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Just recently, my daughter Kay Marie and I were talking on the phone. She was sharing with me about a dilemma regarding land that was given to her and her husband by a relative. A few days after the gifting of the land, conditions were added that left her very leery. She felt uncertain as to whether the land was really theirs after all. As I listened to her words, I could sense her frustration, fear, and anger. In an effort to be helpful, I offered her the thought that nothing in the world is worth giving up our peace. She replied, “But Mom, owning this land is our security! This would insure our future!” I certainly could relate to what she was saying. I was in a similar fear-filled state of mind not long ago myself. I had a change take place in my life that would probably make the top ten of the worst case scenarios in the ego dream. It felt as though the “rug had been pulled out from under me.” I felt numb with fear. I wondered if I had done something wrong. The insurance of my security was based on everything staying the same in “my little corner of the world.” As I was traveling to Pathways to attend 903: Gratitude for God’s Gifts, I felt so into the drama that I could not imagine getting out of it. This program was just what I needed. I realized that I had been agonizing over something that was not going the way that I thought that it should. I had made an investment in specialness, the ego’s favorite territory. As I explored the wonderful course material along with the other participants, I was gradually able to let go of the fear and guilt that I had been carrying. The sharings of the group offered the idea of forgiveness. This was an important reminder for me. I opened to a real experience of forgiving myself for mistaken thinking. So often, when I mistakenly choose to “go with the ego,” and then realize it, I give myself a hard time about it. Then I forget that I made up this whole story and projected it outwards. Now the world appears to be giving me a hard time! Yikes! I forgot that changeless Love is ever-present, beyond any changing worldly appearance. The ACIM perspective reminds me that I am practicing mind healing with the help of Holy Spirit. I am to watch my mind for unreal thoughts that “came to go” and offer them to Holy Spirit for transformation. Isn’t it interesting that after experiencing an “A-ha” moment, we often have an opportunity to reinforce our healed perspective by sharing the new thought that it brings. Along comes a brother, in this case my daughter, calling for love in regards to a situation that is not so different from mine. (I know that any situation that has the potential for loss of peace has the same foundation—the false belief in separation.) I shared with Kay Marie, “Nothing in the world will ever take place of the true security that comes from remembering the Truth that only Love is real. We will continually ride the ego’s roller coaster if we look to a world that doesn’t even exist for our happiness and well being. Our real safety and security lies within, where we live in peace in the Mind of God.” She and I have both agreed to support each other in staying peaceful and, with gratitude, counting our blessings. As I stay in the now moment in gratitude, I experience the peace and confidence of my True Nature — only Love. Everything is all right. I am able to be accepting and know that there is a blessing, a gift in any situation. Rev. Christine Anderson is a Pathways of Light minister who lives in Chicago, Illinois. Email: revhappywoman@prodigy.net |
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For over two months I had been grappling with the changes brought about by the death of a beloved aunt, a childless widow, and my part-time employer. Her belongings have been packed up and distributed among her siblings, nieces and nephews. I have ended my work with her estate, throwing away files, deciding which to retain. The paperwork has been gradually lessening, but not necessarily ending as we await replies and other incoming mail. Unlike being caught in the “eye” of a storm, where there is an eerie calm, I seemed to be caught in the wake, catching only the monsoon rains induced by the typhoon’s fury. The weather disturbance seems to have entered my aunt’s condominium unit, where her youngest sister, my mother, packed away both her grief and memories. Mama came across letters we all wrote my aunt through the years, as she had lived abroad till she retired here in the Philippines a few years back. Sentimentally, Mama divided the letters according to sender, and recently I got my batch of faded stationery with childish handwriting. I think that was the only time it did hit my heart that, my aunt is indeed no longer with us, physically anyway. Before my aunt’s final, fatal brain seizure, a cousin had asked me what it was like to lose a loved one. After all, my dad had passed away two