“The course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however, at removing the blocks to the awareness of love’s presence, which is your natural inheritance. The opposite of love is fear, but what is all-encompassing can have no opposite.” A Course in Miracles, Introduction.
David Hoffmeister on Valentine’s Day Spiritual Movies:
Romantic relationships are rungs on the ladder on the way to Holy Relationships and the Holy Instant. Romantic love is transformed to a higher love.
Notting Hill
Emotion/Theme: Special Relationship, Self Concept, Fear of love
Genre: Drama, Romance
Summary: This movie is about daring to accept “who” is given for opening the heart to love. It is about saying yes to the spark in the heart and putting this first, so that everything that does not serve true happiness can fall away.
Anna Scott is a famous actress who walks into William’s book store while filming in London. William feels an immediate spark with Anna. Their encounters seem like “a disaster” to William because he cannot help but be himself with her, and it is not always pretty! Who he is, is the “gift” that she has been calling for. Anna is ready to let the past, including her current life, go but she needs help. Anna describes her experience of love and relationships by quoting Rita Hayworth, “They go to bed with Gilda and they wake up with me.” The illusion of love never lasts.
The Spirit, and the development of trust, is behind every encounter that Anna has with William and those who surround him. Anna is impelled to invite herself to William’s sister’s birthday. When they get over the surprise of having a famous actress at their table, his friends fully welcome her into their hearts. Like William, they cannot be anything but authentic.
Love is patient, love is kind. Love is non-compromising because love is worthy. Love takes nothing personally because love cannot be rejected. Love cannot be hurried because it just is. Love is acceptance. Love is allowance. The truth needs no defense, and the invitation to say yes to Love is from God, therefore it never ends.
Yes is inevitable! It is for the whole!
