Rev. Peter Graham

Rev. Peter Graham

Rev. Peter Graham is CMC Minister #40. He was ordained on Feb. 23, 2002. He serves on the CMC Board of Directors as Secretary. He facilitates the CMC's Thursday "LGBTQ and Beyond" Zoom! 7 p.m. (Pac.) meeting. Zoom ID: 442 048 698

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This weekend is the July 4th weekend when Americans celebrate the founding of our nation based on the principles delineated in the Declaration of Independence of, "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Freedom has always been an essential value to Americans and it is widely debated about what it actually means. The assertion of these "unalienable rights" does not mean we will experience true freedom, which entails release from the ego’s trio of terror known as: sin, guilt, and fear. My talk will center on how sometimes the assertion of our “rights” can lead us down the wrong path and another choice for true freedom would keep us in our right mind. 30 min. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE

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Tuesday, 28 June 2022 03:17

What's Wrong with My "Rights"?

Dear Miracle Worker,

“Forgiveness is the only sane response. It keeps your rights from being sacrificed.” (OrEd.Tx.30.71)

I live near the beautiful and popular Dolores Park, in San Francisco. On occasion, it is also a place for political demonstrations and speeches which is why I also refer to it as the “people’s park.” Recently, I was nearby and I could hear someone giving a political speech. They were impassioned and angry. I couldn’t make out his argument but his attitude turned me off. It started me thinking about how I assert my “rights.”

I realized that when I assert my “rights” in relationships that I need the Holy Spirit. I recently was bothered by a friend being over an hour late for a planned social event. I realized it and tried to be conscious and pray about the situation. When he finally arrived, I was not overly warm but neither was I angry. I was working on it. Using forgiveness, I tried to let it go. We did talk later about it and he told me some health issues had come up for him. I’m glad that I was able to be neutral and not make a big deal about it. If I had gotten into how his tardiness had violated my right to be on time then my peace and our relationship would have suffered.

We do want to freely express ourselves in this dream of a life and speak out when we perceive a wrong done to us or others. A Course in Miracles is challenging us to come from forgiveness. “I am the light of the world.” (OrEd.WkBk.61) Let all the world see your light in your righteousness.

(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #343, June 28 2022)

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Tuesday, 17 May 2022 00:38

Gifts of the Divine

Dear Miracle Worker,

We all come to A Course in Miracles with our own motives. Some of us seek it because our lives have fallen apart. Others are seekers who realize that this world does not quite feel right, and they search for another path. The ambitious ones follow the path of the mystics and seek to wake from the dream of the ego. Whatever our path may have been to the Course, we come to it with a fundamental equality.

"There is no order of difficulty in miracles because all of God's Sons are of equal value, and their equality is their oneness." (OrEd.Tx.10.68)

The gifts of God come to us all equally. We are all entitled to these gifts: peace, love, eternity, and a sense of permanence that satisfies us beyond anything in this world. At our deepest level we desire this state of mind at all times. The ego ensures that we have an endless prescription of promises to distract us. Often, our greatest challenge is to remain focused on the light. Jesus tells us that he decided to listen to only one Voice. The Voice of the Holy Spirit. This takes great discipline, honesty, and courage. The ego will always counsel against the Holy Spirit with fear. We must persist; we must trust.

When we are unsure of our path forward, recall that the gifts of God are but a simple choice we can make. In fact, in time, we have made it. As Workbook Lesson 110 says “I am as God created me.” You are the eternal love of God worthy of a deep peace and joy which encompasses all creation. Pray for these gifts in every encounter with your fellow beings of creation. Here you will find your true peace.

