1st Week of Advent: Releasing Unworthiness

by Beverly McNeff

Our original manger was made in 1994 and is still used today

Every year, as the holidays roll around, we here at Miracle Distribution Center pull out our manger to start a new Advent season of release! Our goal, of course, is not just to wait for Advent, which is typically seen as the four weeks leading up to Christmas. Instead, we are constantly practicing stepping back from fear and asking for Help to release those blocks to the awareness of love’s presence, which is our true power, our holiness. But when this season approaches, it does give us an extra boost, and hopefully it will provide you with one as well.

I have shared the story many times and will undoubtedly share it again on our livestream, explaining how the idea and purpose of using a manger during this season came about. I will provide a brief recap here.

Years ago, we used to have public holiday celebrations for Christmas with hundreds of people in attendance. We would light small candles to symbolize being a light in darkness, which will awaken the truth within us.

Over time, the locations we had used began restricting the use of candles due to fire danger, which put a damper on my symbology. At least, that is what I thought. But when I prayed about it and asked, “What would you have me do?” this passage from the Course seemed to leap out at me.

“This Christmas give the Holy Spirit everything that would hurt you. Let yourself be healed completely that you may join with Him in healing, and let us celebrate our release together by releasing everyone with us. Leave nothing behind, for release is total, and when you have accepted it with me you will give it with me. All pain and sacrifice and littleness will disappear in our relationship, which is as innocent as our relationship with our Father, and as powerful. Pain will be brought to us and disappear in our presence, and without pain there can be no sacrifice. And without sacrifice there love must be.” (T-15.XI.3)

Christmas is about a birth, a new life, but how can we experience that birth if we are shackled by hurts, disappointments, or feelings of unworthiness that prevent us from experiencing our holiness (the power of God within us)? This passage also tells us that the “gift” the Holy Spirit wants from us is all of those hurts, pains, and disappointments. So, as far as wondering what to give the Holy Spirit this Christmas, that’s it! He wants us to give Him everything that would hurt us! He wants to unburden us from our pain so we can be healed and “healed completely.” He wants us to experience our true power, our holiness. In that release, we release everyone with us. It seems like quite a wonderful miracle to receive from the “gift” we give to Him. And yet, this is what He wants.

Bonnie’s manger in Michigan

If I were to take my guidance to heart, I would not need to be discouraged by the seeming setback of not using lit candles, but rather be released from it. With this awareness in my mind, I knew (with Holy Spirit’s help) exactly how to make this experience come alive! I asked my “handyman” Dad (before his passing) to make me a small, three-foot-tall wooden manger, which we still use today. We lined the manger with burlap and brought two bags of straw to the celebration. After the meditation and message, I invited each person in attendance to approach the manger.

As those in attendance came forward, they were asked to silently think of a hurt, disappointment, or worry in their lives and to let a piece of straw represent that issue. Then they were to simply put the straw into the manger and think of giving it to the Holy Spirit, so that they may be “healed completely.”

It was such a meaningful experience for everyone. Yet, it was born out of a situation that might have been perceived as a disappointment – as if we were being denied something, namely, the opportunity to light candles.

This new approach had a double blessing: it helped many to experience a release from their hurts and disappointments, and it helped me realize that there is no sacrifice. What may appear to me as a sacrifice at first is just an opportunity to choose another way of seeing and thus free myself and my world.

We no longer do public Christmas celebrations, but in our weekly livestream meetings before Christmas, we still have the manger present for our healing release. As the Advent season begins this year on Sunday, November 30, we will start our Advent meetings tonight, Wednesday, December 3.

Molly’s bathtub manger in California

Since our subscribers and viewers are not physically with us, we suggest people make personal mangers. It can be made from popsicle sticks or as simple as a bowl, a box, or a basket. Molly in California even used her bathtub because she had so many things to release – don’t we all! And, I can tell you, Molly knows the power of her holiness!

The form is unimportant, but many viewers have sent pictures of their mangers, and we have shared some with you in this article. They are truly holy inspirations! We invite you to share your manger pictures with us as well.

And then, the practice begins. Each day (or as many times a day as you would like), take a piece of straw (or something similar, like twigs or shredded paper), and as you pick it up, let it represent a hurt or painful situation in your life. As you place the piece in the manger, realize that the Holy Spirit wants to heal you of any hurt and pain, so be willing to give it to Him. “Let yourself be healed completely that you may join with Him in healing.” (ibid)

You can start this practice as soon as possible. Some of our supporters have kept their mangers up all year because they wanted the reminder. Whenever you start, do your best to release the pain or hurt completely, if only for that moment. If you choose to “pick it up again,” don’t feel guilty; simply try again.

When Christmas finally comes, notice how full the manger is and how ready it is for a birth. Remember that the home you have made for the Holy Spirit is not made because you want Him to suffer for your “sins.” The Holy Spirit wants to show you that in your relationship with Him, all your pain and suffering will disappear, and only love will remain, and you will recognize your power, your holiness. It is time to birth the Christ, the awareness of love and light in our lives and in our world.

May this holiday season be filled with manger miracles as we release any unworthy thoughts and accept our holiness, bringing us healing and joy!

Join us as we celebrate the Advent season in our Livestream on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm Pacific Time

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