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The Workbook

by Rev. Joyce Peebles, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

Having studied A Course in Miracles for several years, I attempted reading and doing the daily lessons.

Review III says,  “If you are shaken, think of it (the lesson) again. These practice periods are planned to help you form the habit of applying what you learn each day to everything you do. …it is meant to serve you in all ways, all times and places, and whenever you need help of any kind.” (W-rIII.11:1-2,5)

Specifically, I need help when I feel unfairly treated, misunderstood, lonely, angry, and especially self-righteous. I wasn’t even aware I was being self-righteous until I thought I spotted that trait in someone else. Then I asked myself, “Would I do that?” I need to remember that what I see with the body’s eyes is a screen onto which I project thoughts I do not want to look at because I do not want to let them go.

The very willingness to remember the lesson and apply it to my upsets is what is important, not the reciting of words every hour. I have sometimes felt guilty for not remembering to think of the lesson throughout the day. Jesus does not want me to reinforce the belief in guilt. He wants me to recognize how I have cheated myself by choosing not to apply the lesson of the day.

Cheating is a good description for choosing to keep my ego thinking when my thoughts could have been replaced by looking with Him at my upsets. Holy Spirit would have reminded me this story was made up by me to reinforce my specialness and that I wanted the world to be real. The world is a perfect place to feel lack of all kinds and be misunderstood. I am always choosing between only two things: The Love of God or the deceitfulness of the ego thought system.

There are a couple of sentences in the Workbook that are a clear indication I need to keep studying it. They are:  “…you will recognize you practiced well by this: The body should not feel at all. If you have been successful, there will be no sense of feeling ill or feeling well, of pain or pleasure.” (W-136.17:2-3)

I have work left to do. Although I have times of peace, they are not constant. I allow myself to feel ill, pain and pleasure.

Jesus wants me to be a happy learner and have a happy dream by realizing what affects me is the Mind, not the things of the illusory world.

What I did not know in the early years of doing the Workbook was how much honesty was required. I have often read that willingness is a prerequisite to learn this Course. That is true. It is willingness to be honest with mySelf about what thoughts I am believing.

Notice they are called Workbook lessons. It takes a lot of work in the form of self-inquiry. For example, I see the figure in the dream I call Joyce get angry or judgmental. At this point I have a decision to make. Am I going to let go of the ego’s interpretation of what I see?  It takes vigilance to make new habits of thinking and responding.

Some helpful advice I got was, “Don’t force yourself.” I was dismayed as I did the lessons year after year and saw the same tendency to judge others and found my attempts at forgiveness were sometimes incomplete.

Indeed, there is more work to do. I discovered that practicing the lessons was a work in progress. What I could not see or understand one year, was suddenly clear a year or so later. The reason was earlier I was not yet ready for that lesson.

I am learning to have patience with myself. There is no possibility of failure and while in the dream I am always safe, despite what appears to be happening.

Rev. Joyce Peebles, OMC, is a Pathways of Light minister. Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

© 2025, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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A Desire to Be One of God’s Teachers

by Rev. Larry Glenz, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

“A teacher of God is anyone who chooses to be one. His qualifications consist solely in this;  somehow, somewhere he has made a deliberate choice in which he did not see his interests as apart from someone else’s.” (M-1.1:1-2)

When I retired in 2008 from being a high school history teacher and a coach of football, wrestling, and lacrosse, I was asked by many, “What are you going to do now that you’re retired?”

I knew the answer. But I was uncomfortable saying it to anyone — even those closest to me for the longest time. Even today, I am not comfortable telling people who are not associated with A Course in Miracles what my plan is.

My goal, my function, is to try and stay locked in to the Voice for God, the Holy Spirit. I have learned that God’s teachers teach through their demonstration — not their words. I see no reason to speak of this particular goal or desire. And I am certainly imperfect in carrying out this plan.

“Certain pupils have been assigned to each of God’s teachers, and they will begin to look for him as soon as he has answered the Call.” (M.2.1:1)

The beginning of my retirement included the relapse of my son, Kevin, from heroin addiction. He “crossed over” after battling the disease for seven years. I held tight to Holy Spirit’s Guidance throughout Kevin’s ordeal and found comfort in telling his story.

