Garden

The bridge

The Quiet Garden of Forgiveness

Love, too, would set a feast before you, on a table covered with a spotless cloth, set in a quiet garden where no sound but singing and a softly joyous whispering is ever heard. T-19.IV.A.16:1

“There is a garden at the foot of this lovely statue with masses and masses of soft white lilies and little paths between to slowly walk and talk with Jesus. There is a fountain nearby and the forever trickling sound of water reminds us to leave the desert of wrong-minded thinking.” (Winnie)

Forgiveness is truly at the heart of the practice of A Course In Miracles. All of us have had moments of shifting our perception of a difficult situation, and finding peace. On this page I offer you the space to tell us about the stories that have stayed in your mind, times when you felt a real change occur in the way you were looking at a problem or upset. Maybe you were encountering aggressiveness in somone, or were being judged and belittled. Perhaps it was a loved one who had left you, or even a pet that had died. Or maybe there was fear, a threat in your life to you or to a loved one. In all these situations, at one time or another you have found peace beyond the pain, release from shame and sadness, and comfort and freedom in their place. There was always a presence there with you, the company of one who loves you and guides you to see differently. If you have had moments of finding that clear presence, please share it with us here.

A little more technically speaking, these would be moments when you reversed the projection and saw that the problem was not outside you, but with you, your perceptions and thoughts. A sudden moment of clarity perhaps when you saw that the upset was having pushed Love away, and not really what was happening outside you. Or perhaps it was just a moment when despite the upset or problem, you felt safely accompanied and that helped you remain unaffected by the problem, to get a little distance from it.

Please try to write concisely if your story requires a lot of explaining (and teach me something about brevity!). Also, please try to share from the heart and not from the head. It is always nice to hear the simple sincerity behind these inspiring stories.

1,203 Responses to “Garden”

  1. zafu says:

    the events … sunday morning june 12, 2011

    he climbed high on a cliff

    he intended to dive into the lake … maybe 30 – 40 feet below

    he somehow miscalculated the trajectory and found himself diving headfirst onto land

    boulders and brush

    he had no choice but to fly

    revealing hidden but necessary powers

    he somehow managed to tuck and roll

    the boulder bounced him into the lake

    he swam to the nearby boat filled with friends

    the gashes made it ridiculously difficult to get him out of the water

    help was summoned

    he was ambulanced and airlifted and taken straight to surgery

    he was stapled and stitched and cleaned up and laid to rest and recover

    he’d survived

    he broke his hips, his ribs, his collar bone (clavicle?) …

    he punctured his abdomen and lungs

    his skin was torn and ripped open in the front and the back

    they called this flesh lacerations

    they had to flush his abdomen

    his elbow and arm and shoulder were thrashed … more staples

    mom was called

    his brother and family arrived there immediately

    love and support poured in from every direction

    then all the good news

    other than so many things broken, it’s all good

    clean breaks, all will heal naturally

    no casts needed

    no pins or rods or anything else needed

    actually, he’s 100% healthy and will fully mend and recover

    about the recovery, he says, “I never thought I wouldn’t make it”

    when I asked him philosophically about the dive, he said “I could’ve made it … I just messed up”

    and now he’s healing

    he’s home

    I said it’s the happiest day of my life … he said he’s had happier ones

    his friends will do a benefit to help cover the medical costs

    there is a deep deep atmosphere of calm, peace, gratitude

    all is well

  2. Annie says:

    Powerful Zafu.

    I sensed Rumi’s poem was a grounding prayer. So I went back to check the date you posted that and it was two days prior to the event. A mother’s premonition?

    Truly, graceful you are in your sharing of what must have been a hellish experience.

