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Our ExpertsMoments of Magnificence—August 2008by K. Bailey | Email me if you questions or comments | Back to List of Articles Getting Started With moments of magnificence: SerendipityDo you recall an awakened moment of serendipity in your life? Perhaps it appeared as a chance meeting, or an answered prayer. Maybe something happened, and for an instant you were taken by surprise, transported into a higher place of truth. You forgot to be afraid, sad, or competitive. You realized the magnitude of the spiritual power living within you. You were in a state of wonderment. Even if only for a moment, you were changed forever. These are life’s Moments of Magnificence. They can be simple, spontaneous moments that happen in a split second, or they may come to you with great impact over time. They may be realized through deep spiritual work and self-awareness or they might happen suddenly to someone who has never considered spirituality before. Conveying them to others is not easy because these moments leave you speechless, empty of ego or logical thought. Yet, describing them is exactly what this Innerchange column intends to do. Starting next month, this column will spotlight a conversation with someone sharing a Moment of Magnificence, with the intention that you will recognize your own radiance through the sharing. Sometimes the stories will come through other people, and sometimes from the wisdom and keen observation of animals or nature. This is a powerful time on our fragile planet. In the West, we barrage ourselves daily with compelling transmissions telling us we need a consumable item to be worthy of Love. We become caught up in our own fear of survival and feelings of unworthiness, rendering us unable to contribute to the World with the depth of compassion that resides in our hearts. Thus, we long to belong. While I enjoy the Western lifestyle, products, and choices I have as an American, I sense a profound need to balance the pervasiveness of fear-oriented messages with ones that strengthen us at the spiritual core. Moments of Magnificence awaken us to small miracles and allow us to recognize our authentic essence as a creation of source. To start the column, below the author shares a Moment of Magnificence from my own life, the effects of which still continue to be present in my everyday reality. It’s Raining Dimes When the first dime appeared to me, I was going through an arduous time in my life. In addition to having some difficult problems in my marriage, I was also suffering from serious health issues. To release some tension, my husband and I took a weekend trip to the beach. Although we were in a fantastic area where people were spending leisure time, I was in a stress-induced daze. I was going through the motions, pushing myself to act happy, yet my overriding feeling was apprehension. During the previous weeks, I had been meditating, praying for help, and essentially holding on for dear life. This was my mood as I stood in line at an amusement park on a Saturday evening in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It was such a strange space to be in; I was filled with angst, afraid to take the next step, yet surrounded by joy and laughter that I was unable to feel. As I stood there with my husband, I was asking for clarity and direction. Perhaps not with spoken words, but certainly in my heart I was praying… All of a sudden, a small object tumbled out of thin air, hit me on the top of my head, and plummeted onto the ground. I barely caught a flicker of silver as the projectile passed through my peripheral vision. The flying object didn’t hurt me, but it was a bit shocking. Upon examining the ground near my feet, I noticed a shiny, new dime. As it lay there innocently, I realized the dime was the tiny missile that struck me on the head. I quickly reached down to retrieve it, and couldn’t help but notice that it was lying heads up. I picked up the dime and held it. As I squeezed it in my fist, I began to feel a bit lighter. I am convinced that signs like these come to us when we seek them. We only need to recognize them when they appear. That day, it took a gentle smack on the head for me to get the message. I was stuck in overwhelming anxiety, and the dime startled me out of my trance. When it appeared, I was captivated by the sheer wonder of it and forgot about my problems for an instant. I became interested in something larger than my troubles; I began to focus on the dime and the importance of its meaning. It was such a simple, little thing this dime, to have changed my world in one glimmering moment. Things did work out for me. Although my marriage did not last, I endured the tough times a bit more easily after that day. And even though I was dealing with a grave health condition, I made it through. I survived. Do I think the dime was letting me know things would be okay? In a way, yes, or at least that my prayers were heard; I had a choice to stay in fear or lighten up. I just didn’t know it at the time. Since then, I have noticed heads up dimes many times over the years. They have appeared in the washing machine, on the seat of my car, in a public restroom, and many times, simply on the ground just when I needed to know that help was on the way. They have fallen out of my wallet, catching my attention and causing me to notice my thinking. It just so happens that the day I am writing this article, I found a heads up penny. It appeared in my pajama drawer. I reverently placed it on my personal alter. It isn’t a dime, but it still reminds me about the value of change. Note: If you would like to share a moment of magnificence with the author of this column, please write to Karenadbailey@gmail.com.
by K. Bailey | Email me if you questions or comments | Back to List of Articles
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