years ago already. I replied that we don’t really lose any loved ones to death. Only the body is set aside, but our Spirit lives on. In the order of reality as God created it, life is eternal, and can never be limited by form, such as time, space, and matter. So what I’m actually dealing with is the fact that my aunt, like my dad, has set aside her body. Yet she’s somewhere, no longer deaf, hypertensive and hopefully no longer an obsessive-compulsive. I’d like to think her compassionate, kind and generous heart is the one quality that Spirit has nurtured into her new “assignment,” and of course, she must be with her late spouse, my uncle. Her transition to a new realm coincides with my entry to another year of teaching and healing based on A Course in Miracles, in the capital city of the Philippines. I have also been making changes with my personal life. I no longer have my part-time job with my aunt, so no more trips to her condo twice a week. I do have some of her stuff with me, now crowding my apartment. Yet as the Course teaches, there really is no such thing as change. Love remains the same. We’re the only ones trying to make it different. The only change we are asked to undertake in our lives is to move from darkness into Light. And when we do make that move, that is when we realize the Light had been there all along, and the darkness was just a trick of the eye, a slight of hand, an illusion. So here is the miracle. Here is the truth. For my aunt, her life now and her very form, seem to have changed, but actually, she is still the same Light as she was created to be. She is still the child of a loving Creator, and she is still Love. She is always someone I can connect with. As for me, with her body gone, my work schedule, my apartment and family seem to have changed, but I remain the same as God created me, and my life is still filled with Love. Nothing has really changed. The flurry of paperwork, packing and letting go is just a sleight of hand. Like the wind, it blows then is gone. Light remains, shining through, assuring me, God is still here and Love is still with me. Amy Cavosora is a Pathways of Light facilitator living in Manila, Philippines. Email: ameleeyah@yahoo.com |
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Groups and experiences filled my day, So, to Degnitz Lodge I made my way. I found it the perfect place, To shed my worries and fill with grace. As I lay cozy upon my bed, Thoughts of the day would fill my head Some were oh so very sweet, The people and teachings were so darn neat! Sometimes what would happen though, Is chatter would enter and break up the flow. Images of the broken part in me, Would surface and make me see, There was more healing to be done, To affirm that, “We Are One.” I asked Spirit for direction, She responded with warm affection. “Give those hurtful thoughts to me, Let them go like the dust, set them free. These thoughts are not who you are, Remember, you are an innocent Child of God, a bright, glistening Star.” Then, I could sense the swollen clouds above full of rain. Likened it to the crowded thoughts in my brain. As the tears fell gently from my eyes, The water flowed freely from the skies. The clouds achieved their needed release, And escorted me back to my peace. This rain is a gift for us all to share, To help us remember Spirit is there. Ask…believe…then you will see, We are all God’s perfect Children, yes, you and me. Much love and Peace to you all! |
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From the Small Gate Comes Many Blessings On June 18, 1953, a horrendous tornado leveled the Beecher District of Flint, Michigan, killing 115 people and injuring over 800 others. As the first emergency teams responded, all roads were blocked and no one except emergency crews were allowed in or out. One of my grade school teachers, 38 year old Paul Stanley, lost an arm, leg and most beloved of all, his 14 year old son in that disaster. Paul Stanley did not give up. It took him over 2 years to recover, learn to navigate with his right arm severed at the shoulder and a prosthetic left leg. He laboriously walked through the school gate, down the road and into the door of my 6th grade classroom the first day of school in September 1956 to be my home room teacher, mentor and friend for many years. Mr. Stanley taught me more than reading, writing and arithmetic. He generously held after school classes in copper enameling and wood shop, which the school did not pay him for and they also did not pay him for the equipment, so he bought it himself. We only had to pay for the supplies we used. Those experiences taught me generosity, curiosity and a love of crafts. An outspoken man with a presence of dignity, he expressed very adamantly that all children in the United States should be sent to the same schools and receive the same educational opportunities. With that he opened another door for me. He challenged me to think about human