May / June, 2013 A Miracle Distribution Center Publication IN ME JO at the Healing CCenter’senter’s CConferenonferen ce A u See Back Page 1 g 1 Our History ust 10• Admissions... by Beverly Hutchinson McNeff a short film based on the Course IN ME JO at the together and avoid freeing the slaves. CCenter’senter’s s readers of THE HOLY ENCOUNTER With so much new light on these old CConferenonferen ce A u See Back Page 1 know, the Center turned thirty- stories of history, are we to judge and g •1 A ust 10 five this year, and we have been running condemn those we have previously by articles about our history. This got me applauded? No, not at all. If anything, we John Viscount thinking about history in general and how can look at them with a new understanding it’s taught. that can help us see how the average originally wrote Admissions as a Back in the old days, when I was in person (with their flaws and less than school, our heroes were always so noble Iresponse to 9/11. After that tragedy perfect motives) can grow, change, and and true. For example, Christopher Colum - occurred, I felt an overwhelming achieve great things. Columbus helped compassion for the family of humanity bus was the great, daring discoverer of establish a great deal of knowledge about because I knew we were entering into America, and Abraham Lincoln was the trade winds and began a permanent another destructive cycle of attack and saint who emancipated the slaves. Today presence of Europeans in North and South counterattack that would greatly we have learned that America. Lincoln, increase the amount of suffering in our Columbus really didn’t “That’s how it is with though he proposed world. discover America; he five different ways to This inspired me to illustrate a more only sailed as far as forgivene•ss. It is a keep the concept of forgiving interpretation of life’s events Central and South process of healing and slavery alive in order to so people could more easily find a path - America and never not something to do or preserve the Union, way to forgiveness, no matter what the really got to what we say just once and then eventually recognized world served up. To do this, I decided to now call the United you’re done with it.” that slavery could no create a modern parable that reflected States. The only reason longer be tolerated. the teachings from A Course in we attribute our found - These things were a process. Miracles , and the related lectures of ing to Columbus is because we didn’t want That’s how it is with forgiveness. It is a Kenneth and Gloria Wapnick, which I to credit John Cabot who sailed under the • process of healing and not something to had found most healing in my own life. English flag. At the time when we in this do or say just once and then you’re done In the film, James Cromwell plays an country were devising our history, we were with it. If you have ever tried to forgive a enlightened clerk who works in the at war with England not Spain. The idea of situation or person, you know that when admissions room for the afterlife, where giving the glory to Columbus rather than you think you’re done with it, that’s when he processes new arrivals. He is called Cabot was more appealing. Therefore, it’s the unforgiving thought decides to visit you on to guide an Israeli couple (Anna the District of Columbia and not the when you can’t sleep at 2:00 in the morn - Khaja & Anthony Batarse) and a Pales - District of Cabot. In Lincoln’s case, he did ing. The Course offers us great wisdom tinian man (Oren Dayan), who go end up being the great emancipator of the when it says, “God is the love in which I through admissions together because African American but not before he tried they have suffered similar tragic every way possible to keep the Union Continued on page 14 endings. By making “The Clerk” the Beverly is the co-founder and president of MDC, one of the longest running organizations based Continued on page 15 on A Course in Miracles . As a student, lecturer and author on the Course since 1977, her John Viscount is a branding specialist, recorded weekly commentaries on Course principles have become a wonderful source of inspi - writer, composer, and explorer of the ration and study for many around the world. Receive a FREE recording by contacting MDC. spiritual path. © 35 years ago... a gallon of gas cost Worldwide Study Group Database. Our ume clearly accessible via a convenient 63 cents, Annie Hall won the Best Google Maps page now incorporates table of contents. You’ll find it on our Picture Oscar, the prototype of the geolocation. This allows our website to website at www.miraclecenter.org automatically recognize your location Sony Walkman was built, a stamp cost © and immediately display A Course in Free Podcasts! Two new Miracle 15 cents, the average cost of a new Moment Podcasts are now online for house in the U.S. was $55,000.00, the Miracles study groups in your area. After you grant your free listening experience. As first test tube baby was born in England, Sharie in Wisconsin wrote, “I want permission, and Miracle Distribution Center was to thank you both for your loving your loca - founded! When you look back, it’s response to my e-mail and to Paul tion will be amazing to see how things have for his beautiful reading of my recognized changed. One thing has not changed, words. I felt very loved and close and results however, and that is the commitment of to you both with that reading and displayed MDC to be of worldwide support to discussion. Also, I appreciate the without any students of A Course in Miracles . Our love that was facilitated when you additional purpose has never wavered, and we are extended my message beyond just effort on grateful that you continue to join us on the three of us on your podcast. your part. We trust this will make it even this journey. More joining. More connection. And easier to search our listings, as more miracles. Love it and love you © Worldwide Support — We are thousands of people do each month. both.” Founder Beverly and her hus - happy to be of service to so many Visit our website and give it a try! band Paul, share practical Course in - people around the world. Last month www.miraclecenter.org our site had visitors from 64 different sights to your questions from their countries, from Finland to France © Giving a truly meaningful Gift combined nearly 60 years of study! Polynesia, Venezuela to Vietnam, and Here’s what many students of the Listen today by going to www.miracle- everywhere in between. We hope we Course have done: Given a tax-de - center.org and clicking on Miracle can help YOU, too. Check us out at ductible donation to MDC in someone’s Moment Podcast. honor or memory. If you would like to www.miraclecenter.org © give in such a way, send your donation You are entitled to miracles on © Keep it in Print — We have been and request, and we will send him, her August 10-11, 2013! Our annual gratified by the response to the article or the family a personalized letter International Conference on A Course about our commitment to continue acknowledging your appreciation and in Miracles will take place in Irvine, producing a printed version of our support. It’s a wonderful honor for that California on August 10th and 11th, magazine. Obviously many of our read - dedicated someone or their family. And, 2013. Commemorating our landmark ers feel the same! One comment came what a blessing it will be to those the anniversary of 35 years, we have from our long-time friend Bob Davis of Center serves, for your donation will go assembled a stellar group of presenters Oklahoma. He said, “I have been a to support its free services! Gifts in to help us celebrate! Joining Beverly will commercial artist since the early 1960s. memory of... Robert N. Best — beloved be Marianne Williamson, Jacob Glass, In mid-career (the 1980s) my industry son of Fran Best. Fran gives this in Carol Howe, Jon Mundy Dick Gayton, began to move toward doing art/ honor of Robert’s loving memory and Steven Halpern, and screenwriter John graphic design on desktop computers. we are honored to welcome Robert’s Viscount who will be screening his short There was talk of the paperless memory into the life of the Center! film based on the Course. These office, e-books and the death of print. conferences are always an inspiration. © Lookup Improved - We recently My favorite quote from that time was, Mark your calendar and plan on joining improved our free, web-based e-version ‘You don’t have to boot-up a book.’” us! See back cover or go to of A Course in Miracles . The powerful miraclecenter.org for more details. © We Can Help You Find Yourself — search engine now provides even more We are happy to announce that we’ve accurate searches. You can also read it added an exciting new feature to our as you would the book, with each vol - Continued on page 11 2 IN ME JO at the Miracle Musings... CCenter’senter’s CConferenonferen ce Amazing Grace! A See Back Page 1 u 1 gu 0• by Paul McNeff st 1 through faith,"..