Miracles News

Tweet

January-March, 2014

Responding with Holy Spirit’s Guidance

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

Many years ago my husband and I invited one of our nieces to live with us. She was sixteen and was living with my mother and father. She was at an age that was becoming increasingly stressful on the aging couple so we thought it may be helpful for all of us to bring her into our home.

She was a quiet girl, although opinionated at times. She and my son, who was a couple of years younger than her, seemed to get along well. They rode to school together and she even dated one of his friends.

Never having had a daughter of my own, I was so happy to have this girl in my life, but I really had no idea what I was in for. I thought the best therapy was retail therapy, so whenever I saw her looking sad I’d say, let’s go shopping. That would always bring a smile to her face so I thought, “Wow, magic!”

Needless to say, that didn’t work for long. I felt sad because, no matter how hard I tried to make her happy, she always said she felt like she didn’t belong anywhere.

I wish I would have known then what I know now. I wasn’t studying A Course In Miracles at that time. If I had, I would have been much better equipped to help her.

To make a long story shorter than it could be, she eventually connected with an old boyfriend and she hurried off to marry him. She was desperately trying to belong somewhere. After three children and a very rocky relationship, the marriage ended. I tried to help her by supporting her financially, but I soon realized that I could not afford to keep up with her monetary needs. When I told her this, we had a major argument and we didn’t speak for quite a while.

Recently I posted an old picture of my mother on facebook. My niece wrote a note about how much she missed her and how she had no one in her life to talk to like that anymore. My initial feelings about that were anger and grief. I wanted to lash out at her, and tell her that she would have had us in her life had she not disregarded us like she did.

But now I do have A Course In Miracles. I do know how to ask for help from Holy Spirit, so that is what I did. I asked, “Holy Spirit, please help me see this differently.” I immediately heard the gentle coaxing of a familiar Voice that said, “It’s about needing Love.”

I then acknowledged that this isn’t about me. My ego was really trying to make me feel like a victim, but I knew in that very moment that if I said anything to defend myself, I would be insuring more separation.

Whenever my peace is interrupted, I have to look more closely. As it says in Chapter 11 of the Text, “No one can escape from illusions unless he looks at them, for not looking is the way they are protected.” (T-11.V.1:1) and …”What is healing but the removal of all that stands in the way of knowledge?” (T-11.V.2:1)

Then I pictured my niece in my mind and this time I could see her call for Love. Maybe she did not know a better way to ask for Love and she was doing it in the way she always did.

She posted a picture of me and my husband from the time she had lived with us and wrote, “Halloween with these two.” I wrote back, “I remember that.” Then she wrote, “Those were good times.” If I had responded with my ego based hurt, I would have caused more separation. As I remembered to step back and ask for Guidance, I was able to see the truth. I thanked Holy Spirit for helping me to see it differently — to see only Love and to respond with Love.

Now I will always remember to go to Holy Spirit for guidance. In the Text it says, “Those who remember always that they know nothing and who have become willing to learn everything will learn it, but whenever they trust themselves, they will not learn.” (T14.XI.12:1-2) “…If you want peace you must abandon the teacher of attack. The Teacher of Peace will never abandon you.” (T14.XI.14:1-2)

It is so easy to slip back into old habits, like being defensive, blaming others for my sadness, and pretending I am a victim in a world that I have no control over. I had a lot of training in that. It really takes practice remembering, “I don’t know what anything including this means. And I do not know how to respond to it. And I will not use my own past learning as the light to guide me now.” (T-14.XI.6:7-9) Although it takes practice, it is well worth the effort. I can totally see how my error has created distance from the people I love. Now I realize that the ego was doing its job well, but I am not going to support it in its drama anymore. I choose peace, I choose Love, and I choose to listen to the guidance I receive from the Holy Spirit. I am the Son of God and I see only perfection in my brother.

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

© 2013, 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.

Tell a Friend

Printable Page

---

Tweet

January-March, 2014

My Pilgrimage to Pathways

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

For some reason of which I was unaware, Spirit was prompting me to take a trip from my home on Long Island to Ormand Beach, Florida — the new home of Pathways of Light. I was to take this trip alone and I was to drive, not fly. I had a new Mustang convertible for the journey. I really did not know the true purpose of the trip other than to visit Robert and Mary and see the new headquarters of our organization.

When I contacted Robert and Mary to tell them, they enthusiastically encouraged me to come. When they checked in with Spirit to see if there was something they should know concerning my visit, Mary told me they received the advice, “Just listen.” I found that interesting because I didn’t think that I had anything vital to say or ask.

Aware that the Stoeltings are big Green Bay Packer fans, I arranged the trip to cover a weekend of NFL football. The Packers were playing Sunday afternoon and the NY Giants (my team) were playing Monday night. I arrived on a Saturday afternoon and left on Tuesday morning — and we had a blast together!

