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January-April, 2024

Whack a Mole

by Rev. Ashley Rose Legrand, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

This is the song that never ends. Yes, it goes on and on my friends.

We are never truly satisfied whenever we achieve something in the world of form. We get what we think we want and after momentary relief, there’s now something else glistening out there, just off in the distance, enticing us and calling our name. A new shiny object luring us in with the promise of total fulfillment. Voila.. the ego scavenger hunt.

“When you have achieved it, it has not satisfied you. This is why the ego is forced to shift ceaselessly from one goal to another, so that you will continue to hope it can yet offer you something.” (T-8.VIII.2:6-7)

We set goals. Excited and filled with hope, that THIS time… THIS will do it. It will really bring the happiness, the peace. This one is going to be the cherry on top. The icing on the cake. The silver bullet. The goal to end all goals. Hallelujah! Then I can finally rest. Finally be at peace, with nothing to bother me. Nothing to infringe on my serenity. I can be safe now that nothing will disrupt me. Whew. What a relief. Cause I’m tired. Tired of being out here, trying relentlessly to keep myself safe. If this burned calories I’d be at my ideal body in no time.

Another ego smoke screen

Goals are okay. Achieving is wonderful. But in my experience, there IS a caveat. Going into those goals knowing that yes, it might make me temporarily feel good but it is not going to bring lasting peace. Lasting joy. Now some may be upset about that statement. (Some also meaning me. Raising my hand here). Part of me feels that’s very unfortunate and just so not fair. But at the same time, it’s also quite liberating, when seen from another perspective.

When we set out on the way to those goals, we can “let all things be exactly as they are,” (W-268) and allow God to take care of the how, when and where. We can let Him lead us. Instead of looking for complete and total fulfillment, thinking we’re finally going to learn the recipe for the eradication of fear, we can simply lean into enjoying the process.

Going into it with this frame of mind, we can live from a more relaxed place, an unhurried and less frantic state. We can live from a state of just wanting to experience joy in the doing and the discovery where we’re excited about the unknown gifts we might receive that come solely from the journey itself.

Experiencing this alternate path comes from another goal entirely from having ONE unified goal at the outset — the goal of maintaining a connection to Source. Without this essential piece, everything else is even more disappointing.

When we have this perspective, those temporary achievements become even more fun. We can let them off the hook for being responsible for so much of our happiness. Instead of racing to the finish line to get to that elusive and much sought after prize of lasting inner peace, we can let them be and actually experience them.

We can wait with relaxed expectancy, knowing more joy and achievement are most certainly on the way as we allow God to lead and tell us how to get there. And no matter what the outcome, we can find happiness in knowing He goes there with us, every step of the way. And nothing can separate us from Him, Who is our happiness. God is my Source, “God is with me. I live and move in Him.” (W-222)

Rev. Ashley Rose Legrand, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in Metuchen, New Jersey. Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

© 2023, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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January-April, 2024

Holy Spirit, Knock My Socks Off!

by Ninette Terhart, Student of ACIM, Reiki Master, E.F.R. Practitioner

When I first began studying A Course in Miracles seven years ago, every time I looked at that 2000+ page book, or even thought about it, huge conflicting energy waves of wonder and dread would pass through my mind. I’ve always had the mindset that if I felt resistance towards something, it was probably the road I needed to embark on! To me, it kinda felt like a second bible but way hipper! 

The first time I heard David Hoffmeister say, “Holy Spirit, Knock my socks off!” I thought, “What does that mean?” I was so intrigued by the idea of asking Holy Spirit for anything, let alone to Knock My Socks Off! And, to be honest, it scared me! Well, clearly my intrigue caused enough momentum to usher an experience that changed my life and relationship with Holy Spirit forever. 

At this time, I had been living in this very quiet and cozy community for about two years, where I pretty much knew everybody! I was singing (and still do) every Thursday evening at a Sushi restaurant located inside the community. One day, I was walking our German Sheppard back from the park and, as I was about to cross the street corner, a car frantically pulled up beside me. As I glanced over to see who it was, expecting it to be somebody I was familiar with and most likely would exchange pleasantries, the passenger window slid down revealing this very gruff and disheveled appearance of a man I had never seen before. He reminded me of Beatle Juice. A lot! (And definitely resembled some of my father’s vibe as well.)

He began to ask me in his raspy, New York accent, “Hey, you are that singer that performs on Thursday nights, right?” Before he could even finish his question, it was like everything went into sloooow moootion…. My mind was instantly hijacked with all these nasty and negative thoughts and judgments about this human being. Honestly, it was like a siren blaring loudly in my ears — the only thing I could think of was, yuck! 

The energy I was witnessing from this person felt so heavy and gross! I couldn’t get away fast enough. He continued talking about his studio in his house and how he would like to hire me to sing on his record. I smiled politely, took his card and darted for my escape. 

