These were my first words when I opened my newly delivered A Course in Miracles book......

But I am getting ahead of myself...

My awakening journey began in the very beginning of the new millenium with an insatiable appetite for all things spiritual. I devoured books on every subject, finishing one and immediately diving into the next; going from one author to another, one thought system to the next; experimenting with any ritual that promised to awaken me to enlightenment. One day while I was reading who knows what, I came across a reference to a book entitled A Course in Miracles. What fascinated me was the Course's interpretation of the crucifxion which stated that the killing of Jesus was nothing more than an extreme example of the power of forgiveness while teaching us that the power of Love can never be destroyed, for death (defined as...sorrow, harm, anger, etc. ) has no power over life. In my mind Jesus was saying to me, "Hey, if I can forgive my fellow Jews for the things they did to me...then why can't you forgive your parents for the things they did to you?" This profound statement seemed to put everything in its place and answered questions about not only my troubled life, but also about God and the stories I had read in the bible for so many years. As you probably can already guess...I ordered the book immediately from Amazon, awaiting all the new Truth that it had to offer.

Which brings up to the moment of opening the box with the smiley face on it...and the excitment of ripping off the plastic. It was a thick book, and upon opening it, I found paper thin pages; all 1,248 of them, and thought...Oh hell no! There has to be a quicker way to forgiveness and love! I put it on my book shelf and continued on to easier reads.

The Course states...this is a required course. Only the time you take it is voluntary. What this means is that we can put the book on the shelf (and most of us do), but eventually the opportunity to study it will arise again; or our physical existence will become so chaotic that we will do anything to find another way. A Course in Miracles is that other way.

Four years later, as a student in Circle of Miracles School of Ministry...there it was again...but this time it was a required course for my Ordination. One way or another it always finds you when you are ready. :-) The most important thing I discovered about studying Course in a group was the value of a facilitator and other students. In my opinion, Course (at least for me) is impossible to study alone. The purpose of A Course in Miracles is to change our perception of the world we live in. The lessons and text take the world we live in and to literally turn it upside down, so that we can find the real Truth. It has been the scariest, most confusing, and sometimes most infuriating thing I have ever done. But thirteen years later...it has changed my life! I say these words not in the glib fashion that I was formerly accustomed to, but with the Truth that begins in my heart and radiates through every part of my life. Course is still a challenge which is why it is so important for me to continue being a part of a study group. I have facilitated five groups...four of them to the end of the year's lessons. As my last group has just ended, I find that I am once again in a space where Course can easily be overshadowed by all the physical world offers; yes, even after all these years.

And so if you choose to study with me, don't be surprised if your first words are Oh...hell no! Don't be surprised when your physical life gets turned upside down. Don't be surprised when you want to throw the book across the room. This is the journey of A Course in Miracles student. It is the journey of a lifetime...and for me...it was the last spiritual book I ever needed to pick up!

Love and Hugs,

Melinda

PS...you might notice just how well worn my book is! :-)

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