Daily Inspiration for Living A Course in Miracles

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What Is Real Is Eternal and Never Changes

Mary:  Amidst all of this clearing out, I need to remember that only God is real. It is the Holy Spirit That shows me the difference between what is real and what is unreal. What is real is eternal and never changes. That is why I am safe, no matter what story shows up in the dream of separate bodies. It is helpful for me to remember that this is a dream. That helps me not take it so seriously.

My job today is to step back and pause for peace again and again and again. This is my practice for today. This is my lab time. I cannot hear Holy Spirit’s inspiration unless I pause for peace because peace and understanding go together and are never found alone.

Robert:  My mind is filled with questions and doubts. This is a sure sign that I am entertaining the ego. It’s having a party in my mind. I keep the ego as a guest by believing in a separate identity. With that belief, doubt is inevitable because it is a belief in what could never be true. Doubt could never come from the Self I share with God. This Self shares God’s certainty. It shares God’s changelessness. So the doubts that swirl in my mind are just an indication that I need to refocus my attention on peace and opening my mind to Holy Spirit.

Grabbing hold of the doubts and trying to find answers to the questions they foster is a hopeless effort. The ego has no answers that could possibly lead to freedom and peace. Holy Spirit is the Answer to all the confusion that comes from the one insane thought that I could separate from Love. I need to look where the answer can be found and nowhere else.

Holy Spirit:  No matter what doubts you may experience, I know What you are. I see you as you were created and so I have just one judgment of you: You are innocent. It does not matter that you seem to get lost in the insanity of the ego. Your innocence remains untouched. I am here to help you recognize that and to see it in all your brothers, for the Self that you are you share with all. Be gentle with yourself. The ego would teach you that you are unworthy and without hope. I teach that you are wholly deserving of all God gives, which is all of Himself.

So when doubts arise, see them simply as reminders to return to peace and open your mind to My vision. This practice will clear your mind of the clutter that interferes with your recognition of your complete support in Love. As you clear away the clutter, doubts are cleared away with it. In the dream of form, the reflection of the clarity in your mind will be clear. Follow Me and we will walk together in perfect safety and perfect peace.

© 2008, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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You Are Eternally Safe

Mary:  Yesterday was a particularly demanding day physically. I bagged boxes and boxes of old records from the 80’s and 90’s. They are now ready to put in the trash. Also boxes and boxes of stuff we no longer need were given to a members of the Wednesday night ACIM group for them to use, pass on to others or take to Goodwill.

A friend of Sharyn’s, who is a tiler, came to give us a quote for tiling the kitchen floor. During this time I noticed thoughts of doubt popping up, “Can we really afford this?” It’s a good thing that trust was my key word yesterday, because I kept needing to go back to it.

We are really in the height of the clearing process, getting rid of all that we no longer need. It really does feel good, but I am finding it physically challenging. The good news is that all this exercise is making me stronger.

During the afternoon I talked on the phone to a man from Florida who was asking for some clarification about A Course in Miracles. I found it very uplifting to talk to him. It was a nice reprieve from the physical work, and it filled me with joy. Trusting in Holy Spirit’s plan and not my own is the key to my walking through this in peace.

Holy Spirit through Mary:  Right now it is helpful for you to step back and remember that this is a dream. Your reality is eternally safe in the Mind of God. Give yourself time to sink more deeply into God’s peace. Open your inner windows and doors to receive God’s Love.

The more you are willing to receive the truth, the more you will extend the truth and all your doubts will disappear. You will remember that you are safe. You will remember that you are not the body. You simply use the body as an instrument to extend God’s Love in whatever form is most helpful in the moment. Keep following as you are led, using the Holy Spirit as your handrail. Let go and let God. Rest in God’s Love. Extend that Love to everyone. That is all you need to have a happy day.

Holy Spirit through Robert:  Rest in Me. Rest in Me. Let this be a day of resting in Me. When you let yourself be carried you are resting in Me. When you let yourself be gently led through all the doing of the day, you are resting in Me.

You tire yourself with planning and organizing and trying to decide on your own. When you think you are on your own, you are believing you are separate from your Source. That indeed is very tiring. But when you rest in Me by following My lead, you are accepting the strength of God in you. You are accepting your Spirit of Wholeness.

If you feel anxious, hurried, doubtful or overwhelmed in any way, let those feelings remind you to return to resting in Me. Return to peace and open your mind to Me. I have no doubts for I am completely certain about What you are and Where you are. I always share My certainty with you. You need only accept it.  My certainty is your certainty. Rest in Me today. Let Me carry you Home.

