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January-March, 2020

A Simple Process for Experiencing Peace

by Rev. Jennifer McSween, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

Workbook Lesson 34 “I could see peace instead of this” was one of the many lessons with which I struggled, like most of us who become students of the Course do, coming from the world in which what we see with our eyes is considered to be “reality,” or as the late Ken Wapnick referred to it: “The 2 + 2 = 4 world.”

I got that the “this” in the lesson title referred to whatever it was that was not being seen or experienced in a peaceful way. Where I had difficulty was how to go about seeing or experiencing in a peaceful way the circumstance, situation or condition that by appearance was not peaceful or seemed to be the cause of my lack of peace. 

The answer came to me when I found myself faced with a situation that I felt completely took me off my peace. The specifics of the situation aren’t relevant. But what is relevant, is that I was convinced that my lack of peace was caused by the specifics of the situation. If I could make the right decision to change the situation, I would be at peace.

I felt the right decision had to be one that was well-intentioned, logically sound, and shouldn’t cause any loss or pain to anyone concerned. An option became clear to me that not only met that criteria but also promised some additional benefits that I would have never imagined. So, naturally I thought I was being divinely guided and that making “that” decision would bring me the peace I was seeking.

But as the new situation unfolded, I began to experience an increasing feeling of “dis-ease” and soon I was no longer at peace with this decision. Something just didn’t feel “right.” I was very confused. I felt every aspect of the decision met the criteria for making the right decision. It was well-intentioned, logically sound, and benefited everyone involved. Why didn’t it “feel” right? Why didn’t I feel peaceful?

I turned to Workbook Lesson 34, “I could see peace instead of this” and started reading, hoping to find some kind of direction because clearly, I was missing something. The second line in the first paragraph stood out boldly as if lit up by a neon sign and I felt like I was seeing it for the first time. The line said: “Peace of mind is clearly an internal matter.” (WpI.34.1:2)

It was as if a light bulb went on in my head as I immediately realized why I was not at peace in either situation. Peace — experiencing peace — feeling peaceful or being at peace comes from “being” in a peaceful state of mind, not from having circumstances, conditions or situations that you think will bring you peace.

In both situations I had been looking at or to the situation as being responsible for my peace of mind. I blamed the first situation for my lack of peace and looked to the change in the situation to bring me peace. I was perceiving and identifying with myself as a body. This will always lead to an experience of vulnerability and the belief that you are capable of being victimized or unfairly treated in some way. This perspective will never lead you to experience peace of mind. 

The next line confirmed that burst of insight as it said: “It is from your peace of mind that a peaceful perception of the world arises.” (WpI.34.1:4) Perceiving anything in a peaceful way can only come from a mind that is choosing to rest in the awareness of the truth about who we are and what is taking place, instead of choosing to believe in appearances that suggest something other than the truth is possible.

This meant that all I needed to do to experience peace in both those situations in which I found myself (as paradoxical as this sounds) was to “choose” to be in a peaceful state of mind. However, this brought me right back to my original question: “How to be at peace or be in a peaceful state of mind — how to “see” peace as the lesson title states — when faced with something that, by all appearances, is disturbing to my peace of mind?”

Line 4 of Paragraph 5 of Workbook Lesson 34 states “I could see peace in this situation instead of what I now see in it.”

It is one of the ways the Lesson teaches to practice applying the idea “I could see peace instead of this,” to a specific form or situation in which your peace of mind is threatened. Since saying those words weren’t bringing me peace because I didn’t seem to grasp “how” to see peace, I decided to say them in the form of the question: “How could I see peace in this situation instead of what I now see in it?” And I literally got quiet and waited…

As I sat quietly, the letters “I-R-E-S-T” slowly came into my awareness in the form of an acronym, where each letter referred to an idea or a perspective that made me feel more and more peaceful. It felt like I was being shown a “Step-by-Step Process” for being at peace. The acronym is as follows:

“I” — IDENTIFY with your true Self and the truth of what is taking place in every moment or situation;

“R” — REMEMBER that this means you cannot be hurt, harmed or affected by anything or anyone because all that is taking place, regardless of appearances, is that you’re experiencing the contents of the thoughts in your mind, according to your perception;

“E” — ENTERTAIN this perception in every moment;

“S” — SEE everyone as sharing the same identity as you and that they too, see and experience everything according to their perceptions;

“T” — TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for everything you feel in every moment or situation instead of perceiving yourself as being “made” to feel anything, by anyone or anything that seems to be happening to you or taking place outside you;

This simple process immediately cleared up my confusion regarding how to “see” peace. I have used this Process repeatedly since that time and not once has it failed to lead me to experience peace when I felt disturbed. The only times it doesn’t work, are the times when I find myself not willing to “see” peace.

