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July - September, 2009

Asking the Right Question

Rev. Annie Arbona

This summer it has been unusually stormy in the area of Charleston where I live. We’ve had a lot of heat lightning, thunder, wind, hail, and of course a lot of rain.

I’ve often wondered if it is all a reflection of the storminess in our minds. On this particular night the answer for me was indeed a yes! As I observed the lightning and thunder outside, I became more and more aware of the storm occurring inside of myself.

In my mind I was hearing thunderous thoughts of anger, dissatisfaction, and scarcity. It was pouring sadness and the inner lightning was flashing questions on my mental screen such as; Why do I have to feel bad? Why does there never seem to be enough? Why do I have to go through these feelings again? And to top it all off, the winds of my personal storm were telling me over and over that everything, including myself, was up in the air. I was feeling more and more distraught and confused as both the outer and the inner storms gained force. 

After what seemed like a very long while, and at the same time felt like an experience that was both timely and necessary, something started to shift inside. There was a lull in the inner storm and then there was a Voice. It was an inner voice and it said, “You are asking the wrong questions.”

Mentally I commented to myself, “What?”  Again the voice said, and this time with more emphasis, “You are asking the wrong question.” And this time it added, ”The only question to ask yourself at this moment is, ‘Who am I?’ … and go deeply into the Who.” With these words, my storm came to a standstill, and the silence produced by the question was impenetrable. No thoughts could penetrate it, no feelings, no comments, no opinions, nothing. It was a moment just to be with the question without even expecting any kind of a response. The question itself seemed to include the answer. I went into the Who, and there was Perfect Peace. There was nothing else to do or think, or ask. The Peace left me in a state of not wanting anything, not needing anything, not even answers. The storm outside had pretty much dwindled also and there was a great calm everywhere.

Then the words of Oscar Hammerstein’s song, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” started going softly through my mind, “When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high….  At the end of the storm, there’s a golden sky… And you’ll never walk alone…” It was so soothing. I knew this was so because in that instant I knew Who I was and I knew Who walked with me. With this, I fell softly to sleep and I rested.

When I woke up the next morning, I felt there was a new space in the center of my heart. It was a space of calm and certainty, a very joyful space that was filled with gratitude. It felt so right to be there, in that space of the healed heart. I decided to read a quote from Byron Katie’s book “Question Your Thinking…”  this is what I opened it to:

“If your mind is clear, you can walk out the door right now, with no friends, no job, no family, no money, no anything, and live absolutely happily. You can’t not have abundance in paradise. In the stillness beyond belief, everything is known: where to go, what to do, when. All of it. The way I live is that I don’t ever have to know anything again — not ever.”

This was the frosting on the cake !!

Rev. Annie Arbona is a Pathways of Light minister living in Melbourne, Florida.
She is on the Pathways of Light staff and is in charge of the Spanish translation project.

© 2009, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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July - September, 2009

How Does a Teacher of God Teach?

by Rev. Larry Glenz

Having recently retired from a long career as a high school history teacher and a coach of several sports, I have been enthusiastic about using my Pathways of Light ministry to teach about my greatest passion, A Course in Miracles.

I absolutely love A Course in Miracles.  Why I firmly believe it speaks of spiritual “Truth,” I cannot say. Although it is only one path of thousands designed to connect us to our Creator — when it is the path that is meant for you, you seem to recognize it. I’ve been studying ACIM for 15 years now and I still feel I can’t fully understand much of what it says. Nevertheless, I somehow firmly believe all it says is the truth and I’m truly grateful that it all resonates in me so powerfully.

Explaining the concepts of the Course to others certainly can be a challenge, however. How many people are ready to hear that the world is not real? This is not a new concept in spirituality. Certainly “maya” or the world as illusion is a core belief of Vedanta — among the oldest of the Eastern religious paths and thousands of years older than Christianity. The Course is designed to be practical but Westerners might find the part about the world not being real as a stumbling block.

ACIM’s teachings are 180 degrees from what most of the world considers the “truth,” so it may be a very long time before many in the West will be willing to accept such seemingly radical concepts. The idea of “dreaming” that we are in separate bodies while actually being at “home” in the Oneness of God is also one few might be ready to accept. Yet for some reason it resonates in me as completely true and I’m grateful to feel that truth. 

But since there is no world “out there,” why should it be important to me to teach other separate bodies out there that there is no world and no separate bodies? Accepting “Oneness” is my only function — not convincing others of Course teachings. As a minister of Pathways of Light I should help people find their own connection to Spirit and to receive their own answers from the true Source. 

I need to teach through my actions, not my words. Those of us who want to better learn the concepts of A Course in Miracles can group together to share. But what one does speaks louder and clearer than what one says. My “teaching” really needs to be done in a much more conventional way — through loving actions and qualities (e.g. open-mindedness, patience, honesty, generosity, tolerance, gentleness, etc.). I need ask only that Spirit strengthen these qualities in me so I can be a more effective teacher for Him and teach only love. 

I can let Holy Spirit figure out the form my teaching will take.  This “dream world” is my classroom.  All I need to decide is that I will let Him come through me as He sees fit.  And that’s a very exciting way to teach!

Rev. Larry Glenz is a Pathways of Light minister living in Long Island, New York.

© 2009, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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July - September, 2009

Questions

Rev. Anita Ottley

May 2009 marked the 4th anniversary of my ordination from Pathways of Light. Since that time, the question I hear the most is “What are doing with your ministry?” I often find myself wondering how best to respond to this question.

