Pathways of Light Miracles News, 10/99 p. 3

Miracles News Fall 1999

Lessons Come in Many Ways • Recognizing My Projections • Knowing Guiltlessness • Decluttering My Mind • When I Am Perfectly Still • Road Rage • A Glimpse of the Divine • More Fall '99 Articles
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Lessons Come in Many Ways -- by Rev. Georgeann Medved

Recently I was in a meeting at a local recreation center. People of all ages with various talents go there to share their experiences because they are striving to become better and more loving individuals. These people are also interested in our community and contribute their time and energy to making our community a better and safer place to live.

Our orderly discussion meeting that particular day was suddenly interrupted by a loud, ear splitting, verbal war that erupted between a 60 year old man and a 37 year old woman over a difference of opinion regarding child care centers. Both rose from their chairs and leaned menacingly across the table with angry, red faces. My first instinct told me to verbalize that we do not do that here but I consciously decided to let the two of them continue their rampage and see how long it would be before they stopped attacking each other or someone else asked them to stop. (The man involved in the argument was the chairman of the meeting.)

It was two minutes by the second hand of the large old clock on the meeting room wall when two ladies yelled in unison, "stop." A man said, "We don't do that here, guys!" After 30 more seconds of ear splitting yelling, the two of them stopped in mid-sentence and sat, kerplunk, down in their chairs still red-faced and glaring at each other.

The feud was caused by one very careless and judgmental statement and reminded me that judgment creates a sense of "lesser than" or "greater than," and when we verbally attack another person, we are being terribly unfair to that person. Most people when approached with friendliness, curiosity and compassion are flattered to talk about their interests, hobbies, life experiences, family life and educational background. Many people have a lot more knowledge and education than we would ever know about without asking.

It is only when we love ourselves that we can give love to others, and love can be expressed in many ways. Just quietly sitting back and allowing two people to yell at each other is sometimes a way of showing love, because it gives them the opportunity to recognize their own character traits and deal with them. Both of the participants in that irrational outburst are mature enough to realize that they were out of line.

Two weeks later at a planning meeting at another local community service center, I was asked by the chairman to give some background information regarding projects I have worked on in our community since 1978. The man challenged every statement that I made, asking the same questions over and over. He interrogated me regarding my educational background and work experience. He randomly interrupted me and other committee members by yelling, "If you're stupid, you're outa here."

I felt very angry and threatened by this constant negativity and interruption and I left the meeting feeling upset and weary and have declined working on the proposed project.

Talking to a few of my mentors and stepping back from the situation for a few days, I could see the chairman's outrageously childish and disruptive behavior as a call for Love and nurturing. His behavior reminded me that taking care of ourselves, nurturing ourselves and loving ourselves should be our first priority. When we are doing that, we are in a peaceful state and are able to extend lots of love and peace to everyone around us.

I still do not like what the chairman of the meeting did and I don't feel I have to. However, I did learn a lot about human nature from being put in that uncomfortable predicament.

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Recognizing My Projections -- by Rev. Bob Slawson

While attending a three-day workshop on Forgiveness at Circle of Atonement in Sedona, Arizona, I was presented with an interesting example of perception and projection. One evening we were having a sing along with Allen Watson playing the guitar and leading the singing. There was probably twenty-five or thirty of us gathered, singing primarily ACIM inspired songs written by Allen Watson.

At the conclusion of the evening, Allen asked us to make eye contact with someone in the room and sing this last song to that person. The closest person to me was a lady sitting on a couch a short distance from me. I turned to her and smiled. She appeared to look at me and then turned her head away from me. I looked around and everyone else seemed to have an eye partner.

I had a flash back to when I was in third grade and attending a new school. It was recess and all the kids were playing in the school yard. All but me. I was leaning against the school building trying very hard not to cry. I felt very alone and out of place. That same feeling came over me at the sing along. I was very hurt and angry that a lady would attend A Course in Miracles workshop and treat me with such lack of love.

The song concluded and we dispersed to our cabins. This experience, however, didn't leave me. The next morning, I related what had happened to my traveling companions, one of whom thought she had had a similar experience with this same woman. She had been walking the camp grounds and, as she approached the woman, she nodded and smiled at her. She was completely ignored. We concluded that this lady was either very rude or having a very hard time.

Later that day, in my small group, I expressed what had happened to my group partner and my partner smiled softly and said, "I think I know who that lady is. She is blind." My perceptions, my projections and my judgment became vividly clear. Perhaps this lesson was why I was led to attend this workshop.

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Knowing Guiltlessness -- by Rev. Mary Manke

After reading the lesson for the day and the commentary from A Workbook Companion, I found myself looking at guilt again. If I may borrow someone's words, "It's a good thing." To know my guiltlessness, I must look at my guilt in the present. Denying my own guilt, keeps me projecting it -- onto any and every one.

By owning my guilt -- for it is only mine, only in my mind -- will I be able to let it go, to let the Light of Holy Spirit wash away the darkness. By looking at my ego (which is my guilt or lovelessness), I will open my perception to the healing correction of Holy Spirit. He corrects every illusion I have made, including my illusion of guilt. But if I deny my guilt, pretend that I don't cherish my separate identity, I won't let in the blessed sight of Spirit. I won't accept my own guiltlessness because I will identify with ego thoughts.

