Pathways of Light Miracles News, 10/98 p. 1

Miracles News Fall 1998

Spiritual Maturity • Guess What Happens When I Ask for Healing? • Witness to the Truth • Finding A Miracle in Spilled Eggs • Extending the Miracle in Spilled Eggs • Thank You for Being My Friend • More Oct. 98 Miracles News
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Spiritual Maturity -- by Rev. Christine Anderson

When I was a little girl, I wanted a nurse doll. I reminded my mother several times that I really wanted this doll. So when Christmas morning arrived and the doll was under the tree, I was so happy that she had listened to me and provided me with what I wanted.
In the deepest part of me, what I have always wanted is Love. All my life I have prayed to God for a partner so I wouldn't be alone. Someone to be happy with and walk through life together. I have looked outside of myself because I did not know Love was always within. It was that Love within that was calling, at first as a whisper. With my willingness, this Voice of Love became louder and I became aware that it was a call to go Home, to remember that in reality I never left.

As I listen to this Voice every day, the habit of looking outside myself for validation lessens. This has brought me great peace and the ability to be at home within my Self in any circumstance. Ahh! Peace and rest. My theme song was "Looking for love in all the wrong places." I have now found the right place, which is in my right mind — nearer than breathing, closer than hands and feet. As I let go of the ego chatter that seems so interesting and leads me nowhere, I open up to the stillness that offers me everything I need. Holy Spirit is always listening and knows my every need before I ask. I am always being provided with the perfect circumstances for my learning and growth. As I offer my seeming separate will to Spirit, my life experience reflects this surrendering of the idea that I am a separate self. As I continue to surrender, my experiences will have a rich content and I will finally be content. I will be living with ease and experience heaven on earth.

In this place, I gradually discover that I am everything and I have everything. I know this place exists within everyone, that we are all equal in this respect and no one is left out. If I perceive anyone as lacking, I remember that I would have to see the lack in myself first. I can go to the stillness and see that person in the fullness of their Light and we stand together in the Truth. Everyone is in that place. My spiritual maturity strengthens as I practice bringing any and all of my concerns, any exceptions or seeming blocks, to Love. I offer them to Spirit and see them disappear in the light of Love.

In my life, I have been blessed with many relationships, each one leading me closer to finding the one relationship within myself. My true Partner was always there—the Love within. So, I was petitioning God to give me an outer partner, because that is how I thought love should show up in my life. With my willingness to let go of my picture, I have been led to the greatest Love of all, the Love right within my being and to the magnificent recognition that everyone is my partner. There is no specialness. The ego would have me think that specialness is highly desired, like a great prize. Specialness puts my partner or myself on a pedestal of idol (idle) worship, and presents a situation of inequality. This cannot be love.

As I surrender to this truth, and open to the Divine in myself, I am experiencing more love, more tenderness, more playfulness, spontaneity, joy, peace, caring, sharing, and a sense of going home together in all my relationships. I always thought that if I found the perfect partner, I would be happy. Now I know that in the world of the ego there are no perfect partners. We all have something to learn and ways to grow. Every relationship has the potential for growth and going Home together if both partners are willing to walk through the process of looking at the exceptions to love and letting them go. The relationship can be used to heal all of the woundedness resulting from the mistaken idea that separation from Love, our Divine Source, was ever a reality. At the level of Spirit, we are all perfect Love. Nothing can add or take away from this truth.

Like the chicken pecking its way out of the egg, I am building strength as I gradually peck my way through, with a loving Father awaiting my arrival to the awareness of who I am, a Father who knows I’m coming Home. The Father has no need of meddling or breaking open the shell prematurely. He patiently waits for me there with open arms and a big "Welcome Home my precious child." This is the mystery that is no longer hidden. It has been revealed eternally throughout the oneness. This Love is here right now for all of us to experience, to share and to celebrate together.

At this point in my life, as I study A Course in Miracles, I’m learning to let go of false beliefs and the idea that there are "other" people separate from myself. I believe that I wrote a script for this lifetime to look at specialness and to discover the unloved parts in myself. Each of these blessed partners in my life have been like a mirror for me to gradually, in my own perfect timing, see these parts, understand them, and offer them to Love. I’m learning also that these thoughts in my mind are unreal, of no consequence and they don’t mean anything.

It is important for me to always include Holy Spirit in clearing my mind of thoughts that do not serve me. In the presence of Spirit, I feel safe. I feel the love and the atmosphere of nonjudgment that comes from a Presence that abides right within my own mind. In that Presence, I can look at these thoughts that have affected my life, but mean nothing. I do not have to hold these thoughts against myself. I can say, "I just made a mistake." I can let them go and move on. Spirit never judges me, so I can give myself a break and not judge myself. There is only one relationship and that is one of a loving, kindly Father with his most precious gift, his Son. We are all that one Son, and as we open to Love, every relationship is a holy relationship. We are whole, complete, lacking nothing, experiencing the constant giving and receiving of the love between the Father and the Son. We are all one. There is truly no distance between us. Today I give most grateful thanks for all the relationships in my life, and as I offer them to Spirit as a holy relationship, we all go Home together.