    Peace and Blessings to you and your family

  3. Nina says:

    Zafu …yes, being a part of a transformational process, where nothing is what it seems like, and Grace is embracing it all –
    I feel such gratefulness when i read your story – it’s yours, right?
    So filled with trust to the process
    a blessed trust
    thank you so much for sharing – I’d love to hear more, as the time goes – this might be a great lesson for him too, right –
    love
    Nina

  4. zafu says:

    yes and yes

    he’s doing well

    on june 10th on my zen page a day calendar quote it says:

    “let go over a cliff,
    die completely,
    and then come back to life –
    after that,
    you cannot be deceived.”

    it never was anything other than a heavenly experience

    it shows that time and space are flexible

    it is a powerful example of miracles are natural

    his recovery has been phenomenal

    we are all blessed and sharing our blessings and gratitude

    tonight I’m bringing him dinner … he’s staying with his brother … having dinner with my boys is always a happy delight … these are grown men, but they are still my kids!

  5. winnie says:

    Wow zafu what an experience for your son and how poignantly you tell it…I’d like to have seen his face when you read that zen quote out to him which presumably you did….big loving hugs to him……

    I just reread Bev’s 596 and chuckled at the irony. A succinct example of forgiveness which i meant to comment on, but then forgot.

  6. Nina says:

    For Zafu – another meaningful quote?

    “Come to the edge, he said. They said: We are afraid. Come to the edge, he said. They came. He pushed them and they flew.”
    Guillaume Apollinaire, French poet born in 1880 by Polish mother – influential in bringing poetry into new expressions

  7. lawrence says:

    Zafu, I am at home alone on my birthday. My wife’s brother was flown by helicopter to the hospital. He is a chiropractor and it seems he was lifting weights and got a blockage in one of his arteries in his neck, which caused blood to flow into his brain. I just heard from Sharon that he is going to be all right. I didn’t go with her because we got water in the bathroom from a pipe in the wall, and I was waiting on a plumber. It was not the birthday we had planned. The farm manager showed up and said it would be fixed, he would get a plumber. So two earthly problems resolved.

    I was doing some catch up, reading posts and I ran across yours. It took the breath out of me. I jumped when you son jumped, rolled when he rolled. His swimming to the boat, his ride in a helicopter and his diagnosis. No breaks that won’t heal naturally, how beautiful is that! The healing balm of your words love will be what speeds his recovery. You have a gift with the written word love. It is like I am sitting at your feet by fire lite soaking in your words letting them wash over me. Your son may not remember but it was his belief that made him prepare with a roll, prepare for the continuation of life in what ever form it took.

    I am sorry your son has to suffer for awhile. But, as my 89 year old stepfather might say, “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.”

    He gets away saying things like that, he is an 89 year old World War II Vet who lost a foot in France, Bernard!

    Take care Zafu, tell your son a crazy man from Pittsburgh will be praying for a speedy recovery.

    “let go over a cliff,
    die completely,
    and then come back to life –
    after that,
    you cannot be deceived.”

    I smiply love that, time and place, a mirage of sorts. And the whole thing is a little spooky, and I love spooky.

    God bless us every one

    lawrence

  8. Michele says:

    OMG Zafu….what a powerful story, what perception and experience you have felt and embraced, your zen calendar of the 10th, all of this miraculous faith, grace and gratitude so heartfelt and beautifully written and shared.

    Totally blown away and sending you, your son, friends and families love.

  9. Michele says:

    {{{{{Happy Birthday Bernard}}}}} Much love to you and hope your celebrations will be just what you love most. Of course you’re all celebrating the news he is OK and healing balms (just had to plagurize) of love for Sharon’s brother and those who are concerned for him. xox Michele

  10. Pam says:

    Whoa! Zafu with son, Lawrence with brother-inlaw. Shifting perceptions and the love pours forth.

  11. Michele says:

    {{{{{{{{Happy Birthday Lawrence}}}}}}}Thank God Nina emailed me I typed Bernard. I typed Bernard and meant Lawrence and even reread it and saw Lawrence.