But I knew that the three football games we watched together (Jets, Packers, Giants) were just the background of something much more valuable. We did spiritual work together. We went out for dinner. We went out for lunch. We went to the beach and drove around the beautiful area in which they live. Our conversations were rich in love and wisdom.

I was relatively new to Pathways of Light when Mary and Robert received inner guidance to sell the campus in Kiel, WI, and move to Florida. They had no idea why Spirit was guiding them to do that. They trusted Spirit and moved without the financial security of having their property in Kiel sold. I remember being amazed at the trust they had that it would all work out for the best.

It took more than four years for the campus in Wisconsin to sell at a greatly reduced price. They moved several times with all their equipment necessary to keep the business alive. But they trusted that Spirit had a plan. They trusted! And as they trusted, the prices dropped in Florida. As it turned out, the timing was perfect.

The new home of Pathways is beautiful. The large main house contains on one level everything necessary for the daily business aspects and for their life of spiritual reflection. They are not retired by any stretch of the imagination. Running Pathways takes work and their setting is perfect for this. They are not certain exactly how the other two buildings — the guest house and oversized garage — will be used in the future, but they trust that Spirit knows.

My 18-hour ride home gave me time to reflect on why I had felt guided to make the long trip. As I drove home with the top down and the music blasting, I developed a little bit of laryngitis from singing so much. I was feeling joy and not really certain why.

Maybe I was sent down there just to feel that Love and to get a better idea of how I am to extend it. There was much to share with Spirit. I feel that somehow I have solidified the message that I wish to teach:

• Only the Love matters in any situation.

• Forgiveness is the key to happiness.

• Connection to one’s Higher Power brings great strength.

I’ll let Spirit figure out how I am to teach that. It was a great trip.

Rev. Larry Glenz, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in Long Beach, New York.

© 2013, 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.

Tell a Friend

Printable Page

---

Tweet

January-March, 2014

My Burning Bush

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

“I am going to take the Pathways of Light Ministerial Courses,” I told my husband. “But don’t worry. I’m not going to be a preacher or anything. I’m just taking them for my own edification.”

“I love these courses and my life is changing completely because of them,” I told my friends, “But a collar will choke me.”

I felt scarred by religion and I avoided ‘ministers’ like the plague. But I couldn’t seem to escape the tug of Spirit. It has always been there. I have been in a push-pull relationship with God all my life, cycling between reaching out to Spirit and resisting, running as soon as I felt His response. It seemed that feeling the power of Love invoked a deep fear in me. More than once I recognized in myself what I call the Moses syndrome. Despite the undeniable call of God to me, I argued with Him that I am not worthy, that surely He had made a mistake.

I had been studying with Rev. Myron for a couple of years when she invited me to a Way of Mastery workshop in Florida. During the workshop discussion, I spoke of my son, Eric, who had made his transition in 1989 when he was 15, still a painful wound for me. I experienced a powerful healing there, as did others. Afterwards, the workshop facilitator called me aside and asked me a couple of questions about Eric. It seems that she had accompanied her son on a visit to a psychic a few months previously and received a message from a young man. He had asked that she give a message to his mother. At the time she wrote the message down and filed it away, not knowing who it might be for or what else to do with it. The message left no doubt that it was intended for me. It was very personal and explicitly concerned with Eric.

Now I must say that I am no stranger to “spirits.” My father was involved in restoring the Myrtles, a famous haunted plantation home in St. Francisville, LA. While I have never seen or heard ghosts or spirits, I have felt their presence more than once. But I certainly never expected to receive a personal message from ‘the other side.’

I was amazed and wondered what it might mean for me. One of the most intriguing parts of the message was, “Keep reaching out to me.”

A couple of months later I had an opportunity to talk with another Pathways minister about this and came to a fuller understanding of the experience. If we are all one, my son is in reality my Self. If the message was from him, I was being encouraged to continue to reach my True Self.

A few more months passed. I finished my ministerial courses and was ordained. Almost immediately I was moved to another state, Arkansas. That was two years ago. The questions and uncertainty remained. What I am I supposed be doing here? Who is this Rev. Cathy person? I haven’t yet given my information to be listed on the Pathways website. The move was a good excuse to put that off. I’ve taught a few courses. I’ve facilitated some groups. I’ve given a couple of talks. I’ve done a few ceremonies. And I’ve wriggled out of a few ministerial opportunities at the local church. But I have been going deeper on a personal level. I have been reaching to my True Self. And there have been spiritual shifts.

