Big trees, full heart, ginormous love

“The function of art is to imagine what’s possible.”—bell hooks

So I’ve got a challenge for you.

But before that, I want to issue a fat sloppy thanks to all of you that have sent notes, kind words and emails wondering where I’ve been.  My last post was six weeks or so ago. That’s a long time for someone who lives to rant and rave about the inherent beauty and grace in the world.

Several things have consumed my attention. For one, I’ve been traveling, hiking in an old growth forest, visiting inspiring civil rights museums. Yesterday, I wrote my first travel story in years. I realized how much I miss it. Writing AND traveling.   

Which brings me back to my challenge. Those of us who know about the mighty power of consciousness are desperately needed right now. So I summon all of us to use the strength of our attention to focus on the often unseen river of love that flows through everything—ourselves, the natural world, even those with whom we might disagree.

Over the past couple years, there has been a huge fixation on the narrow physical part of ourselves—worrying about our bodies, working hard to keep them safe. Because we’ve focused so obsessively about the tiny part of us that is physical, the distortion machine known as our ego has convinced us that trouble is afoot. It has tricked us into focusing on our differences instead of all we have in common.

So here’s the challenge. Let go of all your beliefs and conflicts and surface desires. Look only towards goodness, towards wonder, towards wisdom and truth.  And ask yourself, “How can I use my talent, my job, my situation to say, “I love you!” That’s all any of us really wants to do.

Love, as we know, is all that’s here once you remove the fear.

As Jenny Odell wrote in her wonderful book, How to Do Nothing, “Civilization has taken a detour into a cul-de-sac. The way out is to go back to the primal source of consciousness” which we all know is love, nothing but love.

Have the best weekend of your life, my friends. And again, thanks for all your beautiful sentiments. I love and appreciate you more than you’ll ever know. #222 Forever!

Pam Grout is the author of 20 books including E-Squared, E-Cubed, Thank & Grow Rich and her latest book, The Course in Miracles Experiment: A Starter Kit for Rewiring Your Mind (And Therefore Your World) that has just been turned into an app. Badass ACIM (badass-acim.com)