  12. katrina says:

    {{{Zafu}}}
    {{{Lawrence – Happy Birthday!! }}}

  13. Bernard says:

    {{{{{{Zafu}}}}}} {{{{{{Zafu’s Son}}}}}} {{{{{{Zen Poet}}}}}}
    {{{{{{Lawrence}}}}}} {{{{{{Lawrence’s brother in law}}}}}}
    {{{{{{Sharon}}}}}}

    {{{{{{VILLAGE}}}}}}

    {{{{{{E V E R Y O N E !}}}}}}

    Wow, sure is a lot of huggin’ and lovin’ going on in this place lately. I’m loving it.

    Zafu, Lawrence expressed it beautifully for me, it’s just like sitting around a campfire and you’re the master story-teller revealing the deepest stories. It’s hard to tell if it isn’t another remarkable Zen story, that of your son’s extraordinary experience. It is truly a learning/teaching tale. Your confidence in the process of life and our capacity to learn and heal are palpable, most tangible. I got the shivers of recognition. Thank you for this, your gift to us.

  14. melody says:

    Everything Bernard says above – ditto!

    Wonderful symbols in form (learning/teaching tales) – of the love, not of this world in our right mind!

    With Gratitude and Love,
    melody

  15. zafu says:

    love the village hugging fest … so much to be thankful for

    the village all sang happy birthday to lawrence … maybe a bit off tune and not all together … but it was a masterpiece of enthusiasm!

    last night I made jonas (my son who knows he can fly) his most favorite dinner everythings … I made all the dinner over here in my house … then put all these pans (still warm from the oven and stove tops etc … all filled with food) into the trunk of my car and drove the whole feast over to him …

    it’s about a half hour drive … was hoping I wouldn’t have a trunk filled with opened pans and spilled food

    it all worked out great

    it was the happiest most wonderful spontaneous dining experience … it sounded like an easy idea that morning … theoretically it is … the practicality and implementation was a step this side of bizarre … but it did all get figured out … dinner for 6 in the trunk of my car!

    we had a 3 course meal … followed by a ceremony of flying wish paper … each one made a wish and set the paper on fire and watched the floating flames

    I remember walking with anne and winnie in temecula and somehow in the conversation I remember sharing with winnie that I have always felt that we all know how to fly and we can fly …

    jonas is so very beautiful … this has slowed him down a bit … he’s doing very well …

    love and thanks for all the prayers and blessings

    everything simply is radiating particular beauty … the birds sound especially happy … the morning is serenely calm … sleep was gentle and sweet …

    your grace is given me … I claim it now!

    thank you kindly … truly

  16. winnie says:

    Wow another beautiful posting just full of your joy and love zafu….

    I do remember that conversation now that you mention it…..

    Gee your son is aptly named after one famous for miraculous escapes…

    What a beautiful idea to bring a 3 course meal over in the trunk of your car… yup i can just see you doing that… you are such a delightful free spirit,zafu – beautiful inside and out..
    I’m getting a lot of joy out of sensing how very close you are to your family. How they must love you! So glad to hear he is doing well…

    I hope you had a happy birthday Lawrence and that your brother-in-law is ok now.

    Oh {{{Bernard}}} you are such a big huggy- bear and we love you for it….

  17. zafu says:

    even more appropriate than the zen quote on june 10th … is the acim wb lesson on that actual day of june 12th … it clearly states:
    there is no death … the son of God is free
    … and I am thankful that it is so!

  18. Nina says:

    I want to share my blog today. Wonderful forgiveness happened.
    *
    I have that last year or so asked Jesus to come to me in dreams – until today, when it dawned on me that the Jesus who might answer such dreams, would be the Jesus of Christianity, and not the Jesus of the Course.From now on, I will pray instead for his perception – to see everything in my dream as either forgiveness-opportunities, or the Son of God.

    Now I also understand why I haven’t wanted to wake up when I have dreamt that unseen people have called “wake up! wake up now!” I have associated waking up with waking up to “daily-life-dreaming”- not to Heaven. And my sleep-dreams are so much fun than my everyday life.

