Dear Miracle Workers,

A difficult challenge of being a miracle worker is the lack of support one gets for thinking differently. The world can deal harshly with the innocent, guiltless, free thinking miracle workers, “… for is it not a well-known fact the world deals harshly with defenseless innocence?" (OrEd.Tx.31.46)

Often times the world does not support the guidance one receives. Sometimes the guidance is in direct opposition to what touted world authorities are advising. This can thrust miracle workers into conflict, opposition, and even embarrassment. "... what he hears [from Holy Spirit] may indeed be quite startling. It may also seem to be quite irrelevant to the presented problem as he perceives it, and may, in fact, confront him with a situation that appears to be very embarrassing." (OrEd.Mn.21.5) I find students read this teaching without truly taking it in. What is says is that guidance from the Holy Spirit might seem startling, irrelevant, and embarrassing! People who like to simplify ACIM with platitudes like “The guidance from the Holy Spirit will always feel peaceful” tend to dismiss this teaching from the Manual believing that it must have been meant for someone else – not them.

ACIM tells us that guidance from Holy Spirit may actually lead us to terror. "Yet God can bring you there if you are willing to follow the Holy Spirit through seeming terror, trusting Him not to abandon you and leave you there." (OrEd.Tx.18.87) “Seeming terror” certainly isn’t peaceful so to say Holy Spirit’s Voice can be discerned by the peace it gives you is misleading. Learning to distinguish the Holy Spirit’s Voice from the ego is an on-going challenge. Our traditional Christian friends call this “discernment.” If we are going to deal with the challenges of being a miracle worker then discernment will be our greatest achievement.

(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #294, Jul. 6 2021)