© 2008, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Present Trust in Holy Spirit’s Plan

Mary:  Over the weekend the temperatures dropped to 12 below zero with high winds causing windchill of 40 below. We used this time to quiet our minds and follow Holy Spirit’s lead. It turned out that a lot was accomplished. We were able to pack up a lot of things that we do not need now and that can be put in storage. Today the wind has subsided so we can function safely outside. We can take the things we packed to storage. We are making progress, but sometimes it seems quiet slow.

Going back in my mind frequently to remember that present trust in Holy Spirit’s plan helps me be more patient with each step that is needed along the way. Rereading lesson 135 is really helping me right now. What stands out the most to me this morning is the word trust. Today I am going to soak in the word trust as I allow myself to be led moment by moment.

Holy Spirit, all I want is Your plan. I know that my job is to consistently step back and let You lead the way.

Holy Spirit:  Don’t be in a hurry. Let the process of staying in a place of peace lead the way. It will all get done. Soften. Let yourself be carried. Go gently and remember that I am your constant Companion. Practice staying in the present moment doing just what is at hand with Me. The rest will take care of itself.

Robert:  Yesterday I practiced being mindful and attentive to Inner Direction as I worked with the clearing out process. I ended up doing things in several different rooms, even though I should focus on one room. I practiced pausing as a new idea came to my mind of what to do next. In peace I asked, “Is this helpful to do this or a diversion?” I acted on the idea if it seemed to be helpful. On the surface many of the things I did seemed unrelated to each other, but in looking back at what was accomplished I can see that the things that seemed unrelated did prepare the way for things to come.

I am learning a new meaning for focus. In the past I have tried to focus on one project at a time, yet often I would distract myself with disconnected ideas that were not helpful, but I did not recognize they were distractions. I just impulsively followed the ideas as they came. I’m learning that focusing on the project is not necessarily the most helpful.

What is the most helpful is focusing on Holy Spirit’s plan and it is important for me not to judge Holy Spirit’s plan. Sometimes Holy Spirit’s plan may seem to take me in a direction unrelated to the project. If I judge that and don’t do it because it doesn’t “fit the project,” I have judged against Holy Spirit’s plan and substituted my own. It seems to be a fine line between distracting myself with my ideas and following Holy Spirit’s plan.

But yesterday was a good learning experience for me. I’m beginning to get a sense for the difference between my distracting ideas and Holy Spirit’s gentle guidance. I may still be misinterpreting Holy Spirit’s direction because I’m still trying to bring my plans with me sometimes, but I’m feeling that I’m making progress. So today I reaffirm my commitment to pause for peace all through the day and focus my attention no Holy Spirit’s direction. That is how I will have a happy day.

© 2008, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Pause for Peace

Robert:  Once again I am struck by how quickly I fall into the ego-directed mode of planning and organizing. There seems to be so much that needs to be done. The ego sees this as prime opportunity to defend against the Holy Spirit’s gift of freedom.

It’s not that there should be no plan or that I should just sit in a chair and dream or sleep. What is important is that my first step is always to pause for peace and open my mind to Holy Spirit’s plan. While I believe I am in this world, there will be doing of some kind in form. But when it is guided by the Holy Spirit, instead of being a defense, it is always moving toward the confidence of my complete support in the Love and strength of God.

The actual physical activities that I am directed by Holy Spirit to do may appear very similar to what the ego would plan. But the difference is the ego’s plans are motivated by fear and isolation. The Holy Spirit’s plans are motivated by Love and joining. Happiness is impossible in fear but happiness is inevitable in joining. The ego’s plans are defenses against the happiness Love offers me. The Holy Spirit’s plans prepare me to welcome the happiness that has always been mine to claim.

Holy Spirit: Practice pausing for peace today. This is especially important if you feel yourself hurrying. By pausing for peace you will accomplish more of what needs to be done and will not waste time on what is meaningless. It is the fast track. It is the happy track.

Holy Spirit through Mary:  When many ideas start swirling around and you feel overwhelmed and uncertain as to what action to take, stop. Move your mind into a place of quiet. Go to your inner sanctuary of stillness. Let your mind quiet. Remain in that state of mind until you feel deep peace.

