Realizing God's Will Is Oneness

By Rev. Barbara Kraetsch

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Reflections on Lesson 325 “All things I think I see reflect ideas.”

All things I think I see reflect ideas coming from the unconscious mind mostly, with a few coming from the conscious mind. When I stop and quiet my mind, I am really aware this is so. I watch the thoughts and ideas come forth as I see images of people, places and things.

I am also aware that underneath the surface of the world I think I see with all its diveristy, there is just one mind of ideas. The world I think I see comes from the one unconscious mind that has separated ideas in fear. There seem to be many fragments, but all I think I see stems from one idea of fear splintered and going forth to take shape. Everything I think I see comes from this splintered fear, the tiny mad idea of the one mind.

I think I see a universe at a distance, and a planet with hundreds of millions close by. How vast is the one mind that its idea of fear could manifest in an illusion that seems so immense and diverse. And this all is from only the tiny mad idea! How vast, how unlimited, how infinite the one mind must be.

Behind all I think I see is the truth of the one mind. Its reality is love, peace and joy, not fear. In love all is united and whole. Behind everything I think I see there is only the one love that unites. My body eyes show me only separate people/bodies with possessions, stories, emotions - all designed to promote fear and separation. Only in my mind can I grasp the idea that all these sights I think I see are not real, and there is really no separation of the one mind. There is only the one idea of fear of separation in the one mind that has seemed to make separation real in many forms. But separation is not real.

My awareness of this truth is great today, and I can accept it easily in my mind. There is wonderful peace and comfort in this. No matter what appearance or seeming problems in this brother or that sister, stories of legal problems, addictions, cancer, loss of jobs and businesess, storms and floods, loss of body (and the list seems endless), in the end these are only stories, seeming separations of the fear of separation. The fear manifests itself because it is an idea, and ideas must manifest themselves.

The truth is that God is, and God is love, peace, joy, abundance, whole and perfect unity. God can never be separated, nor separate from His creation, created from Himself by Himself. This changeless reality does not manifest itself in form as a body or a thing. Fear hardens. Fear hardens ideas into form. Love softens. Peace is fluid. Abundance constantly extends itself everywhere. The ideas of God, the thoughts of God are extending themselves infinitely in the one mind. They do not get stuck in form to disintegrate, rot, fall apart, die. Only fear does this. The idea of fear seemingly becomes form because it must. Being unreal it can only be reflected in unreality, in changing form. Fear is not eternal. Fear takes form, uses form, makes form to serve it own purpose, and reflect itself. What else can it do? Fear only hardens. Fear does not extend.

When I look about me with body eyes, all I think I see is form. Some looks beautiful I think, some not. It is only when I go to the stillness of my mind that I question its purpose. Form seems to have shifting purposes, all designed to keep me believing it is real. Only with Holy Spirit can I look with greater awareness, letting go of the purpose my unconscious mind gave the form, and grasp or comprehend something more. The floor I think I see - does it really support me as I think it does, looking so solid and sturdy? Only with Holy Spirit can I look afresh and ask what is my true support - what idea is my true support? Not the idea of floor, I’d venture to say!

When I let go and soften my mind, relax and open my mind, the hardness of fear has no place and no physical form. In my softened mind, yes, there is a world of ideas, but these ideas are fluid, light-filled and comforting. I feel the presence of Holy Spirit guiding my mind to see more than just form, but also the ideas behind form. Only with Holy Spirit can I understand that what I think I see is but a pale imitation of reality. Reality is the world of idea - idea that is constantly in motion, extending itself, living - in other words, the idea of God, the idea of truth.

Truth does not harden into form. Love does not harden into form, for it cannot do so. The idea of God going forth is eternal, infinite, changeless. Love always is love. Truth always is truth. They do not take form to rot or die. They live on and on. Behind all I think I see is a world of idea. Fear shows me one world, love shows me another. When I ask Holy Spirit to show me truth, She shows me the world of love, not the world of illusion I think I see with body eyes. For this I am most grateful.

Today I ask to see only the world reflected of love and peace, the world reflected of truth, the world reflected of the ideas of God. I soften my mind to listen and to see anew with Holy Spirit in gratitude that as we ask, we are answered in abundance. Yes, all things I think I see reflect ideas, and I choose to think that today I think I see with Holy Spirit.

© 2005, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Posted by Rev. Barbara Kraetsch.

