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October-December, 2014

Spirit Light Outreach

by Joe Wolfe

“What could you not accept if you but knew that all events, past, present and to come were designed by One whose only intention was for your good?”

That’s a reminder to us from Jesus in Lesson 135 of the Workbook in A Course in Miracles. All events! Every single encounter… every situation… every holy encounter…

For me, those events included following the path of a career criminal. I cared not for my fellow man but only for my own personal self-gratification regardless of who I harmed in the process. 

I grew up without a mother, void of a loving family experience, and viewed this world as a very cruel place as I perceived it through these five very limited senses.  I was convinced that I was a victim of it, unable to escape from it. I lashed out at this world. I hated everything about it. I vented my hatred upon everyone and everything in this world. I hated the concept of God as I perceived Him. I viewed God and all of the fundamentalist ideologies of Him as a strategically contrived brainwashing effort by the political powers that be to suppress everyone and use religion as a method to control.

I could never accept the force fed ideologies of a “supreme being” who doled out favors for some and punishment for others, and I questioned every concept about hell and damnation. Even as a small child I could not feel any truth in the teachings that suggested that certain people were favorites, ...that God could be ‘offended’ in any way and that I was somehow destined to serve under the thumb of a vengeful overlord. That god was not my God.

Convinced that I was somehow condemned to an ugly world that I hated, I decided to live in it under my own rules. If I had to be here I would do so on my own terms. My rebellious nature evolved from a juvenile delinquent, stealing candy and toys from stores to a ruthless thief, sticking guns in the faces of people and businesses and forcibly taking their money.

And during all of this time God was with me. The ‘mystical experiences’ I describe in my books, In Warm Blood, The End of Reincarnation with the Five Signs, A Mystic’s Message and Letter To A Prisoner, continued periodically throughout the young life, even into prison. The real God had better plans for me.

The fifth and final mystical experience happened about 16 months before my release from prison. God showed up for me in a very profound way. He rescued me from a situation that would have resulted in my certain death at the hands of other convicts. Then he lifted me up, out of the body, gave me a glimpse of who I really was and shared the truth with me that I was His Son. Without words He comfortingly blasted my very core with the unmistakable conviction that the Real God was all Loving, all compassionate, and always at my beck and call. At those moments I vowed never to harm another again. I could never return to a life of criminality. I knew in an instant that I was One with everyone and everything.

Today as I study with Pathways of Light to complete my ministerial ordination, I continue to deliver inspirational books like A Course in Miracles and related books to prisoners. To date the Spirit Light Outreach ministry has successfully reached and changed the lives of many women and men confined in the hell within the hell. A Course in Miracles group gatherings in several prisons around the country have been approved and established. Letters of deep gratitude for the message of hope have touched the hearts of many hardened criminals, changing the way they perceive everyone and everything in the world.

Jesus’ message to me, to “Bring with you all those I have sent to you to care for as I have cared for you” became my passion and special function. Prisoners whose families and friends have long since forgotten them, who never receive so much as a postcard, now are visited by a different kind of mailman. One who brings hope where there once was despair, love where there was hatred, compassion where there was once vindictiveness and forgiveness where there once was despair, guilt and forlorness.

“I was hungry and you gave me meat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was in prison and you came to me. For verily I say unto you, that which you do for the least of mine you do for me.”

It was in prison where I found my guiding light. It is there, whether bound by walls and bars or by the ego’s tenacious thirst for control, where I care to share it.

And may the Love, Light and Peace of God be with you always.

Joe Wolfe is a Pathways of Light ministerial candidate who lives in Chicago, IL. Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Website: AcimLive.com
If you would like to help Joe Wolfe bring A Course in Miracles and related materials to prisoners, contact him at Spirit Light Outreach, PO Box 1174, North Riverside, IL 60546 or go to AcimLive.com

© 2014, 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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October-December, 2014

Awakening Through My Special Relationships — Part II

by Rev. Linda LaCasse, O.M.C.

