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October-December, 2019

Our Powerful Thoughts

by Rev. Maria Kingsley, O.M.C.

It is curious that we do not understand that we have amazing abilities that have come with this physical existence and are always available.

In the Urtext of the Course (T-6 A 3) Jesus tells us:

“You have been chosen to teach the Atonement precisely BECAUSE you have been extreme examples of allegiance to your thought system, and therefore have developed the capacity for allegiance. It has indeed been misplaced … You cannot doubt the strength of your devotion when you consider how faithfully you observed it.”

We are indeed extremely faithful to our way of thinking. We seem to be unable, at times, to see it in any different way. Yet, we want to look at how we got there so we can follow a better model.

My own experience has brought me to tears at times when I tried to change how I responded to situations and people. I did not know how to change my extreme resistance to be on time, for example, to get going, to move forward. And every time I failed to change it, I would fall into depression and severe judgment of myself for the failure. There was something deep within me that I had given power over my responses and yet I could not get to it and felt powerless to change it.

Over time I learned that my ‘allegiance’ was not to myself but to fear, and the fear was directly related to the thought of death. I assumed that my Father would kill me, or any equivalent thereof, if I did not somehow comply with His expectations. This generalized to all people and the world, and so, later on in life, I could not remember that I made that decision or conclusion, but followed that same impulse. I tried to please other people and felt that that was what was expected of me. The power of my thoughts were so great, pleasing the ego and the world, that I could not find my way out of that thought system.

The funny thing was that I did not recognize that I was fighting for my life because the ego somehow made me feel safe when I followed my fear. I could not see how I had somehow encouraged that thought to have power over me. It took me years to see this clearly. I continued to think it was my weakness, my fault, or I had to do something different, learn more, find out more of what I should do.

Our thoughts are indeed very powerful, and we usually cannot remember what made us decide that they are actually the truth. We have a powerful allegiance to what we made true in the past, usually as children with our wonderful imagination, but we have forgotten what we made up or pretended the truth to be.

In my case, I associated all the expectations of my Father to mean that I had to try to appease Him, or else I would be ‘toast’ (the ego is never specific as to what may actually happen, it’s just fear). Something bad was going to happen even though it never really did happen. It seemed to happen to my sisters and others around me, but somehow I was spared, or so I thought. I thought my responses to what seemed to be a dangerous environment (after WWII in Germany) were working: I was hiding out, I did not want to be noticed, I tried to be good and nice, I tried to stay within certain limits etc. and yet all of this kept me as a prisoner and chained to my thought system. I was adamant that this kept me safe, and I felt safe but not free. I could choose the ego thought system, but if I tried to get out of that, I had no power at all.

Lesson 333 tells us this about conflicting thoughts:

“Conflict must be resolved. It cannot be evaded, set aside, denied, disguised, seen somewhere else, called by another name, or hidden by deceit of any kind, if it would be escaped. It must be seen exactly as it is, where it is thought to be, in the reality which has been given it, and with the purpose that the mind accorded it. For only then are its defenses lifted, and the truth can shine upon it as it disappears.”

And so I had to see that I have evaded the issue by thinking I can control my life. I’ve denied that there is something wrong with my approach. I’ve disguised the real issue of death and never really looked at what I was afraid of. I’ve seen it all as my Father’s problem who is asking too much of me. I called it my safety when it was my prison, and I never escaped the fear.

I have given great power to the ego. I once saw this demonstrated in a vision of the ego being fed so much that it became this gigantic big fat worm 100 feet long, not moving much but feeding on my fear. Yet, back then, I did not know how to stop feeding this huge slug. I thought fear would keep me safe. I thought my hiding and pretending would keep death away, unpleasantness away, conflict avoided, but that never worked.

I gave the ego power to protect me. I didn’t know what I was doing, because I did what I thought my mother did (using fear and feeling helpless) when she protected herself from my father. But it didn’t work.

It never did work — until I realized and finally knew that I’ve been avoiding death or judgment (same thing to me).  I’ve been afraid of being killed, and yet, here I am, living. I will live even beyond death. There is no death, and I am always safe, even if I die and the body has served its purpose. Wow, what took me so long?!