The Holy Spirit Teaches Only Loving Communication

Maybe some of you have seen the movie biography of Alexander Graham Bell starring Don Ameche. There is a very moving scene in the movie which is the culmination of training that Bell has given a young boy who is hearing and speech impaired. The boy loves his father very much and the boy’s father loves his son and both are heartbroken that they cannot speak to each other in the father’s language, even though they could speak in sign language. Bell secretly works with the boy for many months, training him to use his breath, the placement of his teeth and tongue, and the working of his facial muscles to speak a word. On Christmas eve, Bell, as a surprise for the father, asks for the boy to join the family group, which he does. The boy sits on his father’s lap and with great effort manages to whisper a breathy “Faaa-thaaa, Faaa-thaaa” while looking into his father’s eyes with love and excitement. The father is overwhelmed with joy and love for his son and his efforts, and those of Bell, and tears of gratitude come to his eyes. He cradles his son in his arms and carries him from the room full of people.

The beauty of this scene came to me as I was meditating on Lesson 321, “Father, my freedom is in You alone.” The prayer of this lesson struck me and the words of Jesus, as if they were spoken directly to me. As I went into the meditation, I saw Jesus with me. Not just beside me, but also one with me in my mind. One mind, one voice, with Holy Spirit as the connecting way. Christ was the higher mind and a bridge or way of energy connected Christ to my mind. This was Holy Spirit. I also felt this wave of energy come into the chakra centers, particularly the throat chakra.

The scene from the movie came to me, and “Faaa-thaaa” came forth from my throat chakra over and over like a first attempt to really speak to my Father from the way connected to the Christ Self. I imagined how delighted the Father was to hear this from me as the father of the boy was delighted to hear the results of his son’s efforts to learn to speak the father’s language. I truly felt that my freedom is in the Father alone, and extended this thought to God, the Mother-Father God, the Creator. I also felt as if the communication to God was coming directly through the way connected to the Christ Self and out through the throat chakra. I felt that Jesus and I united as the Christ Self were saying “Faaa-thaaa” for the whole world, every brother and sister, and that Jesus was grateful for my efforts on behalf of God - giving expression to the truth that in God alone is our freedom.

Often we are tempted to think that money, power, position and other worldly possessions bring freedom, but this is a false freedom to move about in the illusion. We mistake this for true freedom which is communication with God, the freedom to be our True Self unemcumbered by the dream and its burden of separated thoughts made physical in form. There is freedom only in opening to the way of the Christ Mind which is in communication with God directly and with awareness. I was surprised by the wave of energy flowing so strongly into the throat chakra bringing warmth. I don’t know what this means. I hope it is the opening of constrictions and the beginning of removing blockages so that my True Self, the Christ Self joined with Jesus can be more present. I am willing for this to be, for I can see clearly that this is my true freedom.

ACIM Text on Page 280 says that if I have learned how to decide with God, “all decisions become as easy and as right as breathing.” I am willing to learn how to decide with God. I can do this by opening to the way of guiltlessness, the way of connection to the Christ Self, the way of Holy Spirit. In this the means and end are one. I am willing to focus on Holy Spirit’s way and be guided. Just as Bell taught the boy to communicate with his father and opened the way for him to do so, Holy Spirit lovingly and patiently teaches everyone to communicate with the Father in love.

Over the summer I got caught up in the busy ways of worldly life. There were many family concerns, especially illnesses and surgeries. There were friends with proposals to take up new projects, helping them to manifest the vision given them by Holy Spirit - all beautiful service, but in the end not my role of service in the world. My prayer time was not all I would like it to be. As I now come back to my former routine of longer morning meditation and writing, I feel as if I am coming home. There is a coming back to a place and feeling of comfort, surety and safety, but especially comfortability. This is my greatest joy, my greatest happiness. I can see this so clearly today. As I let Holy Spirit train and heal my mind so that I can speak to my Father in love and feel His love for me, I am home. This feels good and right for me. This is right-mindedness and only good can come from the way of connection to the Christ Self, only good can come from whispering “Faaa-thaaa” when this comes from the connection with Jesus.

I decide either to be in the way of connection, listening to Holy Spirit, or the temptation of the ego voice to feel guilt over being in the way of Holy Spirit and not in the world, but also for being caught in the world. Listening to the ego’s voice, one sees guilt everywhere. The ego voice is false and calls me only to confusion and anxiety. I can practice being in the way of connection to Christ eyes, Christ ears, Christ heart and mind without guilt. There is no guilt in the way of Holy Spirit. There is only love and peace and innocence, the innocence of the child whispering “Faaa-thaaa” with love. The way of Holy Spirit knows what is best and guides me accordingly. I do not know how to best communicate with the Father, but Holy Spirit knows the way. I cannot know what is best for the unseparated whole Christ Self without Holy Spirit’s help.

I choose today to practice the way of Holy Spirit in my mind. I choose to practice in the quiet to really feel the connection within and listen. I practice the connection, being aware of it and in it, listening and learning how to speak to my Father in love. I extend love and peace quietly to all. I will trust what I am experiencing and reach out in form to share as I am guided. I know my Father cradles me in His arms in love as He listens to my little whisperings in a new voice, perhaps not clear and practiced as yet, but full of love, as I say, “Faaa-thaaa.”

