Miracles News

Tweet

January-March, 2017

I Will Step Back and Let Him Lead the Way

by Rev. Barbara Goodman Siegel, O.M.C.

Many of us felt a great deal of emotion upon hearing the results of the presidential election. I am sure that for some it was a time of joy and celebration, but, for others, it was a time of shock and fear. For me, the results of the election brought up a deep sense of grief. (OK, now you know who I voted for.)

I was surprised at the grieving. I cried as though someone very close to me had died. I intuitively knew that the grief came from my childhood wounds. On the surface, it looked like grief over the loss of Hillary Clinton’s election as the first woman president in U.S. history and a loss of all the programs that she stood for. As I lay in bed crying at the outcome of the election, I felt abandoned, crushed, defeated, heartbroken, invalidated, lonely and lost. On realizing these deep feelings, I asked myself an important question that I suggest you ask yourself if you are willing to examine your feelings about this election. The question is: “When is the first time I felt this way?” What I realized was that I was crying for the loss of my mother who died when I was sixteen and whose death I never was fully able to grieve.

Wednesday, I found myself weeping on and off (mostly on). I tried to read the Course, but it didn’t help. (Now, I felt like a spiritual failure as well.) That afternoon, I got an e-mail from Adrienne Cobb, a spiritual teacher that I think highly of. Adrienne was offering a free “Healing from the election” conference call. I knew I had to try something and so I dialed in. Adrienne talked about the fact that both Clinton and Trump were archetypes. She talked about the importance of allowing the emotions, whatever they may be, to come up for clearing and purification. Adrienne talked about the collective consciousness that was being healed as well as our individual childhood wounds. I cried more as she guided us through a beautiful teaching meditation. When it was done, I felt a great sense of peace. Adrienne confirmed what I thought was happening; this election had brought up deep wounds that needed healing.

Sunday, I listened to another wonderful teaching on the election from James Twyman. In his teaching, James talked about ACIM lessons he felt were helpful. One of them was Lesson 155: “I will step back and let Him lead the way.”

Monday morning, I read the lesson for myself and meditated on it. In my meditation, I got how I let Him lead the way sometimes, but, often, when I feel fear or sadness, I foolishly am afraid to give up control.

As I write this, it sounds pretty stupid, but that is how the ego works, isn’t it? When all is well, it is OK to hand things over, but in times of emotional stress, the ego raises its fear-filled voice saying that to feel the emotions would be too overwhelming so you better run away from them. The ego knows that if these emotions were actually expressed, they would be dissolved and that would leave it, the ego, powerless. (Think Dorothy and the wicked witch of the west.)

As my meditation continued, I thought of the paths the lesson talked about: a path that: “Renounces the world while still believing its reality,” a second path where “Others have chosen nothing but the world” or, the third path, the path of “truth.” When we walk the path of truth, the lesson says, “We walk to God.”

In the meditation, I was with my Guide and I saw a path that came to a crossroads. At the crossroads there was a signpost pointing in two different directions. One direction said: “This way to illusion” and the other said: “This way to truth and God’s holy temple.” My Guide directed me to take the path to truth. I told Him that I had often taken the path to illusion and had, at times, passed by God’s holy temple and rested there. “Yes,” He said, “I am sure you have, but, if you take the path to truth, you will always be there and not just get a flitting moment of respite.” That sounded wonderful! I knew my Guide was right and I walked with Him as He led us to God’s holy temple. In this beautiful temple filled with light I felt all God’s Souls past and present (mine, Hillary’s opponent, and yours included, of course) and I heard it said of all the Souls: “They are equal, they are loved, they are blessed, and they are holy.”

My dear fellow travelers, this is not the time for what Jennifer Hadley calls: “a spiritual bypass.” I can attest to that. By feeling the emotions, following them to their source and then allowing them to be expressed, I feel better and more committed to my spiritual path and the Course then ever!

If you took a “Spiritual bypass” after the election, I urge you to back up and look at what feelings are asking to be expressed and healed. It will be worth your effort. You may want to find a spiritual counselor to support you. (If you don’t know one, there are many available through Pathways of Light.) Now is the time. You have waited long enough and, like me, have gone around in enough circles. Let us walk together on the path to truth where we are surrounded by Love and blessings.

© 2016, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this copyright notice and website address are included.

Tell a Friend

Printable Page

Back to main page of Miracles News.

Has this page been helpful to you?
Your contribution to support this site is greatly appreciated. To make a tax deductible contribution with a credit/debit card, click here.
Click here to donate from your PayPal account.
Or send a check to Pathways of Light, 12530 Lions Chase Court, Huntley, IL 60142.