Today was one of those days where everything just flowed. I spent the morning at a neighborhood coffee shop connecting with people over the phone about an upcoming tour to Italy that I am selling to view the Shroud of Turin. I decided to call STERA, Inc in Colorado Springs and try to get my tour advertised on their website. STERA stands for the Shroud of Turin Education and Research Association. I left a message for the founder and Executive Director, Barrie M. Schwortz.
Barrie is no ordinary devotee of the Shroud of Turin, believed to be by millions the burial cloth of Jesus Christ. Barrie was the original documenting photographer sent to Turin, Italy by the scientific community in 1988 to investigate the Shroud’s authenticity. The results were conclusive and unanimous. After three independent labs in three different continents attested to the age of the Shroud, it was reported to be a medieval forgery with the linen having a 12th century Carbon-14 date.
The years following, have revealed many questions contesting the validity of the radio-carbon dating, including evidence that there was interwoven fabric from another time period that may have been the cause of the later dating. Faith has reclaimed the Shroud and the book that was closed after the 1988 investigation, has now been re-opened.
I only needed to wait 20 minutes and he returned my call. He agreed to post information about my tour with my name and number on his website which has received 2.8 million unique visitors. He was also kind enough to give me an hour of his time. We spoke about his journey since 1988, his thoughts on what science can answer and what will remain an article of faith and the moment in which everything changed for him. The moment that he knew he would dedicate his life to the propagation of the Shroud. I asked if he would let me profile him in my book and he agreed. Look out for his story in The Superman Effect: Stories of the Moment When Everything Changes.
I asked him: “What does the imprint on the shroud say about the resurrection?”
He mentioned to me that even American chemist Raymond Rogers, who is a leading expert on thermal analysis and also on the original investigative team, claims there is no known radiation that can cause the imprint of the Shroud. What caused the imprint and the detail seen in a photo negative is as much a mystery as the resurrection and will remain that way.
Barrie Schwortz is not a Christian or a messianic Jew, but believes after 25 years of study, that the Shroud is the burial cloth of the historical Jesus. I told him what I told you on the day I quit my job. “I want to see the Shroud.”
To have spent one hour with one of the original team members investigating the Shroud, is manifestation in action.
While we were on the phone, the History Channel called him. Barrie told them he would need to call them back. I was floored. They are doing a two-hour special on the Shroud airing in April in which Barrie will be featured.
It was an amazing time for me to be so close to the history of the Shroud of Turin. He said if I make it to Italy, even if not part of a tour, he will get me in to their lecture hall. There will be scientist present and it promises to be an enlightening experience.
Yesterday, I heard about a woman who has a Spiritual Coaching Certification program. Coming from Academia, I welcome certifications. Her website intrigued me so I sent her a note and my blog. She replied with this message:
“Dear Dennis,
I have enjoyed reading your blog and appreciate your interest the Spiritual Coaching Certification. You certainly have a wonderful writing career in front of you as well as consulting. What a beautiful gift you bring to the world! I am sending your contact information to Director of Education and she will contact you about our program to see if it is a mutual fit.
Many blessings on your journey!”
Metatransformations Consulting is becoming a reality as is everything I dream of. I am convinced that there is no limit to what we can create except the limits we put on who we think we are. I see myself going to book signings all over the world. I feel the exhilaration of speaking to large groups about the relinquishing of fear and illusions, while being fully present for the magic moments at home. Most importantly, I see behind me a trail of many blessing from my journey. Blessing for the others to follow.
My daughter told her first grade school mate yesterday: "My dad is an author and he is selling a million books!"
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