I push the guilt down, again and again, afraid to see what a horrible, unforgivable "sinner" I am. How long will I play this game? When will I lay down the sharp and hurtful toys? The only guilt there is, is mine. I have believed the ego's made up story of creation, and believed that guilt is too horrible to be forgiven. Will I accept the truth? Will I hold Spirit's hand and look at my true Identity? Will I accept that my hidden guilt is not real at all?! My minor irritations to my major resentments and planned vengeance all keep me hostage to my ego. I accept my prison of guilt and try to free myself by projecting guilt onto others.

Let me present an example. What is the real fear in not forgiving my mother? My ego says: "Don't let her off the hook--she abandoned you! Look at all the times she wasn't there for you!" The false self wants me to ignore the guilt, pretend that it isn't mine, and throw it onto someone -- hey, the closest one will do! My ego's fear is that I will see that it, the scenario, was not real at all. Of course it wasn't real! I made it all up -- I made every circumstance and event in my life. I did this so I could learn that Love is the only real choice, that Love is the only real thing. I mistakenly thought that I had to accept punishment and guilt from another dreamed transgression against a soul from a previous incarnation. This is my chance to look with Spirit's Vision and accept that the call for Love is only and always answered by Love.

If I'm afraid to look on Love, then I will keep my imagined guilt. If I want to be free in Love, then I will look on my imagined guilt. I will face the horrible, terrifying specter of guilt. I will look because I've taken the hand of my True Companion and found His Strength holding me. And then I will look at what was hidden -- fall to dust in the glorious Light of Love. I will look and find that what I made in fear has no power whatsoever. The terrifying face of guilt is indeed only a shadow face that cannot harm me and I choose to let it go. Each scary trip into the dark that I take will always end in Light. The forgiveness I think I have thrown away will be revealed to me. The Light displaces all dark, all shadows, all monsters. How can I waste an instant more in a shadow world when I have the gift of Love within me to shine to everyone?

Dear Jesus, let me not forget this! Keep it forever lit in my mind, forever fresh! I will walk with you. I'm willing to look at and release every face of guilt that I once ran from. I'm willing to recognize the face I think I see is the guilt in my mind. I will succeed because my True Self has done so already. My True Self sees only the innocence everywhere in everyone. I give up my insane pictures to have truth, love, and peace fill my world. Above all else I want to see differently.

Decluttering My Mind -- by Rev. Mary Manke

Does the practice of daily lessons or meditation really pay off? I have found the time I spend in listening to insight from Spirit, is giving me growth, freedom, and light more consistently. I offer you another look at insights from my Loving Guide.

To want peace is to let go of my dreams, my illusions of what I want to be real. Peace is to let go of wishful thinking. Wishful thinking is not real at all. Yet wishful thinking does show the power of my mind, the power of the thoughts I choose to hold. My thoughts make the images I "see." My untrue thoughts make up my body, my home, my work, my environment. My thoughts make up whether I encounter turmoil, anger, conflict or whether I have peace, forgiveness and love in my interactions. And because the "other person" is part of my mind, I am simply looking at a part of me that needs healing or shares Love. How interesting.

When I look at my partner, he simply reflects back what is occupying my mind in that instant. What is my wishful thinking showing me? Is it, in the moment, showing my feelings of unworthiness? Is it showing me my fear that I am unlovable and unforgivable? Will I then recognize the fear for what it is? Or will I choose to defend my sick idea of what is real? This is why I need to set my intent with Spirit at the beginning of my day. I affirm that I want a day of peace, or love or happiness; then I affirm that I will not choose by myself, meaning I will not choose with ego (separation) direction. I affirm I will pause and listen to the direction of my Sacred Teacher. I want the choice that guarantees the peace or happiness that I set for my goal or outcome.

In setting my day for the outcome of peace, I'm asking Spirit to guide me in the lessons I've chosen. I'm asking for the correction to any wishful thinking I may mistakenly value. I'm asking for my wishful thinking to be released. I'm willing to let it go, to let truth light my mind. I'm asking to look at my blocks to Love and let them be removed. I want to remember truth, and remember that no pain or fear is too large or difficult to be undone by my perfect Guide.

Here is an example that I begin my day with: "Dear Jesus, be you in charge. I open my mind to your Presence, and guidance all through the day, the night, and every circumstance. I thank you for the lessons. I give thanks for the opportunity to extend Love." (I may add whatever is in my experience at the moment, and end in expression of gratitude.) "I am willing to let go of more of my wishful thinking. Thank you for every healing that is being shared in the One Mind."

