“Dance first. Think later. It’s the natural order.” –Samuel Beckett
My friends Jay and Jessica were visiting family in little Scammon, Kansas (pop. 452). Jay wanted to show his kids, who were five at the time, the Catholic church where he’d sung in the choir, taken communion every Sunday. Almost immediately, upon walking inside the sanctuary, the kids began cowering behind their parents.
“What are they doing to that man? Why are they hurting him?” the kids were aghast at the lurid images portrayed in the Stations of the Cross.
It’s ironic. We have a rating system for movies. We go to great lengths to shield our children from horrific news and ill-timed tragedy. Yet, we proudly dress them up and take them to church where gruesome images are the norm. Eventually, we become desensitized and assume that’s just the way it is, the best we can expect.
That’s why ACIM Lesson 104 reminds us yet again that joy and peace are why we’re here. Happiness is our function. It’s so radical that we need lots of reminders. That’s why we’re asked to remember this as often as we can today.
In case you hadn’t heard, you are a giant love generator. When you were born, you radiated a clear energy of light and incomparable joy.
When this unconditional love energy runs up again the unhealed places in our culture, those places where distrust has developed or joy has been rejected, it bounces back, giving us an unfamiliar reading. As our boundless joy hits these rigid beliefs and “thickened” emotions, we quickly learn to match our culture’s energies, beliefs, and thoughts.
We learn to pinch off our gorgeous, clear love energy, allowing it to flow where we’re trained it can flow, resigning ourselves to paralysis in other areas. Little by little, we learn the “correct” energetic-frequency rules, only allowing a small percentage of who we really are to radiate.
The rules we pick up here on Planet Earth revolve around the following themes: Stop. Don’t. Be Careful.
So, in the Course, we’re learning just the opposite:
Go for it.
Of course, you can.
Throw caution to the wind.
So once again, my friends, we’re encouraged to choose joy, to spread love and to celebrate our common humanity.
And in the interest of choosing again (certain governments are currently using the old story of separation and limitations to justify targeted strikes), let’s remember that love is the only power that can ever end conflict. Let’s join together as spiritual peacemakers and use our love radar to join hands and proclaim peace. Let’s focus on the power of love and know, in our hearts, we are all one.
This video is my response to current headlines:
Pam Grout is the author of 19 books including E-Squared, E-Cubed, Thank & Grow Rich and her new book, Art & Soul,Reloaded: A Year-Long Apprenticeship to Summon the Muses and Ignite Your Daring, Audacious, Creative Side.
44 Responses
Brilliant, Pam! Thank you again. Mary
You’re welcome again! Thanks Mary!!
Oh my God!
(said several times while looking UP at the moon 🌓🌛🌜🌔🌙🌗🌚🌛🌜…)
Pam: Thank you sooooooo much for this marvelous writing today!
You inspire me every day!
Do you live in Bernal in San Francisco?
I do!
I would love to treat you sometime to something delicious to eat and drink on Cortland!!
Cheers!
Lynda Beth Unkeless
(Author of
“Meet One New Person Every Day: The Magic of Conversation”
On Amazon)
Sent from my iPad
>
Dear Lynda, I’d love to take you up on the offer. And next time I’m in San Fran, I’ll let you know. Joy, only joy!
This really offered a balance to all of the external noise on the news of humans mistreating humans. Thanks I needed this reminder……
I’m committed to showing the other side of the story. It’s so important!
i have a wonderful group of people, a church that interprets the Bi ble from the original Aramaic etc. We are working on releasing our whole life history in the group, shame and guilt. it works much better in a trusted group. This really helps to release us to joy.
That sounds beautiful, Diana! And when of us releases shame and guilt, the rest of us are released, as well! So thank you!
How lucky am I to have discovered and subscribed to your blog.
Why thank you! And how lucky I AM to have you here.
Wow Pam great uplifting post as usual!!! Thanks so much 🙏
OMG 😮 love the moon video
Yes, the moon video is such a great reminder–to look up!
Hey Pam
I really loved the video of the new view of the moon… was absolutely awesome!!
I am loving your daily ACIM lessons, so refreshing to read them from your wonderful perspective… at least it doesn’t feel like I’m getting told off 😀
Great work Pam
You Kick Ass Girl…YEEHA !!xx
Thank you for your great uplifting writing, Pam. And the moon video is so beautiful, it made me cry. Remember to look up!
Thank you so much!!
The moon video made me teary eyed. The look of wonder on people’s faces is amazing. Like small children are all the time. We need to so encourage them to stay that way and regain it ourselves.
Absolutely, Nancy! Here’s to more and more looks of wonder!
So many thanks Pam,
With tears I must say, we must look up more often.
And now I know.
The best is yet waiting for us.
And because we all can choose, I will accept these gifts right now.
Love all you Guys here,
Mike Stilinovich
Love you, too, Mike!
Thank you so much for sharing this, Pam. As much as we think we are separate, we are not. The first thing you notice is everyone had the same response. Wow! Oh my God! We are all connected.
