Miracles and the Soul

Sit quietly for just a moment. Focus on your heart center. Fill it with all the love you can possibly feel. Continue to fill that space with all of the expressions of love – forgiveness, gratitude, compassion, joy, peace, prosperity, vibrant health. You have just experienced a miracle!

According to A Course In Miracles, “miracles occur naturally as expressions of love”. Miracles are happening all the time, everywhere to everyone, but our perception of daily life blocks the idea of a miracle occurring. It is only when someone is rescued from death, instantly healed, or receives unexpected abundance that we declare a miracle. In awe, we speak of the event, as though it is an unnatural or abnormal occurrence. In those times when we forget our humanness and allow the Spirit of God to take control, miracles happen. In truth, miracles are not meant to bring awe, but to inspire gratitude and healing to areas of your life where you feel lack and fear.

All of us have the ability to provide miracles, through our forgiveness of others and ourselves. When we fill a need in the life of another, pour love out to the world without condition, or finally accept our own holiness, we have been a co-creator in a miracle.

We are all expressions of the miracle of life. Those who have children, feel the miracle at the birth of their children. At birth, we are still able to feel and know the soul of this new physical body. Life has not erased their memory. The love and trust that emanates from this little being, allows our soul to connect to theirs and unconditional love forms an eternal bond.

Each of us, created as miracle, cannot lose that essence, even with age. As we grow older and begin to see, feel and hear the beliefs and paradigms of our care-givers, we lose touch with the inner guidance and knowing. We are told what is right and wrong. We are told what to do "for our own good". We are disciplined for certain behaviors, and congratulated for others. Most of these decisions are based on the beliefs of our parents and grandparents.

When we see our angels and guides and tell the adults in our life, they are called imaginary friends. We lose faith in what we see and faith in ourselves for believing that these loving beings exist. It is here we begin to lose our faith in love, in our creator, in ourselves. The miracles are gone.

Yet where do we get the strength to rescue someone from a burning building, pull a child out of the way of a moving vehicle, carry someone for miles to safety? What is this voice that comes in the instant of danger and seemingly changes a traffic pattern, so we avoid an accident? How do we know not to take a specific route, a particular flight? How do we know that today is not a good day to go work and later find their has been a threat to life during the time we would have been on the subway, at the bank or in our office building? How do healing miracles occur?

We need only look to our soul, and believe once again in "imaginary friends" to find the answer.

Sit quietly for just a moment. Focus on your heart center. Fill it with all the love you can possibly feel. This itself is a miracle and a way to return to the innocence and trust of a child. With that unconditional love miracles are an everyday, normal occurence. Life becomes a new adventure, filled with endless possibility?

What miracle will you be today?

What Would Your Soul Like To Tell You?

It is a beautiful summer morning. The birds are singing. The sky shines silver with the rising sun. The grass glows a vibrant green, fresh with dew. As I sit with my morning coffee, allowing the stillness to slowly awaken my mind and body, I wonder what my soul would like to tell me today. What would be my soul's greatest desire?

Have you ever thought about that?

We, in this mind and body, are here for a very short time, yet our soul has existed for an eternity and will go on existing forever. Are we not here for the expression and education of this soul? If you let this idea flow through you, you may feel the truth of it. Why else are we here?

I have often gone through the exercise of asking the soul a question and then allowing my pen to write the answer. This morning as I did this exercise, I found myself really wondering what I would do differently if I communicated more often and more clearly with my soul.  I seldom stop to ask my soul about choices and decisions. Am I being the greatest expression of my soul's desire? What would my soul do in any situation, if I allowed myself to listen?

Perhaps life is not so much about the petty desires, the mistakes, the successes.  Am I living in a way that serves the future of my soul? Am I gifting my soul with joyful memories to carry to eternity, or am I clouding the soul with sorrow and defeat? If I gave my soul a chance to speak would I see life differently?

I think of the eternal life of the soul, and wonder at the knowledge that lies within this part of me. Can we begin to imagine all that has gone on before? Here is the greatest storehouse of our past and future, yet we ignore or forget it's existence. As I write this, I can only feel how sorry I am for treating it as children treat parents - "How would you know how I feel or what is best for me?"

Of course our soul knows. What part of us could know more about us? Until recently, when I talked or thought about "going within" for the answers I looked to my heart. But I realize that our heart is often overshadowed by the mind and current life experience. Now, as I look to my soul for answers, I find there is soft detachment with no consideration for the personal experience. Within the soul lies global experience - how our actions, thoughts and feeling contribute to energy throughout the Universe, through time and space.

The soul does not offer advice as such, but gives fuel to passion, kindness to anger, patience to anxiety. The soul knows who we are today affects everything and everyone on this planet and in this galaxy, not just today but on into infinity.  I ask myself, do I want this thought or this action to create my future or the future of others?

If you ask and listen, your soul will give you answers. Maybe not in ordinary, expected ways, but you will know when you hear, see or feel the knowing within. It may come as a thought when you first awaken, before the mind has time to engage. It may come as a dream or a conversation with a stranger or friend. It may come in a news flash, or a song on the radio. It may come as a feeling drifting over you, leaving peace amidst chaos, or a sudden creative idea.

However it appears, trust that your soul is always absorbing everything you say, think and do. The soul knows and supports you fully. It is the soul that gives life to your body and it is the soul that will live on after your body dies. Today I ask "Soul, what is your greatest desire?" "What would you like me to know today?" "What is the best way for me to be in this situation?" "What can I do to serve your eternal life?"

Just For Today I Will Not Judge

Today I will not judge myself or others. I will not judge circumstances or events. I will take each moment without analyzing it as good or bad and just accept it. Today I will allow myself to see the greater picture of cause and effect, rather than the narrow view of personal hurt or celebration.

Traditions

It is Christmas Eve and for the first time in 55 years my Christmas is totally without the usual traditions. It brings a deep sadness. In the midst of chaos and change, I find myself clinging at least to my belief that this is time for peace, generosity and goodwill. It seems the usual "Spirit of Christmas" has disappeared for this year. Even the children I know do not have that same sense of awe and excitement. I find less reminders of the spiritual side of this holiday, as the years pass. Is it just me or have you noticed it too?

Shopping and wrapping are all that remain the same. This is the first year that I remember the gifts being more important than the celebration of the birth of Christ, everlasting love, and hope for peace on earth. Is it just me?

I cannot help but miss the family time, the foods and goodies that have always been a part of the season. I miss the smell of fresh baked buns and christmas bread. I miss planning Christmas Eve with my daughter, and anticipating our usual 3:00 am Santa time.

I miss reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and remembering how we were raised to understand that Santa was a representation of the gift of giving to others, not just at Christmas but everyday. Not just presents but the gift of ourselves.

I miss watching "A Christmas Carol", and all the old-time movies that gave representation to how precious our lives are, and lives of those we interact with daily. Year after year they have brought laughter, tears and memories - all building upon another to create a special feeling that, for me, is Christmas.

Traditions form a basis not just for celebrating holidays such as Christmas, but also for the way we live our lives. It seems, though, that times such as this are a deeper reminder of what is important to us. As I sense the slipping away of Christmas Tradition, I find myself wondering if that trend will run over into the values I live by everyday. How far do we go in compromising our traditions, to meet the new and modern beliefs and values? Should we compromise?

As I share this sense of loss with you, I also want to share my Christmas Wish for All Mankind - Joyful Memories of family and friends, Love of Life, and Peace On Earth. May we be blessed with the reminder that Christmas is a time to give thought to the most precious gift of all - Life itself.

Merry Christmas to All.