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Our ExpertsConnecting with the Divine—september 2008by Arleen Hannich | Email me if you questions or comments | Back to List of Articles Getting Started With connecting with the divine: living with divine graceAll of us are receiving Divine Grace. It comes to us in infinite ways. Some of us are receptive to Grace, recognizing it as it flows freely through our lives. Some of us are more resistant, and we seem to receive Grace in fits and spurts! Let’s all deepen our connection with the Divine by seeing and feeling the reality of Divine Grace in our daily lives. One of my stories about Grace Here is one example of how I received Grace. Last October, I went to the Oneness University in India for the 21-day Oneness Process. While preparing for the trip, I was very concerned about the 22-hour flights. Foremost in my mind was my (previously injured) tailbone that can hurt when I sit for more than an hour or two. Needless to say, I asked the Divine for help! When it was time to go to India, I checked in for my flights online, and everything was in order. My first flight took me to Boston; I was transferring there to a different airline that would take me to London. I arrived in Boston with time to eat dinner, and I was elated I could have one final “American” meal. I changed terminals, found my next gate and saw a nice restaurant at the other end of the terminal. I went into the restaurant and ordered dinner. Then I waited a really long time. Finally, to get my waiter’s attention, I tapped him on the shoulder. He flew around and yelled, “NEVER touch me again!” His outrageous reaction pushed a button in me big time. I sat there mortified. Finally my dinner arrived. It was a total disappointment — I was not going to be able to eat this food. My tears started to flow. I paid the bill to avoid another scene and left. As I left the noisy restaurant, I began to hear gate announcements. Within a few minutes, I realized I was being paged. Because I had already checked in online, I had not thought to check in again in person with the new airline I was taking to London. Because of my mistake, my luggage was sitting somewhere labeled as a security risk, and my seat to London was soon to be given away! The happy ending is that I heard the page in the nick of time, the airline located my luggage in time, and it and I flew together to London and then to India. Even more amazing, I did not feel any pain from my tailbone until just one hour before my plane landed in India. Two incredible acts of Grace! While I was sitting in that restaurant, I would not have believed it was the best thing for me to have an angry waiter and to receive horrible food. Fortunately, the Divine knew I was in danger of losing my seat and my luggage and knew exactly how to get me out of that restaurant in time. (I may have been given a more subtle message first, but when I’m focused on food, it can be hard to get my attention!)
What is your story about Divine Grace? Everybody has experienced Divine Grace. What is one of your memorable stories? If you have trouble thinking of something, it may help you to recall a time when you:
Take a moment and relive the situation in your mind; then, more important, relive it in your heart. Looking back, can you feel the unseen love and power that was with you at the time? Allow yourself to express your gratitude now for the love and assistance you received. Where do you see Grace in your life today? Now that you’re warmed up, take a few minutes and look at some recent examples of Grace in your life. In the past few days, how has Grace shown itself to you? Think about things that happened to you that you labeled as “coincidences” or times you said to yourself, “Wow! I’m lucky that happened!” If nothing comes to you immediately, the below questions may help bring something to mind. Did Grace:
Allow yourself to see and acknowledge the beauty of Grace expressing in your daily life. How do you feel knowing these things happen simply because you are so loved? Allow yourself to feel that love and support. It is available to you at all times! Appreciation allows grace to flow easily and plentifully How can you experience Grace more easily and more often? By recognizing it in your life, and by feeling and expressing your gratitude for it, even when it doesn’t look the way you think it should. Perhaps most important, by simply being appreciative for everything you already have in your life. We have so much, and many of us place great focus on what we don’t have. Appreciate those things you love about your life right now, and you’ll see even more Grace come to you. I invite you to pay more attention to Grace. Each day this week/month identify at least one way the Divine demonstrates its unconditional love for you. Let it bring a smile to your face or make you laugh! Your recognition and appreciation open up the floodgates for more and more Grace to appear. I would love to hear your stories about Divine Grace and celebrate them with you, so please feel free to email me. I wish you a Grace-full month! by Arleen Hannich | Email me if you questions or comments | Back to List of Articles
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