from Get Over It by Paul Hasselbeck and Bil Holton (curated)
Platitude 1: “Nothing Happens by Accident.”
What This Phrase Assumes:
This phrase is used much like divine timing and divine appointment. It implies that everything is happening just as it's supposed to happen. And what is supposed to happen is determined by God, since (according to this assumption) God has a specific plan for each and every one of us!
Get over it!
This is another example of the One Power and the One Presence being misinterpreted to mean that It has a specific, tactical, micromanaged plan, for each and every one of us. The actual real plan for us is—please read this slowly and deliberately—for us to fulfill our Christ-hood—that's it! The thoughts, intentions, choices, and actions we take getting there are our tactical, self-determined moves to become the Christs we are meant to be!
Truth triage:
Well, of course, nothing happens by accident. And it is not because an external God is predetermining everything. How many people take time during a normal day's experience to wonder how they literally got to the present moment in which they find themselves? It's like finding oneself in a particular classroom, or in a specific park bench, or at a restaurant and all of a sudden saying, “Oh Wow! I'm in this classroom, or on this bench, or on this chair. how’d that happen? A minute ago I was drinking my coffee, tea, or water at home and, whoosh, here I am!” Sheesh.
We are where we are because of the individual choices we make and the actions we take. And our job is to choose to transform every situation into a meaningful growth experience for ourselves and others.
Replacement phrase: “Everything happens by my intent.”
Platitude 2: “Be Careful What You Pray For.”
What This Phrase Assumes:
Carefully concocted, this phrase is taken to magical levels. The idea is that when we pray for something, we’d better really be specific or we may get something we really don't want. An example might be a person praying for a new partner, or a new car, or a new job and not being specific enough. The person may get a partner, or the car, or the job, but that partner may have unwanted qualities, the car payment strains the budget, or the job is on the other side of the country.
Get over it!
This phrase although well-meaning, is simply taken entirely to literally. It is not useful to build fear and guilt around prayer. That's not the purpose of prayer. Prayer is experiencing the Oneness of “God”, not something which you should be fearful of practicing.
Truth triage:
When we pray, we are coming to the awareness of our Oneness in God/Spirit, and there is no reason to attach any fear to our prayers. We pray affirmatively, knowing we are One Divine Substance. In affirmative prayer we do not pray “to God out there,” but rather we pray “from the awareness of Oneness.” We realize the TRUTH. The point of prayer is not the goodies we get, but the Goodness we realize we are.
Replacement phrase: “I Pray Now from the Awareness of Oneness.”
04/14/24