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January-March, 2007

On Being Falsely Accused

by Rev. Myron Jones

Someone I know accused me of something I didn’t do. In the ego, being falsely accused brings up so much fear. First, if it is a false accusation, there is nothing for me to fix. I can’t make it right. I can try to argue the point, but even the ego knows that too much arguing just makes it more real. So it just sits there, unresolved and seeming to taunt me.

I find it hard to look away, and the more I look the worse I feel. I feel that I have been attacked and since I can find no other way to defend myself, I return the attack. There must be something wrong with this person. If his accusation is so patently false, he must be projecting. He is showing his true colors. He said about me what he really feels about himself.

Strangely, though I feel completely justified in my attack, I do not feel better. I do not understand this. It makes perfect sense. I took the high road in not pointing out his error to him. I saw what was really happening. Why don’t I feel better? Why is his accusation still just sitting there taunting me? And why is my justification sitting beside it?

Now not only do I feel diminished by his attack, I feel guilty because I found my brother wrong. Not voicing my judgment doesn’t lessen the attack as I thought it would. This is all his fault. If he had not made that totally unnecessary and untrue remark, I wouldn’t feel so bad. Oh my gosh! Did I just say that? Did I just give my power to him? Did I just make myself his victim? Cancel, cancel, I take it all back!

Oh lord, this is so confusing. I hate that man. I wish I didn’t know him and had never met him. It just gets worse and worse the more I think about it. OK, Holy Spirit, I need help. How do I get out of this? I don’t want conflict in my life. Please help me to unravel this.

“Myron, when you feel diminished it is because you think you can be diminished. You feel that the Son of God can be chipped away a little at a time by stray words flung about carelessly by others. I want to gently remind you that your wholeness is protected by God and has been so protected since your creation. Nothing can be taken from it. You are free, however, to experience yourself as less than if you so choose, but it doesn’t make it true. It is only a thought. You are equally free to change your mind about that thought, and choose to feel your wholeness instead. Then you will be experiencing the truth of who you are.

“If you choose to experience your wholeness, you will be teaching your brother his wholeness without ever uttering a word. If he does not choose to look at your wholeness now, and he does not choose to experience his wholeness now, it does not matter. The gift was given and will wait for him. All gifts given through Me are given to all, and so the truth about you has been reinforced. As you continue to use all of the circumstances in your story to practice this, the truth will become more real to you than the ego stories you have written.”

“Holy Spirit, this feels so good. I feel much lighter and freer without the conflict. I don’t understand how I could have been so confused. It is really very simple. But what I have seen is that I am easily tempted back into the drama of the ego. Sometimes I hold onto the drama for a long time before I become willing to let it go. I feel very guilty about this, and a little scared, too.”

“Holy child of God, you are completely untouched by the play of your mind. You can only pretend to be hurt. Play all you want for as long as you like. Pain is self-limiting. You will always stop when the pain becomes unbearable. You have already spent too much time in joy to tolerate much pain, and now you stop yourself soon after you have begun. Continue to come to me with your errant thoughts and I will correct them for you. I will not hold your ‘evil’ deeds against you because God does not. You need not hold anything against yourself either.

“There is nothing to be afraid of, precious one. If you become afraid of what you make with your thoughts, invite Me to join you in the experience. This is the same as exposing them to the Light and the Light will dispel the darkness of your thoughts. Do not be discouraged that you must repeat the process. That is what the world is for, to give you many opportunities to practice moving from darkness to Light so that, slowly, you may become accustomed to the Light, and learn that it is really the Light you want.”

“Thank you, Holy Spirit.”

Rev. Myron Jones is a Pathways of Light minister living in St. Charles, Louisiana. Read more of her inspiring Healing Journal articles on the Pathways of Light web site. Myron’s web site: http://www.forgivenessistheway.org

© 2007, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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October - December, 2006

Joining with People Around the World in Awakening to Love

by Rev. Cheryl Ford

Pathways of Light Spiritual College has long been ‘dedicated to joining with people around the world in awakening to the Love and Peace of God within us all.’ In harmony with this philosophy, several ministers have been inspired to carry out that mission by launching a Pathways of Light branch in the United Kingdom (UK).