I wrote my one and only book, Forgiving Kevin, as my way of grieving his passing.  As a result, I have been invited to speak to high school, middle school, college students and their parents about Kevin’s experience as an addict and my experience as his father.

My belief has been that this was a big part of Holy Spirit’s plan for me. I have not suffered as much as many parents do in the same situation. My focus on forgiveness has worked to ease my pain from this terrible event in the life of my family. 

I have been asked many times to speak to parents who have suffered this same horrible loss. I believe they have been sent to me. These are certainly difficult conversations. I try to put Holy Spirit in charge of my words and attitude when meeting them.

I can never be certain of the outcome of my presentations to students and my meetings with parents. I do feel my son’s spirit with me at these times and it gives me strength in trying to help others.

“When pupil and teacher come together, a teaching-learning situation begins. For the teacher is not really the one who does the teaching.” (M-2.5:1-2)

I do not have to search for these opportunities. The Holy Spirit is in charge by my request. Helping others is tremendously healing. Putting Spirit in charge takes the burden of receiving a successful outcome out of my hands.

We all teach, whether we know it or not.  Whatever I am teaching depends on whose hand am I holding at the moment — Spirit’s or the ego’s. The ego still grabs at my thoughts, however. I often recognize this too late. At those moments I am not serving as a teacher of God.

Many opportunities are given. I do not always recognize or respond to them with the strength of Holy Spirit. But I am practicing every day. Whatever mistakes I make, I ask forgiveness. I have the right Guide and I remain grateful for this guidance.

Rev. Larry Glenz, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in Long Beach, New York. Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

© 2025, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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The Self-Image I Made

by Rev. Myron Jones, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

Interestingly enough, I discovered through watching the movie Barbie, of all things, that a major component of the self-image I made is one of being a failure. The monologue from Barbie says this in part: “…you don’t think you’re good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow, we’re always doing it wrong.”

When I heard that, I cried. So, I knew it was something for me to look at.

Today, on my way home from the doctor’s office, I had a memory of something I did many years ago that still causes me to be embarrassed when I think of it. It was nothing really, but just an insignificant moment in my life when I felt like I behaved inappropriately. I was drinking and dancing. I felt like I was way too uninhibited in that dance. So even today, all these years later, I was still judging myself. It is so ridiculous and yet still true. It was just one of many moments that I knew I did it wrong.

I did so many things wrong as a child, as a teenager, as a mother. I seemed never to get it right.

As a Course student, I still do it wrong. And from the perspective of the ego, it doesn’t seem to matter how well I do or how much better I am now than before, I am not perfect and I still do it wrong. I am a failure.

Thank God that I don’t always feel that way and that I do realize that no matter what my ego-self believes, this cannot be true.

It is the ego-self, the self I made to be my avatar in this earth adventure, that I came to forgive, to let go. So, I am glad to see this particular aspect surface in my conscious awareness. Because how could I forgive it if I keep myself unaware of it? I cannot emphasize too strongly how important it is that I look at this.

In Chapter 14, Section VII, Paragraph 6, Jesus says this:

“The Holy Spirit asks of you but this; bring to Him every secret you have locked away from Him. Open every door to Him, and bid Him enter the darkness and lighten it away. At your request He enters gladly. He brings the light to darkness if you make the darkness open to Him. But what you hide He cannot look upon. He sees for you, and unless you look with Him He cannot see. The vision of Christ is not for Him alone, but for Him with you. Bring, therefore, all your dark and secret thoughts to Him, and look upon them with Him. He holds the light, and you the darkness. They cannot coexist when both of You together look on them. His judgment must prevail, and He will give it to you as you join your perception to His.” (T-14.VII.6:1-11)

So this is what I did today and it is what I continue to do every day, every time the thought of unworthiness surfaces in my mind. I do it with all false beliefs that make up the image I think of as Myron. I will let them all go so that I can remember who I am.

Rev. Myron Jones, OMC, is a Pathways of Light minister living in Westlake, LA. Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  Myron’s website is: forgivenessisthewayhome.org
https://www.youtube.com/@RevMyron

© 2025, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this notice and website address are included.