(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #337, May 17 2022)

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The world can often appear to be a noisy and dangerous place. Death, disease, war, and division abound through our corporate media. They counsel us to sate our fears and anxieties with sexy products sold through slick ads. We know of another Counselor who gently guides us to go within. My talk will be about how we can strengthen our determination to go within and follow our gentle Counselor back to our right mind where peace, and joy, and love abide. 27 min. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE

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As we progress in our practice of A Course in Miracles we begin to realize some subtle shifts in our awareness. One thing that happens is that we realize that the miracles we ask for are not just for ourselves. We see the impact they have on others sometimes in ways we could never imagine. Consequently, our faith in our oneness grows and belief in our apparent separateness diminishes. We then accept our special function to be the servant of the Holy Spirit. 24 min. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE

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Wednesday, 26 January 2022 05:03

Being Mindful Amidst the Busy Life

Dear Miracle Workers,

We all experience life at a different level of busyness. Some of us enjoy having a full schedule of things to do and some of us prefer to limit our external tasks and prioritize other things. As a Libra, I attempt to find balance in my life between my “to do” list and time for personal time to read, reflect, relax, pray, and meditate. A Course in Miracles says "This quiet center, in which you do nothing, will remain with you, giving you rest in the midst of every busy doing on which you are sent. (FIP.Tx.18.VII.8:3)

We have many thoughts that occur to us during the course of a day. Our forgiveness lessons keep showing up until we heal them. I have a much better day when I stay in the present moment or the now. I can say “Oh, there is my attack thought about a colleague, friend, institution or the traffic in San Francisco." The first part for me is being aware of the perception. I know if I’m upset then I’ve chosen for the ego.

The beautiful thing about practicing the principles of A Course in Miracles is that we can elect to change our mind at any time. Our responsibility is to be willing to ask. I know that I can find excuses for not asking. I believe that I’m too busy. I believe that my task or situation is too important to ask for a miracle. However, I can stay in that quiet center when I commit my day to miracles. I am innocent. My fellows are innocent. Miracles keep the peace. Decide for peace and be happy!

(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #321, Jan. 26 2022)

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A Course in Miracles states "The sole responsibility of the miracle worker is to accept the Atonement for himself." (OrEd.Tx.2.65) The New Year gives us a perfect opportunity to reinforce our sole purpose and evaluate how we are applying it to our relationships. We all interact in various circles. We also know that the decisions we make determine the experience that we have in our relational lives. My talk with focus how we can apply the principle of the atonement to these various relationship spheres in our lives. Join me as we continue our fantastic journey toward our Great Awakening by engaging in our atonement process. 23 min. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE

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It is that time of year when we have the permission of the collective mind to allow love to enter into our shared experience. Somehow, this miracle has manifested for a diverse peoples of many faiths, races, nationalities, cultures, and belief systems. In the world of the ego this is a true miracle. My talk will focus on the importance of taking advantage of this season to provide a spiritual booster for the present moment and the New Year that awaits us!! 24 min. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE

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A Course in Miracles says “So should it be with the dark clouds of guilt, ... Let your Guide teach you their insubstantial nature as He leads you past them, for beneath them is a world of light whereon they cast no shadows.” (OrEd.WkBk.38.2) The holiday season is upon us and for those of us in the northern hemisphere, this also means less sunlight and more darkness. Yet, if we desire it, our eternal  Guide will shine away every dark cloud of guilt revealing to us our true reality of loving oneness. 22 min. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE

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Tuesday, 05 October 2021 01:02

Ego Busyness and the Peace of God

Dear Miracle Workers,

Sometimes I feel like my life becomes a list of things to get done. One deadline after another puts me in an ego state of mind. I don’t like it -- it breeds guilt and anxiety. Despite our clear discomfort in this state of mind the ego counsels more busyness or compulsions that keep us a prisoner of it’s illusions. The Course says this about the ego:

"The fact that truth and illusion cannot be reconciled, no matter how you try, what means you use and where you see the problem, must be accepted if you would be saved. ²Until you have accepted this, you will attempt an endless list of goals you cannot reach; a senseless series of expenditures of time and effort, hopefulness and doubt, each one as futile as the one before, and failing as the next one surely will." (FIP.WkBk.96.2:1-2)

When we get caught up in the ego’s muck, it's time to remember Truth. Recall that we are climbing the ladder away from the ego's despondent thought system. All we are asked to do is to make the choice for another teacher. Turn to Jesus or the Holy Spirit (or whatever symbol of God that works for you) and ask for a miracle. For me, this usually includes the decision to STOP my thinking with the ego. I have to be emphatic. I am now ready to forgive and receive a miracle in collaboration with Jesus or the Holy Spirit. Sometimes it’s easier than others, but it always works with our persistence and faith. Choose again beloved spirits, and return to the peace of God!