I remember when my son came home from his introduction to religious instruction other than our home. He wasn’t even in first grade and talking to this precious boy about his so called original sin. Well that was enough for me to go on a quest to find what resonated within me for my children’s upbringing. I was blessed to find a Unity church in my area 💖 I am grateful my children were not indoctrinated in feeling not worthy and guilty of sin that never
Existed within them.
Lucky kids! And how it should be!
Pam…what you are doing with your posts is quite extraordinary. There are having a profound impact on my life, and I can’t thank you enough…Randy
Sent from my iPhone
>
Wow! Randy–you made my day! Thanks!
Beautiful! Brought tears to my eyes! Thank you, Pam!
Awesome! Would love to look through it!!
Having grown up with stories of suffering at the hands of God or without the intervention of God, and saints that died young after suffering either martyrdom or illness, at a young age I wondered why anyone would want to give their life to such God. It seemed nuts to me. So nice to have discovered that it’s not necessary to believe all that. Oh, I still wonder (often) why my loving God doesn’t stop all the suffering. I hope one day I’ll understand.
Thank you, as always, for your words and wisdom!
Your words, the video – goosies!
That video was out of this world!!! Loved it!
That was beautiful! It brought tears to my eyes at how wonderful it was to watch others discover how amazing this universe is. You are on a wonderful mission, Pam! This world, this entire universe, is better because of you!
Wow. I totally love that video- it was so delightful to see people’s awe and to see that everyone had the same kind of reaction. It brought tears to my eyes (as it apparently did to many readers here 😊) And thankyou for the reminder that we are love generators here to BE love, to BE joy, to BE peace. To “dance first, think later” – love that quote! Just 2 weeks ago I bought a second hand book filled with all sorts of quotes and that one was on the cover! It made me pick up the book, flip to a couple more, and buy the book. I love it and I will remind myself whenever I remember (ha!) to live that way 😁 Big hugs to you dear Pam 💖🌸💜
💖🌸 Hugs to you, dear Jenny Louise!
I love you!
“Dance First. Think Later” Love it. The highlight of my day is finding this each day in my email. Thank you, Pam! I love the moon video. When I was in Paris for the first time about 25 years ago, there was a full moon. And after seeing that beautiful full moon in Paris, every time I look up at the moon, I am reminded that the same moon I am looking at is being enjoyed by everyone on earth and I laugh.
Dear Pam, I love these posts. I have adopted them as my daily lessons. I can’t wait to open them each day….
If you get to San Fran and have a lovely meal with your friend from the above post…come on down to Carmel by the Sea where I live and I will buy you a wonderful dessert! A walk on the white sandy beach is also pretty yummy.
Again I thank you for these writings, they have changed my Life…
Kate
Wow! Thanks so much Pam! I have seen the moon and Mercury through a high powered telescope and it is beyond amazing!! Maybe certain politicians should do the same.
Oh, that’s a good idea!
I will report to you as a teacher. no doubt. joy and peace are my inheritance.
Today, I was told from a friend that I could live exclusively in a high-rise apartment of 250 thousand dollars, just as free as me. It’s been a month since I lost my job and gave up on a one-room apartment.
And I have read E – Squared: The Abracadabra Principle in the last few days.
I love your posts, Pam, thank you!
Another good one. “As our boundless joy hits these rigid beliefs and “thickened” emotions, we quickly learn to match our culture’s energies, beliefs, and thoughts.” really resonated with me as did all the rest.
I always thought it was a good idea to fit into society to some degree but I’ve been noticing as I write the stories of my younger sister, I have always championed the rule breakers and the happy dancers. Even my own daughter doesn’t fit with most peoples idea but she is a happy, giving, filled with love for humanity kind of person. We need to stop judging ourselves and each other and just sing, dance and bring joy to this crazy world. Keep up the good work, Pam.
This is so inspiring! That is such a worthy goal: to just be absolutely free, connecting to a vast network of Universal Love 24/7, every minute, every place, every situation. Thanks, Pam!
I totally agree with your friends kids’ reaction upon seeing the images in the Catholic Church they visited. As a child I felt the same way & was subjected those images 5 days a week at a Catholic school & then again on Sundays. I would try to look at only the happy statues. Dr Wayne Dyer said one of his kids had the same reaction. I’ve often wondered why these painful images continue on when they are trying to teach the opposite. Thank you for reinforcing that we are born with the joy naturally & we need keep it flowing. Thank you for the work you do. Love your writings.
Love the Moon youtube vid. wow!
Two comments: One on the Catholic church imagery–I was brought up by two very Catholic parents, and started my schooling in Catholic school. When I went to church I was often sick to my stomach from the sermons of God’s wrath and punishment…that we would be raised from our graves and have to answer to God. It caused years of panic attacks and anxiety. Now I do talks on death, how we learn about death and what people believe about death and the afterlife. It was the topic of my dissertation. So there’s that…
And I want to thank you for posting the video. I don’t always click on videos, but when I did, I knew right away why I did with the first notes of the music. That is my grandmother’s song, and it is my sign from her that she is around (she passed away in 2000). I have a portrait of her in my apartment and I have been speaking to her lately because I have been quite lonely, so the video just seemed like a response from her that she is around. Thanks.