—Stephanie and Tom—  
This article is the second in a series of how I’ve experienced miracles through Holy Spirit’s use of my special relationships since becoming an ACIM student seven years ago.

My tale of experiencing miracles through my special relationships with my daughter, Stephanie and her step-dad, my second husband, Tom continued to be an excruciating and painful forgiveness lesson for many years to come after Steph’s attempted suicide.

Stephanie’s drug use increased over time, which Tom was well aware of for he recognized all the signs. He so desperately needed me to see it but I couldn’t. I could only deny what appeared to be for I truly could not see what Tom did. Nor could he see what I desperately needed him to see, that I needed him to put me, our marriage first and then focus on Steph.

From the moment we got married and began living together, Tom focused all of his attention onto Stephanie, finding fault with her and constantly bringing it to my attention. Often times, he was guilty of the very thing he was accusing Stephanie of and she and I both were aware of it. I needed Tom to pay loving attention to me which would then allow me to listen to him regarding his thoughts about Stephanie but he refused me, hence I’d refuse to acquiesce to his need for me to side with him. I had to side with my daughter because of the guilt I’d experience if I didn’t for she needed me too — special love. And let’s not forget my fear of separation in the form of another suicide attempt. The ego had me but good, for my choosing to side with my daughter caused me just as much fear and pain, for Tom would then project his rage and anger onto me. On top of that, Stephanie was a master manipulator who played Tom and me like a finely tuned instrument. It was insane, with the ego so powerful as our ring leader and the three of us following its every command.

For eight years the insanity appeared to continue but it no longer held me prisoner in the center ring. Being in the center ring, I could see the illusion differently from how I had, how Stephanie and Tom continued to see it. The more I studied the Text and practiced the Workbook lessons in ACIM with abundant willingness, I began seeing that I was the ring leader and I had the choice of which Master of Ceremonies to listen to, the ego or the Holy Spirit. Being of a competitive nature, I learned to make the circus of insanity a game in which I refused to allow the ego to distract me with the sideshow acts of guilt and fear. Instead, I chose to simply give every thought of fear and guilt via attack, blame, shame, regret, lack, anger, specialness, etc. to Holy Spirit to look upon and judge for me. This required much discipline but that is all! I didn’t have to do anything else!

I began experiencing more miracles as Holy Spirit healed and released my thoughts of fear and replaced them with love for myself, which I was so painfully lacking all of my life, hence why I called for Stephanie and Tom to be my saviors. Yes, I called for them! I needed them for I could not be healed alone. I needed them, for all our sakes. Though Stephanie’s and Tom’s relationship remained strained and tumultuous, I experienced more and more healing as I learned to give all that appeared in my illusion of them to Holy Spirit to look upon and judge for me. It truly was that simple, though not easy. I also want to emphatically state that I also learned to be truly grateful and thankful for all Holy Spirit was showing me, despite however painful it seemed! This is vital, for it disempowers the ego while building trust in and dependence on Holy Spirit.

The miracles I experienced as a result of what I’d learned to practice diligently in that marriage are too numerous to mention. However, I gratefully and thankfully share with you that the insanity of the ego came to an end and was replaced with the love of Holy Spirit.

Tom and I peacefully parted ways when I divorced him two years ago. This peace would have been impossible had I not been willing to see him as my savior, grateful and thankful for all he showed me, an abundance of my unconscious guilt and fear which remained to be healed. I had to see it so I could then give it all to Holy Spirit to look upon and judge for me, which then led to me being able to see Tom differently.

Once I became fully aware that I am the dream maker, I chose to let Holy Spirit begin leading me towards the happy dream Jesus teaches of in ACIM by seeing my perceived enemy with whom I was in a special relationship as my ticket HOME! Thus did I experience the miracle of learning to see Tom with love, gratitude and thanks; the Holy Spirit’s thoughts replacing the ego’s.