Directed by Holy Spirit and working closely with the main campus in Kiel, steps are unfolding to bring the loving message of A Course in Miracles (ACIM) through the Pathways of Light courses to a whole new group of students throughout the UK and Europe. So far, the results have been a remarkable meeting of the minds and a wonderful collaboration of ministers, ACIM group leaders, students and friends.

Launching a new branch has been an unexpected and exciting venture; one that’s time has definitely come! Each day Spirit is encouraging more and more activity to create just the right opportunities at just the right time to bring the course lessons that focus on deepening our connection with Inner Wisdom to ever increasing groups of people.

The journey began with a literal journey of a newly ordained Pathways of Light minister who relocated to the UK with her family in sincerity of following Spirit’s guidance. Shortly after arriving, she noticed that she was the only Pathways of Light minister in the UK, and one of just a couple of others scattered throughout Europe.

Initially, she started building her ministry and made contacts with local study and networking groups. But because of unexpected hardships, including losing a box filled with all of her training materials in the mail, it seemed next to impossible to get things off the ground. Of course with God, all things ort of Robert and Mary at Pathways, the materials were generously replaced and she was soon assigned her first student!

In the beginning stages of the new student’s sessions, it was made clear that he was not particularly interested in facilitating or necessarily establishing his own ministry. Still, it was evident that this was no ordinary relationship, and it wasn’t long before Spirit inspired them to combine forces along with Robert and Mary in Kiel to bring the beautiful Pathways of Light courses to the UK!

Although most ministers do create their own ministries, it was decided that a branch would be the most effective way to maintain the integrity of the course materials and the objectives of Pathways of Light. Of course a lot of planning under Spirit’s guidance is needed in terms of establishing local marketing, contacts, production and distribution, but these all seem to be unfolding with synchronistic precision.

In addition, each minister brings their own gifts that make valuable contributions. From those who have actually written the materials, to those who help develop the web site, each person is fulfilling their function as a messenger of God by serving as the ‘feet, eyes, ears and hands of Holy Spirit’ to bring these important and helpful lessons to all.

In the meantime, there is a POL-UK web page at http://www.pathwaysoflight.org.uk and a winter/spring calendar of group courses will be offered in north London beginning in late November. There is also a quarter page ad currently running in the ‘Miracle Worker’ magazine, a UK based publication and much interest is being generated.

Soon they hope to publish course materials in the UK to reduce shipping costs and localize the course catalogue to reflect British Pounds instead of US Dollars.

As the branch development moves forward, it is the goal to form a core membership of POL ministers based in the UK dedicated to facilitating new students, leading group course sessions and supporting the day-to-day tasks of operating a spiritual college.

In this great time of awakening Holy Spirit will provide all those who hear the Call and respond with wonderful opportunities to serve His purpose if only we will let Him. Pathways of Light is one such way… But whatever way we choose, one thing is certain: we all go home together.

Rev. Cheryl Ford is a Pathways of Light minister living in Birmingham, England. Read more of her inspiring Healing Journal articles on the Pathways of Light web site.

© 2006, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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October - December, 2006

Applying True Forgiveness

by Revs. Robert & Mary Stoelting

We would like to start by defining what we mean by the term true forgiveness. We define true forgiveness as letting the light of truth shine through into our awareness. This light of truth comes from the Holy Spirit, Who returns our mind to the sanity of Love’s oneness.

