Day 77: I am entitled to miracles.

Oftentimes, a sense of entitlement carries with it a negative connotation.  It seems haughty, over-confident, or otherwise superior.  Yet A Course in Miracles implies no such meaning in today's lesson:

I am entitled to miracles.

It is simply a statement of fact.  As God's own creations, we are the vessels through which His Light may shine.  As such, miracles are our birthright.  It is anything but a conceited notion that we are entitled to miracles.  It would actually be conceited to think we weren't, as that would suggest we operate outside of God's jurisdiction.

The Course defines miracles at great length in its first chapter.  Marianne Williamson sums it up as such: "A miracle is a shift in perception from fear to love."  This definition doesn't quite match our traditional meaning for the term, as we tend to define "miracle" as a wondrous or extraordinary event that seems to transcend physical laws.  The Course's definition can certainly apply to this one, but it would also classify a simple act of kindness in the presence of fear as a miracle, too.

Semantics aside, miracles are good.  They are stepping stones as we climb nearer and nearer to God's loving embrace along our path in the Atonement.  Since the Atonement is our salvation, and our salvation is guaranteed, we can therefore conclude that we are indeed entitled to miracles.

This evening, I taught a theater workshop at a boys' probation camp.  The kids there are juvenile offenders, typically arrested for crimes such as drug-dealing, theft, or gang activity.  At this particular probation camp, the boys are offered a variety of different programs as a rehabilitative effort, to prevent them from returning once they are released.

Most of these boys grew up in very unstable homes.  They've been told that they don't matter, that they'll never amount to anything, and that they are otherwise worthless.  These are the people who really need to hear today's lesson.  These kids need a miracle (and in this case, a shift in perception from fear to love would indeed be a wondrous and extraordinary event).

Though I couldn't exactly tell them, "Hey, you are entitled to miracles" and have them take me seriously, I did what felt I could do.  I poured love in their direction.  I told them what an amazing job they were doing, how talented I thought they were, and that they owe it to themselves to keep rehearsing because they have a great show.  Will that amount to anything when stacked up against all the years these boys have spent living in fear?  Maybe not, but there's always a chance.  If just one of those kids has a miracle of his own and turns his mind from the dark to the Light, he could inspire the rest.  He could realize his place as a miracle-worker here on earth.

The opportunities for miracles are all around us.  And if we keep ourselves open to them, if we keep our channels clear from the disruptive illusions of fear, we will recognize them.  Once we fully realize that we are entitled to miracles, we will continue to spot them in even the most seemingly insignificant situations in our lives.  And as our perceptions continue to shift from fear to love, we will continue to step ever closer to a more miraculous way of being, until we ultimately are united, at last, with our Creator.

Until tomorrow,
Journeyman