Hello Miracle Family,
“The recognition of having is the willingness for giving.”
— A Course in Miracles, T-9.II.11
That line appears near the end of “The Answer to Prayer,” the section of A Course in Miracles we just finished studying together. It quietly reverses the way most of us think about receiving.
Most people assume the order works like this: first, we receive something, and then we give it. If someone appreciates us, we appreciate them. If someone shows us love, we return it. But the Course suggests something different. It says we begin to recognize what we have by giving it.
Think about it in simple terms. If I give you five dollars, that act proves I had five dollars. Giving demonstrates possession. The same principle applies to states of mind. When you extend peace, peace must already exist in you. When you offer kindness, kindness is already present in your mind. Giving allows the mind to recognize what it already contains.
The ego prefers the opposite strategy. It waits to receive first. It waits for love before offering love. It waits for appreciation before expressing appreciation. That approach keeps the mind focused on what seems to be missing.
This is why the Course calls this section “The Answer to Prayer.” Prayer is not answered because we persuade God to give us something new. Prayer is answered when we begin to recognize what has already been given.
Here is a simple practice you can try this week.
Step 1 — Notice where something feels missing.
Choose one area of your life where you feel a sense of lack—peace, appreciation, support, or love.
Step 2 — Ask a new question.
Instead of asking why you are not receiving it, ask yourself whether you are extending it.
Step 3 — Practice giving it.
Offer the quality you want to experience. Extend peace, appreciation, patience, or kindness where you can.
Step 4 — Watch what happens in your mind.
As you give it, notice whether your awareness shifts. The Course suggests that recognition often begins this way.
Sometimes the answer to prayer is not something new arriving in your life. Sometimes it is the moment you begin to recognize what has already been given.
Love,
Earl
P.S. If you need anything, I’m here. Just reach out: earlpurdy@earlpurdy.com