© 2005, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Posted by Rev. Barbara Kraetsch.

Accepting Holy Spirit’s Plan Brings Peace

I recognize today just how often I make plans in advance for myself and others. I think of things I will say and do, and how others will say and do. I make expectations in my mind by scripting in advance. I plan how people will act at family events and parties, meetings, holidays, work schedules - really, almost every situation or event I can think of. I script interactions and moods. I plan it out to meet my needs or what I think would be best, not only for me but others, as well. Sometimes these expectations get locked into my mind and if they don’t happen, I feel keenly disappointed

I remember receiving my high school graduation gift, a watch. May parents, especially my mother, picked it with care - one she thought would last a lifetime. (Of course, that was in the days when wind-up watches still did!) She saw elegance. I looked at it and saw an old-fashioned, old ladies watch. I wanted something bright, modern and quirky. The level of disappointment I felt was so strong, I can feel it today as I write this. Part of its strength was also the terror I felt about how I was going to hide my level of disappointment and thank them for the gift in front of all gathered. I knew I wasn’t doing a good job of it. My heart just sank as I opened the box, and I felt no joy. I could not enthusiastically say thanks. I am sure they knew, as did all present, that I didn’t like it as I issued my perfunctory thanks and said it was lovely. I’ve never been very good at hiding my feelings, I’m told. There they are for everyone to see clearly no matter how hard I try to disguise them.

This scenario has repeated itself many times over in my life. I can think of many disappointing gifts on disappointing birthdays and holidays. I can think of many disappointing conversations during meetings with friends and family, meetings long anticipated with excitement. Yes, I plan details - how things will look, what people will say, even how the food will smell and taste at a holiday dinner. I have been doing this since I was a child. I can remember vividly the times in my life when my expectations were met or exceeded because the are so rare, and were so fleetingly temporary.

During my last few years as an ACIM students, I have practiced changing this old habit. It is a tough one to break. I thought I was making good progress, but all of a sudden I have come to realize how deeply embedded in my unconscious is this habit. I am planning details before I even recognize I am do it. Out of the unconscious comes thought of fear in a steady stream. I underestimated what comes forth from this mysterious place or force at a never ending pace. Today I sit in amazement at the vast undertow that is present there, like the force under the waves coming to shore that can, once caught, suck someone far out into the ocean. Once caught in the undertow of the unconscious mind, I am sucked into a world of illusive expectations set up to keep me feeling dissatisfied and unfulfilled because they cannot be met. They cannot be met because they are false - only a dream of something grand but not grand themselves.

What to do when recognizing one is caught, yet again, in the undertow of expectations, is to, yet again, ask to be released. We have to be willing to let go of expectations and come back to the present now, listening to Holy Spirit now, and leaving all planning to His capable hands. As I listen now, look now, think now with Holy Spirit, I can choose trust and find peace. And, also, find forgiveness of myself that there are these thoughts streaming from the unconscious that invite separation. I cannot change my unconscious - I don’t even know what is in it! I must leave this all to Holy Spirit. As in the conscious mind I choose to be joined with Him in truth, the stream of unconscious thought can come forth to be looked at in the light of truth without fear.

As I consciously join with Holy Spirit, I forgive myself for the world I think I make with my mind. Right now I choose to give plans and expectations to Him, for I no longer wish to make a future that is designed to bring me only pain. As I open my mind to that which Holy Spirit will provide me, I open my mind to pleasant surprise. As circumstrances and events unfold, there can only be delight for me if I give all my expectations to Him, and only expect to find Him everywhere in everything. This is a conscious choice I make now and it brings me peace. In this, there is complete forgiveness of all I think I project, and also forgiveness of what yet lurks in the unconscious, waiting to stream forth in my unmindful moments to sweep me out to the sea of fear, and the fear of being lost in the sea of fear. Yes, this happens over and over again until my mind is completely healed.

I am recognizing I need not have any fear of being lost in fear. Holy Spirit is always there in His rescue boat, ready to lead me to the harbor of peace, safe and secure, as I always was in truth. My expectations sink me. Holy Spirit helps me walk on water to the safe shore of truth. All I need do is take His hand and by so doing, let go of my thought, for I cannot hold both in my hands. I can only hold one or the other. Only Holy Spirit’s thought uplifts me.

So, for today, I let go of my expectations and plans. I grab Holy Spirit’s hand, His thought, and His plan. I can only know this by staying in the present moment with Him. This is the only way I can remain untroubled about the future, expecting nothing but His love and His help, and trusting it will be there always. This is a good day, a Godly day, when I let Holy Spirit look ahead for me and I follow Him to joy, knowing I can never get there on my own.

© 2005, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this notice is included.

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Posted by Rev. Barbara Kraetsch.

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