So will the year begin in joy and freedom. There is much to do, and we have been long delayed. Accept the holy instant as this year is born, and take your place, so long left unfulfilled, in the Great Awakening. Make this year different by making it all the same. And let all your relationships be made holy for you. This is our will. Amen. ACIM Text p. 329
I love this hopeful quote about beginning a new year from A Course in Miracles. It was right around New Year’s Day ten years ago that my friend Gwyneth gifted me her copy of a book titled Disappearance of the Universe on CD. I had no idea it was about A Course in Miracles, or that it would change the course of my life. The author, Gary Renard, was scheduled to speak at Unity on the Bay in Miami later that month, so in order to finish the audio book before the event, I listened to the CDs in my car between massage clients. What I heard blew me away. Through frank (and funny) conversations between Gary and his teachers, Arten and Pursah, the principles of the Course are explained in a linear and easy to understand way. This book answered more questions than anything else I had studied thus far. Not only did it make sense, but I felt the Truth of its words deep in my heart. After Gary’s workshop, I knew this path was for me, so I ordered my first copy of A Course in Miracles from The Foundation for Inner Peace. And so the year began in joy and freedom.
As New Year’s Eve approaches this year, I invite you to make this year different by making it all the same. No, that doesn’t mean have the same thing for dinner every night. I interpret that to mean do your best to choose peaceful and loving thoughts no matter what appears to be happening in your life. True, it’s not always easy, but it is possible. I can tell you from experience, with practice, it gets easier. 2016 has been a very peaceful and blessed year for me despite some very challenging situations in my career and personal life. By asking myself questions like, “What would love do or say in this situation?” and “What action feels peaceful?” I was able to navigate these challenges and not stay stuck in fear and hopelessness.
These questions also work well when unthinkable events happen in the world. The shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando last summer hit very close to home for me. As I shared then, I lived in Orlando for eight years. I went dancing in clubs just like that one many times. Not so long ago, that could very easily have been me and my friends experiencing that horror. When I asked the questions mentioned above, I received specific guidance. I had the idea to facilitate a special Family Constellations workshop with all proceeds going to the families of those affected by the tragedy. A few months later, I was guided to help shift the energy at the actual site of the incident with my own rose quartz ceremony. These thoughts and actions brought me back to peace.
Here’s some great news. The more time you spend feeling peaceful and loving, the more those kinds of situations will appear in your life. In Miracle Principle number 43, the Course says, “Miracles arise from a miraculous state of mind, or a state of miracle-readiness.” I believe I was ready for some miracles in 2016. It was an honor to be asked to speak and facilitate workshops at Unity of Bon Air near Richmond, VA and at the Rio Grande Center for Spiritual Living in Albuquerque, NM. Three of those four talks went better than I imagined possible. One was a huge learning opportunity, and as uncomfortable as it was, I am grateful for that one too. This year I was able to share Family Constellations with people all over the globe thanks to Radleigh Valentine’s invitation to be a guest on his Hay House Radio show. The annual Big Sky Retreat in Montana was full of unexpected blessings again this year, including snowfall during one of my workshops! Miracle Monday at 1PM at Bridges of Wellness celebrated its one year anniversary this month. This well-attended group is full of love, and it continues to be ninety of my favorite minutes of the week.
Just to be clear, I’m not saying that once you become A Course in Miracles student, or start following one of the other great spiritual traditions, your life will be all unicorns and rainbows. As I mentioned earlier, unpleasant things are still going to happen. However, they won’t be able to rob you of your peace for very long. You can indeed let all your relationships be made holy for you. This year can be different by making it all the same. Just keep choosing peace and love. Then watch the miracles pile up!
Does that sound like an impossible task? I would be honored to share some of the tools and techniques that I have used over the past ten years to help you experience more miracles in your life. I offer four, six, and eight week Life Coaching packages to help you start the year off in joy and freedom. Please look around my website for more information.
Wishing you a very Happy and Different New Year full of miracles!