As students of the Course, we are learning that true forgiveness means letting go of the dream of separate bodies and letting it be replaced by the truth of oneness. “A world forgiven cannot last. It was the home of bodies. But forgiveness looks past bodies. This is its holiness; this is how it heals.” (ACIM, C-4.5:1-4)

True forgiveness occurs as we let the Holy Spirit judge what everything means and show us the difference between the real and the unreal. “Have you yet learned to stand aside and hear the Voice of Judgment in yourself? Or do you still attempt to take His role from Him? Learn to be quiet, for His Voice is heard in stillness. And His Judgment comes to all who stand aside in quiet listening, and wait for Him.” (M-15.2:10-13)

Recently we had an opportunity to apply the practice of true forgiveness when we observed that we were not in a place of peace as we read an article that we perceived to be an unkind ‘dialog’ between well-known teachers of the Course. We know that the ego in our minds is drawn to controversy and is quick to take sides and loves to join in the battle. We have been practicing the Course long enough to know that when we are not in a place of peace, it is not because of ‘outer’ circumstances, but because we are usurping Holy Spirit’s role.

We saw that this lack of peace was coming from our own minds because we know that there is no outside world. We know that ideas leave not their source. This means that every experience we have is coming from our own mind, not from anything outside us. Once we recognized that our lack of peace had nothing to do with anything outside us, we knew that we were being given another opportunity to apply true forgiveness instead of judging what anything means on our own.

As we accepted a change in perception from Holy Spirit, we learned, once again, not to take our worldly dreams of separate bodies so seriously because they are all equally unreal. As we willingly opened our minds to peace and looked at our perceptions with Holy Spirit, the dream took on a new purpose. Instead of seeing attack, we were guided to see a call for help. “A shadow figure who attacks becomes a brother giving you a chance to help, if this becomes the function of the dream. And dreams of sadness thus are turned to joy.” (T-29.IV.5:6-7)

With this one purpose of forgiveness — letting the Holy Spirit correct all our false perceptions of separation, we are led to forgive all the figures in our dream of separation from Love. We are led to see all the figures in our dream differently. When we asked for help in seeing this differently, we were led to this paragraph in the Course: “What is your brother for? You do not know, because your function is obscure to you. Do not ascribe a role to him that you imagine would bring happiness to you. And do not try to hurt him when he fails to take the part that you assigned to him, in what you dream your life was meant to be. He asks for help in every dream he has, and you have help to give him if you see the function of the dream as He perceives its function, Who can utilize all dreams as means to serve the function given Him. Because He loves the dreamer, not the dream, each dream becomes an offering of love. For at its center is His Love for you, which lights whatever form it takes with love.” (T-29.IV.6:1-7)

So, guided by the Holy Spirit, we were brought to a place of offering only love, which means seeing past illusions of individuality to the truth that lies beyond dreams of separate identities. “Here is the role the Holy Spirit gives to you who wait upon the Son of God, and would behold him waken and be glad. He is a part of you and you of him, because he is his Father’s Son, and not for any purpose you may see in him. Nothing is asked of you but to accept the changeless and eternal that abide in him, for your Identity is there. The peace in you can but be found in him. And every thought of love you offer him but brings you nearer to your wakening to peace eternal and to endless joy.” (T-29.V.3:1-5)

The Holy Spirit was not ambiguous or vague with us here. It is very clear to us that in this situation as well as in every situation, that true forgiveness is our only function. As we continue to practice true forgiveness whenever we find that we are not in a place of peace, our barriers to seeing Love’s oneness are dissolved because we are willing to let all our grievances be undone. We are seeing more clearly than ever that everything we experience through the body is merely a projection — making it look like there really is a world outside us. When we think there is a world outside, we need healing.

In the Manual for Teachers we are told, “In order to heal, it thus becomes essential for the teacher of God to let all his own mistakes be corrected. If he senses even the faintest hint of irritation in himself as he responds to anyone, let him instantly realize that he has made an interpretation that is not true. Then let him turn within to his Eternal Guide, and let Him judge what the response would be. So is he healed, and in his healing is his pupil healed with him.