It is important to me to look back at all these relationships and remember I wrote the script to see the loveless parts of me. It has seemed like an endless task. And now the relief has come, for as I open to Love in all my relationships, the struggling and the efforting is over and all that remains is simple, uncomplicated Love. It’s all been perfect. And as I offer these relationships along the way to Spirit for healing, I remember that the only thing that was real was Love. I am now remembering the kindnesses of my brother, although I perceived he was not perfect in my dream. I can forgive the dream and see the perfection of my brother and myself.

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Guess What Happens When I Ask for Healing? -- by Rev. Derek Dube

What is healing? Healing is the letting go of all my thoughts of judgment and separation. It is the release of my belief in specialness. As I heal, I let go of good or bad, right or wrong, competition and having to be "right." The relinquishment of ALL my separation thoughts is the journey I take on the path to my true Source--Love. Healing, then, is my journey, the road I take back to God. Healing is of the mind, not the body. A Course In Miracles describes healing as the replacement of wrong thinking with right thinking; the release from fear and the acceptance of Love.

So, with that in ‘mind,’ guess what happens when I ask for healing. Well, my first thought would be that ‘poof,’ all my ‘bad’ thoughts of guilt, shame, anger, blame, judgment, etc. would just go away. That simple... ha ha ha. Wait just a minute my friend. I forgot one little thing--awareness! When I ask for healing, Holy spirit goes right to the specific poop that I don't want to look at, rushes it right into my conscious mind (awareness), and says, "Is this what you want to get rid of, is this what you want to let go of?" I'm thinking I want to get rid of this, not have it thrown in my face. I guess I didn't realize what the process of healing is all about. I realize that when I am ready to ask for healing, I'm also ready to see the thoughts that need to be healed.

In the past, when I wanted healing, it felt like I was blind-sided or overwhelmed by my thoughts--the exact thoughts that I was trying to get rid of. It seemed to be doing just the opposite of what I asked for. In reality though, what was happening was exactly what I asked for. I'm learning that I can't let go of what I don't know exists. These thoughts have been buried and layered deep in my subconscious for 20, 30, 40 years. As I heal my mind, naturally they are going to come to the surface. At times I find that this can be pretty frustrating and confusing. It seems like for every step forward, I fall two steps back. Boy, does my ego love this script. At this point, it tries to tell me that my spiritual path is not working and further tries to prove it by showing me what a shambles my life is in; whether through alcohol, drugs, overeating, sex, anger, lack of self worth, financial worries -- you name it -- the ego will try it.

Ah--but don't despair, I have a little formula I like to use and would like to share. It's called the 4 P's. It goes like this: Persistence plus practice plus patience equals Peace. I remind myself all the time that persistence is the key--never give up. To heal my mind, I need to form a new habit, a new way of doing things. Practice helps me accomplish this. It's called mind training. Above all, I know that I have, within me, eternal patience, that time is an illusion. As I heal my mind, the rest will follow. True healing has nothing to do with the body. Healing is letting go of ego thoughts. I release all thoughts of belief in separation or sickness. As noted in chapter 5 in The Manual for Teachers in ACIM, healing involves an understanding of what the illusion of sickness is for. Healing is impossible without this. Healing is accomplished in the instant the sufferer no longer sees any value in pain. This is extremely important to remember because the body only becomes 'sick' when the mind has 'thoughts' of sickness. Decisions are of the mind, not of the body. When something is going on in my life (mind), I ask myself – "Is this a curse (fear) or is this a gift (love)?" At this point, I now have an awareness and realize I have a decision (choice) to make and whatever my choice is, that is what will manifest for me.

What happens when you ask for healing?

Witness to the Truth -- by Rev. Mary Manke

What could be simpler than to do what would make me happy? How many times do I deny what would bring me happiness? How often do I stop a project or an experience because I decide it's too difficult or I will fail at it? From learning to observe myself, I can now see when the ego is directing my thoughts and my life. I am learning that I can say no to those ego thoughts, but this takes diligence and a faith and patience with myself.

The ego will not show patience, it will always look for the opposing view in anything I do, or think about doing. The ego will never see a positive outcome, or have a positive goal. So I do need to ask myself, "What do I want to come of this? What is it for?" (ACIM, T17.VI.2:1-2). In the past, a part of me has had a secret desire for fame or notoriety, a desire to have recognition and wealth. And then what seems to be another part is afraid to have any of those desires accomplished. This is the capriciousness of the ego. It has no idea what happiness is. It would only keep me coming and going with its misguided beliefs. It would keep me occupied with outside concerns, so that I would not be peaceful at any moment, because peace is its big threat. If I get peaceful then I might just remember who I am and what my purpose for being here is!