In time, my healing was reflected back to me by his being peaceful during the divorce process and decent in the settlement. Making all of our decisions with Spirit and without lawyers was immensely helpful as well! We continue to maintain a friendly and peaceful rapport. Though Tom does not feel it, I know that he’s being healed right along with me, for I cannot be healed alone.

In the next article, I share about my miraculous journey through my special relationship with Stephanie.

Rev. Linda LaCasse, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in Northville, Michigan. Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

© 2014, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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October-December, 2014

Moving in the Pause

by Rev. Mary Lenihan, O.M.C.

I want to let you know about an upcoming ongoing festivity via teleconference through Pathways of Light called “Moving in the Pause.”  This free teleconference begins October 13, 2014. Drop in any Monday evening 7-8 p.m. central time. The call in number is 1.605.475.5900. The access code is: 9600657. For free books and free shipping or free download go to: http://www.pauseforinspiration.org.

Loving one another as equal lights in the world, we join together as equal bearers of this light to love! In this teleconference everyone is “the teacher,” as our focus is on our Inner Teacher, Inspiration Within. Thus, the class is Self-taught. I am simply a facilitator. Inspiration Within will assign any necessary “Home-work” assignments, thoughts to contemplate and inspire ways of being truly helpful in the world.

In this teleconference we will move through the book, Pause for Inspiration, as a practice in opening to the Teacher Within for more Inspiration! Our focus is deepening our relationship with our Inner Teacher.

I am practicing joining with people daily on the spot, on the street — wherever I am, planned and unplanned — individuals, groups and communities, and I come across dispiritedness constantly. Looking to this world, this body and one’s lonely, grieving self as one’s chosen home is indeed dispiriting.

Someone may appear to be moving along through life fine (or not), talk a good talk, look alive and well, but when I share, when prompted from Within, about pausing for Inspiration and “The 4 Decisions” practice, off come our masks. The door opens. We pause in mutual seeing as we experience our connectedness to Something More.

Here is the deal. People don’t want some lady telling them about God, Jesus, Holy Spirit or some spiritual path. Some may be okay with religious language, but are often using that language while still holding onto their images of God that are often obstacles to Ultimate Reality.

Will the Real God please stand up? Never ever did I think that my images of God, that were in fact loving, were an obstacle to meeting up with my True Self and this one, true God. Turns out I had a special relationship with God! This conveniently excluded most of the planet, including my True Self. The ego, referred to as the “cubicle heart-mind” in the Pause for Inspiration teaching, is most pleased with this special relationship for then it remains on its own self-made altar looking all holy and trying to be spiritual.

John said to me once, “You don’t love God. Go within and ask the Mentor Within if you love God.” I was appalled and offended at such a question. After all, I had written The Mentor Within, was writing Visions of Illumination and was an ordained minister! I am all over God, right? Knowing I love God with all my “heart,” I confidently, meaning I thought I already knew the answer, (watch for this cubicle confidence thing), go within and ask, “Mentor Within, do I love God?” I paused to listen for an answer that was not from the cubicle. “If you truly love God, you will love your Self. If you do not love your Self, you are ‘in love’ with an image of God which will not sustain you and in which you see yourself as less than. Love God truly and you will love your Self and your neighbor as well.”

Well, all the nerve! Yet, I absolutely knew this was absolutely true — when one hears the truth, there is no doubt. Even after years of spiritual studies and spiritual practices, I did not love my True Self — I hated my self whom I was trying to turn into a True Self. My images of God may have been my cup of tea, but while I was sipping on my tea trying to be what I thought was spiritual, no one else was being served. Hmm…. The insanity deepens.

While editing Visions, sitting outside at a café on a glorious fall day, a server who missed an opportunity to help another, caught my attention. One moment later a certain, resounding “voice,” came into my mind, “Someone needs to help these people. They need training on how to be helpful.”

