The Forty-Ninth Principle of A Course in Miracles

The miracle makes no distinction among degrees of misperception. It is a device for perception correction, effective quite apart from either the degree or direction of the error. This is its true indiscriminateness (T-1.I.49:1-3).

There is no order of difficulty in miracles (T-1.I.1:1). This is another way of saying that the miracle does not recognize what we bring to it or what we apply it to. The miracle does not judge; it simply functions. A drop of water moistens everything it touches without regard for what it touches.

In the same way, miracles just heal.

This contradicts our understanding of order in the world, which is premised on differences and, critically, the value of those differences. This is the belief system we call separation, and it is this that the “true indiscriminateness” of the miracle is given to heal.

In practice, this means that we do not need to concentrate on what we believe the miracle should address. Rather, we should focus on becoming miracle-minded; then the miracle will naturally heal whatever it reaches. In this way – by relinquishing our inclination to be in charge and in control – we collaborate with the Holy Spirit, who is the mechanism of miracles (T-1.I.38:1).

Collaboration means consent; it means cooperation. No matter how stuck we are in fear-based perception, no matter how impossible peace or grace appears, miracles are available to restore to awareness the power of Creation which only brings forth love and unity.

In the world, fear-based perception appears as our anger issues, our guilt over this or that mistake we made years ago, our health and career issues, our relationship issues. The ordinary problems of our living cry for the miracle. The miracle doesn’t undo the crisis at hand so much as it undoes the underlying psychological circumstances that gave rise to the crisis. This is another way of saying that miracles restore to awareness where the cause for happiness is – in the mind.

Thus, miracles remind us of our worthiness as God’s Children. They remind us of our interconnectedness with all of Creation, which reinforces that our worthiness is shared. Miracles restore to our awareness the truth that nothing real can be threatened and nothing unreal exists (T-in.2:2-3).

Imagine you are at a family reunion and are stuck in a corner with a difficult relative. They are arguing, they are drinking, they are trespassing boundaries. You become angry and resentful. You become defensive. These feelings are a problem, but we are confused when we think they are caused by the relative, i.e., an apparent outside source. These feelings arise from our mistaken belief that we are separate from our relative (and from anything else apparently external). This belief in separation is always the cause of conflict. There is nothing else for the miracle to undo.

Thus, the miracle is the remembrance that we are not separated. We begin to perceive the other not as an adversary but rather as a brother or sister who shares our confusion and hurt. We recognize that they, too, deserve freedom from fear and suffering. We realize that their release is our release.

I give you to the Holy Spirit as part of myself.
I know that you will be released, unless I want to use you to imprison myself.
In the name of my freedom I choose your release, because I recognize that we will be released together (T-15.XI.10:5-7).

This realization brings forth compassion. This brings forth true empathy. We are no longer at war with an enemy, rather we are working with our own self to reach equanimity and peace. This does mean that the challenges of the moment are instantly gone, but rather that we understand them and thus no longer fear them. We can respond with love; we can avail ourselves of the One who shows us how to respond with love.

Miracles function in all situations, regardless of how painful or difficult or mild they appear to us. Our judgment is always suspect anyway. The real work to learn how to be in relationship with the Holy Spirit so that we can learn how to live in love, rather than fear. Living in love means to be miracle-minded, a state that applies to all our living.

Our willingness to live and learn this way means we are open to the transformative power of love and unity, which are reflections of our oneness with God. The miracle works through us at the Holy Spirit’s direction, correcting misperceptions and reforming distorted beliefs so that we can live with greater ease and grace, giving greater and greater welcome to our identity as Children of the God of Love and Peace.