On the path of personal growth and the quest to understanding the authentic Self, one should expect to encounter several snags along the way. Such as, when you are deep in your solitary practice of A Course in Miracles and you read:

“The Ark of Peace is Entered Two by Two”

This verse becomes a big question mark, and perhaps a tough pill to swallow when you love being single and don’t mind being alone.

If you are single, your ego will quickly come up with every excuse to dismiss the truth that evolution requires relationship and interaction with another. If you’ve encountered the Ark of Peace first-hand while in the midst of a relationship crisis, you will instantaneously know the validity and importance of this powerful message.

“Relatively few people are genuinely committed to peace as a realistic goal, for in their private lives, most people prefer being ‘right’ at whatever cost to their relationships or themselves.”

~ Sir David Hawkins M.D., Ph.D

As a Course student for more than two decades, I found it easier to apply the teachings and walk the spiritual path alone. After all, we are in relationship to everything, so one might argue “why the need for a committed relationship?”. Unfortunately (or fortunately), as evolution would have it there comes a time when you can’t ignore the cosmic 2×4 bombarding you with the reality that relationships are necessary for your personal growth. Eventually, the message gets your full attention. And well, let’s just say, ignorance is bliss (for a while at least) because there is no turning back.

I want to share a personal story which was one of my biggest cosmic 2×4’s enabling me to understand the weight of knowing why the Ark of Peace is Entered Two by Two. It is not an easy story to share as I have to divulge the ignorance of how little I really knew about BEING spiritual, but if . . .

I can help another ease the burden of a questioning heart, I will most certainly try…

It was several years ago and my life was incredibly amazing. I had numerous occasions whereby I was experiencing miracles on a regular basis. It’s not important to describe the numerous ways in which spirit blessed my life, but rather what I learned through the challenges of what spirit teaches about living in the reality of relationships.

You see, I was terminally single at the time and loved it! I moved into my dream home and decided to take a sabbatical and a break from dating and relationships. I was just so darn happy, nothing felt like it was missing, and I was great alone. Furthermore, I wasn’t interested in someone else’s “baggage” disrupting my charmed life.

However, the universe had different plans and without realizing it my spiritual growth and the opportunity to learn about Real Love hinged on what came next . . .

The words of Khalil Gibran describe it best…

When love beckons to you follow him,

Though his ways are hard and steep.

And when his wings enfold you yield to him,

Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.

And when he speaks to you believe in him,

Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you.

Now back to the confession er huh I mean story…

The previous owner of my new home was going through a divorce. He was quite charming when it came to the way he flirted with me. I tried to dismiss the flirtations knowing that he wasn’t my type. He was persistent. I struggled with the idea of dating him as I really believed I was at a much a higher level of consciousness. Furthermore, to entertain such a relationship would be a waste of my spiritual growth and time. So I thought.

It’s interesting to mention, that when I was deep in my spiritual practice, aligned with spirit, and committed to being my highest Self, I found I was completely interested in him and followed along. I was “falling in love” and fully enthralled in the relationship. I could see the perfection in who he was and was able to accept everything…warts and all. It was an amazing and confusing experience.

However, when I wasn’t spiritually aligned, committed to being my highest Self, and skipping my spiritual practice I was constantly judging him. Questioning myself and the relationship was a regular thing. I lost track of how many times I was done. In addition to how many times I threw in the towel. I struggled so much being in and then out…and then back in, and probably don’t need to tell you how exhausted we both became.

As it turns out, this pattern happens a lot with women who struggle being in a relationship and ultimately feel they are just better alone.

The Spiritual Path of Love doesn’t look upon Another to be Perfect.  Because Real Love can only See the Perfection of Another.

True Love doesn’t Judge Anything.

This so-called “wrong relationship“ lasted four years start to finish. After it ended the next several years would become the most difficult time of my life. I spent three months in a fetal position crying my eyes out after it was indeed over. In addition, my amazing charmed life completely collapsed and slowly, painfully, seemed to wither away.

You would have empathized with me, as I can tell you a heartbreaking story of betrayal and abandonment. You and I could rally together with all our stories of how love is so unfair and not worth the pain and suffering. We might commiserate together finding blame in all the relationships of our past. In addition, carry our torches high, warning everyone who might listen to the dangers of love. It’s important to mention, this is what A Course in Miracles refers to as “the illusion”.

Because the Truth is, this 4-year Love Affair was the Biggest Blessing of my Life.

