Weekly Newsletter: Below the Surface

      Things that we hear or read about don’t always resonate with us. The reason might be because we aren’t ready to receive the message. Or it could be that the message is not right for us at that time—and perhaps may never be. It could also by that the message is wrong. A message that separates us from The Divine is wrong or inappropriate. But, another reason that something we hear or read doesn’t resonate with us could be because we have taken the message at face value and not looked below the surface to the deeper meaning.
      A Course in Miracles states that “I am responsible for what I see. I choose the feelings I experience, and I decide upon the goal I would achieve.” Considering just the first sentence, I wonder how it is that I am responsible for the things I see. If a snake crawls into my field of vision, am I responsible for the snake’s actions? From a certain vantage point, this sentence doesn’t resonate with me. The second expression, “I choose the feelings I experience,…” resonated with me immediately and helped explain the first sentence even though I’m not fully convinced of the validity of the first one, and it still doesn’t resonate with me on all levels.
      The point I’m making is not to demonstrate my ignorance or insightfulness, but to say to all of us  that it is okay if we don’t resonate with everything a religious or spiritual teacher says. He or she might be wrong. Or, they might be right but we’re not ready to accept the truth. Or, we may need to dig a little deeper to get at the meat of what’s being said.