Rev. Jennifer McSween, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light Minister living in Montreal, Canada. She Hosts a Weekly Podcast You can Listen to at: http://www.revjennifermcsweenpodcast.com Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

© 2019, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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January-March, 2020

Talking to Angels

by Rev. Larry Glenz, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

The practice of talking to angels is one that I normally keep to myself. It is a personal belief that those loved ones who have passed on can give me guidance. I think I believed this before I even admitted that I believe in God.

Believing in God did not come easily to me. I professed to be an agnostic from my teenage years through my 20’s, 30’s, and into my 40’s. As a high school social studies teacher, I was aware of the history of violence and corruption that accompanied the political and military strength of organized religion for centuries.

Without the personal experience of feeling God within me, organized religion seemed to me to be a scam. I believed religion was a method of social control over the masses that allowed its leaders to gain enormous wealth and power. This seemed particularly evident in history with the rise of the Christian nations of Europe and the Islamic empires of the Middle East and North Africa.

I was brought up as a Protestant and attended the Presbyterian Church until my confirmation at age 13. Shortly after that my parents no longer strongly encouraged me to attend and I was allowed to think about God in any way I chose.

I remember learning in school that the leaders of the Communist Revolution in Russia proclaimed that religion was the “opiate of the people.” But we Americans were strongly discouraged from believing anything that was labeled Communist philosophy.

I seldom felt inspired by the Bible although stories about Jesus and his teachings struck me as deeply humanitarian. As a young adult with a good education, I was free to make up my own mind about how God operated or even if He existed at all.

But a powerful spiritual experience came with the death of my father, Marshall. I could feel him speaking to me. This was a new experience. I was usually looking in a mirror when we conversed. I remember saying, “Is that you, Dad?” when I felt his guiding presence. I told others that I could talk to my father and I turned to him in what I believed were crucial moments. He was my first angel.

Talking to Dad’s spirit opened me up to much greater spiritual possibilities. A few years later my marriage fell apart. My family split in two with my younger son, Kevin (12), moving in with me. My older son, Matthew (17), remained with my wife in the family house. I remember feeling weak and insecure about it. I didn’t see this breakup coming.

It was then that A Course in Miracles came into my life. A friend of mine introduced me to it by giving me an audiotape of Marianne Williamson’s A Return to Love. In a short time I bought the 3 books of the Course and started devoting myself to the lessons of the Workbook. And, of course, my life began to change.

When my mom passed, she became my second angel. Her presence was even greater. I had been practicing turning to Holy Spirit for guidance for years and turning to the spirits of my mom and dad gave me an even greater connection.When my son, Kevin, passed tragically I was able to feel and hear advice from him. I’ve never doubted this connection. It came as unconditional love. My third angel has a lot to say to me.

As the years passed, I lost three close friends in the world. One by one they became angels who could talk to me. These angels are always there when called upon. They are a source of strength in me as each connects me with Holy Spirit when I feel their presence.

No matter what is happening to my body as I age, I feel stronger and happier with all the love that is being sent to me. I feel it from many people who still share with me this dream of living in the world. And I have help from these angels that work as Holy Spirit’s messengers.

This is how love works. There is no death. We change form but the love never leaves. It gets stronger. It intensifies. And I can count on it.

Thank You, God, and thanks to all your wonderful messengers. These angels truly warm my heart.

Rev. Larry Glenz, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in Long Beach, New York. Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)\

© 2019, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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January-March, 2020

Shame

by Rev. Joyce Peebles, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

Where I live in rural Arkansas, we do not have many fancy restaurants. On my anniversary we went to a nice hotel and ate dinner with another couple. When the bill came it included a $36.00 “service charge.” I had never heard of this before and wondered if that was a built-in tip for the meal. The other three at the table tried to explain it was not a tip but an additional fee added on to the bill.

I felt very unsophisticated and stupid that they all knew what it was, and I did not. The others at the table were used to fancy restaurants and expense accounts. I experienced a feeling of shame because somehow, I should have known and was therefore not “good enough.” I had been found wanting.

Recognizing my shameful feelings was uncomfortable. The feeling of wanting to place blame on someone else for my feelings of inferiority was strong and seemed initially justified. After quieting myself, I remembered I’d made this situation up and there was a lesson to learn here.

