The Course in Miracles Comes Again

My recovery began with the Course in Miracles. It was the stepping-stone to the Twelve Steps and it let me both radically and gracefully into the rooms. In that first year I was so unconscious and so sick. A small group of people, meeting once a week to discuss a strange, somewhat esoteric text, was my intervention. Books, always books.

There have been many writers over the years that have tried to lead others to The Course in Miracles. Early on Jerry Jampolsky wrote several small books using the “Course” principles. Wayne Dyer used ideas from the Course in most of his books. Then Maryanne Williamson took a huge leap forward with her teaching, writing and well, by becoming a media star all the while talking Course in Miracles talk.

Now a new, younger, and very hip teacher has emerged. Gabrielle Bernstein, author of “Spirit Junkie” and  “May Cause Miracles” is leading another generation to “the Course”. And I’m grateful. Gabby’s is a recovery story and a story of a young woman who had lots of spirituality combined with lots of addiction but who had the energy and boldness to grab it all and Go!

Gabby’s new book is a 40-day plan to learn the basics of the Course in Miracles: forgiveness, changed perspectives and changing your thinking. And I love that she does it without sackcloth and ashes.

In many ways there is nothing new under the sun but sometimes we need a new teacher to let the light in.

July 22 Mary Magdalene Day

Now here is a feast day in the Roman Catholic Church that sober women can celebrate. She was a real woman and she appears in stories in the New Testament Gospels. The good news is that Mary Mag was the first witness to the resurrection of Jesus, one of his first and most ardent followers and it was she who brought the news of the Resurrection to the Apostles.

But here is more interesting news about Mary Magdalene. Most scholars agree that she is the same Mary that used her wealth to support Jesus mission and teaching and she most likely is the same woman that Jesus healed by casting out seven demons.

It’s not a far stretch to understand “demons” as addictions and what it is like when one day we have them and the next day we don’t. Sober women can imagine this woman, like us, so grateful for the person who carried a message of healing and grace to her.

You can read more about this amazing Jewish woman who became part of the Christian story through her healing and then by her service in the book, “Alone of All Her Sex” by the historian Marina Warner.

But think about this: She had seven “demons” or “devils” or “infirmities” and a miracle happened. In a life of long sobriety we each have at least that many that need healing. I have alcohol, drugs, food, work, shopping, relationships and my thinking. How happy I am to have a program that can “cast these out” of me.