I know this insight, finally, was the result of much honesty with myself, my feelings, and the teachings of the Course. I picked up A Course in Miracles originally because I liked the thought that I was innocent. Yes, I am innocent, but at first, the ego interpreted that to be another part of me. There was still that little me who I knew had done stupid, silly, bad things and so I could not reconcile my true innocence with my self. Slowly, I had to find the connection between my little self and my True Self, and feel that Oneness.

And so I forgive myself for being a foolish little girl, and fearing something to be Who I truly am. I have asked the ego to do a task for me that it cannot do and will never do. Instead, I ask the Holy Spirit, my True Self, to take care of me, and I can trust that perfectly. Death or ‘being killed’ is not something to fear. Discomfort, uncertainty, pain, worry and doubt are all tools of the ego not to be trusted.

The allegiance I choose now is to Love. Love is Life itself, and there is nothing to fear. I need be neither careful nor careless of my thoughts because I ask and listen to Guidance. I am so grateful to know that, and so I continue to move forward into more freedom and more certainty and more joyful Loving and seeing only Life all around me.

Rev. Maria Kingsley is a Pathways of Light minister living in Tucson, Arizona. Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  P.O. Box 35122 520-780-0170

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

A Lesson in Responsibility

by Rev. Cathy Silva, O.M.C.

It was during a particularly difficult time with my family when it seemed our home had become a war zone that I learned an important lesson about Responsibility.

I desperately prayed and journaled and prayed some more. I was attempting to go to Spirit for a solution and at the same time trying to figure it out on my own. To trust is to rely upon Spirit totally and I wasn’t quite ready to do that apparently in my “split mind.”

One day it all came to a head and I had to step outside to get some air. I just needed to talk to someone. I needed someone to just listen, to feel like I was not in this alone. I called a trusted friend and began my rant. I was at the end of my rope so to speak. We all have those breaking points where we completely surrender, see the light, and begin to correct course and this was one of mine. As I was at the height of spewing out all the anger I was feeling, a sense of relief came over me. And then an inexplicable sense of calm, clarity, and a life changing realization.

A phrase I once despised hearing when I worked in the corporate world came to my mind: “It’s not my job!” It’s not my job to fix anyone else’s misery and cause their happiness. And then… what I had learned from my practice with the Course bubbled up into my awareness:

I AM responsible only for my own thoughts and resulting behavior.

It became very clear in that moment the mistake I had made over and over again when anyone I cared for was sick, suffering, or experiencing any difficulty. I had taken the blame and responsibility for things that were not my job. I wanted to make everything okay for everyone else because I loved them so much and I wanted so much for them to feel loved and be happy. But, honestly, most of all I wanted to feel loved and happy. More than anything I wanted Peace.

But I had been going about it all wrong. I had taken on handling and fixing what I saw as wrong with everyone and everything outside of me. I had arranged my life and made choices in all I did in my own career and life to be sure that everyone else was okay, happy, and felt loved.

Up until that moment I must have not completely accepted the fact that we all have a choice. Happiness is a choice. Love is a choice. Suffering is also a choice. And it’s being a choice that truly empowers us and frees us from the prison of our own mind that we are holding one another in.

I had a teacher once who would say “When you rescue others you rob them of accountability and responsibility.”

I believe we all want to be responsible for ourselves. We want to feel powerful not powerless when life seems to not go our way. There is a way to trust the innate Wisdom within you and others so all are empowered to grow spiritually and are free to be as we were created — Love extended and expressed in the world of form and beyond.

I was seeing my part in the mess we were in. In that moment I made the decision to rescind ‘my’ way of trying to love and support my children and husband and get love and appreciation in return. After all it wasn’t working very well. The cycle of war just continued and escalated with every futile attempt to gain control and fix things. I put my responsibility where it truly is…on changing my own hurtful thoughts and resulting behavior. I chose to simply love and accept others without conditions. I realized on a deeper level that loving others meant allowing them to walk their journey in the way that is best for them. Allowing them to also be responsible for their own thoughts, beliefs and resulting behaviors meant letting them off the hook for mine… and me off the hook for theirs.

I’ve often thought of the word ‘responsible’ as the ability to respond. We all innately have the ability to respond with love rather than react from fear. In any moment we have the freedom to choose. We can choose to accept the reality of love or believe the illusion of fear.