The question came to me, Do I believe what Jesus says? “Not for one instant is the body real.” Therefore, these thoughts must be coming from my Mind. This image I have projected was painful.

A Course in Miracles appeals to me because I seek a way of escape from the pain of “life.” It tells me forgiveness is seeing everyone including myself as innocent. I am able to escape from the world I see by giving up my attack thoughts. I had wanted to attack and place guilt on someone else because my feelings of shame were painful.

I like what Joseph Miller said, “This is not a frivolous release. It means overcoming the attraction of guilt, which requires careful and long-term excavation. We are not being tortured by an outside authority who keeps points. We are only liquidating the investments our own minds have made.”

Lesson 48 came to mind, “There is nothing to fear.” According to the ego, there is always plenty to fear. According to the Holy Spirit, there is nothing to fear because I am always safe with God and this shameful situation was an illusion whose only purpose was a healing opportunity.

My ego tells me there is a very good reason to believe my illusions. If the illusion is not real, then neither is this body. Gently the Holy Spirit asks me what do I want to identify with: God or the ego? What do I want to be real? I get what I ask for. When I remember who I really Am, there is no fear, guilt or feelings of shame, somehow not being good enough.

Forgiveness heals that part of my Mind that wants to believe in separateness and vulnerability. I am learning that I need to let go of condemnation and judgment, both of others and myself, for they are the same.

We all need to wake up to the unity of one Mind. Only when I distort the Truth about myself do I feel shame, guilt or humiliation. It is always my choice alone to see things differently.

Rev. Joyce Peebles is a Pathways of Light minister living in Hot Springs Village, AR Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

© 2019, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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January-March, 2020

Awakening Kindness

by Rev. Dan Strodl, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

A Course in Miracles is a mind training program designed to take us from fear to love. When we work through the Course with willingness and vigilance, the ego thought system weakens and is gently replaced with right minded thinking. Where we once saw only our self interest, we now awaken our true Self. The walls of self-centeredness come down and love fills the gap.

As judgments are noticed and released (forgiven), we see our brothers in a new way. We see beyond their bodies to their innocence, their beauty, their light. One important aspect of Love is kindness. As a new world awakens in us, we begin to care about others and want to extend kindness to them. This isn’t the ego’s version of kindness i.e: kindness to get. This is true kindness, an extension of love.

“Kindness created me kind” (W-pI.67.2:4)

I grew up in a self-centered world, everyone out for themselves, and I saw everything from the vantage point of, “what’s in it for me?” The idea of kindness was foreign.

I felt alone, unloved, and judgemental of others and myself. And with that ego program running my life, I was fearful and unhappy. Although I would occasionally be kind, it was with the purpose of getting something back.

One day I reached a rock bottom and my whole world fell apart. Looking back now I realize it was a gift that opened up a pathway back to my true Self. I discovered psychotherapy, Healing Circles, Inner Child workshops, 12 step recovery, men’s groups, Buddhism, and then I found what truly spoke to me — A Course in Miracles.

Although I didn’t understand the Course at first, I knew this was what I needed. Everyday I did the lessons, meditated, joined a study group, and I was blessed with an angel in the form of a man who’d been studying the course for years, who helped me understand the Course.

I became aware of the fear, judgments, and anxiety that were running through my mind unconsciously. And when I noticed I wasn’t at peace, I would pause, quiet my mind, and take the thoughts and feelings to the Holy Spirit for healing. Slowly the fear, anxiety and judgments weakened and peace returned.

“Before the glorious radiance of the Kingdom guilt melts away, and transformed into kindness will never more be what it was.” (T-13.X.14)

When I looked on people without judgment kindness grew…  I found myself smiling more, sharing with strangers, helping people who are having difficulties, and my happiness grew exponentially. Kindness expands the Light within and reaches out to touch the Light in others as well.

“Each little gift you offer to your brother lights up the world.” (T-22:9.9)

I still get caught up in fear, anxiety, stress and judgments, but I can recognize it quickly and I know what to do with it. I rarely stay stuck in the ego’s insanity for too long.

Leading a self-centered life was painful, lonely and so fearful. Being in my right mind, and extending kindness brought me all the gifts of the Kingdom… a peace, Love, and joy that I had never experienced before. I am so grateful for the Course.

Rev. Dan Strodl is Manager of Miracle Network in the UK, Pathways of Light Spiritual Counsellor, and Accessing Inner Wisdom Counsellor. Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Website: http://www.danstrodl.com

© 2019, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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