The sole responsibility of God’s teacher is to accept the Atonement for himself. Atonement means correction, or the undoing of errors. When this has been accomplished, the teacher of God becomes a miracle worker by definition. His sins have been forgiven him, and he no longer condemns himself. How can he then condemn anyone? And who is there whom his forgiveness can fail to heal?” (M-18.4:1-10)

This experience led us to remember again that we awaken from dreams only when we let the light of truth shine them away. When we see our dreams of individuality for what they truly are, they become laughable, silly nonsense. It becomes clear that every dream of separate bodies is not to be taken seriously. “In gentle laughter does the Holy Spirit perceive the cause, and looks not to effects. How else could He correct your error, who have overlooked the cause entirely? He bids you bring each terrible effect to Him that you may look together on its foolish cause and laugh with Him a while. You judge effects, but He has judged their cause. And by His judgment are effects removed. Perhaps you come in tears. But hear Him say, ‘My brother, holy Son of God, behold your idle dream, in which this could occur.’ And you will leave the holy instant with your laughter and your brother’s joined with His.” (T-27.VIII.9:1-8)

To summarize our forgiveness process: At first we were distressed at something that appeared to be real. We then recognized that we were deciding what was real on our own. We then handed over all our thoughts about the situation, remembering that we know nothing. We opened our mind in stillness to Holy Spirit’s peace and understanding, and what we asked for, we received.

We were brought to seeing everyone’s innocence. We were brought to the recognition that everyone concerned is still as God created them. Nothing has happened to change God’s one Son. The Holy Spirit once again showed us the difference between the real and the unreal. We do not need to ‘fix’ what is unreal. We simply recognize that what is of the ego has no effects, no matter what appears to be ‘happening’ in the dream.

We don’t have to ‘join the battle’ because in truth there is no battle. There are no differences. There is no division in God’s one Son. What a relief! Everyone is still our dearest friend. Another frightening story was given to the Holy Spirit to be undone. Truth is true and nothing else is true. And we are grateful that this is so.

Mary & Robert Stoelting are co-founders of Pathways of Light. They live at the Pathways of Light Center in Kiel, Wisconsin.

© 2006, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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October - December, 2006

Being of Service

by Rev. Myron Jones

Sometimes it seems hard to know how best to be of service. Someone is in crisis, or simply processing and I wonder, “How can I really help? At what point will my helpfulness become intrusive?” What about other times when the need is not so obvious? I started thinking about this because of something that happened while I was working.

I was helping a customer with some paper work he had to submit to a governmental agency. I was so intent on what we were doing and with getting through it so I could make my next appointment that it wasn’t until I was leaving that I picked up on his discomfort.

I’m pretty sure he had a personal problem that he may have wanted to talk about, but I missed the chance to offer him that opportunity. He keeps popping up in my thoughts. I decided to hold him in God’s healing light and to know that he is loved and perfectly protected. In linear time, it may be too late, but time isn’t the truth so it is never too late. The Holy Spirit is not hampered by our ego laws. Healing moves across the imaginary borders of time easily, completely unimpeded by false ideas like past and present.

I regret not being present in the moment I was with this man. If I had been, I would have asked for guidance, and if led to do so, would have opened the way for him to share. I would have stepped back and allowed the Holy Spirit to lead the way. Then I would have known what to say, and how to be of service. For the most part, I think that is the secret to serving; just to be aware and open to guidance.

I also think that I can be helpful simply because that is my intention. There are so many little ways in which we can serve. I was checking into a hotel and was tired and distracted. The clerk was kind and friendly, and I immediately felt renewed. My energy level went up, and I felt myself smiling gratefully at her.

Such a little thing, being kind and friendly, easy to do, costs nothing, and yet we might never know how important it is to another person. Perhaps it is not such a small thing after all. A lifetime of smiles and kind words would be a lifetime of healing. I would love to know that my lifetime could be summed up as one of kindness.

Being of service would indeed be difficult if I had to figure out what to say and to whom, but that is not my part in it. I only have to be ready and willing to step back so that the Holy Spirit can lead me. I set my intention by starting the day with a prayer from A Course in Miracles:

“I am here only to be truly helpful.” This is a perfect beginning. It is here that I set my intention. In this statement, I have decided my purpose and made clear how I will respond to whatever happens. I will be truly helpful. I have always found it easier to be with smaller groups of people, and when there are too many, I feel overwhelmed. So when I went to a meeting last night where there would be 30 or so folks, I reminded myself of my purpose by saying just the one easy to remember line; I am here only to be truly helpful. So I don’t have a lot of things to figure out as I interact with the people at the meeting, because whatever their story is, I only need to do or say whatever would be truly helpful.