My first thought is that we are all teachers and students every minute of every day so we minister to each other and to ourselves in every breath we take. For some, their ministry shows up in sharing with large groups of people in a group or church setting. For others, it may mean writing and sharing your experiences online, in a newsletter, journal or book. Yet again, it might be ministering one on one with the people in your life. 

For me, my experience as minister has been a variety of experiences. All of the experiences have been equally contributory to my continuing expansion of understanding and sharing love. I have performed weddings and funerals in various situations, different states and for people that I knew or just met. I have found myself listening to someone and sharing thoughts of love with that person while at work, flying on a plane, in the line at the supermarket and even sitting on a bench in the park. I have also learned a lot about love in all those situations. 

The ego wants to compare what one person is doing with what other people doing.  Yet Holy Spirit knows there is no need to compare as long as you are following His guidance.  One of the most valuable pieces of A Course in Miracles is that it teaches us to question for ourselves and get our own answers. One person’s answer may not be the same as another person’s answer. Our journey is set up for our continued growth and optimal expansion of God’s love. 

Asking Holy Spirit the questions and handing it over to him while patiently waiting for his answers are how one best ministers to themselves and others. Let go of comparing yourself to someone else. You can never be someone else because you were meant to be you. For those who need to judge, it may not look like what they think it should like — but you and Holy Spirit are the only ones who need to understand. There’s no need to defend what you’re doing either. If you wait for others to approve of what you’re doing, you will wait a long time and probably miss a few opportunities to do what you’re intended to do.

The first step is offering up that “little bit of willingness” by asking the question and allowing the answers to come back to you. As long as one continues to think their answers are “out there” in another person, they will fail to find the answers from within. 

If you find yourself being asked the question, “What are you doing with your ministry?” and you’re not quite sure how to respond — I would suggest saying, “My ministry is only measured in how much love I experience and share with others… so right now, I’m sharing that with you.”

Rev. Anita Ottley is a Pathways of Light minister living in Newark, New York.

© 2009, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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July - September, 2009

Peace in Action

by Rev. PJ Bouchard

In talking about peace I would like to share a personal story with you. Over the past month or so I have had the opportunity of providing peace to my loving parents and ultimately to me. How did this all come about? Well, during my travels to Miami for business, over the last several months, I got to visit and spend some quality time with them. It was a pretty amazing experience for me. During this visit I realized what a wonderful and, what I call, ‘cute’ life they have. They both still drive, mom works part time and dad golf’s every day. Oh did I mention they are 82?

What happened during that visit was amazing. I received a strong message from the Holy Spirit that it was time to move to Florida. My folks were getting scared and nervous. They were starting to think about – “Who will support us if and when something happens to one of us”? These are not words that were spoken to me by them. My parents would not want to interfere in any of our lives, which means neither of them would have shared their feelings with any of us (I have 4 siblings).  The message came loud and clear from Holy Spirit. There was no question in my mind that I was to move. Moving them to Massachusetts where my sisters are or to Arizona where I live was not an option. Over the last 20 years they have created a beautiful and peaceful life and it was my opportunity to support them in continuing that peaceful life. What may seem like a big decision to many was not a big decision at all. It came peacefully and with ease and grace. It came from the Holy Spirit. It was one of the biggest and fastest decisions I have made I my life and it was one of the easiest.

Over the last several months I have been putting Holy Spirit in charge of my day. It is amazing how much more peace, joy and love I am experiencing.  I believe as I continue to experience more peace in my life I am able to share that peace with others. It is amazing how we truly cannot give what we do not possess.  For me, I am in deep gratitude to be in a place where every day I put the Holy Spirit in charge and the level of peace I experience is truly amazing. How perfect it is for me to be sharing my peace with my incredible parents. To ask them to move to a place or places where they are not familiar would create much stress and tension in their lives. They would no longer be independent - drive, play golf, work, etc.

So, off we go! My partner and I moved on May 16, 2009 to a wonderful place called New Smyrna Beach, Florida. We will be 45 minutes from my folks. My intent is not to interfere in their lives, but to be a support system if and when they need us. My parents would never ask anything of us; however, once I shared the news, my mom cried and told me how scared she was that no one was here in Florida should something happen to my dad. She thanked me and said that she wouldn’t be nervous anymore and felt a true sense of relief and peace. Now, my dad, who always portrays himself as being very positive without a care in the world, called me a few days after our discussion and told me that he gets scared and that it is a bit unnerving wondering who will be there to support them as they continue their journey. Being the comic that he is, my dad stated that, if I told anyone what he shared with me, he would deny it. He conveyed his gratitude and said that now he can be at peace knowing that, if something happens to him, we are there.

I truly believe I was guided in a gentle and loving way by Holy Spirit to make this move and know that I heard the message loud and clear. I have chosen to hold the hand of Holy Spirit rather than the Ego and each day I feel a deeper connection and hear Holy Spirit’s messages more clearly.

In writing and sharing this story I realize that extending peace can come in many different forms; and, as we continue to create more peaceful and joyful lives, the more we can give and give and give with absolute ease and grace. And, as I have learned during my ministerial program, as we give we receive for we are all connected – we are one. I am receiving great gifts because of my decision and I am in deep gratitude to my parents for all they are to me and thankful that I get to continue to expand my world and that of our business.

Rev. PJ Bouchard is a Pathways of Light minister living in New Smyrna Beach, FL. Web: http://www.reconnectfromwithin.com

© 2009, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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