One question you can ask yourself when things flare up is, “Am I choosing love?” and “What would love do?”

In Chapter 21 of the Course, section II. The Responsibility for Sight it says to:
Say only this, but mean it with no reservations, for here the power of salvation lies.

I am responsible for what I see.

I choose the feelings I experience, and I decide

Upon the goal I would achieve.

And everything that seems to happen to me

I ask for, and receive as I have asked.

It goes on to say:

Deceive yourself no longer that you are helpless in the face of what is done to you. Acknowledge but that you have been mistaken, and all effects of your mistakes will disappear.

You are not a victim. You are powerful beyond measure because you have the Spirit of Love within you. Love is expressing through you as your true Self. If we want to truly experience peace and happiness, it’s time to wake up and use our powers for good. It’s time to heal.

Are you ready? Let’s do this!

Rev. Cathy Silva is a Relationship Enhancement Counselor and Author of “Loving One Another — There must be a better way!” - a book being written with Spirit’s Guidance and Love. She can be reached at CathySilva.org or email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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

My Game, My Rules for Decision

by Kathy Croy

I’m a student of A Course in Miracles for over ten years who has struggled with understanding and appropriately applying this powerful tool in the Manual for Teachers.
But, I am determined to see.

Recently, as I began my intent to start each day with the “Rules for Decision” (RFD), it was apparent to me that everything was backfiring. Admittedly I had a hard time knowing what to ask for, as I’m directed to “decide the kind of day I want.” The best I could do was to mutter, “I’d like a peaceful and harmonious day.” Then I would set off on my other Course lessons, meditation, heading off to work, etc.

The very first day of my “sincere and committed practice” of Rules for Decision, the atmosphere at my place of business was chaotic, confrontational, fear provoking, and a breeding ground for uncertainty.

When I returned home that day I was like a wounded puppy, but grateful to be in a place of solace at last. My husband gave me a hug and then, made a two-edged sword kind of statement that rocked my world.

He said, “I’m really proud for the weight you’ve lost. You look exactly like I want you to look. But, I refuse to allow you to go out of this house again in those flat shoes.”

Jaw drop. But it’s time to make dinner. It’s time to prepare his favorite foods with careful consideration of the fact he’s experiencing some jaw problems and has a hard time chewing.

My immediate reaction/post-RFD decision was that I’d done something terribly wrong. I hadn’t decided correctly or appropriately or within the scope of God’s expectations of me. However, I resolved to try again the next day and this time I would certainly figure out what went wrong and make the appropriate corrections, all the while contemplating my footwear — which is all flat.

Seriously, I spent so much time contemplating my selection of shoes, all chosen for stability, comfort and safety as I go through my so-called life. They’re all unique and, for the most part, stylish. But they’re all flat. I wore 3” heels most of our early marriage, even throughout my pregnancies, but those days are over. I have a long, rapid stride and flat shoes equal safety and expediency.

As the days progressed and I continued my timid practice of the Rules for Decision, this shoe issue kept tapping me on the shoulder. And I asked. What I perceived to be answers made as much sense as the statement itself. “I refuse to allow you to go out of the house again in those flat shoes.”

In Pathways of Light course 904: Putting God First I’m currently involved with, I’m also committing to allowing myself to be carried.

During the night, I lay awake pressing in to Holy Spirit again and I said, “Come on, Buddy, just give me the meaning of this and what I’m to learn from it.” Even in my struggles I try to see everything as purposeful and I didn’t want to let this lesson escape.

Well, my Buddy gave me the exact same answer He had before, only this time I listened. He brought up a long forgotten Bible lesson about the Armor of God. I know the parts of the armor well enough; the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, and……….wait for it………..the shoes of peace. (Ephesians 6)

In that moment I was flooded with understanding. Let me say it in terms that are easy for me to convey. Have you ever tried to carry a combative 3-year-old to his/her room when they don’t want to go to bed and yet you know they’re exhausted? That must have been what it was like for the Holy Spirit to haul my heft up to “Aha” mountain and get my attention to what He was trying to show me.