This clearly Inspired Voice went on about being one another’s customers, providing supreme customer service and then I heard, “This is for the whole world.” The Voice corrected me as I assumed this was some sort of customer service training program I could launch with businesses, etc. Once again, the ego was “making an ass-umption” of itself! Pause is practicing awakening through providing Inspired customer service to one another in the midst of our 24/7.

I laugh and am taken to new depths receiving this material. Yet, as I returned to everyday life stuff, I saw how this was the beginning of the end of this “spiritual me” character and boy was I upset! It was one thing to receive this whimsical brilliance, it was quite another to accept and live. So much easier for me to talk about holiness, read spiritual material and spend time writing what I hear from Spirit, rather than living it!

I was personally insulted, just as ACIM says the ego will be, as Pause showed up in simple everyday language sharing about Love, truth, forgiveness, health, ego, special and holy relationships, awakening, who I am, and who you are.  I assumed I was somewhat spiritually advanced, hence would play a large part in “my awakening”; Pause is clear of my “little willingness” part. I am now having much more fun!

I practice true forgiveness, but I was also practicing me-special version of forgiveness; conjured up mental images in my cubicle mind trying, without the light, to see the light around some body. Visions, shares a piece on this, “Trying to Experience the Love God Is — Without God.”

I had turned God into a mental experience, but I knew from experiencing God that God is a Living Presence! Why was this upsetting? There is simply nowhere for the ego to stand if God is a Living Presence. A Living God takes God out of the box, my images of God as well, and my images of “me” were busted. Inspiration said step back! But me wants a part!

Pause is saying our True Self does have a part; Living LIFE in the midst of everyday life is giving this LIFE to others — this is what it means to “awaken.” Rather than awakening being a future event, it is living LIFE now. Inspiration is an Inner Teacher, now, Who can teach us what we already know, but forgot!

At what point do I stop seeking? Two years ago on a walk I heard, “Mary, your search is over. Stop seeking for you have found and been found. You are now free to live LIFE.” As I practice pausing for Inspiration in daily routine, I receive peace and experience connection among us. This peace and connection is the understanding I was seeking.

There is much believing, talking and studying going on about God, salvation, enlightenment, yet oddly enough, in my numerous daily encounters with others, a common theme is uncovered; people missing a true relationship with the Teacher Within. Awareness of this relationship comes through calling upon Love in everyday living for guidance about everything.

Many don’t know how to do this or we forget or we do not see LIFE as having a place in the mundane. This inner relationship is the LIFEPOINT, focus and ground for living in the pause. In this relationship, I realize that life is not about me. When “me-thinks” me has something to say, me has nothing to say! In this relationship I am free of my images, expectations and ideas about awakening. I can’t have a true relationship with ego images and ideas or theologies, metaphors and books. I do have a relationship with my Inner Teacher, because it has already been given. The only way to awaken is to live an awakened life.

I am practicing living an awakened life when I am willing to pause for Inspiration; doing housework, counseling, caregiving, driving, serving others, cooking, in relationships, social media, listening, writing, following and especially with in-person contact in ordinary life with ordinary people. It’s simple and I experience my relationship with God as more real. How do I know? I am more loving. I am not hiding behind spirituality. I am living Spirit more each day. I am pausing and conversing with people and we drop into the pause together right over the lunch counter. It’s all willingness. 

Moving In The Pause is the choice for the Teacher Within, in everyday life.

Focuses:

1) Willingness

2) Deepening your relationship with your Inner Teacher

3) Practice being present to Presence, listening and following Inspiration Within in routine life

4) Practice using everyday language in reference to God and Holy Spirit (i.e. Presence, Inspiration) 

5) Noticing the mutual relationship between inner action and outer action; inner conversion inspires new ways of living. 

6) Placing one’s whole being, body and all, in the service of Spirit Within. 

7) Practice receiving Self-healing on purpose.