In that place of quiet, the inspiration and inner direction that needs to come to you in that moment will be there. The Holy Spirit will bring just what you need to know whenever you need to know it. Your job is to clear out the clutter and go to that quiet place where you can hear the Holy Spirit with clarity. Go to this place as often as you need to.

Remember you are in a school and the Holy Spirit is your Teacher. The Holy Spirit cannot give you Its mind healing training unless you are there listening in a quiet place that is free of the ego’s chatter. Do this often and you will receive everything you need to know whenever you need to know it. Stay in the present moment and listen.

© 2008, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Lighten Up and Let Go

Mary:  We are in the process of removing everything from our “back office” so it can be painted and carpeted. There is a large double desk that was custom built for Robert’s parents that needs to be given to someone. As we talked about all the different options of how to let the desk go, I felt an inner smile from the Holy Spirit. Now I am reminded once again to soften and let it unfold. I see that it is so helpful for us to lighten up and let go of things that were useful for a time but now do not fit into the new situation. The desk had some extra meaning because Robert’s parents had it built especially for the library where they could look out the large windows at the beautiful lake.

In this world, nothing lasts forever. What is useful at one time is not necessarily useful 30 years later. At one time I thought we would keep the desk because of its long history with Carl and Maxine, and us for the last 20 years. It has been a wonderful and useful desk. But now it is clear that it is time to let it go. I feel Holy Spirit smile as I am learning that stuff of itself does not matter. When its usefulness is done, we simply let it go with no regrets.

This is just one of the many wonderful lessons we are being guided through, as we stay in the present moment and watch it unfold with Holy Spirit’s help. What seemed to be a problem regarding what to do with the desk now seems so simple. Day by day we are getting ready to move on and transition to a time made simple with Holy Spirit’s guidance moment by moment. Thank you Holy Spirit.

Robert: As Mary talked about the desk that has served us well and now its usefulness is over so we are ready to let it go, I was reminded that the Course tells us that we are to hold this same attitude about the body. The body is no more me than that desk. I may think of the body as my identity, but it is not true. Any attachment I had to the desk is simply a mistaken attachment to an empty image that has no meaning of its own. The same is true of the body that I think of as mine.

Letting go of the desk is practice for letting go of what no longer serves, including letting go of the body once its usefulness is done. The form in the world of moving to Florida is providing fertile ground for practicing recognizing what serves and what does not serve the Holy Spirit’s plan. What serves the Holy Spirit’s plan is all that has value. Nothing else matters. So I am getting a magnificent opportunity for training in how to recognize what matters and what doesn’t.

All the stress, strain, pain, fear and unhappiness I have ever experienced comes from thinking something matters that does not really matter. Only Love matters because only Love is real. Thinking anything else matters is simply a mistake to be corrected. As I practice pausing for peace and opening my mind to the Holy Spirit’s vision, I receive His gentle training that releases me to the happiness, peace and Love that is my birthright. What a wonderful gift and I’m willing to accept it. Thank you.

© 2008, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Only Oneness Is Meaningful

Robert: It’s remarkable how easy it is to overwhelm myself with my plans. I think I can see all these different pieces that need to be dealt with in preparation for moving. A Course in Miracles tells us that the ego thinks the way to understand something is to break it in parts and break the parts into more parts and analyze them. This is how the ego makes the world seem complicated. So attempting to deal with all the little pieces is a sure sign that I’m buying into the ego’s idea of separate parts being meaningful. But in truth, only oneness is meaningful and trying to break oneness into parts obscures the meaning and makes it inconceivable.

The antidote to the feeling of being overwhelmed by so many pieces is to step back and reconnect with Holy Spirit within. The Holy Spirit will gently lead me back to the recognition of oneness in the present moment. All the little pieces are symbols that can be expressions of the Holy Spirit’s plan in the world. My job is to stay focused in the present and hold my mind open to the Holy Spirit’s lead. The pieces will fall easily into place without my effort if I simply step back and let Him lead the way.

Holy Spirit:  Remember to pause for peace. This simple little exercise repeated often through the day helps you remain open to My lead. It clears your mind, freeing you from the self-made confusion of disconnected parts. Pause for peace. A simple, relaxing breath, a brief halt in your activity will help you maintain your center of peace. The seeming external chaos will not disturb you because you will not attempt to bring order to the chaos on your own.

Remember, on your own you are part of the chaos. But joined with Me there can be no chaos because joined with Me you are accepting your unity with the oneness of Love. This practice of pausing for peace frequently will help you function with ease in the dream because it will help you know that you are not of the dream. Walk you in peace with your head held high as you let the Light within you illuminate your way Home. It is a walk to joy.

