Miracles News

January-March, 2004

Remembering I Am the Light

by Rev. Linda Ricker, O.M.C.

A Course in Miracles first came to my attention in 1998. I began studying the Text in 1999. I journeyed to Roscoe, New York for an academy class with Ken and Gloria Wapnick in April 1999 and again in August of 1999.

I began a small group study of the Text of the Course in September 1999 at Covenant Community Church, where I serve as an Associate Pastor. In 2001 I completed all the Workbook lessons of the Course for the first time. In September 2002 I journeyed to Ferdinand, Indiana for a week-long silent retreat sponsored by the Roman Catholic “Sisters of St. Benedict.” My goal for the week retreat was to immerse myself in the Text of ACIM. I also conscientiously practiced a few of the Workbook lessons to see if this would be my chosen spiritual path.

Several events occurred during that week which convinced me that my mind is a cause and what I perceive is an effect of my thoughts. This is a major shift from how my previous perceptions convinced me to think. I decided to go with Jesus and the Holy Spirit in the use of ACIM as my spiritual path.

Ken and Gloria’s retreat site in upstate New York offered a quiet, secluded spot with other Course students where I could devote myself single-mindedly to understanding “what” Jesus was teaching his students through ACIM. When the Wapnicks moved to Temecula, California I was disappointed that a retreat site would not be a part of their continued work.

In January 2002 I used a search engine and keyed in “A Course in Miracles Retreat site.” Pathways of Light web site was one of the top to appear. I called immediately and talked with Robert Stoelting, who helped me arrange to attend a weekend Course at the Pathways of Light Campus in Kiel, Wisconsin scheduled for March 2003. I did attend the March class. The course was 901: Introduction to Miracles Practice. It helped me advance in learning to “let go” of my perceptions and have them replaced with God’s loving outlook. However, later in January, before the March campus class date arrived, I became convinced that I wanted to take all of the Spiritual College courses with a facilitator, and be able to facilitate Pathways Courses here in Indianapolis.

I began the facilitated correspondence courses in February, 2003 taking a one-year sabbatical from my work responsibilities as a Christian Minister in order to complete each required course in time to attend the on campus training and ordination in October 2003.

The ordination itself was not my goal because I had been ordained in 1990 by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and currently hold ordination status with the International Council of Community Churches enabling me to practice ministry. What was vital to me was “joining” with others on a spiritual path so different from the ordinary that I believed I needed the presence of others who would understand my difficulties and my happiness. That joining was more than met during the on campus training.

At the ordination service each of the eight new ministers were asked to give a brief summary of why they wanted to be a Pathways of Light Ordained Ministerial Counselor and what it meant to them. When I considered why, one of Dolly Parton’s songs, “I believe in Santa Clause” came to my mind. Dolly sings this line, “I believe I am and therefore I should do all that I can to be a better piece in the puzzle of God’s plan.” I am bursting with joy that I have found a way to actually be a better piece and that is through following the teachings found in A Course in Miracles study and supported by Pathways of Light Spiritual College courses.

When I think of what it has meant to me to take the on-campus training, two pictures come to my mind. The first is of a little girl around seven years of age. The second picture is a scene from the movie, “Bridges of Madison County,” starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood.

In the first picture in my mind, the little girl is around seven, halfway through the 20th century. She doesn’t know anything about computers, cell phones, color television, or remote controls. She does understand the value of an incandescent light bulb. She lives four miles East of Marion, Ohio with her family.

Every Sunday her dad would drive her into town to attend Trinity Baptist Church Sunday school. While she attended Sunday school from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., her dad would drive on to his watch and clock repair shop located in town. The girl’s dad said the watches he had repaired would suffer if not wound. I came to believe the little girl was me.

So each Sunday, after leaving the church, I would walk heading North across Center Street and on to my dad’s shop. When I got to the big brick building housing my father’s shop, I needed to turn west and go up a steep flight of 16 steps of wooden stairs, appearing very dark behind the Sunday sun to a landing. It was a scary journey up until I quickly turned to my right and opened the door into my dad’s sunlit reception area. There was an incandescent light bulb hanging from the ceiling above the landing. Once I let my father know that it was frightening to climb the steps in the dark, he would turn the light on for me because he knew I was arriving. I once thought I was the little girl. Pathways of Light classes have reminded me and encouraged me to remember that I am the Light.

The second picture that comes to my mind when I think about what the on campus training has meant to me is a scene from “The Bridges of Madison County,” where Meryl Streep is questioning Clint Eastwood in the kitchen of her Iowa farm home.

Meryl’s husband, Richard, has taken their two teenage children to the Iowa State Fair for a week and Meryl is left to tend the family farm.

Clint is a famous National Geographic photographer and world traveler who is shooting pictures of the bridges in Madison County, Iowa. They meet. Meryl is from Italy and has found the farm life to be tedious.