    The dream this morning I was completely aware of dreaming – and the lucid quality of everything, including landscapes, is fascinating. Because i know it is unreal, I don’t take it serious at all. I was skiing without skies – my favorite past-time in dreams ( I am phenomenal, because I have no fear of falling at all:-)) and suddenly I was at a precipice and could not stop. So I was falling – and when fear visited me for short seconds, the fall was fast and horrible – and then I remembered, this is not serious – and the sweetest calmest atmosphere was cradling me as I sank slowly and deliciously to the ground.

    I realize that I am the projector, and is mistaking myself for the leading role in my movie. In the movie of Nina, I have made a powerful wizard who can manipulate her from other worlds and levels. As long as I get confused and believe I am the role I am exploring, this is very unpleasant, and makes the movie very entertaining for the audience: now Nina has to find ways to protect herself ( which does not always work, and is therefore very dramatic) – and sometimes in the movie, she has succeeded to make the right choice, and the demons are gone, and left is only Light.

    Truth: I am under no laws but God’s.

    Todays lesson is nr 169: By grace I live. By grace I am released.

    I forgive the belief that I can be under any other laws that the Holy Spirit’s, and release the belief by the grace that is given me.

    The lessons I have written in the scenario of the lives of Nina’s is the pattern of duality that we can name “The Jekyll and Hyde-syndrome” – where mr.Hyde is believed to have all power and commands the Jekyll-part to obey, or else – and Jekyll has denied his bad stuff and given it to Hyde, he is nice and kind and shitty afraid and says, “I’ll do anything you say as long as you spare my life.” In short, the old predator/victim-story. Clearly this is a story that is made outside the will of God – and so, it is just a movie and not reality at all. -I am aware that the belief and fear of the “YOU SHALL” -voice is the reason of the constant pains and stiffness in my neck – and it is nothing else than my belief that it is valid and real, as it must be real then that I am a victim and weaker than it. I have made this to stay away from You, as a “me” – still fascinated by the drama. The violators in my lives are my own production. I am willing to let go of this now, and asked to have these beliefs erased – and to receive the grace in which I am released.I notice the egos attempt to know how this can happen so it can do it – and put my attention instead on my willingness to allow this pattern to be healed – and to let my light shine.As soon as I utter the willingness to stop this production, the sweetest gentlest light descends on me.

  19. katrina says:

    And I do my daily lesson with you, Nina, and Zafu, and Anne, and Kendall, and Lawrence, and Pam, and Winnie, and Laura, a*, Annie, Lisi, Jamie, Bonnie, *everyone*. Brings to mind, there is no lesson but God’s, and yours, and mine, and everyone’s. I know, love – but love is our lesson. We waken together.

  20. Pam says:

    Awhile back I asked for more clarity and it has been pouring in in bucket loads from all of you this last week or so. Big WOW! Big HUGS! Big THANKS!

  21. Tex ...to you says:

    Zafu –
    That was an enchanted night – walking and talking in Old Town Temecula…

    We all “know” that this life is a dream – maybe we love and trust (and hope in)
    the Course so much that we take it on faith that it must be true.
    But once we experience “It” [that there is no death] firsthand –
    There is no going back!
    We really are free! Now we are free to just learn and love.
    So I looked up this line about trust – guess what it said?!

    “Who would attempt to fly with the tiny wings of a sparrow
    when the mighty power of an eagle has been given him?”

    So glad you had the happiest day – and a great meal to celebrate!

  22. zafu says:

    full moon stuff …

    that night when anne and winnie and I were exploring old town temecula .. not only was it freezing cold … but it was crystal clear and this gigantic and bright full moon was adding a glow … the trees didn’t have their new spring leaves yet … it was beautiful … all branches and twigs … interesting shapes and stuff

    the night I brought jonas home from las vegas … about a 4 hour drive … (his cliff flying happened at lake mead in las vegas) … I was already in the fast lane, driving him southwest back into southern california … it was about 8:00 at night … I kept looking over my left shoulder … he said to me rather casually “mom, I don’t think that’s a car pool lane” … then I laughed and assured him I wasn’t looking over to my left to change lanes (which would have put us on the shoulder of the fwy) I was looking for the full moon to rise any moment … which it finally did … huge and bright … lighting up the night sky all the way home