When I returned home, I couldn’t shake this energy of disgust out of my mind. It was like nothing I had ever experienced in my life. I had never before met someone that irked me with such intensity. Especially someone I had “randomly” just met. HA HA!  I laugh because there is nothing random about any of this. All I kept thinking was, there is no way I’m going over to that man’s house to sing on his record!

The next morning, as I was in my yoga practice, I couldn’t stop thinking about how uncomfortable I was feeling about that man. I suddenly heard the words, “Holy Spirit, knock my socks off!” I asked, “What does that mean?” I heard, “Give me your judgments. Give me your disgust. Give me all of it. I will show you what this is for.”

I decided right there and then that I would completely release every and all distorted ideas the ego was trying to convince me about this person. I’m gonna really go for it this time I thought. I’m gonna commit and trust in this Guidance. Holy Spirit? Knock my socks off!

Whenever I thought about this person, I was shown the most disgusting visions and grotesque images. The emotions that went along with all of it was bringing seeming memories — as if I was having flash backs to other lifetimes with this person. Talk about insanity! Super disturbing. Every time they arose, I went quiet and said, “Holy Spirit, I release this to you. You show me what this relationship is for.”

I only allowed my mind to entertain the ego’s perception just enough to flush up the emotional energy and then I would drop the story and sit in the intensity of those frequencies with the Holy Spirit until I felt peace return to my mind. In this process, I discovered a way to tune into my physical sense of self, utilizing my spine as a conductor for the energy to move up and out my head into the Light of Christ. Because I believed I was in a body, and still do at times, these emotions felt very real and were having a profound effect in my body. 

This process was a visual that enabled me to access these dense energy patterns of emotions that kept surfacing in my mind. Through this process, I noticed how much easier it was to trust in the Holy Spirit. Every moment of unease became a sign to tune in and release these patterns of thought. The visions were becoming less and less and I could feel this compassion flowering up within me. I kept hearing, “I will show you what this is for. You will be shown a clear sign.”

Three weeks had passed, and I was setting up to perform at the sushi restaurant, and that man was there, sitting at a table with some other people. I felt a tiny little knot in my stomach but nothing too overwhelming. As I walked by, I said hello and he responded with, “Hey, you never called me!” I smiled and continued walking toward the stage to set up. I could feel the Holy Spirit say, “I will show you what this is for.” So, I held steadfast to those words.

Well into my first set of performing, my partner walks in and began to strike up a conversation with this man. (Side note: I had not shared anything of what had unfolded within those three weeks with anyone, including my partner.) 

After the show, my partner said he had met this really cool guy tonight and enjoyed the conversation with him. I shared that that man had asked me to go to his studio and sing on his record. My partner then replied, “You should go and I’ll go with you and hang out!” Boom! There was my sign! I could feel the click! 

Needless to say, not only did the relationship with this man and my partner grow into a very special friendship, I, too, began a friendship with him and it has now blossomed into a mighty companionship. He visits me at the sushi place and, on my breaks; we sit together and share very deep and personal spiritual conversations. Many miracles have unfolded in our friendship since then.

If I had listened to the ego and had chosen to shut down and hold the disgust as “truth,” none of this love would have graced this earth plane. None of Truth and God energy would have been available to anyone!

From that point on, my faith in Holy Spirit has been at an all time high! This man was a goldmine for deepening my faith and drew me closer to experiencing God. I had to dig deep at that time. However, it was worth every moment! He has become a gift to both me and my partner.

Remember this: Every seeming upset or place of resistance in your mind is a big, fat golden opportunity to say, Holy Spirit, knock my socks off!!

P.S. I have been so inspired by the Holy Spirit in my life that I wrote and recorded a song entitled “You Knock My Sox Off!” by Ninette Terhart. You can find it on Spotify and YouTube.

© 2023, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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January-April, 2024

Something

by Rev. Vicki Rostant, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

In a recent weekly Pathways of Light Sunday morning ACIM Interactive Discussion meeting, the section chosen for reading and discussion was Chapter 16, Section II. The Power of Holiness. Paragraph 2 stood out for me, especially the last sentence: “And so there must be Something in you that does understand.”

I was prompted by Holy Spirit to share the following:

M and I had been friends for a couple of decades. We had bonded over books — classics and not-so-classic ones; poetry — Rumi was her favorite, and A Course in Miracles.

We delighted in each other’s company, sharing stories from our past — hers from Scotland, mine from the West Indies.  She had a great sense of humor, and we shared much laughter.

In 2019, her son suggested that she give up her apartment in the city and move closer to him and his family, out of town. His two children were eight and six years old, and they loved their grandmother, but did not get to see her very often because of the distance. Feeling settled and energetic then, she said she wasn’t ready to move. 

