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July-September, 2015

Releasing Resistance to Discover Peace

by Rev. Michael Graves, O.M.C.

During a recent Sunday ACIM teleconference study group (which I highly recommend) we were reading and discussing one of the lessons in the Workbook. As we read, we began sharing on a variety of different topics. You just never know what direction Holy Spirit will take a group of like-minded people. I think that is what I like most about these teleconference sessions. It is sort of like a weekly spiritual adventure.

As the session progressed, one of the participants asked a great question about the best way to access Spirit. Or as they put it, what are the “mechanics” of calling on Spirit when we need help. That question generated a lot of great shares and experiences on the subject. Then someone shared about how they had been “stripped” of almost all of their worldly sources of security and support they had relied on over the last thirty years. This lead to losing most of their material possessions and landed them in the home of a relative.

As the discussion and sharing on this subject went on, thoughts started coming to mind about my own lessons in this area. One of the biggest gifts that I received from going through the Pathways of Light ministerial training was in this very area.

What I discovered was that there was never a time when I had truly been dumped on by life. It may have seemed like it at times, but upon closer inspection and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it became clear that the situations and everything in them were perfectly orchestrated to teach me exactly what I needed to learn in the exact way I needed to learn it. Which of course meant that on some level, all of those people that I thought were the biggest problems in my life were actually Divine masters sent to help me learn. That was really hard for me to accept because I never thought that among other things, I would have to send an alimony check to one of my Divine masters. But as A Course in Miracles says, “Beware of the temptation to perceive yourself unfairly treated.” (T-26.X.4:1)

The most helpful thing I learned was that I actually create my own pain through my resistance to a situation. The more I push against it, the more pain and fear I seem to feel. I have heard it said that “What I resist persists and what I look at will disappear.” I have found that to be true. Albert Einstein said that, “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” 

While it is still difficult to accept at times, I have learned to turn towards what is bothering me and simply ask Spirit what this thing is here to teach me and then be open to hear the answer. I can actually be grateful for the opportunity to grow and move towards a more functional and peaceful life.

The recent Workbook lessons have been particularly helpful to me in this area. The title of Lesson 33 is, “There is another way of looking at this.” and the title of lesson 34 is, “I could see peace instead of this.” In paragraph one it says, “The idea for today begins to describe the conditions that prevail in the other way of seeing. Peace of mind is clearly an internal matter. It must begin with your own thoughts, and then extend outward. It is from your peaceful mind that a peaceful perception of the world arises.”

Personally, I feel blessed to know where to turn to find “The Peace of God that passes all understanding” (Philip. 4:7) and it is my commitment to spread this message by word and deed, to as many of my brothers as I can.

Rev. Michael Graves, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in La Quinta, California. Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Web: newbeginningslifeservices.com

© 2015, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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July-September, 2015

I Am Happy to Remember the Truth

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

Today I feel so happy because I realize that no matter how often I get distracted and focus on things of this world, God is always waiting with loving arms for me to find my way back.

Recently I was ill and I decided to have a surgical procedure to relieve the symptoms I was experiencing. I prayed a lot about it because I was feeling fearful and was in a lot of pain. In my mind I tried to analyze why I had these particular symptoms and, in my haste, the ego gave me plenty of information.

I asked Holy Spirit for guidance and I talked it over with my mind healing partner. I believe when we ask we receive and we have to listen for whatever form that help comes from and make sure it is Holy Spirit and not our own ego thoughts.

We talked about my guilt in getting medical help and it led into my guilt in having needs of my own. Ever since I could remember, I took care of everyone else but I didn’t feel like my time was worth much. I realized that this was self attack — when we don’t allow ourselves to receive, then the perceived deficit causes us to feel resentment and then guilt, which we project.  We then recycle those feelings over and over throughout our lives, until we realize the truth. This is what is making me feel so happy today.

The truth is that all of that is the illusion that we somehow are apart from our Source. And that we believed we could attack ourselves. The Course reminds that, “Your Godlike mind can never be defiled.” (T-6.III.1:6) The ego never was nor ever will be part of my Godlike mind but it does teach me what is not true.

We are only Love and Love is stronger than any force anywhere. With the Holy Spirit I choose to believe what is true. I see the perfection in everyone, including myself. I don’t need to take care of everyone else from an ego stance because that would make them less than they are. That would mean that I am more powerful than they are. Instead I remember to see them as whole. It doesn’t mean I don’t need to help others. What I am talking about is the perception in myself that I need to deny my own needs to take care of the needs of others. Being helpful is not consuming. When I start to feel overwhelmed, I think that is when I really need to take it to Holy Spirit and see where there is a need in me. Then I am free to lovingly support my brothers and sisters in a way that is truly helpful for the whole.