Do you know what? Each day I am given more of what I ask for as I recognize or observe the ego thoughts. I usually become aware after the ego has ejected its values, sometimes I just watch its thoughts. Hopefully, my partner is in his right mind and doesn't pay heed to the eruption. Often I have the chance to see the ego in its performance and can laugh at it. But in my quiet moments, when I'm ready and receptive, I'll receive more insight about some mistaken thought I've been holding. The other day, it was the "reason" I have been holding onto things. All the forms of stuff that I've accumulated, represent my wish to change my past. Naturally the ego tells me to keep all these precious things, so that I can someday succeed in fixing everything that "went wrong." Each and every piece is only my misled desire to "prove" to someone that I was worthy of Love, that I was valuable. This is how my accumulation (clutter, junk) has kept me chained to the past. And how, as I remove the clutter, I'm affirming that the "past can touch me not." I'm letting go of the fallacy that I had to or need to prove my value or worth. I let go of the idea that this "stuff" would save or redeem me! I thanked Spirit greatly for this insight! The truth is setting me free! I find my time spent in reading the Workbook or in meditation, definitely "worth it."

When I Am Perfectly Still -- by Rev. Nancy Moore

Holy Spirit, when I am perfectly still...
I can experience the wind of your Love.
It comes as a whisper...
a tenderness so dear.
I allow my Self to hold the stillness...
to be a receptor of love,
as your wind brushes me, caresses me...
holds me to your promise.

Today:
I have deepened my commitment to Heaven,
to weaving the golden threads of the song of Heaven, to remain in the Holy Instant of release to Love.

Today:
I have deepened my commitment to healing...
to offering the Golden Light of Healing.
And to accept the healing offered by others...
in whatever form it is held out to me.
I accept with Grace.

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Road Rage -- by Georgia Victoria Ivens

A rather strange phenomenon occurs occasionally when I'm out and about using my car. I've noticed something that happens when I stop the car while I'm agitated and not at peace. Somehow the manner in which I turn off the ignition when I am anxious or agitated must be slightly different from how I usually stop and park. When I come back to the car and try to start it, nothing happens. I cannot even turn the key in the lock. Panic ensues! Naturally I need my car to get going to my next destination, but how do I communicate with my mute engine?

One technique I use to get it going is to ask a person to help me start it. This is really interesting as every person has a different idea of what stopped the car in the first place. Mike, the nephew of a friend, grabbed the side of the car and shook it just like it was a little rattle. "It's your trannie (transmission)," he announced. He then jumped in the car and "voila" instant startup. (I've tried to "trannie shake" but lack the strength to pull it off). The last person to start it for me was my boss and she had a theory that it had slipped out of gear somehow.

I know that getting angry is not really going to solve anything. With many thoughts of choking the darn car, I turn to my little prayer book or A Course in Miracles and get quiet and read. After about two or three minutes, a sense of peace comes over me. I begin the process of starting the car all over again. Lo and behold the KEY TURNS, the engine starts and I am a happy camper. This condition has happened to me dozens of times over the last five years so I am not imagining it.

I feel sure the way for me to deal with this massive hunk of machinery I call my car is to be at peace. I will try my human best to stay in that condition.

A Glimpse of the Divine -- by Rev. Kevin Fields

As I looked into the mirror this morning, I saw the glimmer of the Light of the Divine shining back at me. A realization? A hallucination? Or a trick of the ego? None of the above. This was a glimpse of the Truth of all our beings which is given as a gift of faith in who we truly are. The real experiential reality that I am a Child of God.

In this life experience, I have often seen this Light in those around me. But my ego always told me the lie that I was "different" and that this same Light was not present in me. And in my journey, I have talked with many other souls who have listened to the same lie of ego, seeing the Light in others, but not deeming themselves worthy enough to have what is already Present within us. This same sense of unworthiness actually diminishes the brightness of the Light that we "see" in others, causing darkness to encroach upon our sight. But, as we have been taught, when we recognize the Light in others, we begin to see more clearly the Light within ourselves. Our sense of separateness, or "differentness" begins to fade before the dawn of the new Sun.

Mine is no longer a mental awareness. This is now a firm belief which has moved from my head to my heart. I know, accept and acknowledge this Light which is in all of us each moment, and I have been granted a new freedom available to us all. God holds this gift of Love out every moment to all of us: This re-membering the glory of the Light that we are awaits our awakening to awareness of Truth. And we are the only ones who can stop and say, "I am ready, God." Thus begins a journey into the awareness of the Light and the Truth of our Being.

I have come to believe that the recognition of the Perfect Spirit in others happens in tandem with the recognition of the Light within ourselves. It only "seems" that we see the Light in others before we recognize it within ourselves. It only "seems" as if we recognize the Light in the beauty of a rose in bloom before we see it in ourselves. It only "seems" as if the lie of the ego is our ultimate truth. For when we are even willing to believe that there is something greater, more grand and brilliant than we can even imagine, the "door" begins to open and the Light comes flooding out from the center of our Being. Are we willing to trust and believe the words of the Master Jesus when he said, "Just speak the word and knock; and the door will fly ajar"? (The Aquarian Gospel: Ch. 101, vs. 6)

As I looked into the mirror this morning, I saw the glimmer of the Light of the Divine...

Lessons Come in Many Ways • Recognizing My Projections • Knowing Guiltlessness • Decluttering My Mind • When I Am Perfectly Still • Road Rage • A Glimpse of the Divine • More Fall '99 Articles