    for years I was a participant in a full moon fire circle … each month a group of us would gather outside by a fire and celebrate each full moon with music and food and offerings of poems, song, dance … whatever … this was quite an exotic tribe of artists living in santa barbara at the time … loved it

    when my boys were little … they’d be sound asleep … and if the moon was particularly bright … I’d wake them up and invite them to go for a moon ride!! and they’d all be so happy and excited to do this middle of the night adventure … then we’d return home and back to sleep … it was always a kind of fun and unusual thing to do that we all loved … sometimes I’d drive them up to a mountain look out where we could see the whole world below us

    thanks for the acim quote … love it (and you!)

  23. Tex ...to you says:


    back at ‘cha!

  24. Bernard says:

    Now I’m traveling down the highway with Zafu and her son looking out at a fabulous full moon rising over the desert… Now I’m home here strolling through the woods at 10.30 pm and its still light, the earth smells sweet after the light rain today, all is very still in the forest. Now I’m on a large boat plying the quiet waters of the Norwegian fjords… Where will I be next? Where am I really, now?

  25. winnie says:

    Now you are here with me in the Lockyer Valley enjoying a buckwheat pancake on a little stool outside my campervan as we watch the early morning light shimmer on the lake. There’s a single pelican on the far side. No pancakes for him. He wants a nice fresh fish.
    I pour you a nice hot cup of tea and we chink our cups together in honour of the best kind of ship there is – Friendship !

  26. Annie says:

    S w e e e e e e t

  27. winnie says:

    “So I was falling – and when fear visited me for short seconds, the fall was fast and horrible – and then I remembered, this is not serious – and the sweetest calmest atmosphere was cradling me as I sank slowly and deliciously to the ground.”

    Nina this is brilliant, particularly because the metaphor is “falling” and because you were lucid dreaming.

    “I realize that I am the projector, and is mistaking myself for the leading role in my movie. In the movie of Nina, I have made a powerful wizard who can manipulate her from other worlds and levels. As long as I get confused and believe I am the role I am exploring, this is very unpleasant, and makes the movie very entertaining for the audience: now Nina has to find ways to protect herself ( which does not always work, and is therefore very dramatic) – and sometimes in the movie, she has succeeded to make the right choice, and the demons are gone, and left is only Light.”

    Just brilliant !

  28. Bernard says:

    From that fabulous breakfast with Winnie (which I WILL take you up on one day…) I float northwards, past the tip of Australia, past the green isles of Indonesia, and land on a tiny speck of earth, Singapore, where I am seated in a tiny crowded restaurant with A* who ladles out a spoon of Chinese soup in my bowl full of colorful vegetables, I hear the lilting sound of his voice interspersed with slurps of my soup, it’s hot and humid outside, the window is steaming up, afterwards we will take a stroll through lush tropical gardens and watch as exotic birds and monkeys look down on us curiously…

  29. Pam says:

    OK at Nina’s urging; For those Villagers not on my e-mail list my processing with changing my e-mail address letter.

    Pam, this is a GREAT eye-opener for us all, i think. What a realization! I suggest that you post it i n the Garden – its all about the names we think we are, isnt it – i would never had realized it is a forgiveness op if you hadnt sent this.
    Please share with all. So zany and so lovable.
    big hugs! (and maybe you’ll fall in love with your new one!too – the more the marrier
    Nina

    2011/6/20 pam meyer <

    Hello my village friends,

    This is a notice of my new e-mail address. __(I got dot live)__ this is part of hotmail but I couldn't get my name forward or backward with @hotmail without a big bunch of numbers added to it blech!

    This has been a forgiveness lesson I wouldn't of thought of in a million years. Of all things changing e-mails has been like breaking up with a lover or a friendship ending. This account is the one and only e-mail I ever had until now and I opened it 13 years ago. Never realised what a special relationship it was until now.