Recently I was asked to help establish a non-profit spiritual organization. Part of my duties will be ministerial. I agreed. I’m excited about it. But questioned, still, “Is this what I’m supposed to be doing?” Being a Reverend seems so foreign and yet so natural. I felt torn and somehow lost. I was looking for direction.

My husband, David, and I planned a trip to Eureka Springs last month. It is a beautiful little town nestled in the Ozark Mountains. When we visited last year, I had seen an advertisement for Intrigue Theatre: The Illusionist and the Medium and was disappointed that the shows were all sold out. So this year I bought premium tickets in advance. I eagerly anticipated the show.

When we arrived at the theater we were escorted to the center aisle seats on the front row. I had not realized how ‘premium’ the premium tickets were! The first half of the show was the Illusionist, Sean-Paul. He had perfect timing and was very smooth cutting Julianne Faye, his wife and the medium, in half, and bending spoons. He did some other amazing things too like a past life regression. That was mind boggling. The second half of the show was the Medium, Julianne Fay. She levitated, papers flew around and bells rang. Very entertaining!

I was a chosen volunteer at one point. I was asked to write on a small framed chalkboard the year of an important event that no one in the audience was aware of. I wrote 1988 and handed it to another volunteer who kept it hidden. Then Sean Paul took two blank chalkboards and held them together. He had me place a small piece of chalk between them. He gave them to me to hold tightly together and led me behind a curtain with Julianne Fay. She was in a trance, tied to a chair and never moved. When he closed the curtain, I felt a very strong tingling and vibrating from my head to my toes. Then I heard and felt the chalk moving between the boards! It wrote — yes, you guessed it — 1988! I was shaking when I returned to my seat.

Later she was blindfolded and he walked out in the audience collecting objects (credit cards, jewelry, make-up items, etc.) from the spectators which she promptly identified and sometimes gave a little personal background to the owner of the object. He had started in the back and was working his way to the front.

I dug through my purse to find something very unusual for her to identify: My Pathways of Light laminated minister card. David pulled out a photo of his kids. When Sean Paul had worked his way to us, he skipped me and took the photo from David.

The blindfolded Julianne said, “Wait. I have a message for someone. This person is a counselor. They walk in the light… lead others in light… walk, lead others in light… show others their oneness with light… walking in the light…” I handed my card to Sean Paul at this point.

“This person also has technical training; in the health care field.” I am a Registered Nurse.

“They are strong in the light. We wish they would do more with the light… expand this light, light.”

David and I were astounded. The spirits were telling me, in no uncertain terms, to focus on the ministry. It looks like it is time for Moses to return to Egypt.

Returning home, the spiritual organization, Adamah Kedosha, which is Hebrew for Sacred Space, is coming together. We have our Tax ID and have filed for 501(c)3 non-profit status. Our website is http://www.adamahkendosha.com. Our first event, a Day of Silence, is set for this weekend. And building and remodeling plans are coming together. I’m facilitating a new ACIM study group. And, yes, I am getting my paperwork and picture together for the Pathways website. Looks like I better get my running shoes out if I am to keep up with Spirit!

I suppose I might have a Moses complex. And I got my own burning bush. But mostly, I have peace knowing that I am, as we all are, a minister of God. I have a knowing, deeper than ever before, that I am never alone and never without purpose.

“I am here only to be truly helpful. I am here to represent Him Who sent me. I do not have to worry about what to say or what to do, because He Who sent me will direct me. I am content to be wherever He wishes knowing He goes there with me. I will be healed as I let Him teach me to heal.” (ACIM T-2.V.A.18:2-6)

Rev. Cathy Doran, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in Hot Springs, Arkansaw.  Website: http://www.adamahkendosha.com

© 2013, 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.

Tell a Friend

Printable Page

---

Tweet

January-March, 2014

The Blessings of A Course in Miracles

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

In my experience of sharing with other A Course in Miracles students, I hear discouragement and despair and belief in failure as they go through the Course. Some of the ways this is expressed is: “I thought I healed from this; why is it coming back into my life over and over again? I feel like such a failure; I still have the symptoms of this illness. What am I doing wrong? Why is it taking so long to awaken?”

I look at the above and I think, “Linda what are you projecting? Obviously, what you believe others are saying is really coming from your own doubt and questioning, from your own deluded mind.”

So, I looked at this and asked myself, “How have I been changed by the Course? How have I experienced the miracles the Course promises me, if I practice diligently?”

First of all, I had to ask myself what my expectation of A Course in Miracles was all about?

Well, I first really got into the Course after I was in a study group at Pathways of Light when we were studying Gary Renard’s Book, The Disappearance of the Universe. Before that, the Course didn’t make sense to me when I first read it. But Gary’s book was the bridge and once I picked it up and started to really get into it, I never looked back.