Then the pandemic happened. The lock down during the first year of COVID lead her to the tendency towards increasing isolation and depression. Her neighbors in the apartment building remained supportive through phone calls and safe doorway contact. I called regularly, and we met at her apartment for lunch when conditions allowed. Then I started noticing that she was canceling our lunch dates more and more, due to various “illnesses.”  Her sister in Texas and I were growing more concerned about signs of increasing dementia.

She reached her 80th birthday during the second year of the Covid situation. She confessed that that number hit her “like a ton of bricks!” By then, her isolation and depression were getting stronger. In the early part of the third year, events kept me from visiting as often, though I checked in with her regularly via the telephone. When I did go over to see her, I was shocked at how much weight she had lost! Obviously, her son had noticed this and the dementia, and had gotten her a medical alert to wear around her neck.

In early June/23, she fell during the night, and pushed the button on her alert. The medics took her to a local hospital. I visited her once, then she was moved to a rehabilitation centre, further away.  When I went to visit, I saw that it was a centre for patients in varying stages of dementia. I phoned her regularly, and went to visit almost every week, on Sundays. She did not remember any of the sequence of events. Despite this, every time I visited, her sense of humor and her wit were as scintillating as it had always been!

I knew her son had put her name in for a room at several care homes in his area. The wait lists for these places are usually very long, but I knew it was only a matter of time before she would be moved. Visiting her then would not be easy because of the distance. On Sunday, September 17/23, I was not in the mood to drive across town to visit M. I had not slept well, was very tired, and had a hectic week coming up. I kept fussing to my partner that, “I don’t feel like going today! I’ve been going regularly, and I’ll go next week!” Gently at first, then more insistently, “Something” kept telling me that I must go.

Having long been a reluctant listener, but having learned more and more to trust that Voice, I got in the car and drove over.  She was in great spirits. We had a lovely visit — reminiscing, telling stories, chatting and laughing for a couple of hours.

On the following Monday, her son texted me that she would be moved that week. On Wednesday she was transported to a home closer to her family. We continue to chat on the phone.  I am so grateful to Holy Spirit that we have that memory, until we meet again.

Rev.Vicki Rostant is a Pathways of Light Minister living in Toronto, Canada. Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

© 2023, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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January-April, 2024

From Facilitator to Friend to Hermana!

by Rev. Barbara Adams, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

I met Rev. Maria Felipe in NYC at an ACIM conference produced and presented by Community Miracles Center of San Francisco. Maria was, and continues to be a powerful speaker. At her presentation, Maria made a statement that caught my attention which ultimately helped me to heal. “We did the best we could with the awareness we had at the time.” POW!

That one sentence uttered by Rev. Maria hit me hard. But in a positive way. Not only did it help me to understand my own parents’ motivations and actions better, but it helped me heal the pain that I had been carrying for too long about coming out to my children. As a gay woman who hid in a closet for more than half of my life, the coming-out process was a journey filled with relief and remorse. My children were devastated by the break-up of our little family. My guilt consumed me. But Maria’s statement helped bridge the divide. I did the best I could with the awareness I had at the time.

After her talk at the conference, I introduced myself to Rev. Maria. Her warmth and understanding demonstrated her truth. This was a lovely woman both physically and spiritually who had a mission to help guide others toward healing. This former model embraced me. From that moment, I have not let her out of my life.

Once I decided to pursue ministry, I discerned that Pathways of Light was the best fit. The coursework lined up with my spiritual path, and it reinforced the content of ACIM, which I had been studying for a number of years. I could set my own pace and there was help available just a click away. The final question, “Whom would I like to facilitate my studies?” Yep, Rev. Maria.

Ours was a joyful journey of learning and laughter. Maria’s commitment to my goal was professional as she was always prepared for our sessions, and allowed me to set the pace based on my life’s responsibilities. I determined that I wanted to move right along, so within about a year from when I began the ministerial program, I was ordained.

The Pathways ordination was lovely, yet I wanted to be able to include friends and family at an in-person ordination. I invited Maria to officiate and flew her to Upstate NY.  At a lovely park lodge, Rev. Maria conducted a warm and spirit-filled ceremony. I couldn’t have asked for a more personal and intimate ritual.

The story doesn’t end here.

Maria married Christian and they had a beautiful baby boy, Ari. They invited me to fly to Miami to christen their son. So, along with our mutual friend, Rev. Cathy Silva, we participated in a beautiful family celebration where we spiritually blessed Ari and welcomed this perfect child of God into the world.

Over the years, the relationship between Maria and I has evolved. We went from facilitator-student… to friends… to sisters. I now refer to my beautiful Cuban sister as mi hermana!

Rev. Barb Adams is currently the minister and spiritual director of Unity Rochester Spiritual Center at 55 Prince St. Rochester, NY. 14607. She can be contacted at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  Website: https://unityrochester.org/

© 2023, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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