I remember when my brother and I were little and we’d go on road trips with our parents. We’d be in the backseat – I’m sure this will probably be a familiar scene to you:
two children in the back seat, parents in the front. An imaginary line is drawn down the middle of the seat between the children that they dare not cross or it’s a violation of the laws of backseat riding. Before you know it, the younger one has to touch the older one, and crosses the line.
It had to be done.
The older one, me, in this case, punches her little brother enough to have it be painful, but not wounding.
“Stop touching me! He won’t stop touching me! He’s on my side of the car!”
The parents threaten to pull over and separate us. But, actually that sounds like a good idea. I’d much rather sit in the front seat where he can’t touch me.
It goes on and on, until our parents pull over and separate us. It’s not about the seat, the territory, it’s about “I need my space! You are crowding me! I need some control over my space!”
Or maybe it’s not. Who knows? It’s hard to tell. It could be one thing on trip and another thing on another day. This time I’m actually upset about leaving my friends, next time I’m upset about something else entirely. Life! It’s always happening!
I’m writing this from my hotel in Porto, Portugal as we’re beginning our Camino Adventure.
It was a funny night on the plane – a red eye from Newark to Porto – lots of opportunity to practice keeping my thoughts neutral on the plane.
I left Vermont for Newark – plane was an hour late – fortunately, the flight from Newark to Porto was a bit delayed – Finally getting up in the air and lights out in the cabin around 11:30pm. Sitting next to a LARGE man and his young boy. The boy was sitting by the window and seemed thrilled to be able to watch a movie late at night on the screen in the back of the seat in front of him.
The boys Dad, sitting in the middle seat, fell deep asleep right away, a dead kind of a sleep, not aware of anything. I turned off his TV screen so he’d sleep better. I had an eye shade, but he didn’t.
Soon his arm, which was consuming the arm rest, fell off the arm rest and onto my seat, almost to the point of being on my thigh. It was the beginning of the appropriation of my personal space.
As time went by, this man continued encroaching on my space, to the point of spreading his legs so wide he was pushing my legs away, taking up half of my leg room, all my arm room, and literally resting his arm and his leg against me. The more I moved over, the more space he took.
And his body was SO warm. I wondered if he had a fever. (Covid!). I almost felt like he was spooning me. Seriously. Yikes. I knew he was innocent. He was dead asleep for sure. To have this big fellas entire arm and leg, resting against me felt like an epic personal space invasion.
I know that I’m one with him, but I wasn’t ready to be that intimate.
And then there was the snoring. Consistent snoring. I had my earplugs and eye mask and they were a big help to me.
I saw the temptation to be bothered come up more than once, but I wanted to find a way to be at peace with EVERYTHING and sleep, not stew in judgments and opinions about what should and shouldn’t be happening.
It wasn’t hard to let go of the complaints, but what was so funny is he just kept taking up more space and more space, and more! Snoring all the way.
If I started to feel bothered I went to gratitude that this very tired Dad could get some much needed deep sleep and my gratitude lifted me right up above the battlefield of space invasion.
Healing happens when we remember to take each opportunity to practice living A Course in Miracles. Healing doesn’t happen when we forget. It’s that simple.
We’re not in charge of the healing.
We don’t have to figure it out.
Our job is to allow it by being willing to receive it – to welcome it.
Healing is available for everyone – all the time.
All we need do is be willing to give up the causes of un-wellness.
What I’ve learned for myself, and witnessed many others in our programs prove, is that we can take our willingness to change our mind and practice as wholeheartedly as possible and we will, usually after just a few years, reach what I’ve come to call “the tipping point.” Once we tip over it gets SO MUCH EASIER.
The thing is to find a fun, and happy way to get there faster and faster. And that’s where joining with others is so healing and helpful.
That’s why I’m doing this Camino Adventure right now – to join with others. I honestly do not care about seeing the outward sights. I’m interested in the inner sights. I’m interested in being with my brothers and sisters and truly living A Course in Miracles. I also love being outside most of the day and eating lots of fresh and varied food. But the main thing is to join together and walk the talk in Joy!
Now is the time for us to actually LIVE
A Course in Miracles, and I find that REALLY exciting because it’s so healing!
I AM so glad we’re on this journey together! I’ve got several things coming up you may find fun and helpful:
- Finding Freedom From Fear Spiritual Bootcamp based on ACIM principles starts October 16
- Forgiveness Retreat in the NY Catskills November 9 to 12
- Spiritual Counseling Training Intensive in the NY Catskills November 13 to 19
- If you’re interested in the training, consider coming to the Forgiveness Retreat too to have a MAJOR shift!
Let’s make a quantum leap together.
If you’d like my help developing a spiritual practice of Self-care that clears out the old patterns of past beliefs in order to move out of the unconscious guilt and punishing yourself, blaming others, living like a victim or a martyr, feeling guilty and ashamed, and into feeling more connected with Spirit, please check out my Finding Freedom From Fear Spiritual Bootcamp class – it’s designed to be a rocket booster for your spiritual journey.
If you feel you’ve been holding yourself back and letting fear decide, this might be your answered prayer! If it’s right for you, you’ll know. Trust your intuition!
Not sure if one of my programs is right for you? You’re invited to schedule a free Exploratory Call with one of our certified spiritual counselors to get your questions answered and see if this program can bring you the results YOU would like!
NEW PODCAST EPISODE! The most recent episode of my podcast’s topic is Peace Instead of Pain. Peace is a choice that we make. Pain is a choice we make whether we can see it or know it or not. We can choose heaven now.