Lately I was being much too lenient with my ego thoughts--and feeling not happy at all, even depressed would be apt. I didn't want to listen to those ego thoughts, but didn't seem to know how to turn them off. I called another Pathways of Light minister and made an appointment to have a Accessing Inner Wisdom Counseling. It brought me the relief that I sought, and it brought the sharing of some helpful ideas that I am going to put into practice. One of the ideas helps me remember the truth as A Course in Miracles presents it: When something stands out to me in my morning reading, I write it down and then find related statements about the same truth. I can look through the Course, or I can be still and ask Spirit to fill in with more sentences that hold the truth. Finding those words that tell me of the truth of who I am, who my brothers are, what I'm here for, lightens up the day for me. Those words lighten the load because ego would have me think that I'm supposed to be enlightened immediately, all the time, without imperfections! Words that remind me of the truth reassure me that the instant I choose to forgive (let go) some grievance, help is always here. I do not have to be "perfect" in the dream I have made. The instant that I choose to let go of limiting thoughts, Holy Spirit is always available, always in my mind, always showing me the light, love, and peace that is God's gift and mine as well.

How do I get so far from the Truth? By letting the ego thoughts go by unchallenged or unnoticed. If I will simply observe my thoughts rather than let them all float by, I can then choose to cancel out the thoughts that have no meaning. I can say, "Hmmm, do I really need this thought any more? Do I really believe this any more? What is this for? Is the thought going to be for fear, guilt or pain agendas? Or is it a thought that is for Love's agenda?"

If I am hearing my inner judge's thoughts, I know for sure that my ego is separating, comparing and categorizing, and my world will show me just that. If I am hearing the Voice of Inner Guidance, then I will see the witnesses to Truth in my world, and it will be a happy, forgiving world I see. As I am letting go of the meanings I have placed on things, I'm allowing myself the happiness that God has given me. Step by step I move towards Love. Moment by moment I let Truth come to my mind as I let go of past thoughts. As I let peace replace the conflict in my mind, I return to the happiness of my path, the happiness that is guaranteed by God. I have the right to follow the path that brings me my highest joy and aliveness.

Finding a Miracle in Spilled Eggs -- by Diana Klapperich

My six year old son, Jesse and I were making scrambled eggs together one morning. After crisping the bacon and scrambling his eggs, he carried the plate into the next room. I went about cleaning up the counter. I soon heard a loud crash and ran in to see the eggs and bacon spread all across the floor.

Just before I was going to yell at him for not paying attention and spilling his eggs, I had an inspiration. I had the thought that there were two ways I could handle this. I could angrily yell at him and make him feel bad that we would have to start all over again... or I could just quietly help him clean up the bacon and eggs off the floor and we could start over again. So I chose to simply tell him it was okay and we'd pick it up and start over.

As we were making his eggs again, I asked him what lesson he was learning from what happened. He said, "I don't know... I don't want to say." I said, "Well, let's think about it. It's possible you learned that it's not helpful to play with things while you are trying to carry your plate of food." He agreed that trying to do two things at once didn't work and we hugged. We then talked about how it's better to see what we can learn from our mistakes than to just get upset and angry.

When his eggs were done, he very carefully carried his plate into the other room. It turned out to be a very peaceful and pleasant experience for both of us. I was glad I paused long enough to hear a better way to handle the situation rather than repeating a pattern from the past. This way was calmer and more peaceful and we both used the experience to learn a valuable life lesson.

Extending the Miracle of Spilled Eggs -- by Rev. Nancy Moore

I had been experiencing grievances around a friend's special relationship with another. Diana's miracle story had a big impact on me. The morning after I heard it, I awoke with the insight: Well, then, all my friend did was "spill the plate of eggs." There is no hierarchy of mistakes. Maybe this isn't the worst possible thing that could happen to me. Besides, my angry reactions won't put our relationship back together, change what already happened. Just pick up the eggs. I can use this experience to learn about special relationships so I can do it differently next time. In my eventual forgiveness, of changing my mind that there was any harm to me, this too, can become a holy relationship.

Thank You For Being My Friend -- by Rev. Robert Stoelting

Hand in hand we walk together, you and I,
For we have learned we share a common goal.
Hand in hand we walk together, you and I,
For I have learned you but reflect the way I see myself.

I stand beside you in gratitude,
For you have shown me what I could not see.
I stand beside you in gratitude,
For the truth I see in you has set me free.

Together we remember
That beyond all form
Is the Loving Being
We have always been.

Thank you, dear brother, for being my Friend.