    The reason for the change; some new company bought mail dot com and "improved" it 2 months ago, what a mess- letters refuse to open, links don't work, when I write a letter things lock-up and sometimes the send button disappears. There's more but you get the idea. Customer support is not to be had except for the dozen or so of the same robo-letter that is nowhere close to the problems even though I requested a real person after the first attempt on all other letters to them.

    After six weeks enough is enough. Sorry, Maybe I should be writing this in the forgivness garden. It's so weird I'm grieving the loss of an e-mail address. It just underscores when the Course says you have to "look" at everything because the ego thoughts will use anything to attach to and stay stuck huh.

    So to anyone I owe a response to in the last few days I am forwarding your mail to my new account and I will reply from there.

    BTW this is why I love you all I feel safe having a silly meltdown over a silly change of e-mail address and letting you know about it.

    HUGS, Pam

  30. lawrence says:

    I wrote Bernard after hearing from him shortly before coming back to the village. I chose to leave the Village because there were things coming up health wise that I had to deal with, and being who I am, I would be talking about them too much. I would be playing the victim and I didn’t want to do that. Also after reading, as opposed to studying different spirituality paths, for 40 years now I needed to see where I was. I guess what I found out was that I viewed all those I meet as teachers some more informed than others else the same. I love “A Course In Miracles” it truly is an epic poem of shorts and the path I choose to follow. I don’t know, after all is said and done, if I follow the guide lines well enough to be in the Village. I don’t do study groups or skype. I’ve read the “Blue Book” third edition, and still do. I don’t see myself doing the lessons again. I would rather jump in where others are sharing what they learn, than going in a set direction and see if it jives with my thoughts. I do love to listen and see Doctor Ken on You Tube. I like that I can see him whenever I want. Ah the magic of the modern age.

    As usual I digress, during the year that I wasn’t posting, the feeling in my feet (neuropathy) progressed to the point I couldn’t drive. It was from the heavy chemotherapy I received years ago. You don’t know how much you miss something until it is gone. So, I felt sorry for myself, victim again! So then I keep getting skin cancer removed from my scalp, arms etc. which isn’t uncommon. But, they just found cancer in the same spot where they had removed it before, which is of some concern. Let’s hear it ,victim again! And tomorrow I get a series of tests on my right eye to see if a growth behind my right eye is going to be a problem. I figured all this would come out due to my tendency to play the victim and of course to babble. So, I thought it better to get it all out of my system rather than spreading it out .

    Now Kendell God bless her, kept her troubles to herself, and she was weak and bedridden and I don’t think any of us knew how bad.. Kendell I love ya, you add color and charm to our Village. Sorry again Bernard about not teaching you about brevity thing. All of this and I still haven’t told you what I started out to say. Those who read my posts know that poor Lawrence had a bad birthday.Poor, never mind. Well, the following night my wife Sharon and I went to our Sons Corey’s apartment to pick him and his girlfriend up. He was taking us To “The Andy Warhol Museum”. I had been feeling sorry for myself again but had got over it quickly. I had made up my mind and was ready to leave all that victim crap behind. So, we walk out on to one of the more colorful streets in Pittsburgh. It has the old large brick homes built to last forever. The streets are lined with large maple and oak trees their branches going skyward but with quite a few hanging low enough to grab a hat or two.

    I guess that is why I didn’t see the Colorful Trolley at first. It was across the street and right in front of me. Standing in the middle holding a sign was one of my best friends. The sign read “Happy 60th Sir Lawrence” it’s an old nickname of mine. I couldn’t believe it, and on the Trolley were our children, my four brothers and our sister and some friends. There was beer, pop, water and pizza on board. Our kids had hired a driver and this magic bus of shorts to drive us around the city to the various places we had called home, while my oldest brother told stories of our bygone days. We all took turns at this along the way. I was being shown how special I was, it was crazy wonderful! I joked all night and said “I must be somebody, just look at what you have done in my honor, I must be special” and then I would laugh.

