The Magic Words

There is a movie circulating right now called, "The Secret." It was launched this spring, [this movie is now available in many retail outlets, my favorite is, www.12Store.com.] So, what is this secret? It's that our thoughts create our reality, and we need to choose them wisely: because whatever we focus on, whether it's what we really want, or what we really don't want, is what our subconscious minds will create in our world. It's good advice for all of us, although many of us have never really considered this concept. This secret does, however, keep us focused on creating what we want in this world of illusion (not a bad thing), therefore it's just not going to break the cycle of thought that keeps us in this "reality" and unaware that we've really never left the loving company of God, with which/whom we're One.

For most of us, our imagination is captured when we think we might have "the secret" to getting our every wish and all the treasures that we've always wanted...that is, everything that is outside of ourselves in the material world. It's fun to fantasize, for sure (and believe me, I buy a lottery ticket every week so I can fantasize), but the point is that we when we "get" all that stuff, it just makes us want more stuff, often even before the newness of the old stuff has worn off. The ego is never satisfied--but its job is not to be satisfied...ever.

At some point, many of us find that "the stuff" just isn't doing it for us anymore, and that there is still deep longing, or suffering, or conflict that won't go away when we try to fill ourselves with more of the world "out there." I've read numerous accounts of those who were in utter despair in their lives...going through immense personal suffering of one nature or another, and stumbled upon another "secret." This secret is the one that I call, "the magic words," and which are invoked when the world is crashing in all around us, and we realize we haven't got a clue as to what to do next. That's when true surrender can take place, and the magic words, "there must be a better way..." are uttered in earnest.

Many of those who have found their spiritual path in A Course in Miracles have this in common: they've declared some version of that magic phrase that conjures something so much more significant than a genie in a bottle offering to grant them unlimited wishes. It's a powerful alternative to struggle and worry, and all of us have access to that awakening of a power greater than any material wealth. We just have to be open to the fact that there really is a better way...

That's not to say that we can't also want all the toys and treasures of the world...