The Beauty of The Universe…..
Where do I even begin? So on December 31, 2012 I posted these words to Facebook:
“2012 is winding down. I am encouraged by how positively the past year has been for friends. For me the year has been a mixed bag of nuts of sorts. I fell in love, like really, something I did not think would happen again in this lifetime – but that situation ended or faded or is complicated – my point is there was no happily ever after. I also had a moment driving on Stocker on a sunny California day where I realized for the first time in my life I had butterflies that were related to where my life was, I was happy about the direction my life was going in and about work and my involvement with a feature film project – life seemed to be on track finally. I was pleased with me. First time ever. Then everything related to those butterflies unraveled and I have been in a place of uncertainty since then – not too sure about the direction of my life, work is questionable, feature film is speculative, life is uncertain. I was at a meeting recently where attendees were asked to state what they wanted for Christmas. I stated I would like small miracles. Still waiting for small miracles – but the usual optimistic Friday, well she is on vacation, and I am here. Not sure what 2013 is going to bring, but I am keeping my heart close. Should it bring more of the same, I will not be disappointed. If small miracles arrive, I will be surprised and grateful. I will also maybe look back on this post and remember me in this moment of time and remember how things are and how I feel and I will have strength to encourage someone else not to give up. So as I look forward to 2013 – I look forward without expectation. Expectations can lead to disappointment I would rather leave my disappointments in 2012. Like I said mixed bag of nuts.”
My BFF – best friend forever was also at the meeting where I said I would like to receive small miracles and my words touched her. Then she saw my posting and she had the thought, what can I do to help my friend. She decided to gift me “A Return to Love,” a reflection on “A Course In Miracles” by Marianne Williamson. This I kid you not was one of the best gifts ever!!!! A small miracle, among several others delivered since January 1, 2013!
January was a world wind. On December 31st after my posting I got a tweet from Toure’ Roberts of One Church International. I sent him my manuscript for “The Real Friday Jones,” at the top of December – his tweet was simply he received the package and looked forward to reading it. Small Miracle. I picked up a temp job and got the flu after two days of working, the proprietor allowed me and my sick self to work from home. Small Miracle. I was scheduled to go to Sundance Film Festival in Salt Lake City Utah and was not sure I was going to make it because I had the flu. The day before my flight, I had a fever that killed all of the flu virus, that night I was able to pack my bags for my AM flight. Small Miracle. On the way to Utah for Sundance, I found out a client payment that was supposed to hit the bank that day did not. I was on a plane that flew from Los Angeles to New Mexico to Seattle Washington, and finally to Salt Lake City, Utah. Thankfully by the time the plan landed in Salt Lake, with a lot of texting and phone off and phone on in-between stops, my dear brother put some funds in my bank account so that I would not be on empty while in Utah. Small Miracle. I read half of “A Return to Love” on my way to Sundance and the other half on the return flight to Los Angeles. For me this book was like the how to of spiritual growth, focusing on love, thoughts, and self – very relatable! I had a ball at Sundance, I took a picture with the Oscar, moderated a panel for The Blackhouse Foundation that originated with Matthew Cherry when he had to deliver his film “The Last Fall” – the panel was on how to deliver your film once you sell it. Good times.
My favorite quote of all times is written by Marianne Williamson, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.’ We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” I had a thought after reading “A Course in Miracles,” I would sure like to meet Marianne to thank her. Well I went to her website and she was having a book signing for her new book “The Law of Divine Compensation” within the week at the Mystic Journey Bookstore in Venice California aka my back yard.
So this was last week Thursday – I was tired, but I took my new handy dandy camera with the hope that I would be able to take a picture with Marianne. I was late, I was literally the last person that had entered the bookstore. There were no seats, I was standing in the back hallway, behind a guy whose shoulder I was barely able to peak over. When Marianne realized people were in the hallway, she moved from being out of view where I could only hear her to anchoring herself in the main room where she could have eye contact with everyone in the bookstore and to those of us in the rear hallway. Simple gesture that was much appreciated. When her speech was over, had I had a book I would have been primed to be one of the first people in line – but I needed to buy her new book – and I did not bring “Return to Love” because I wanted to support her new effort….makes sense right. Well by the time I get to the register to buy a book – they had sold the last copy to the person in front of me. And now the line forming for the actual book signing was super long and I was at the end of the line. Then I thought I do not even really have anything that she could sign… it didn’t matter, I had my camera, I was prepared to explain the course of events and to ask if she minded taking a picture. After about 15-20 minutes of waiting in line, the owner of the bookstore came from the back with a box that she placed behind the register. And people were going back to the register to buy copies of this little blue covered book. I turned to the woman behind me and said, I think they have more copies of the book and asked her if she minded holding my place. She did not mind, so I bought my copy of “The Law of Divine Compensation,” hopped back into line and waited for my turn. I thanked Marianne, told her about my BFF gifting me “A Return to Love.” And the beauty of the universe…. well here is my picture with me and Marianne Williamson – the author of my favorite quote. Small Miracle!
Unapologetically,
Friday
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