Re-Learning to Be Open to Miracles

Sometimes life (or self) can knock you on your ass in ways you couldn't have even imagined and you wonder how (or if) you'll ever get up again. You feel as if you're doing all you know to do and nothing seems to be working. You go through your day feeling like the subject of a blues song or like you could write your own blues song—you woke up an hour late, there's no hot water and the tub won't drain, run to the bus stop only to see it going up the street, can't charge your phone because you fried its USB, bank says you overdrew your account and now you owe a large fee, etc., etc....

It is easy to get discouraged during these moments and even sink into despair. I'm not entirely sure why, but I read somewhere that as humans we find it easier to think negative thoughts than positive ones—to imagine negative outcomes, worse-case scenarios, rather than positive ones. This happens even when things are going well, and could explain the seemingly vast number of people I've encountered who like to knock on wood when describing how well things have been going for them. Or the well meaning people who tell you before a job interview, "it'll be okay, but don't be too disappointed if you don't get hired. Job market's tight." Gee thanks!

Anyway, challenging as it may seem—and trust me I know just how challenging. That blues song above was mine over the course of several days, and that was the minor stuff—it really is during these "I've fallen on my ass and can't seem to get up" moments when you need most to hold onto the possibility of a miraculous turn of events. Because, be honest, when you're in these situations, you are thinking it would take a miracle...

Let's see, Webster's simple definition of miracle is as follows:

1. an unusual or wonderful event that is believed to be caused by the power of God
2. a very amazing or unusual event, thing, or achievement 

As a full definition, Webster offers:

1. an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs 
2. an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment 
3. Christian Science: a divinely natural phenomenon experienced humanly as the fulfillment of spiritual law

Definition three is intriguing. Nevertheless, we can conclude that a miracle is an unusual, seemingly out-of-the-ordinary, yet wonderfully amazing event that appears to be an answer to a prayer or deep desire, and which seems to happen outside of our basic understanding or expectation.

And these things do happen every day, in big and small ways. Like waking up each morning. I have no real understanding of how this happens. I only know each night I close my eyes to sleep, and then before I even realize it, six or so hours have passed and I'm opening them again to see bright blue sky through my window. Another miracle in itself.

Then there was the time I wanted to attend a charity event that cost a few hundred dollars, but didn't have the money available to do so. A few days later I learned that a friend had already paid for a ticket for me to attend, without my even asking.

But what I rediscovered today is sometimes to get the miracle you want, it can help to expect it or do something to build your expectation.

What miracle are you wanting? Can you see it in your mind's eye? Can you believe that it's even possible? Maybe the following video from Tarek Bibi will help build your expectation.

You should check out his other videos when you get a chance. They're pretty good and extremely helpful.

A Plea for Sanity

So much killing, so much hatred and violence happening in the world at this moment. One would think the world and everyone in it has gone completely crazy. Where is all this anger coming from?

Those who don't know better because they are still "asleep" think the answer lies in waging war against each other in some futile attempt to purge the earth of those we judge as "evil"—get "them" before they get "us."

Those of us who are awakened, however, know that the more we feed into the fear and the violence with our thoughts and our emotions and our actions, the more it grows. Focusing on the hatred and violence, begets more hatred and violence. Focusing on love, forgiveness, and understanding, begets more love, forgiveness, and understanding. And yet, even we find ourselves experiencing pangs of hopelessness given the severity of the situations occurring around the world, wondering if thoughts of peace and love are enough.

Today, as I was imagining and calling for an end to the violence, I received a message from Gerald O'Donnell, a well-known light worker, in which he urges all of us to awaken now and realize our inherent oneness. Please read it here: http://probablefuture.com/SilentScream.htm

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." - Mother Teresa

Anything Too Hard?

Since I began studying the Law of Attraction (LOA) some four years ago, I've noticed one puzzling (at least to me) concept that the majority of those who teach it share. When attempting to manifest an experience or thing into your life, your request to God, the Universe, the Source of All that Is, the Force, should be kept very general. It is suggested (as I understand it) that being too specific makes it more difficult for the universe to honor your requests and can delay your manifestations, while also creating resistance in you. Sounds logical.

Except…. If you are a Bible scholar of sorts like me, then no doubt you’ve come across at least three passages in the Bible where the question is asked: Is there anything too hard for God? (Genesis 18:14; Job 42:2, Jeremiah 32:27). I particularly like way the question is posed in Jeremiah: "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” [The Message translation actually reads: “Stay alert! I am GOD, the God of everything living. Is there anything I can't do?']

It is a rhetorical question, intended to illicit an emphatic “No, of course not!” in the mind of the reader. It's as if God is trying to tell us "Whatever it is, whatever you need done, I've got this!" That being the case, why is it that even among those of us who believe we are limitless beings because God is limitless and we were imaged from Him, capable of embodying his characteristics and attributes, that we apply this, I’m sure, unintended limit to manifesting?

Why do we suggest that by being more specific about what it is we are desiring to create that we make it more challenging for the Universe to comply? Why are there some things or experiences that we deem too hard, too difficult, or downright impossible to accomplish? Why do we even assign levels of difficulty to certain things or experiences, with the implication being that even if God can comply, it will take longer for delivery into our physical reality? Healing a cold—piece of cake. Ask, believe, receive and you should be out of bed in no time. Healing cancer—difficult; that will take a long time. Finding a nickel—easy. Finding $100—more challenging; universe will need more time to manifest that. Finding a new job that pays more money, don't care where—easy. Landing a new job as senior executive director of ABC company at its corporate office in Major City, USA, at 3x my previous salary, with a generous benefits package, corner office with window, iPhone and company car—well?... How about we just get you a nice job, somewhere?

Whether you believe Jesus to be a historical figure or a metaphor to demonstrate man’s capacity for existing in this earthly, physical realm and beyond, it would seem that the stories about him and the miracles he wrought are intended to teach us how limitless we are or can be and that no thing is impossible when connected to the Source of all that is. Might the stories also mean then, that whether we choose to make our requests very general or specify down to the most minute detail what we are desiring to create that the God of all mankind, the Source of All That Is is more than capable of delivering the goods, no problem?

And before you quickly counter, to me or just in your mind, that the reason for keeping things general is to allow the Universe to bring you something better or even something that you couldn't have imagined, consider this. Who decides that the something better is better? And is it really better or just different from what I've asked? Because isn't the suggestion of one thing being better than another thing a judgment? Besides, I certainly wouldn't make a request in a restaurant that way, which is how some LOA teachers describe the concept of asking the Universe.

Waiter: What would you like for dessert this evening? Me: Oh, I'll have the banana bread with ice cream, or something better?

What if God, the Universe, the Source of All doesn't even need to deliver anything to us because it already is; we just need to choose it, the way you choose cereal off the shelf at the grocery store. They're all there, every possible brand, flavor, type of grain, or food-like substance you could imagine and even some you can't. You just need to pick one, or two.

Just some thoughts to ponder….