Pathways of Light Miracles News, 10/00 p. 3

Miracles News Fall 2000

Turning Point • Who Shall I Turn to? • Quiet Heart
A Ritual of Reconciliation • Teacher's Strategy • More Fall 2000 Articles
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Turning Point -- by Rev. Robert Joseph Thompson

The great American poet, Robert Frost, summarized his own unusual life in the closing words of one of his world famous poems, by saying, "...and I, I took the road less traveled, and that, has made all the difference." Each of us, like Frost, is continually presented with daily choices. The option of going along with the "conventional wisdom" and doing what is common, or acceptable, (the well traveled road), or opting for the unusual, the non-conventional (the road less traveled). To continue as one has, or to change direction? This is what each of us faces, repeatedly, every day of our lives. We answer, by changing, or changing not.

Four years ago, I was presented with a Pathways of Light card with the Pathways logo, "Helping People Access Inner Wisdom." I began chuckling immediately because the implications of these five words "Helping People Access Inner Wisdom" were just "too good to be true." But, after talking to several Pathways of Light graduates, Ordained Ministerial Counselors, I drove to rural Kiel, Wisconsin for an on-sight visit and an interview.

I was very impressed with an atmosphere of non-judgment. I was comforted by kindness and I was warmed by a willingness to assist me in my own self-discovery. So, I began taking Pathways of Light courses, for personal insight (to become more aware of my inner Self).

Since ordination, I am able to be of service, or assist others, in ways I never dreamed possible. For example, I am now qualified to officiate at weddings and other ceremonies. As I write this tonight, Saturday, September 30, 2000, I am smiling. Smiling because of all the beautiful memories I now have of an outdoor wedding I officiated at this afternoon at Christmas Mountain. And now, tonight, I wonder and I ask myself, "How did I get to this point in my life? Where did this all begin? What was the turning point?"

My first step on this particular road less travelled began four years ago when I took my first Pathways of Light course. This initial act of willingness provided the little push necessary which led to a major unfolding of self that is still continuing today. I marvel at what has happened! How in the world is it possible for theº knotted ball of yarn, that was the old me, to unravel into this marvelous tapestry that I am becoming? How could the crawling creature that once was, not only emerge from my confining cocoon of conventionality, but emerge transformed, as a new and gifted creature, with the capability of flight?

It all began with the decision to do something different. I decided to become a student of self by pursuing Pathways of Light courses. Today's marvellous memories will be with me forever. They are far too wondrous to ever be forgotten.

In summary then, my first Pathways course was a major turning point, which led to a continual transformation of self. All it took was a little willingness... "...and that, has made all the difference!"

Bob encourages and answers all written or telephoned comments or questions. Address questions or comments to: Rev. Robert Joseph Thompson, N9529 Monthey Rd, Portage, WI 53901. Phone: 608/742-4438 or toll free 1-888-257-4216.

Who Shall I Turn to? -- by Rev. Bob Slawson

Who shall I turn to... who shall I ask?
I want to know, what is my task.

I want to help... I want to try.
What shall I do?... tell me, I cry.

I am able and willing... and wishing to please.
Tell me how, and give my heart ease.

I wish to love and give of my heart...
Just tell me how, and I will start.

Speak of your love... speak to them all,
Not just the mighty, but also the small.

Tell them of Me. Tell them of Love.
Tell them that Heaven is not just above.

It is not in your heart... it's really your mind.
Just look inside and see what you find.

Speak of your brothers... speak of My Son.
Tell them about Us... that We're all really One.

Speak of My message... send out My call.
Tell them I'm waiting, please tell them all.

Click here to email Bob.

Quiet Heart -- by Rev. Wenona Thomas

Note: I wrote this article after reading A Course in Miracles Lesson 270 of the Workbook for Students. The idea of a quiet heart seemed to stand out to me. Lately I have been thinking about how powerful my decision to accept happiness is. I thought it was fitting seeing that the next ACIM weekend is based on the power of decision.

A quiet heart extends peace to all things. The very presence of a quiet heart signifies the reality of the Presence of God -- the steadfast security and safety that comes with certainty. Its freedom is heard all around the world. The end of slavery is declared in its happy touch.

On the other hand, a conflicted and unhappy heart denies its strength, attests to its own inherent weakness and seeks the destruction of the certainty of God.

Recently I have become aware of the significance of choice. It is within my power to make God known to myself, but I must be willing to stop lying to myself. I cannot conceal Truth from myself and hope to experience Its benefits. I must trust whole heartedly.

There is a plan for me, for all of us. We need take thought of nothing for ourselves. The path to Heaven is simple, practical, and sure. It has all been done for us. I need only accept that truth.

