracles makes it clear, believing is seeing. We see what we believe. Not the other way around.
So this year, my desire is to remember to join with everyone I meet. To join with them, and act from a sense of joining and not act from a sense of separation. And as the Disappearance of the Universe repeats over and over, we are only joining with ourselves because, as in a dream, these are images we have made.
May 2010 bring you much love, joy and forgiveness!
Michael
When I am living at my highest levels of awareness, it is fun to watch how my reactions to people lead me to join or not join with them. At work, when someone I trust makes a mistake, I join with them. I see the mistake as just an error to be corrected. Yet when someone I don't trust makes a mistake, my instinctive response, "Here we go again. Another mistake." Instead of joining with them, my thoughts are of separation -- I'm over here and the other person, the person who made the mistake, is over there.
As The Course in Miracles makes it clear, believing is seeing. We see what we believe. Not the other way around.
So this year, my desire is to remember to join with everyone I meet. To join with them, and act from a sense of joining and not act from a sense of separation. And as the Disappearance of the Universe repeats over and over, we are only joining with ourselves because, as in a dream, these are images we have made.
May 2010 bring you much love, joy and forgiveness!
Michael
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