She is taken by his knowledge of her own home town in Italy, his attention to her every desire and, before he parts, she is fearful that these days which are life transforming for her are merely another “nothing” among his conquests. So she is angry and he says, “Now you just stop that. If I have done anything to lead you to believe that what we have together is an ordinary experience, I am deeply sorry. For it seems to me, when I think about these past few days and everything I have ever done in my life, the places I have been, and things I have seen and done, it seems to me that all of it was simply to make my way to be here with you.”

I feel somewhat like the character Eastwood played in regard to the spiritual experiences I shared with the seven other newly ordained ministers and our two co-facilitators.

I thank Robert and Mary for their vision in founding Pathways of Light and all those who participated in any way during our eight day stay in October. I love you all.

Rev. Linda Ricker is a Pathways of Light minister living in Indianapolis, Indiana.

© 2004, 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.

Articles by
Pathways of Light Ministers
and Others.

Search

Advanced Search

Pathways of Light Membership

Support Pathways of Light with an annual membership donation or become a sustaining member through monthly contributions. Includes printed Miracles News magazine mailed quarterly. Click here.

Subscribe to printed version.

To have Miracles News magazine mailed to you quarterly, Click here.

Most recent entries

Miracles News has been viewed 1866821 times

Archives

Complete Archives

Subscribe to
Miracles News Online

To have Miracles News Online articles emailed to you free when they are posted each quarter, enter your email address here.

Email Address:

You will receive an email requesting confirmation. After you confirm, the Daily Inspiration articles will be emailed each day they are posted. These emails will appear in your inbox as from "FeedMyInbox." You may unsubscribe at any time. We recommend that you add "updates@feedmyinbox.com" to your address book so that the emails do not get sent to your spam box.

You may also subscribe to the RSS feed to have these messages added to your MyYahoo! page, Google Reader or Bloglines by clicking this image in your Subscribe to RSS feed browser's web address field above.

Free Online Resources

Electronic "Magazine"Sign up to receive periodic emails with thoughts to ponder, inspirational articles and the latest news.

Subscribe to daily emails of Workbook Lesson Insights.

ACIM Text Made Simple — answers to hundreds of questions about the Text. Click here.

Daily Inspiration Blog — Thoughts to inspire your day. Click here.

Inspiring journals by Pathways of Light ministers applying the principles of ACIM. Click here.

Miracles News — hundreds of inspiring miracle stories. Click here.
 

We'd Like to Hear from You

Request Free Printed Program & Product Catalog

Or call 1-800-323-7284 (US & Canada) or 386-615-7284.

Click here to email your questions.

United Kingdom: Click here to email your questions about Pathways of Light in the UK or call +44 (0) 207 7262 0209.

Give us your feedback or report site problems.
 

Pathways Ministers Audio/Videos

ACIM Spiritual Counselor Training

Inspired by the principles presented in A Course in Miracles, this ministry training focuses on accepting the mind healing that is guided by the Teacher within, the Holy Spirit. As our minds are healed, we become Holy Spirit’s instruments of healing. For more information click here.
 

ACIM Practitioner Courses

If you would like a deeper understanding of key principles of A Course in Miracles, the 24 Pathways of Light ACIM Practitioner courses provide a complete, multimedia package to help you make ACIM principles a ready resource to call upon in your mind throughout your day. Click here for more information.
 

Featured Items

Minister training based on A Course in Miracles Spiritual Counselor Training — based on principles of A Course in Miracles, including ordination. More….

Hey, Holy Spirit,
It's Me Again Hey, Holy Spirit, It's Me Again by Rev. Myron Jones. An indispensable guide for anyone on the path of ACIM with insights on the 1st 90 lessons. More….

Tru Eternal Life and A Course in Miracles by Jon Mundy, Phd. A Path to Eternity in the Essential Text. Learn more.

True Forgiveness True Forgiveness by Rev. Jennifer McSween. The Proven Path from Pain to Power in 5 Simple Steps. Learn more.

Listen & Receive 30-Day Home Study Listen & Receive 30-Day Home Study Learn to receive insight for your life in a form that is perfect for you …heal fears, find joy & peace. Learn more.

Minister training based on A Course in Miracles Spiritual Counselor Training — based on principles of A Course in Miracles, including ordination. More….

Miracles Practitioner courses24 ACIM Practitioner courses including 50-page study guide, CD's with facilitator. More….

Tru Live Your Happy by Rev. Maria Felipe. A real-world approach to living happily, based on A Course in Miracles. Learn more.

From the Christ Mind From the Christ Mind scribed by Darrell Morley Price. A simple, yet profound message that you can immediately apply to current circumstances. More….

Forgiving KevinForgiving Kevin Audio book by Rev. Larry Glenz. A moving and inspiring true story of a father/son relationship that withstood seven years of addiction, recovery, and relapse. More….

Healing Family
RelationshipsHealing Family Relationships Applying the Principles of A Course in Miracles 6 CD audio book by Rev. Myron Jones. Learn how family relationships offer fertile grounds for forgiveness and healing your judgments of the world. More.