Every moment I make choices based on what I think will bring me happiness. In what alien world is happiness strife? Is happiness rejecting God? Is happiness distancing myself from my brothers? Is happiness solving my nonexistent problems on my own? Or is happiness a quiet heart?

A heart which knows its safety is assured. If I am unhappy, somewhere in my faulty logic I have given myself the idea that unhappiness is the way to achieve happiness. This is always what the ego teaches. Having made guilt (separation from God) a reality, it seeks to ‘atone' for its sin through punishment. Punishment is the denial of Truth.

What makes me happy? Lord, let me not fool myself. It is only the awareness of Your love for me that fills my heart with joy. It is only within You that I have found an eternity of restful peace. It is only within You that I have access to the experience of my Self as I really am. Let me, Oh Great Lord of Love, let me love my Self.

Click here to email Wenona.

A Ritual of Reconciliation -- by Joan Camezon

In 1991, I was led by a friend to A Course in Miracles group and from that first day I knew I had come home. Shortly after that, I started attending a Unity church as I began to crave that spiritual feeling of community that was missing in my life. I was raised Catholic and at 19 was excommunicated because I divorced and remarried outside of the church. This caused me to be very angry and defensive. I thought I didn't need religion anymore and stayed away from every aspect of religion for almost 20 years. I would not even let myself think about God or spirituality at all. I had thrown myself into a black hole and thought I was in charge of my life and no one would ever exclude me again.

Shortly after I had joined the Unity church, Easter was approaching and the minister told us that he was holding a Good Friday service, which he was renaming ‘Reconciliation Friday.' We were to bring a potted lily and just show up for the ceremony. Even though I was experiencing great anxiety about going, I showed up with my lily.

The minister led us into a meditative state and we prayed in silence together for an hour. During that time, he told us that if we were so moved to totally forgive something in our lives, we should just come up to a makeshift altar he had put together and give our lily to God so that our forgiveness was transformed into reconciliation and healing.

I experienced something powerful that day as the awareness came into my very soul that I needed to forgive the Catholic Church. I did so without fear and without conditions. I carried my lily up to the altar and wept for quite a long while. My release was total.

I realized after I had done this, that I no longer had to deny the beautiful and meaningful things that I had loved about the Catholic Church. I had gone to mass every single day and loved the rituals of the liturgy, and the stories of Easter, the Stations of the Cross, and the rosary. I realized I had developed and nurtured my own spiritual connection with God during those years. It hadn't been the Catholic Church that was giving me these things. I was truly free now to continue on my path, free to acknowledge all aspects of myself, free to validate all of me. I am so grateful to that Unity minister to have led me to this crucial moment of forgiveness using the symbols (the altar and the lily) that my soul could recognize and translate for me. As A Course in Miracles says, "Offer him lilies and it is yourself you free."

Click here to email Joan.

Teacher's Strategy -- by Rev. Georgeann Medved

When I was a little girl I couldn't wait to go to school because I wanted to learn how to unscramble the magic of the ABC's and read a story out loud to my mother, who always read to me. I also wanted to learn how to sing the beautiful songs that my brother and sister were learning and have unlimited art supplies at my disposal to draw and color with, like they did.

I tried very, very hard to please my kindergarten teacher because she was so wise and kind. She read stories to our class and afterwards, we drew pictures of what she had read and the stories came alive for me through my art work.

In March she started reading the story of the Easter Bunny to us and, because it was a very long story, she read us one chapter a day and we would draw a picture each day based on the chapter she had read. She would take one child's picture each day and save it to display at an open house for our parents at the end of April.

I really knocked myself out drawing each day, hoping that she would choose my picture to display. Each day she chose someone else's drawing. I wondered why my art work was passed up each day, and each day I resolved to do better, take time and also pay attention to the story and detail. I was still passed up every day and it was very frustrating! But my friend Nancy Vreen was a very, very good artist and she got passed up every day too! The day before the story ended, Nancy's drawing finally got picked and I was happy for her but sad for myself.

The day the story was completed our teacher walked right over to me without seeming to look too closely at anyone else's drawing and chose mine. I never forgot that experience and many years later I remembered always standing in line in alphabetical order in school. My last name was Wade so I was always the last student in line. Then it dawned on me that our kindergarten teacher was choosing our drawings alphabetically to make sure each child was represented on parent's day. I see this as a demonstration of how God loves each of us. He includes us all in His Love, equally, with no special preferences.

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Turning Point • Who Shall I Turn to? • Quiet Heart
A Ritual of Reconciliation • Teacher's Strategy • More Fall 2000 Articles