The second sentence of the prayer says,

“I am here to represent Him Who sent me.”  When I think about this, I feel tears coming into my eyes. Did I think that this meeting was just the last thing on my schedule, something to get through so that I could go home? Perhaps this is true in the ego perspective of my life, but in truth, God sent me here. I am here to represent Him. What was a mundane purpose, seen in the light of truth, is now recognized as lofty indeed.

The prayer goes on to say, “I do not have to worry about what to say or what to do, because He Who sent me will direct me.”

Well, that is a relief. I do want to serve God through serving my brother, but what qualifies me to do that? How could I know what would prepare me for this? How could I know what is best for everyone in any situation?

I knew a woman who was often very wise and who seemed always to know the right thing to do. I liked her very much, and since I was quite young and had little experience of life to draw on, appreciated her wisdom and the quiet authority with which she spoke. But then, if she noticed that someone was going to change their mind and act according to what she said, she would say no, that’s for me, you have to decide for yourself what to do. She was certain for herself, but didn’t want to take the responsibility of influencing others.

If I speak only for my ego-self, I will feel the same way. As a young woman, I was disconcerted by her uncertainty, but as I grew older, I began to understand her conflict. I, too, sensed that I had no way of knowing what was needed by someone else, and yet I also sensed that I was there for a reason. A Course in Miracles helped me to understand that while I am here for a reason, I am not here on my own authority, nor am I left to make these decisions on my own. The Holy Spirit will tell me what to say and what to do if I let Him.

The next line perfectly expresses my relief at not being on my own, and my decision to be directed. It says, “I am content to be wherever He wishes, knowing He goes there with me.” This speaks to acceptance. In the past, I have tried to accept what was, and it has been an uphill battle. The ego-self wants its way. Its focus is on the comfort and protection of the body, and will fight to achieve that goal. It is an impossible goal, and only serves to keep me in conflict and discontent. On the other hand, trying is an ego concept, and so in the end, will always fail. In this line of the prayer, I am offered an alternative that works. I know that God goes with me everywhere I go, so I am perfectly protected and perfectly loved. I have no concern where that may be, because my safety and my joy are not dependent on the place, or the situation, or on who may be there with me. All that I need in every circumstance is provided because I am with God.

And finally, “I will be healed as I let Him teach me to heal.” This is what it is all about. God does not send me to a person for my entertainment, or to help me pass the time. I have a purpose, and that purpose is to heal. By keeping God in the lead, I learn to heal. Because this is true, every encounter has the potential to be holy. There are many ways in which this plays out in our stories, but it is always about seeing the innocence. I was in a meeting when someone I don’t like showed up. I have such a hard time being around this man. Even though I was uncomfortable with my judgment, I had a hard time releasing it. I asked the Holy Spirit what I should do. I didn’t know how to handle this in a way that was healing. How this person acted kept engaging my attention.

The next morning the first thing I thought when I woke up is that this man is perfectly innocent. Nothing he says or does has any impact on his innocence which was guaranteed in his creation. I wondered if that could be all there was to it. Yes! I understood that this is all I need to know about this man. I went to bed blaming myself for my judgments, and blaming him for putting me in this position. I woke up in forgiveness, and discovered that I am as innocent as he is. This relationship is healed. There is nothing I can do that is more important than this. I have a T-shirt that has this ACIM quote: “The holiest of all spots on earth is where an ancient hatred becomes a present love.” And how could I do anything but love that innocent child of God.

Rev. Myron Jones is a Pathways of Light minister living in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Read more of her inspiring Healing Journal articles on the Pathways of Light web site. Web site: ForgivenessIstheWayHome.org

© 2006, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this copyright notice and website address are included.

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