At first I thought that the miracle was that the illusion would change and I would have a perfect life — like perfect health, wealth and perfect relationships, a perfect job. So when that didn’t happen I thought “What gives? Isn’t A Course in Miracles about making Linda’s world perfect?”

When I first came to the Course, I still believed I was a victim of the world, blaming my lack of peace and happiness and my experience of sickness onto the world. If only others would change; if only I can find the perfect doctor; if only I could find the perfect relationship or fix the relationship I was in. “If only” was my mantra and I learned I was listening to the wrong teacher — the ego, whose mantra is seek and do not find.

Growing up Jewish, Holy Spirit wasn’t part of my experience and neither was Jesus. So it was hard to wrap my head around the idea that the Holy Spirit was the answer to the problem of separation that caused my suffering and that there was only one problem and one solution. Now that was radical. In the illusion, I was led to believe there were a million problems and I had to solve them by myself.

But one thing I grabbed hold of was that ACIM was a mind training program that asked only one thing of me. I didn’t have to agree with it or even understand it; I only had to have some willingness to work with it and practice the lessons in the workbook.

Initially I didn’t start from the beginning of the Workbook. The first 40 lessons just didn’t make sense to me, but I was willing to see things differently. My way wasn’t working and rarely worked, and if I thought it worked, it only was a temporary fix.

So, as the Course instructed, I went to Holy Spirit and asked for help. I started out by just asking Holy Spirit to lead me to a lesson that would really help me. I kid you not — for the first year of my study, I was consistently led to the Lesson 155: “I will step back and let Him lead the way.”

That was the first blessing and miracle because, after studying that lesson for a year and learning to step back, listen and receive guidance in quiet, I started experiencing more peace. I started learning that it wasn’t about changing the world; it was about changing my mind about the world and what I thought it was for. A Course in Miracles is a mind training program, not a program to make a better illusion. Mind training takes a lot of diligent practice and willingness. After all, it’s a 180 degree turnaround from the world’s thinking. The world of separation where ego rules has me believe that the answers lie in others and that the problem is out there. It tells me that when I’m not at peace, it’s because of something or someone else. The ego’s modus operandi is projection through attack. The Holy Spirit is about extension of Love.

So, instead of discouragement about how long it takes, I am encouraged by the effects of a healed mind — peace and calm, and for the first time in Linda’s life, I am liking my Self and feeling whole, not split. Instead of despair, I am grateful that my mind is being repaired by Holy Spirit, Who sees my innocence. I am learning that there is no guilt and therefore no need to atone for my “sins,” since I am blameless. After all, what did I do to believe I am so guilty and did something deserving of punishment, like making myself sick? All that seemed to happen is that I had a thought that pictured an existence separate from God. My only mistake was I forgot it was only a thought. In fact, I can’t be guilty for my thoughts; a thought can be changed.

Instead of feeling like a failure, I am in gratitude for the feedback I get from Holy Spirit, Who helps me see that I was created out of Love and Perfection. I am innocent.

Am I impatient because the changes aren’t happening fast enough? I was, until I realized that this is what time is for. Holy Spirit knows just what I need and when I need it so I will see the changes as a blessing and not a sacrifice. If the change came too quickly, it might be threatening, until I am really ready to give up something I had so heavily invested value in.

In this mind training program, Holy Spirit is helping me sort out the true from the false. This takes time and practice and willingness and trust that the Holy Spirit is in charge of the healing process and is helping me remember the Truth that only Love is real. There is no death, only Eternal Life. As the Course says, there is no order of difficulty in miracles. I know three years ago I was so frightened of the thought of death. I couldn’t talk about it. But by working with Spirit, my fear has greatly eased and I see that Love can never die. The essence of Love is eternal. The essence of Love is limitless and I, as Spirit created out of God’s Thought, am that limitless Love.

So, over the past eight years, have there been changes? Absolutely! I am in peace so much more of the time. I feel whole. I like myself. I don’t panic when I get bodily symptoms because I am more and more understanding that they only come to let me know there is still a need for mind healing. I no longer feel alone but know that God has never abandoned me and Holy Spirit is available 24/7. And I keep awakening to more truth day by day. The veil of darkness is being lifted. All this has resulted from my willingness to daily practice the Course and have Holy Spirit be my Teacher. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for the daily miracles, the mind healing which is setting me free.

Rev. Linda Wisniewski is a Pathways of Light minister living in Plymouth, Wisconsin.

© 2013, 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.

Tell a Friend

Printable Page

---

Back to main page of Miracles News.

Has this page been helpful to you?
Your contribution to support this site is greatly appreciated. To make a tax deductible contribution with a credit/debit card, click here.
Click here to donate from your PayPal account.
Or send a check to Pathways of Light, 12530 Lions Chase Court, Huntley, IL 60142.