A Miracle Distribution Center Publication September / October 2012 • • Love Heals... a personal story • { by Beverly Hutchinson McNeff • Reflections • • emember the old children’s song but what sealed the deal was when he and • • •••••on Mariann{e There was an Old Lady that Ann were running to catch a plane with by Beverly Hutchinson McNeff Swallowed a Fly ? If you remember bags in tow, and he just couldn’t make it to his seems to be an issue filled with it, then you know the gate. This was unusual for Richard who R personal reflections, so I want to that after the lady has always been very physically strong share a few thoughts about my swallows a fly, she and able. So his wife (as all good wives do!) friend Marianne Williamson. then swallows a put her foot down and told him he needed T spider to catch the to get this checked out. This is the 20th anniversary of the fly, and then swal - Well, as Richard told me, he couldn’t publication of Marianne’s landmark book, A Return to Love . To celebrate this lows a bird to catch finish his stress test, so he went in for an and her first appearance on The Oprah the spider to catch angiogram. Those results were pretty dire. Beverly Hutchinson McNeff the fly, and so on. But He was going to need triple bypass heart Winfrey Show , Oprah invited Marianne to in the end, no one knows why she swal - surgery, immediately! His blockages were be with her on the Oprah Winfrey lowed the fly. When I think back to how quite severe. We were able to get to Network’s Super Soul Sunday in July. The episode is our Center got started, it’s sort of like that Arizona the night before his surgery and old song... one thing lead to another, and had time to be with him. He was affirming archived another, and another, and I don’t know a number of Course thoughts to keep his online and how any of it really happened! The only mind centered on the truth. One of his can be seen by follow - constant is that if it weren’t for my brother favorites was,“I am not a body. I am free. Richard finding A Course in For I am still as God created ing the link Miracles 35 years ago, the me.” found in this issue’s Center wouldn’t have He was afraid - He was afraid — we all Marianne & Opra Winfrey “What’s Happening” section on page 2. It been here for the past 34 “we all were - but we were — but we also knew years. fear was a distraction that was a wonderful episode and one you So unlike the old lady also knew fear was a was of no value to Richard’s won’t want to miss. who swallowed the fly, I distraction that was healing. It distracted us from Marianne’s presence and articulate know why Richard found our one focus which was to conversation on the practical value of the Course — it was for of no value to see him as God created him. miracles, love and forgiveness in our our healing. And I’m grate - Richard’s healing. The Course reminds us the day-to-day lives, put God on the“front ful so many of you have ego always speaks first and is page” of the news those twenty years joined us on this journey of healing. With the loudest, but God’s presence is the ago. Articles about her book and her that in mind, I want to share with you a peaceful,”constant reminder in our minds message appeared in newspapers personal story about Richard. that is there when we are willing to stop around the world and in magazines such In June, when Richard (who now lives in for a moment and see past the frenzy of as Time, Newsweek, and Vanity Fair . Arizona with his wife Ann) and I were on the world. Marianne stepped up to the plate to the phone, he told me he was going to the We kept replacing our thoughts of fear share the message of A Course in doctor for a stress test. He had been get - Miracles . She became a beacon to a ting tired easily and had some chest pains, Continued on Page 12 world hungry for someone to put words to the inner yearning of their hearts. Beverly is the co-founder and president of MDC, one of the longest running organizations based on It hasn’t always been easy. She A Course in Miracles . As a student, lecturer and author on the Course since 1977, her recorded weekly commentaries on Course principles have become a wonderful source of inspiration and study for many around the world. Receive a FREE recording by contacting MDC. Continued on Page 13 What’s Happening { It is with great appreciation that we bookstore or by calling us at 1-800-359- { Holy Encounter Weekend in Boston acknowledge a recent gift from the estate 2246 . — Our next Holy Encounter Weekend will take place on April 5th and 6th , 2013 in of Herb Brazer, a long-time supporter of { Vacationing in Dubai? No matter Boston, Massachusetts . This popular our Center. Mr. Brazer made the loving where in the world you are traveling, or weekend seminar is presented by Beverly decision to include a bequest to MDC in where in the world you live, we probably Hutchinson McNeff and offers attendees a his will. He felt strongly about the impor - know of a Course study group there. We chance to go deeper into the Course’s tance of continuing the message of now display study groups in 62 countries. A Course in Miracles in future years. Now View our Google Map of the world and life-changing principles to truly experi - that he has gently laid down his body, we zoom-in to your area to find nearby ence miracles. As one attendee wrote, still feel his mighty spirit. We thank this groups on our website at “... Beverly, you are an amazing teacher. kind gentleman for placing his trust in us. www.miraclecenter.org You help the learning process for your For information on including the Center in students by making the message of the your estate plan, see page 9 of this issue. { Our latest Miracle Moment Podcast is Course so much clearer and easier to now available online. Join Center founder understand. When you read the Course, it { A Return to Love turns 20! — Marianne Beverly Hutchinson McNeff and her hus - went right into my mind and heart! It Williamson’s band Paul (both students made the greatest sense.” A Friday evening mega-bestseller of the Course with over lecture sets the stage for a day-long celebrated its 20th 60 years of study com - intensive experience of A Course in anniversary in July. bined!) for these free Miracles . Watch our video about the Oprah Winfrey, podcasts which cover who helped weekends by visiting our website, then Course concepts as they make your reservation to join us. launch the book apply to questions sent on her television in from people all { “This is God’s Final Judgment: ‘You are show in 1992, Marianne Williamson& Opra Winfrey around the globe. Just go to our website still My holy Son, forever innocent, forever recently sat down with Marianne on the at www.miraclecenter.org , click on loving and forever loved... ’ ” says the OWN network to record an interview on “Services,” then “Miracle Moment.” And, Course. Sometimes it’s hard to remember the occasion of the book’s anniversary. You send us your questions, as well! that truth, so we have constructed a Wall can watch the Oprah Super Soul of Innocence on our website to help us Sunday archived episode here: { Share a forgiveness story... A fellow remember. We invite you to send us your http://tinyurl.com/bvn2jo3 Course student is currently completing her childhood photo (around the age of five or PhD in Health Psychology. Her dissertation six, but younger is okay, too) so we can { A Return to Love in the movies. When is on the subject of forgiveness, specifi - Marianne Williamson wrote A Return to post it on the wall. You can email us your cally the role of a person’s support group photo or send us an original which we will Love in 1992, she never expected that a in the forgiveness process. She is looking few of the words she wrote would turn up scan and return to you. Please include for volunteers to interview in the Fall. If your name, city and state and your in films as pivotal plot points. Yet, that is you feel you could be of help to her, please approximate age at the time of the photo. what has happened in two movies. In the contact Cindy Maynard at 805-748-5987 or Check back to our site often to see the 2005 movie Coach Carter , starring Samuel [email protected]. L. Jackson, it became the answer a high school player gave to a question by Continued on Page 15 Jackson, which turned the tone of the movie. In the 2006 movie Akeelah and the Bee , it became the quote hanging in a spelling bee coach’s study that finally Available from the Center awakened Akeelah’s“light.” This is the beginning of the quote: “Our deepest fear is From Marianne Williamson not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear A Return to Love Print $4.00 is that we are powerful beyond measure.