8) Practice letting Inspiration speak and act through you to those who cross your path; the outcome is none of our business!

True Inspiration roots and weaves daily life into one Continuous Motion, Moving In The Pause.

Rev. Mary Gerard Lenihan is a Pathways of Light minister living in St. Louis, MO. She is author of the books Visions of Illumination, The Mentor Within and the inspiring new CD Album WNYHOO Now!. Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://www.pauseforinspiration.org

© 2014, 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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October-December, 2014

Changing Teachers

by Rev. Larry Glenz, O.M.C.

Recently, my computer had a virus that was making my experience with it very aggravating. I took it to a store that boasted it would rid my computer of every virus, increase its speed, and guarantee to protect it from further attack for two full years. The cost was $300. My computer was less than two years old and I thought it would be worth the investment to have that professional assistance available.

For whatever reason, the technicians had difficulty cleaning up whatever had infected my computer and after I returned it to the store unsatisfied, the hard drive crashed and I lost all my documents/files. They apologized but said the files were irretrievable. Of course, they returned my $300 and said, “Look, Mr. Glenz, these hard drives crash all the time. We’re sorry.”

My immediate reaction was NOT to turn to Holy Spirit for His interpretation. Not even close.

After a minute of disbelief that all my files were lost, I became angry with the tech support people under whose care the computer was when it crashed. Again they apologized but they neither accepted responsibility nor offered a solution. “Sorry, there is nothing we can do.”

I was dumfounded. I didn’t like these people now. As I carried the computer tower out to my car, I felt like I wanted to throw it through their store window.

Driving home I was furious at the seeming incompetence that caused my personal loss of files I deemed significant. I had aggressive thoughts such as, “I can’t let them get away with this” and “ Somebody is going to pay for this injustice.” My mind was also racing while thinking of the files of greatest importance to me that I must find a way to retrieve.

It was more than a few hours before I even considered that this was exactly the type of event that should be given to Spirit for a different interpretation. Perhaps there was a wiser perception of this just for the asking. At least I recognized I did not like the way I felt about it now. Why not ask? What can I lose?

Getting quiet, however, was not coming easily for me. My mind kept going over the thoughts that supported my victimhood. I kept rehashing the “facts” that best supported my case as if I was preparing to present my argument in a court of law. I was right, damn it!

As I continued to stay with the meditation, however, the fierce chatter in my thoughts began to quiet. With a little more patience I was able to receive another thought – another Voice.

“Just stay with Me. Nothing can really go wrong. You’ll always have everything you’ll need. Just stay with Me.”

There was no doubt in my mind; that was the thought I had asked for! I was being reassured that I was safe. I can let go and let God. I was quickly reminded that I don’t know my own best interests. Holy Spirit does - and I need to trust in that.

Today I feel like the pressure is off me. If and when the need for a document or folder arises that I no longer have, I intend to remind myself that I don’t know my own best interests. If Spirit is in charge, I intend to trust He knows what is best for me right now.

I certainly forget to trust Spirit in all my decisions. But given time I will recognize I don’t like how I feel. I will drop the hand of the ego and pick up the hand of Holy Spirit. This is the process I have the intention of practicing.

There will be plenty more lessons for me to learn, I’m sure. For now, the feelings of irritation over losing my computer files provide me with forgiveness opportunities.

Now, the more I think about it, the less serious it seems. I can laugh at my ego-self getting all bent out of shape over my lost computer files.

Holy Spirit has certainly carried me over much more difficult circumstances than this. I am grateful that my trust continues to build in this all-important process of deciding to change teachers. I am also glad I can laugh at my reaction of outrage in the computer store.

It still takes me some time to remember to “Just stay with Him. Nothing can really go wrong. I’ll always have everything I need. Just stay with Him.” But with practice, the trust continues to build that I can always decide to change teachers. And I am grateful to feel stronger and more confident each time I make this decision.

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)

© 2014, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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