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Living Forgiveness: The Heart of True Perception

by Rev. Maria Felipe, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

When I wrote my first book, Live Your Happy, back in 2017, I felt called to share what it really means to live the teachings of A Course in Miracles — not just study them, but truly embody them. Now, a few years later, I’ve published my second book, Live Your Happiest, and the message that kept coming through loud and clear is one I’ve spent decades learning to live by: forgiveness.

Forgiveness is at the very heart of A Course in Miracles. It’s not always easy to understand or practice, but it’s the true path to peace. Ever since I discovered the Course in the 90’s and completed the ministerial program at Pathways of Light, I’ve made it my life’s work to choose forgiveness — over and over — in every part of my life. What I’ve learned is this: When I let the Holy Spirit heal my mind through forgiveness, I remember Who I really am.

Because forgiveness has been such a powerful teacher for me, I want to share a special excerpt from the first chapter of Live Your Happiest, called You Are Forgiving Deeper:

“Forgiveness is the key to happiness. Here is the answer to your search for peace. Here is the key to meaning in a world that seems to make no sense. Here is the way to safety in apparent dangers that appear to threaten you at every turn, and bring uncertainty to all your hopes of ever finding quietness and peace.” (W-pI.121.1.1-3)

Forgiveness is undoubtedly our superpower in this cuckoo world, amigos, and the good news is that it’s always just a non-judgmental thought away. Since publishing Live Your Happy, I’ve come to see just how essential forgiveness is in navigating the complexities of daily life, particularly in the roles that mean the most to me — as a wife and a mother.

Forgiving in the ACIM Way

Forgiveness, as taught by A Course in Miracles, goes beyond the traditional understanding of merely pardoning someone’s actions. It is a profound spiritual practice that invites a shift in perception of the entire world as we see it, leading to inner peace and healing. The Course asserts that we chiefly need to forgive ourselves for believing we are separated from our inner divinity (God, that is). So forgiveness undoes our rock-bottom belief in separation, restoring awareness of our inherent unity and interconnectedness.

According to ACIM, the world we perceive is an illusion — a projection of our own minds struggling to make sense of feeling abandoned. Our experiences are shaped by all our negative thoughts and beliefs of abandonment, and forgiveness is the tool to transform those perceptions. When someone behaves in a hurtful or unkind manner, it stems from their own fears and insecurities and is not a reflection of our true worth or identity.

Forgiveness is a choice we make to release our grievances, most of which stem from the ego’s desire to protect itself and maintain a sense of separate identity. It is not about condoning or accepting harmful behavior, but about recognizing that our peace of mind is more valuable than holding onto anger, resentment, or judgment.

In this regard, the Course gives us a handy tool for perceiving everything that other people may do: They are either expressing love, or issuing a call for love. It’s up to us to remember that either way, love is the best and obvious answer. And when a call for love is very challenging to us, forgiveness is the best way to start.

I share this excerpt because forgiveness isn’t just a lofty spiritual ideal; it’s a lived experience, one that brings us home to peace and freedom. I’ve witnessed firsthand how forgiveness can transform our daily lives, helping us to navigate conflict, disappointment, and fear with more grace and resilience. And if I can be vulnerable for a moment — forgiveness hasn’t always come easily to me.

I’ve had to forgive myself many times over for mistakes, for not living up to my own expectations, and for holding onto pain longer than necessary. But through that process, I’ve discovered that forgiveness is the path back to my true Self — the part of me that is always whole, always loved, and always at peace.

If you’re on this journey, I encourage you to lean into forgiveness as a practice, not just a concept. Begin with small moments: forgiving a harsh thought, releasing a minor irritation, or simply choosing not to judge yourself so harshly. Each step brings you deeper into healing and reminds you that your peace is worth more than holding onto resentment.

Thank you for allowing me to share this part of my heart with you. May forgiveness be a gentle, steady companion on your path to living your happiest.

Rev. Maria Felipe, OMC, lives in Naples, FL
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Website: http://www.mariafelipe.org

© 2025, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this notice and website address are included.

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