(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #307, Oct. 5 2021)

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"A magician is practiced in the art of sensory deception. They prey upon the limitations of our perception and cause us to think we see or perceive realities that are not there. The Ego thought system is like the magician. It has created a massive cult following around the religion of judgment. Judgment is a fixed belief about the world we perceive and holding onto to these beliefs despite the psychological and societal devastation they may cause. We know that our individual human experience often shows us this. We condemn instead of forgive the other or the human systems. The healing teaching of A Course in Miracles provides us with a way out of the prison of judgment and condemnation. My talk will focus on A Course in Miracles principles that can free us return us to the peace and joy of God's Love." 26 min. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE

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The Holy Spirit knows when and where to reveal the miracles to you. One of places that I often find my inspiration is when I am taking my shower - early in the morning. Recently, I had a significant healing moment while showering. I was reflecting on conflict that I had at work and how my awareness suddenly took me "Above the Battlefield." I could see my part in the grand drama as well as my colleagues. I could see that both the "Victim" and the "Victimizer" were truly innocent and that we all had lessons to learn in the conflict. I sense that our drama is not completely healed, but that we are on our way toward resolution. My talk will focus on the forgiveness lessons that are being held for us all as we participate in the wondrous celestial awakening. I hope you can be there as we all participate in the Joy of our singular awakening. 24 min. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE

Tuesday, 20 July 2021 04:59

Dredging for Miracles

Dear Miracle Workers,

As a boy growing up in New Jersey, we would often travel to the shore for vacations. On some of these visits we would see large flats boats that would be in the inlets of bays, or in the ocean itself. They had a large vacuum that went down to the water’s bottom, and you could see tons of sand being deposited into the well of these boats. They were dredge boats. This was done to deepen the harbor and also to provide sand for the ever-diminishing beaches. I've realized that some miracles are like this.

I am not talking here about our run of the mill type miracles we may need for: traffic, the grocery line, or an annoying co-worker. I know ACIM states, "There is no order of difficulty in miracles. One is not ‘harder’ or ‘bigger’ than another." (FIP:1:I:1-2 ) While this is true, my lived experience is that sometimes we experience persons, situations or events that require us to do a deep dive into our minds to dredge for the miracle: the loss of loved one, partner, relationship, job, or a major health crises. Recently, I have encountered allegations made against me at work based on a colleagues attempt to infer my motivation related to a conflict there. After a long period of struggle, a deep dredge, I am seeing the miracle for myself. The light at the end of the tunnel approaches but I must still forgive this person.

"But the dark journey is not the way of God's son. Walk in light and do not see the dark companions, for they are not fit companions for the Son of God, who was created of light and in light." (FIP:11:III:4:5-6) By doing the work of forgiveness we can get down in the muck of our minds and dredge for the miracle.

(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #293, Jun. 30 2021)

Sunday, 04 July 2021 00:36

07.04.21 Video "Dredging for Miracles"

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There are situations in our lives when the miracles seem to come to us easily and without much effort. Other times the pain and suffering that we experience takes a long time to process and the miracle can seem to take forever. At these times, we will be asked to have faith and be patient. The faith we need to have is in the eternal and not the ephemeral. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday. 26 min. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE

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When I think of aliens, I think about how they’re portrayed in Hollywood movies. In many movies they look like fearsome, enlarged, insect-like creatures with really scary faces. The thought of making love to this depiction of an alien would repulse most people. A Course in Miracles describes an equally unpleasant image of the ego. It describes the ego using the imagery of blood, skeletons and pigs to name a few; still we often make love to its beliefs and idols. My talk will be about how we can use this imagery as a way to expose the ego and make love to the beauty, innocence, and oneness of our true reality. 26 min. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE

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