Love Reveals Itself in Many Ways

This week’s story may seem a bit trivial considering all that is going on in the world right now, however, I think the underlying message is relevant. Sometimes we have to look a little deeper, but love is always present, even during painful situations. That’s what I was reminded of a few weeks ago when scalding hot water seeped into the dishtowel I was using to remove a bowl of green beans from the microwave. Ouch!

I could feel it burning my thumb, but I had nowhere to set the bowl down quickly. Had I known how much it would hurt for the next few hours and days, I might have chosen to drop the bowl and deal with the mess of beans and shattered ceramic pieces. Instead, I set the bowl on the opposite counter as fast as I could, but by then, the damage had been done. 

Immediately, I held my thumb under a stream of cold water. The pain was increasing rapidly, so I grabbed an ice cube from the freezer and placed it against the bright red skin. My thumb felt okay as long as it was in direct contact with ice, but as soon as the ice melted, the pain returned. Three melted ice cubes later, it still hurt, but I had to return to my computer to finish some work. It was uncomfortable, but thankfully, the pain subsided a little bit by the time I went to bed.

While I was sleeping, a large blister formed on the pad of my thumb. It was still quite painful to the touch, but at least it wasn’t hurting like it did the night before. When I looked at it more closely, I noticed the blister was in the shape of a heart! The significance of where and when this little heart message appeared made me chuckle.

The previous day, I finally made time to visit a Verizon Store to see what deals they had on new iPhones. Not only was my 4.5-year-old iPhone not able to hold a charge for more than a few hours, but the small screen size was becoming problematic. Many apps were no longer formatted for that screen size. Some features and buttons disappeared below my screen parameters making them inaccessible. After considering it for months, it felt right to start the new year with a new phone. 

Gratefully, the promotion at Verizon was a pretty good one with my trade-in, so I decided to upgrade to an iPhone 16. The additional charge on my monthly bill would be less than $5 for 36 months. Not bad, but rather than purchase a phone there and pay an additional fee for them to set it up, I decided to go home and order it online. That would save me a little money and give me time to reorganize and delete some music before transferring everything to a new phone.

The heart-shaped blister was a painful but loving confirmation that it was time to retire the old phone. In addition to the smaller screen, my old iPhone was one of the last iterations with a home button. As you may recall, a home button is activated by a thumbprint, and mine was now obliterated! That was the thumb I used, so my old phone would not give me access to banking apps or any app that needed an extra layer of security. 

I’m so grateful I followed my guidance to order the new phone online that same afternoon. I only had to wait a few days until the new phone with Face Recognition arrived and I was back in business. As one of my sisters graciously pointed out, this experience was also a safety message to use a pot holder (not a dish towel) when removing hot items from the oven! 

Is there something in your life that you have been putting off? Maybe it’s time to take one small action step towards what you desire. It would be my great honor to assist you with a series of Spiritual Coaching Sessions. In our weekly or bi-weekly conversations, we will uncover old beliefs that are keeping you stuck and create new pathways forward using the healing and revealing principles found in A Course in Miracles, Family Constellations, and other spiritual practices. Please look around my website for more information and to book your first session. I look forward to helping you experience more peace, love, and joy in your life. 

My heart goes out to all those experiencing pain, shock, and loss from the fires in Los Angeles. I’m still holding those recovering from the devastating hurricanes here on the East Coast in my heart. There are so many people suffering around the world, but what I know and witness is that love is always present.

So many people in LA this week have told me how graciously overwhelmed they are by the amount of people checking in with them. I have experienced the same thing when a hurricane approaches Florida. When events like this happen, we send love and support in a multitude of ways to our sisters and brothers in the affected areas. 

We also hear amazing stories of unity during these trying times. Neighbors come together to share resources after a hurricane. Local restaurants offer free food. I saw on social media that Air BnB is offering free housing to those displaced by the LA fires. Even in the most difficult circumstances, love finds a way to move us forward. That keeps me hopeful. No matter what we face, when we join together and let love lead the way, miracles happen.

Until next time, may Love reveal itself to you even in life's most challenging and painful moments. 

The course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however, at removing the blocks to the awareness of love’s presence, which is your natural inheritance.

A Course in Miracles ~ T-in.1:6-7