Even though I began my day asking for peace, even though I said I would allow myself to be carried, I was squirming and screaming, “No! Not that!” throughout the journey to peace. I even stiffened and straightened out my body at every doorway so He had to realign my big bad self in order to proceed.

Lesson 185, “I want the peace of God” begins, “to say these words is nothing. But to mean these words is everything. If you could but mean them for just an instant, there would be no further sorrow possible for you in any form; in any place or time.”

It was then I recalled the part of the RFD where it says “Today I will make no decisions by myself” which is pre-loaded with not judging the occurrence of the day. I had been fortifying myself with allowing myself to be carried, but still judging situations as “good” or “bad” and, as T-30.I.3 states, “This is your major problem now. You still make up your mind and then decide to ask what you should do.”

I didn’t realize I was making up my mind that my husband said something confrontational or critical, but easily and “righteously” slipped into victim mode. Then I was expecting God to come along and clean up my mess. And what a mess it was.

Practicing the Rules for Decision and allowing myself to be carried involves trust. Trust that everything that I encounter is for my learning and “to prosper and not to harm me, to give me a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Envision me as the squirming, screaming 3-year-old safe in the arms of my parent but not understanding the love and concern for the journey I’m taking. Instead of looking into my Daddy’s eyes and seeing that love, I’m gawking at all the scary circumstances that surround me and trusting the uncertainty instead of the Love. I had considered this “life” to be my game, and therefore He should play by my rules. Talk about insanity!

Lesson learned. Thank you, Father of Love and Light!

Even though I don’t know what anything is for, aka the footwear issue currently, I will choose peace. There are no hierarchy of illusions, nor order of difficulty in miracles. I’m determined to trust the process and laugh at the illusion with Him.

Kathy Croy is a POL student from Cedar Rapids, IA. Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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

Is Healing Possible, Even After a Long Illness?

by Rev. Peggy Rivera, O.M.C.

Whenever someone is sick for a very long time it can feel almost hopeless that healing can ever occur. We ask ourselves how can we possibly heal? I think sometimes we think healing is always automatic, like suddenly our illness is gone by the Grace of God. Don’t get me wrong, I do believe that kind of healing can occur, but it doesn’t always happen that way.

We often forget Who we are. We are the Son of God, and He created us perfect. It doesn’t matter how long we have perceived ourselves as ill because there is no order of miracles. What it does take is remembering that we are Love, as it says in Lesson 67 of the Workbook. The title, “Love created me like itself” and in paragraph 6, “Perfection created me perfect.”

As we remember we are only Love, we are able to heal the Sonship. Too often when we come into this worldly existence, as we grow up, we begin to develop thoughts about ourselves through our environment. If we grow up being told we are not perfect, we develop behaviors that support that idea. We begin to forget our true nature and slowly we lose who we came into this life to be. This is the ideal dream for the ego.

The ego uses time to convince you that the goal is death, but Holy Spirit uses time to teach truth, to heal the Sonship. There are many uses for time to help heal the body, but first of all we learn that the true healing is mind healing. It is our thoughts that make us feel separate from God. We must pay attention to our thoughts and Love God and ourselves and our brothers. In reality we know that God never changes and His Love for us is constant.

When someone is sick we can help them change their thoughts with the help of the Holy Spirit. We can offer kindness and Love and see them as God sees them, Perfect.
There are also things we can do with our bodies in time to help ourselves and each other such as getting a massage to help relax, we can talk and offer thoughts of forgiveness whenever appropriate and the use of medication is also alright.

We should pray for guidance from Holy Spirit because our bodies may need different things, such as some people believe in vegetarianism while others believe in eating Paleo or Keto. Some people like holistic medicine while others prefer allopathic treatments. There are herbal treatments and Bach flower remedies. All of these ideas come from a place of caring for each other. So no matter how long we are sick there are always miracles.

I have felt the Love of God whenever I felt ill. I felt embraced by Spirit, and at times I have felt a sudden peace flow over me and I knew right away that I was being caressed by the Spirit of our Father. I am so thankful for that Love and the knowledge that no matter how many times I forget, I can always come back to Love and for this I am forever grateful.

Rev. Peggy Rivera, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in Palm Bay,FL 305-322-6610 Email:7seas@bellsouth.net Web: http://www.revpriveralifeministries.com

© 2019, 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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