    I will end this now, I could go on, it would have been a nice little story to tell you just about the Trolley ride and our adventures but I had really learned something big. The victim lawrence had been given a grand tour of his life, and he saw it for what it was, an illusion. A better Birthday gift I could not have asked for. I will take the good with the bad and how ever it plays out it is just a dream. Yes there will be days that it might seem hard, but I got a glimpse of an old familiar light. There is a saying I have always liked “It takes just one light to light a million candles”.

    God bless us every one

    lawrence

  31. winnie says:

    Oh what a lovely story Lawrence….. How loved you are ! Bless you

  32. a says:

    Aaah, Lawrence, how I missed you so… I get a glimpse of an old familiar light, every time I read you.
    hugs, my brother,
    a

  33. Nina says:

    Dear Lawrence, as to this victim-thing…for me, I have seen that it could easily go the other way – that I come down hard on myself for feeling sorry for myself – and that would be just as silly as believing one’s reality is “the victim”.
    A goods friend always ends her mails to me: have mercy for yourself.She has had leukemia for 30 years, and countless chemos – calls her brain frizzled – but is still able to teach on her website with her husband Stephen Levine. She tells me that her cancer-process has been the thing to open her heart completely – learning how to just “be with” whatever, and still doing the things she thinks is best to take care of her self – including chemo and lots of alternative methods.
    I have found that when I feel sorry for myself, it feels much better to soften around that state of mind – it gives me an opportunity to be kind to myself, and that is what I need, after lives and lives of self-abuse to punish this sinful sinner 🙂 – It IS possible to be merciful, as the Levine’s call it, and not believe in victim-hood.
    I love you so very much – “that old, familiar light” that a* mentions: oh yes. Very familiar.

  34. Pam says:

    {{{{Lawrence}}}} I’m glad you’re “home” again.

  35. Pam says:

    does changing my e-mail address cause this to be moderated?

  36. Pam says:

    yup (-: re.365

  37. Bernard says:

    Dear Lawrence, what a lovely post, what a wonderful story. And Happy Birthday, again, for a really special guy! That was such a great gift they gave you. Thanks for sharing that. Sorry your actual birthday didn’t turn out to be too spectacular!

    On the first question you raise, let me reassure you, and anyone else who is perhaps wondering about the same thing, that there is only one requirement for spending time in this Village – that you have been touched by something beautiful that you found in the blue book, and that you wish to explore that feeling with others in a spirit of sharing, kindness and equality. That’s it! I don’t think it matters what one does with the workbook or the text, really. I’m pretty liberal, I guess, about that. There are people from other spiritual traditions who better live the principles of the Course than some Course students, so I don’t think it’s a question of having the theory or the form down at all. As Ken said in the May seminar, “It’s not a question of getting the theology or the metaphysics right – it’s a question of getting the Love right.” That’s what we’re moving towards. Blessings to you, dear brother, for your patience and courage with your own life.

  38. Pam says:

    Shoot!!!! It also got rid of my doggie snowball’s lovely smiling face as my avatar! Gads, now to figure out what to do about that.)-:

    How many forgiveness opps are in one “little e-mail address change???

  39. Pam says:

    OK back to the old address for now.

  40. Annie says:

    Oh Pam!!!

    I gotta smile (:

    Sir Lawrence ~ love the trolley story. The first image that popped into my head was
    Mr. Rogers taking you on a tour of the Village. (He’s from Pittsburgh too). What a fantastic Birthday Present!!! Ahhh, that is one Grand idea and what a beautiful night it must have been. Their idea continues to bring joy as you share it here with us today.

    Love riding the trolley of Love thru our Village.

    Have a great day everyone.

