The idea for today’s post is excerpted
from an article by The Miracle Distribution Center, Anaheim, CA, a wonderful
organization supporting A Course in Miracles.
“Many
of the old Christmas-time movies have wonderful spiritual messages to them. One
of our all time favorites is It’s a
Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart, but The
Bishop’s Wife is another holiday gem. It stars Cary Grant as an angel named
Dudley and David Niven as the Bishop. As the plot plays out, the Bishop thinks
Dudley is there to help him with his all-consuming task of raising money so
that an edifice to God can be built in the form of a new cathedral. But Dudley
is really there because of the Bishop’s prayer for help — and real help is what
the angel offers!
“We
want to offer a little of the “good feeling” from this movie by sharing the
poignant Christmas Eve message that the transformed Bishop delivers. We hope
you enjoy this reminder of the true message of Christmas. …
“Tonight I want to tell you the story of an
empty stocking. Once upon a midnight clear there was a child’s cry. A blazing
star hung over a stable and wise men came with birthday gifts.
“We haven’t forgotten that night down
the centuries. We celebrate it with stars on Christmas trees, with the sound of
bells, and with gifts, especially with gifts. You give me a book. I give you a
tie. Aunt Martha has always wanted an orange squeezer, and Uncle Henry could do
with a new pipe.
“Oh, we forget nobody… adult or child.
All the stockings are filled. All that is, except one. And we have even
forgotten to hang it up. A stocking for the child born in a manger. It’s his
birthday we are celebrating. Don’t let us ever forget that. Let us ask
ourselves what he would wish for most and then let each put in his share:
loving kindness, warm hearts, and the stretched out hand of tolerance. All the
shining gifts that make peace on earth.”
These are such beautiful
thoughts – Loving kindness, Warm hearts, and the Stretched out hand of
tolerance -
the shining gifts that make for peace on earth. Why can’t I enjoy
these thoughts all the time?
Because I choose not to, that’s
why. Huh? Yep! I choose not to enjoy these thoughts of happiness and bliss and
helpfulness. I choose to concentrate my thoughts on my perceived problems of
the day, the perceived problems I think are facing the world, the perceived
problems I think my neighbors must be having, the perceived problems I think my
spouse, family or friends must be facing.
Key word? Perceiving!
Lesson 346 of A Course in
Miracles (ACIM) states: “Today the peace of God envelops me and I forget all things
except His Love.” The lesson consists of a very beautiful prayer that resonates
with this Christmas message from The
Bishop’s Wife.
1. Father, I wake today with miracles
correcting my perception of all things. And so begins the day I share with You,
as I will share eternity, for time has stepped aside today. I do not seek the
things of time, and so I will not look upon them. What I seek today transcends
all laws of time and things perceived in time. I would forget all things except
Your Love. I would abide in You, and know no laws except Your law of love. And
I would find the peace which You created for Your Son, forgetting all the
foolish toys I made as I behold Your glory and my own.
2. And when the evening comes today, we
will remember nothing but the peace of God. For we will learn today what peace
is ours, when we forget all things except God's Love.
As Alan Watson writes [A
Workbook Companion, Volume II, Circle Publishing, 2006. P. 624]: “… I know
there is a part of me that resonates in perfect harmony with this lesson, but
there is also another part that stands off cynically and says to me, ‘Forget
all things except His Love? Hah! More likely you will remember everything
except His Love. How long will this high-falutin’ attitude last after you walk out
the door?’ And, if this is so, why bother with the lesson at all?”
Unfortunately, that describes me
most of the time. But there are instances where I really feel that sense of
unity and calm. Watson goes on to say: “…So, as we read this lesson now, let us
simply suspend our disbelief for just an instant, and let these words be true
for us. Let us believe that what we say represents our true Self, for it does.
Let us be in the spirit of these words.”
“Each little gift you offer to
your brother lights up the world.” (ACIM, T-22.VI.9:9) Loving kindness, Warm
hearts, and the Stretched out hand of tolerance — the shining gifts that make for
peace on earth.
Amen.
This is my Christmas message to
each of you. We will be leaving for Portland Oregon shortly to spend the
holiday with my daughter’s family. I will resume after the New Year.
Although these messages are
mostly for me, thanks for listening. As always – feel free to forward this
message to your friends, family, and those accompanying you on your spiritual
journey.
Don
#3 December, 2013
Copyright, 2013
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