By Bryan Hebert
I was instantly filled with joy and excitement to learn about the Circle of Atonement Story Project and numerous stories came flooding into my memory, “What about this one? …or that time when…?” As a Course student I knew my next step was to ask if my excitement to participate was wrapped in an ego wanting to shine and be a star or is my excitement a genuine desire to share my experience, strength, and encouragement of how the Course has made a difference in my life and the lives of others, in telling my story?
I said a prayer. God is there something you would like me to share that would be useful or helpful to anyone who may read this?
I sat still, paid attention, and just listened. Then I heard that still small voice, “There are no accidents. You are never alone.”
As I begin to put pencil to paper, I glanced over at the clock. The time was 11:11. I smiled and knew the exact story to write about.
Early evening on October 23, 2018, my husband and I separately arrived home at the exact same time, he from a gym workout and I from visiting a friend for coffee. I remember thinking, wow, this is an interesting coincidence. This has never happened before. Once inside our apartment we greeted each other with our typical kiss on the lips and a hug. I noticed when I hugged him that he was overly sweaty from his usual workout and that his skin coloring was a bit pale and green. He was in a very happy mood, so I did not give it another thought. After a few minutes conversation about my visit with the friend, Chuck went to the bathroom to shower and freshen up from his workout. Moments later he began calling my name, as I walked towards the bathroom, he met me at the bedroom door asking me to take his pulse. Minutes later, he suffered a massive heart attack, dying in my arms on our bedroom floor. With his last grasp for air, I felt his spirit leave his body.
I tell this story to demonstrate teachings of the Course that there are no accidents and there are always celestial forces assisting and guiding us. People, places, and experiences come into our lives because they were meant to. As the Course teaches, we all have a highly individualized curriculum. The night that Chuck died it became clear very quickly that it was no accident that we arrived home at the same time. Typically, he would cycle to the gym, which was several miles away, and that evening something directed him to work-out instead in the apartment complex gym downstairs and I was being guided for the experience of what was about to unfold. The Course tells us that our birth is not the beginning of our life, and our death is not the end of our life. It is just a continuation of our life and miracles are expressions of love that benefit both the giver and the receiver. I cannot think of a greater expression of love than being there when someone you love makes their transition home. I was there to offer miracles to him in comforting him and just being with him, so he did not die alone. I received in return the sacred experience of holding him in my arms as he took his last breath. It is a lesson I will forever treasure.
In Lorna Byrne’s book, Angels In My Hair, she mentions that when we call upon God for help He immediately sends angels to assist us. As I walked through the grief journey the Course was my comforter, my healer and shortly afterwards my joy again. I was constantly surrounded by helpful earthy angels and guided by angels from above no matter how rough the road seemed to appear at times. Whatever I needed would just show up at the exact moment I needed them.
One of the many beautiful things about the Course is its very foundation, rooted in improving and healing relationships, Bill and Helen stood in agreement to find a better way to improve their work relationships and environments. Months before I met Chuck, I prayed often for a life partner but not just any life partner. I wanted a partner where in our relationship God could be seen in one another, and that others could see the same in us. Little did I realize I was praying for what the Course would call a holy relationship, the goal for all relationships.
On our first date, among the many things we had in common, we discovered we were both students of the Course. He had been a devoted student of the Course for more than 20 years.
I had been an off/on student since the mid 80’s. Living a half a block from each other, we started a morning practice of prayer and meditation. We sat across from each other in lotus position taking turns reading our morning Workbook lessons out loud to each other and then meditating afterwards. Every day we would have at least one Course related conversation. Along with our morning prayer and meditation time, one of our favorite weekly events was to watch Marianne Williamson’s Tuesday night lectures online.
Relationships take work and are not always easy and we had plenty of forgiveness opportunities to work through. The Course was the guiding force of our relationship. Diligently practicing grace, mercy and forgiveness was a top priority for us.
Now 3 years later, I am a Certified Study Group Text Leader through the Circle of Atonement, fulfilling a long-time bucket list passion of mine. My relationship with the Course and my relationship with Jesus are even stronger and more solid than ever. I do my best to bring Course teachings and principles into my daily work experiences as an instructor at a vocational school. Little do they know I am passing on teachings from the Course. I am not perfect or an enlightened master by any means, but I am little further along down the path. I am always being guided. The beauty of practicing and integrating the Course into my life has opened my spiritual eyes and I catch my human ego tendencies a bit sooner than before. I practice forgiveness a little sooner and I am able see miracles around me every day rather than what use to seem like an insane, cruel, reactionary world to me.
And as for the importance of the numbers 11:11, the moment Chuck and I started dating we both would constantly see the number 11:11 everywhere. It became our love sentiment. Every time one of us would see 11:11 one of us would say, “11:11, time to kiss your boyfriend!” then when we married, “11:11, time to kiss your husband!” Even after laying his body aside, I am still guided by 11:11 because when I see those numbers, I always smile and know he is guiding me and giving me an acknowledgement that he is still around and a nudge that I am on the right track.
This story is a living testament to the power of how miracles and A Course in Miracles working in one person’s life can change the world. Chuck changed mine forever. And now with a nod to the boundless eternal beauty of the Course, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, guidance, atonement, holy relationships, forgiveness, new beginnings, love and 11:11… Cheers and Blessings!!
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You do not walk alone. God’s angels hover close and all about. His love surrounds you, and of this be sure: that I will never leave you comfortless. [CE W-Ep.6:5-7]
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