rights and human dignity. It was my first lesson in racial equality outside my home. My parents had always taught me that all people should be treated equally. He taught me a love of creative writing and public speaking and challenged me to do better when he thought I was slacking off or being lazy. He also taught me respect because he could lovingly roar like a lion and did so on several occasions when displeased with our sixth grade antics. We quieted down and behaved ourselves as quickly as possible! Mr. Stanley kept walking through doors and down roads, continuing his education and became principal of a nearby school. I not only had the privilege of being his student, but later as an adult he was my co-worker, then boss. He was an amazing spiritual guide. Sometimes tragedy can be turned into triumph and Paul Stanley was an inspiration to many people in the Flint area. I am especially grateful to him this year, the 50th anniversary of the tornado. As I reflect on that time, I remember that he kept walking through doors and down roads and though I know he had to be discouraged at times, he triumphed over something that could have ruined his life. A small part of a large man entered the gate of my heart and will always reside there. “Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:14 Georgeann Medved is a Pathways of Light minister living in Columbiaville, Michigan. Email: revgeorgeann@juno.com |
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Holy Spirit, What Would You Have Me Say? It was an ordinary Sunday morning. I got up, meditated and began getting ready for work at the church nursery. On the way to work, again I meditated on these words, “Father, send me where you would have me go. Speak through me the words you would have me say. Place those in front of me you would have me see Jesus in. Help me to hear more clearly your words.” Upon entering the church there were wonderful hugs and “How are you?” It was a great morning, full of love. Then it happened. On my way into the nursery, that form carrying an ego followed me in. There she was, just dropping by. You know the one. The one who knows just the right thing to say at just the right time to just push, not one but all your buttons. And so those things were said, not to me, but about me in front of me. A direct hit. I expected Zorro to come through me, pulling out his sword, slicing this ego down-to-size. Only my words would be that sword. Not a word, not a smirk, nothing. I just stood there. The first thing that came to my mind was, “Holy Spirit, what would you have me say? What would you have me do?” And I heard, “You need do nothing.” Exactly at that time one of the nursery children needed my attention. In the moment I was there and fully present. I told the Holy Spirit, “You know I’ll want to come back to this and ask, “What is this for?” For now I walk in gratitude in the knowledge that you are here with me and are there for answering my call. Thank you Holy Spirit.” The rest of the day and the following days were peaceful. Then thoughts of what happened came back up for me. So I meditated each time it did. Silence. Still I was grateful for that too was reassuring. I know I am learning and preparing for the answer, or many answers. I focus on my growth and peace and letting go of drama. It is all in perfect order. I am grateful! The following day I am meditating, completely at peace, simply focusing on the love and peace in that white Light. I am blessed as an artist. Often my visuals become quite clear. And so it was. In the middle of the Light a cross appeared, growing large as it moved closer. It began to tilt to the right. I began to see there were words engraved on this cross. These words are the things that have been said about me. Upon seeing this, I ask again, “What is this for?” Like a movie panning out to see the bigger picture, I recognize Jesus carrying the cross. I see the crowd of people throwing things and shouting the same words at Him. I felt as if Jesus were standing next to me. As I looked into his eyes, his smile, his face reassured me. I felt so much peace. I looked down at my hand and I realized he was holding it. Tears of joy streamed down my face and I heard him say, “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.” I understood a little more clearly. The ego’s fear of Love can get quite loud. We must be mindful. We must have the courage to choose peace. Remember who leads the way. Know we are worthy. Forgiveness is real. Love is real. We light the way for others together. Where do you see the miracle? For me it began the day I accepted and believed I am a Child of God. I am here to represent Him Who sent me. I accepted forgiveness and I am Love. There is nothing else to extend. The miracle began and continues as I remember to stay in peace. Jackie Tritt is a Pathways of Light ministerial candidate who lives in Knoxville, TN. |
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