Holy Spirit through Mary:  The world is filled with distractions. In fact it is one big distraction dreamed up to forget your Identity in God. Once you realize that this is true, you can give everything in the world a new meaning. You can ask yourself of everything, “Am I using this as a distraction to hide my awareness of Love’s Presence? Or, is this a useful tool for the Holy Spirit to use for awakening purposes?” Remembering this will help you stay in close communication with Me all through the day.

Ask, “How can I be truly helpful right now? How can I use what is right before me for Holy Spirit’s purposes?” This provides an opportunity for Me to guide your day. This provides an opportunity for mind healing. This provides an opportunity to receive My peace and extend My peace. This how to have a happy day.

© 2008, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Handing Over Every Concern to Holy Spirit

Mary:  This morning I found myself being very concerned about how all these different pieces to this puzzle of moving to Florida would work out. The cost of getting this house ready for sale seems to be mounting and there seems to be so much to do. As we joined to read the Course together this morning, it occurred to me that I needed to hand all these concerns over to the Holy Spirit and remember once again not to try to figure it out on my own.

I need to remember that I have an inner Teacher and that I am in Holy Spirit’s school. All of this has gotten so real to me that I have been taking it too seriously. I forgot it is a dream and I need to come back to the Holy Spirit Who will help me remember the truth of What and Where I really am.

Holy Spirit:  Remember to step back frequently. You have done a very good job in making the world appear to be real, even though it isn’t. You now need mind training in order to let all these false ideas go. That requires listening in quiet, taking everything to Me. I will wash it clean of all false ideas. Take time to relax and be in a place of ease. Everything that needs to get done will get done.

You are in a period of transition and you do need a guide. Let yourself be carried. Let your mind be washed clear of all the fears that come up as you maneuver in your dream world of separate bodies. Come frequently to let the ego barnacles be washed away. As you do this frequently, you will feel lighter and more carefree. Remember once again that you are in a school and that you have a Teacher. Give time to listening to your Teacher. You will know how much you have really done this by how much ease and peace you feel. With your inner Teacher leading you, you will have a peace-filled day.

Robert:  I’ve observed that I like to be able to see what I’ve accomplished and I base my fulfillment on that. In the process of clearing things away to prepare for renovation and the move, sometimes it seems like I haven’t accomplished anything because things still seem to be in disarray. I recognize this now as another ego ploy to keep me attached to form and thinking form has meaning.

My only real fulfillment comes with following Holy Spirit’s plan. Holy Spirit’s plan is always ultimately to let go of valuing form, which is always just an empty image. Only Love matters.

Yesterday we took away three bags of trash and set aside a pile of stuff to go to Goodwill. The fulfillment in this comes from the symbol it represents of letting go of valuing forms. This is a huge release. It is an essential step on the return Home. It isn’t counted in how big the trash bags were or how much stuff is taken to Goodwill. It’s only value is in the letting go of the world it represents.

One tiny item, weighing less than an ounce could represent the final release to take me to the gate of Heaven. It is not for me to decide where I am on my journey Home. It is simply for me to follow Holy Spirit’s lead for the next step. In doing this my fulfillment is guaranteed, for I am truly fulfilling my purpose and bringing my brothers with me back to Heaven. My heart is filled with joy and gratitude for this wonderful classroom and my magnificent Teacher.

Holy Spirit through Sharyn:  Peace is your way Home to Me. When you allow someone else or a disturbing letter or phone call to take away your peace, know that those are all ways that the ego keeps you from Me. You see, when others want you to buy into their thought systems by telling you the way things have to be or should be, why would you allow that to take away your peace? When the thoughts of others are coming from their ego’s, bless them and pray that they will learn how to come to Me to receive the gift of peace. For you see when you allow yourself to get upset over any circumstance, you are completely forgetting Who you are. You are letting others ego’s dictate what is best for you or what they think you should do.

Please always remember to come to Me and I will tell you what to think and what must be done. I will always guide you to truth and peace. I will always guide you to realize Who you really are and Where you really are. You are One in the Mind of God. In the Mind of God there is only peace, happiness and joy. Bring all your concerns to Me so that I can remind you of that. That is why it is so important to come to Me continually and to be reminded more and more each day of the Love and peace that you really are. Living in that Love and peace is so important for you to serve others as you allow Me to serve you.

© 2008, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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