Investigating your smile will solve every problem you have.
Twenty-five years ago, I became obsessed with God. I really didn’t see it coming, because I was raised without religion, had no acquaintance with the Bible, had rarely entered a religious institution, and when once told I was “spiritual” by a co-worker, had no idea what he was talking about.
Eventually, I encountered yoga, A Course in Miracles, Advaita Vedanta and non-dualism. In other words, I became aware that there was a “direct path” to God — no middlemen needed. Yet, even though I was blessed to be guided to many Realized Masters, the discovery of our true spiritual nature still eluded me.
Finally, in desperation, I stamped my foot like a child and demanded, “God! Abba! Please give me the simplest route for me! Customize a direct path for me. Something obvious so I cannot miss discovering my Spiritual Self.” And these words came:
“Find the origin of your smile and you will find your Source.”
Instantly I became aware that a smile is not your lips, your tongue, your mouth, your teeth, your jaw. A smile starts deeper than that and spreads beyond the face entirely.
Let’s take a moment and follow the trail of your smile…
Does it actually start in your mouth?
Follow your smile and you will find it is not your throat, your esophagus, your larynx nor your trachea. Keep going … growing warmer …
you actually start making contact with your smile as you approach your heart and solar plexus.
In Heart Rhythm Meditation, the solar plexus area is considered the depth of the heart. Suddenly it becomes obvious that our smile originates deep within our center and then spreads like sun rays to our faces and mouths and eyes!
Your smile effortlessly spreads beyond your face because a smile is actually your Inner Light. Your smile is one of those obvious, but often overlooked, clues that God is in you. Since your smile isn’t mechanical, it must be inspired! And we know it.
I remember telling my psychotherapist at a very low point in my life, “The worst part is that deep inside I know I’m naturally cheerful — it’s in my smile!”
Early in A Course in Miracles, Jesus says something very interesting, “You do not know your joy because you do not know your own Self-fullness. … The full appreciation of the mind’s Self-fullness makes selfishness impossible and extension inevitable.”
Smiling is a direct route to knowing your Self-fullness and extending the full appreciation of your True Nature which arises instantly when you do so.
Have you ever noticed that smiles are contagious? When someone smiles at you, or you at someone, usually both end up smiling. This is because, as A Course in Miracles says,
“The power of one mind can shine into another, because all the lamps of God were lit by the same spark. It is everywhere and it is eternal. In many only the spark remains, for the Great Rays are obscured. Yet God has kept the spark alive so that the Rays can never be completely forgotten. If you but see the little spark you will learn of the greater light, for the Rays are there unseen.”
Your smile can help you learn of the greater light if you follow it to the Light from which it originates.
I once knew someone who had Bell’s Palsy which is a condition that affects the nerves in the face. He was self-conscious that his smile became crooked and spent the rest of his life trying not to smile. How sadly backwards. It took an effort to stop smiling — and if, instead, he had smiled, he may very well have healed and reactivated the nerves and muscles of his face. But even if he didn’t, his smile would have communicated Love which overrides any deformity.
Your smile is not your lips, your tongue, your mouth, your teeth, your jaw!
Your smile is an ordinary miracle, capable of reminding you every day that God is within you and without you. Your smile is your Inner Light. Your smile is the antidote to self-consciousness. Smiling is a universal connector, naturally fostering happy relationships. When you smile, you radiate well-being and joy. People around you are positively affected. And often they will smile back at you. How nice 😀
Let’s find where your smile originates right now and you will encounter your Source instantly. Take a moment and follow the trail of your smile …
Does it actually start in your mouth?
Is it in your heart?
Your eyes?
Is it moving through you and emanating from you?
Right about now you could notice that your smile is not only within you … you are also within God’s Smile! The real you is a Smile without a face.
“Father … I am he on whom You smile in love and tenderness so dear and deep and still the universe smiles back on You, and shares Your Holiness. How pure, how safe, how holy, then, are we, abiding in Your Smile, with all Your Love bestowed upon us, living one with You, in brotherhood and Fatherhood complete…” ~ A Course in Miracles, Lesson 341
Abiding in your own smile naturally leads to the discovery that you truly abide within Your Father’s Smile. While you identify as human, place yourself in the Holy Spirit’s Hands for guidance. You will find yourself smiling more and more! As you smile, you will realize that you are not human — you are Being. And Being is Unaffected by what is not real.
If you are really sincere about wanting direct access to God, do this exploration unhurriedly for yourself. Right now is a perfect time 😀
For those of you stuck with a poker face, watch this:
* Make sure to read John Sudworth’s attitude towards Bell’s Palsy.