  41. zafu says:

    love it when alchemy turns lead into gold, when transformation changes everything, when satori gifts us with sudden enlightenment about something, when a miracle shift in perception reveals that love is all that is real … and was there all along, we just didn’t see it yet or know it yet … the magical trolley bus was being prepared all along!! the village was singing happy birthday … the wave that swept round the world was welcoming your return … so much goes on that welcomes and showers you and us with blessings that we need to only develop our capacity to see and to realize how to receive the pouring out of love and blessings

    love your sharings lawrence … so blessed by your return to the village

    love the magic birthday trolley … year of the rabbit you are … happy 60th … this is a power year for you … many changes and insights and adventures of particular importance for you

  42. Nina says:

    About forgiving resistance…I just had a Skype-sharing with a friend. There was a strong headache, and it became stronger – it felt like it was a big fear there, a big resistance. The Internet connection was broken – and I sat there, believing that the pain in the head was a fear that I “needed” to let go of. I just sat with it with Blue. After ten minutes the connection was back on my side again, the pain had gone down, and my partner mis-spoke( and what a wonderful mis-speaking that was:) “Can you notice the Love in your head?”

    The moment he said that, I felt a rush of freed energy: the “pain” was nothing else than my resistance to Love. The Love was always there.When asked if I felt I needed to let that resistance go, the answer was yes and a lot of giggles – and when that thought was allowed, the resistance started to abate.

    It was a powerful and simple demonstration how painful it is to resist What I am , and how including the resistance without judging it takes much power out of it.
    And now i am going straight to the britebludotplace…

  43. Kendall says:

    Dearest Lawrence and all, I love coming here and reading and smiling and feeling the sameness. Lawrence, I’m so glad you are back here. You mentioned me keeping my troubles to myself. Well, I do remember sharing about my time of being bedridden but it was now I realize quite awhile ago that I was going through that. In March of 2008 I was diagnosed with ulcertive colitis and after that I VERY slowly got better and better until now my physical health is quite good. I was so weak and in bed all the time for around a year because I had been bleeding every day for awhile (don’t want to admit or think back to that time how long but too long!). So, in 2008 I had to take Prednizone which messed me up quite a bit when I stopped taking it and was so very anemic. Now I take medication for the ulcertive colitis every day but I have really not had any bleeding or serious problems because of it since I recovered after the diagnosis, etc.

    I was reminded today that we have gone through everything before…it’s just this time who will I choose as my teacher. The illness I describe above was so hard especially because my daughter Gracie was only 7 ish and my husband sure did not sign up for me being in bed and depressed. Also we had gone through major trauma before the illness I experienced. I was still able to work through a lot of that because I can work on my laptop in bed.

    Anyway…I know that part of how I choose Jesus and the right mind and kindness more back then then I was so sick was because I was able to share and communicate with this community of people back then. I still feel the same darkness and fear when I am in my ego now that I did when my body was so sick.

    I am just glad to read anything that you write is basically what I’m saying to Lawrence and to all of us and I love you too!

  44. winnie says:

    How lovely to come here this morning and read all these wonderful posts…so glad things are better for you Kendall…extra big hugs for you Pam …… Here’s to riding the “trolley of love through our Village”

  45. Nina says:

    Kendall, I feel humble when i read this. What can I say but thank you for doing all of that with kindness to yourself, and therefore to us all.
    Ken :-), do you think i could have your mailaddress? if so, my mail is leelah11 and the at-sign and gmail dot com
    I love you all
    it is a grace that we can share all here
    Nina

  46. Nina says:

    good morning Winnie darling and natti -so nice to be here at the same time xoxoxo – may your day be beautiful

  47. winnie says:

    oh thank you honey bunch { giggles at how it always happens that just as i’m getting up you’re going to bed} I will have a beautiful day just because you wished it so…. {tucks in teddy as usual}

  48. Kendall says:

    Hi Nina and Winnie, Yes it is a trolley of love! It is a grace that we can share all here, I agree Nina. Nina-I sent an email to you last week and just now. I will email Bernard and he can help us! Lots of forgiveness…Kendall

  49. Pam says:

    Lawrence,Oh Lawrence,re.630 I have read your ponder several times today and it stirs something in me that I have no words for. It is a good something though, that much I can tell. Maybe more will make its self available later but I felt to share this with you now. In my sight you are blessed and a blessing. love Pam

  50. Pam says:

    Big Hugs to Winnie and Kendall. Puts on Mozart’s “A Little Night Music” softly in the background for Nina to drift off to.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.