This past week I attended a retreat where we watched the 2000 movie, The Legend of Bagger Vance. Maybe you also have seen this movie where Matt Damon portrays Junuh- an amateur, promising golfer and local town hero who becomes so deeply traumatized by his war experiences that he loses his swing- not just in the arena of golf but in life in general. Breaking away from the woman he loved as well as from the other townspeople, Junuh becomes a recluse and tries to drown his sorrows in drinking while playing cards and gambling with his buddies. But even this cannot numb his deep pain.
“There’s not enough alcohol in the whole state of Georgia that can get me drunk!” he announces to his gambling buddies.
Then enters Will Smith who portrays Bagger- the caddy that will help Junuh reclaim more than just his authentic swing in his golf game.
Losing our swing
Have you ever felt like Junuh? That somehow you lost your swing in some area in life?
Like we know there is a way to move in the world that can be more graceful and easy, even effortless at times- but we seem to be sort of clunking along like a car in the wrong gear.
Last night, I was feeling somewhat overwhelmed with the seeming responsibilities before me- being a mom, daughter, coach, and finishing some tech stuff for these zoom calls. While in retreat, I had prayed to find my authentic swing- thinking it had to do with some outcome in form. And what I heard in prayer really surprised me. Here is my conversation:
Me: Please help me, Spirit, to really make this simple. It seems that the more I do, the more that there is to do. I can’t seem to keep up!
Spirit: It can be simple because there are really only two things you need to learn to do.
Me: Really? Only two? How’s that possible? Please tell me!
Spirit: All you need to learn is to pray and to forgive. That’s all and this will take care of all the specifics of everything you seem to face.
To learn to pray and to forgive
Once I heard these words, I felt a huge burden fall off my shoulders. Then I was guided to read the sections about prayer and forgiveness- which are seen as sisters, like the two wings of a bird, in the teachings of A Course in Miracles. As I journaled this morning, I received more insights about prayer, forgiveness, the miracle, being miracle-minded, along with our thoughts being the only thing that can hurt us. In this time, where we feel that we are threatened from forces outside us, we can take comfort. While we follow all the protocols for sheltering in place, social distance, and wearing masks, we can turn to prayer and forgiveness to truly understand how we can be truly helpful and receive the help that would be truly helpful in each circumstance.
It was such a beautiful sharing from all of the participants about their challenges to adapt these ideas to daily life as well as the miracles experienced by those who are able to apply these teachings. We were all teachers and students together today and it was such a heart-opening gathering.
To listen to the full unedited recording, click here.
To listen to this beautiful short (less than 3 minutes) prayer of peace that emerged the end of the recording, click here.
We will meet this week Wednesday and Thursday on April 8 & 9.
Please note the new zoom details below. You will need to enter the Meeting ID and the password.
Time: 11am to 12:30PM EST
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How to support this work with your donation and sharing with others
These sessions and recordings are offered freely and if you feel inspired to donate to this important healing mission, please donate here. Your donation freely given is so appreciated and supports me to continue to spread this message of hope, healing, and comfort. For those of you who have donated, thank you so much! Your donation is the energy of love that continues to nurture this healing work.
Also, please share this email and post on social media as you feel inspired so we can grow the circle of those who feel willing to use this very challenging time as a powerful substrate to fuel healing, regeneration, renewal and miracles on micro and macro levels.