Rev. Peggy Rivera, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in Palm Bay, Florida. Email:7seas@bellsouth.net Website: http://www.rev.priveralifeministries.com

© 2015, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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July-September, 2015

At a Crossroad

by Rev. Kimberly Beck Visingarki, O.M.C.

Have you ever stood at a crossroad in your life wondering, “How did I get here? What direction should I take?”

Sometimes the fork in the road is symbolic of taking the proverbial leap of faith and moving into a direction that looks like moving into the unknown.

There are research and studies that show over the course of our life we change our career a minimum of five times after we join the workforce. Sometimes those changes are a natural progression of changes from moving up the corporate ladder or longevity and experience leads to moving into leadership positions with more responsibility and higher income. While other times the change is moving into a completely new field.

The shifts of moving into a completely new field are what I call being at the crossroad. Knowing that either the synchronycity of events have gently nudged me into a new direction or a perfect storm that has pushed me off a cliff into a new direction, seemingly without warning.

I have been ignoring a gentle nudge for almost a year. The nudge of feeling as if I am off my spiritual path, a fish out of water, under utilized, under valued, unappreciated and unimportant in the eyes of my ego. The money is good, so I pretend that everything is okay. The discomfort is now at a point where I am no longer willing to say its okay to live the life I am living, for any amount of money.

The thought of leaving the security of a steady paycheck and moving into a full time counseling and healing practice is exciting, yet scary. Fun, yet still scary. But I am excited to look at this in a new light and with new eyes.

I find great clarity in the daily Course lessons. They are my foundation for trusting that I am doing exactly what I need to be doing and learning for my own highest good and the highest good of others. I may not know what everything is for, but I do know that I can see perfection where there is the illusion of imperfection in daily circumstances and events.

The lesson that brought this home for me is: There is Nothing to Fear. The understanding that, while standing at a crossroad, I am safe in God. Knowing that deep within me is unwavering love and light and perfect success. Much of my success has come when I have activated this energy within me. I have countless personal stories of success, all beginning while standing at a crossroad in my life.

In hindsight, crossroads are perfect examples of trusting and letting go of the grip of control that previously felt unsafe to let go of. Relaxing and trusting that with the Holy Spirit by my side, all things are possible and shall be given. My intention is to be of the highest service to the people I meet. Today is a new day, as I take a joyful and prosperous leap of faith into the Fun Unknown.

Rev. Kimberly Beck Visingardi, O.M.C., C.Ht. is a Pathways of Light minister living in Huntington Woods, Michigan.
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

© 2015, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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July-September, 2015

A Prayer for All Solutions

by Rev. Joe Wolfe, O.M.C.

Dear God, I love You! You created me. I live in You and You in Me.

Only my own limited, unconscious guilt and belief in this ego, this false personality’s individual identity keeps me confused.
Thank You for everything You give me!

Grant me the power to live in your Presence, and to accept Your unconditional Love as I learn to forgive. Call me to remember that You are with me always, with every breath I take, in every movement, in all thoughts, actions and feelings.

Remind me many times during the day until every second becomes another moment spent living in Your loving embrace and constant Presence. Call me to be a servant of Your Will, a vehicle of Divine Love and a channel of God’s Will.

Give me direction and Divine Assistance as I surrender all personal will to the devotion to You. Allow me the help to dedicate my life to the service of God.

Grant me the ability to choose Love and Peace above all options while I commit to the goal of unconditional Love and Compassion for all life and all of its expressions as I surrender all judgment to You God.

Make me aware that the world of my ego is a constant and tenacious tendency to react, to feel bad, guilty, mad, defeated, bored, scared, inferior, embarrassed, annoyed, lonely or superior and condescending.

All these give validity to judgment regardless of the form and by reacting with judgment I feed and strengthen the ego’s world and reinforce the seeming reality of a separation from You.

Please remind me constantly to view all others as my brothers, to realize that we are all One and to forgive them for they are One with me, joined in One Mind and also innocently caught in the ego’s identification with the world of illusion.

Never let me forget that I am not this temporary body but Pure Spirit created in Your Likeness, as I continue to live every moment in the knowledge that You are with me always where I am; You God! The Alpha & Omega, the All & Everything, The Absolute.

Rev. Joe Wolfe is a Pathways of Light minister who lives in Mechanicsburg, PA.
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Website: AcimLive.com If you would like to help Rev. Joe Wolfe bring A Course in Miracles and related materials to prisoners, contact him by phone: 708-985-1754. Mail: Spirit Light Outreach, PO Box 443, Enola, PA 17025-0443 or go to http://acimlive.com or http//SpiritLightOutreach.org

© 2015, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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