You see, without realizing it at the time, it was the first relationship in which I allowed myself to be “in”. It was the first time I lived my life wholeheartedly after a lifetime of choosing safety at loves expense. It was this experience I was lacking in order for me to understand and come to know real Love, as well as, my higher Self (capital S). We often forget we are spiritual beings having a human experience and therefore stand back from life. We keep ourselves safe from the hurt, pain, and suffering, but again, this is just an illusion. A Course of Love tells us we are Beings who exist within the reality of relationships.

EXPERIENCE IS NEEDED to Change your Beliefs and Place your Faith Securely in them.

Uniting Mind and Heart with Belief. ~A Course of Love

This 4-year relationship (and every person I encountered before and after) are the reasons I have the love in my life I do today. Each moment was essential in getting me to where I am now and a necessary part of my spiritual growth.

You see, the Ark of Peace is always available to us, but we seldom pass through the arches.

On the spiritual path, when we have the experience of the miracle, for some reason we think everything should be easy and magical. And when it isn’t, we do a U-turn back to safety instead of walking through the challenging moment and through the Ark of Peace (which is very difficult by the way). We dig our heels into being right (refer back to Dr. Hawkins quote above) and refuse to see another with love’s vision.

And this is why A Course in Miracles must ask,

“Do you want to be Right or Happy?”

We believe a crisis with another is a sign to GO (which is an illusion).

Because, in reality, it is ALWAYS a sign to GROW.

It was the experience of every relationship of my past, every coffee date, and every encounter that taught me to always question my perception. Now, when my Beloved appears to be doing something that I find disappointing, I am certain to look for the illusion in which I AM creating.

The undoing happens via affirmations to stop my mind from crucifying the one “responsible” for MY misery. It is an inner dialogue that goes something like this…

I see only my past in this situation.

I am determined to see this differently.

This is teaching me something I don’t know.

From here my mind becomes very still and I experience the peace that passes all understanding. Furthermore, realizing I need do nothing except not to interfere because it is the power of the energy field that moves the immovable mountain in front of me. The best part… it happens in an instant.

My Spiritual Partner and I have been together for many years now. It’s important to mention, this anchoring took several years of practicing for me to fully trust that peace is always the gift waiting for me. Waiting for me, that is when I choose (it is always a choice) to see him as “sinless”.

Remember, A Course in Miracles defines the meaning of sin as “lack of love”. It is extremely difficult to reach Atonement by fighting against sin.  Atonement is not welcomed by those who prefer pain and destruction.

The reality of love, as well as the Ark of Peace, hinges on me seeing my Beloved (and everyone else) in the truth of who they are. And by the way, this is SO HARD TO DO IN THE MOMENT of a challenge! That’s why in order to have this experience requires practice… lots and lots of practice.

A Course in Miracles has this to say about Entering the Ark . . .

Sin has no place in Heaven, where its results are alien and can no more enter than can their source. And therein lies your need to see your brother sinless. In him is Heaven. See sin in him instead, and Heaven is lost to you. But see him as he is, and what is yours shines from him to you.

For in YOUR part lies all of it, without which is no part complete, nor is the whole completed without YOUR part…

The Ark of Peace is Entered Two by Two

So, for all you spiritual die-hard singles out there, I want to encourage you to get in the game. Fall in love with wild abandon and live every moment wholeheartedly, as this is the portal to true love. Expect your wholehearted living to lead to good times, but also expect it will lead to vulnerability and disappointment (because it will). However, this will allow for the light of understanding to enter. In addition, this is your opportunity to grow and experience your authentic Self. When another hurts you (and they will), this is where you hold out the olive branch, because it’s who you are. See others as you want to be seen, and prepare to enter the ark with them side by side.

One final note regarding your part, which is required to experience and understand that the Ark of Peace is Entered Two by Two:

• In every challenging moment pause, close your mouth, and do nothing – This is where you practice “Being”
• Do not let your ego formulate a response by enlisting your affirmations (there are 365 in the ACIM workbook)
• Remember you are going through each difficult moment because this exact experience is needed – This is the process of “Becoming”

So with a leap of faith, keep lips shut, your mind is still, and heart is open. Now, I assure you it is God that will always take the final step.

Be still and know that I AM God…

Inspired by The Many Different Teachings of Consciousness, A Course in Miracles and A Course of Love.

Test-driven for Accuracy and Injected with Experience.

Feel free to leave your comments below. Be sure to share this with those you love and more importantly those you don’t.