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January-March, 2013

Seeing Differently

by Rev. Michael L. Ciavarella, O.M.C.

I intend to see
this world differently
But all I see is
disease, disaster and death.
Who I am
I still have not a clue
Nor recognize my
brother as the Son
As long as I would
keep this world dear
And resist the truth
my brother and I are One.
I look out on
a dark and troubled world
I know the pain and
tears we each endure.
Still I chant that
I am not a body
But rather eternal,
holy, strong and pure.
I escape this world
by giving up attack
And never shall
I turn around or back.

Rev. Michael L. Ciavarella, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light Minister who lives in Oak Lawn, Illinois.

© 2013, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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January-March, 2013

Surrender

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

I thought when I grew up and moved out of my parents’ house I was done being told what to do. I was free to live my life the way I wanted. No one was going to tell me what to wear, who I could associate with, where I could go, what time I had to be home. I was done!

Wow, did I have a lot to learn. When I got a job as a cashier at a supermarket, I was told I had to wear a uniform. I had to wear white shoes. I had to report for work at a certain time. Weekends and nights were no longer mine. When someone was sick, I had to show up on the spur of the moment.

As a massage therapist, people often said, “Wow, isn’t it nice you can work when you want?” That was always a funny one to me. My time was even more limited.

When I got married, my husband told me where I could or could not go. I had to call and check in if I was going to be late so he would know I was okay.

Then I had kids. Talk about being controlled! It seemed to me my life was not my own. I felt controlled by everyone in my life but me.

Then, when the kids were grown, I thought I would plan a new career and have the freedom to choose my own direction. I was finally free. Ha, ha, ha, ha! Want to know how that worked out?

I have learned that I needed to really understand that my only goal is happiness. That Love only wants joy for his Sonship. That I really don’t need to control anything except the need to control.

Peace comes to me through surrender. When I think I need to do things and make things happen, I now feel trapped by my ego mind.

It is when I turn to the Holy Spirit and listen to His gentle Voice that I know that it is, “not my will but Thine” that happens in me and through me. And then comes peace, clarity and joy.

All these years I had it all wrong. In the Workbook for Students, page 193 it says, “Truth will correct all errors in my mind, And I will rest in Him Who is my Self.”

And on page 233, it says, “The world you see holds nothing that you need to offer you; nothing that you can use in any way, nor anything at all that serves to give you joy. Believe this thought and you are saved from many years of misery, from countless disappointments, and from hopes that turn to bitter ashes of despair.”

Today I practice letting go of thoughts about what anything means, what I thought was important, how I need to handle anything. I practice asking for the help of the Holy Spirit and really hearing his reply.

Recently I was worried because my husband was between contracts and we just bought a new house and I was fearful about the future. I kept saying to the Holy Spirit, “ I know God knows what we need so I don’t want to ask for anything, but Holy Spirit, I am really worried. You recently told me we would be okay, but my little self is still fearful and I want so much to just trust.”

Out of the clear blue my thoughts were overcome by a voice that sounded like my own. It said, “ Yes, you will be fine. I told you that you would be. Your husband will receive a phone call within the next day or two and he will receive a contract for a job that will last two years.”

I laughed out loud at that one. Really, a call today or tomorrow, sure! Even at that, the thought, “Oh you of little faith” crossed my mind.

Guess what! The very next day my husband got a call for a job. No time promises were made but the possibility is that it will be a pretty long one. My feelings about this are not of getting a job, but of really learning to hear, trust and believe in the Holy Spirit. He is our Comforter. He is the one who is here to lead us into peace, where we can reconnect with our Source. We have no investment here in this world of form, we are eternally in the mind of God.

In Lesson 128 we are told, “Each thing you value here is but a chain that binds you to the world, and it will serve no other end but this… Today we practice letting go all thought of values we have given to the world.”

As long as we give purpose and meaning to the world, we are not free. We are bound by the limitations of the ego’s control. As we learn to really trust the Holy Spirit and see that our true purpose is Love, we slowly find freedom to be as “God created us.” And I am so grateful for these wonderful lessons in truth. ❦

Rev. Peggy Rivera, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in Palm Bay, Florida.

© 2013, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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January-March, 2013

Noticing Spiritual Ego

by Rev. Ken Gorman, O.M.C.

The way I seem to currently relate to what could be called the spiritual experience and the teachings of ACIM is that:

• We are ‘now’ unlimited being, unified in Love with everything and all we will ever be.

• This is how we were created and what will always be the case beyond time.

• The only thing happening is that our awareness is being hoodwinked by a bunch of illusions/stories by a part of our mind we call the ego.

• ACIM teaches us to notice the ego and choose the Voice of the Holy Spirit instead, which tells us the truth and gradually unwinds our addiction to ego’s illusions… not a big deal really.
The ego has a few key attributes or behaviors to watch out for:

• It is always operating from fear and telling us we need to spend a lot of time protecting little selves.

• Other people are either below us or above us… equality is not in ego’s thought system.  It especially likes pedestals… both to be on them or looking up at them.

• It generally thinks it knows what is going on and has opinions about the current landscape that it vigorously holds on to (including that we are in a body and this is all real… and that the other political party has it all wrong).

• As its main job is to keep us from the truth of what we really are, it has sophisticated mechanisms for tearing our self-image down… one of the most clever is by attacking our brothers, not realizing this creates guilt and subconsciously creates a mirror effect about what we really are.

So we get involved with ACIM (or other spiritual practices) that teach us about this ego and that we don’t need to listen to it and there is another choice (Holy Spirit/Truth)… But then the ego is very clever, very good at being the ‘wolf who puts on sheep’s clothing.’  It learns all of the concepts along with us and learns to adopt the language and the context of our new spiritual path. But… ego is still up to the same game (as it knows no other)… and so something I call my ‘spiritual ego’ is born.

Now, spiritual ego uses wonderful ACIM language and spiritual contexts to:

• Tell us there is much to ‘fear’ if we do not follow these practices and in fact we are generally failing which has implications beyond this life.

• Decide others are below or above us spiritually and especially the addiction to either being on or looking up at pulpits which subtly demonstrate inequality and lack.

• Decide it is now well educated and knows exactly what the text means and what the plan is and how others (and ourselves) are failing or succeeding and what should happen next or else.

• Becomes the judge (given it is now so educated) of when we are failing in our spiritual practices, not doing them enough, judges others likewise, buying into the fear of what happens if we fail to get the material, etc…

• This all demonstrates ego’s core premise that we are not really worthy of God… in fact this really proves it when we can’t even follow a basic spiritual program that Jesus has taken so much time to give us.

Fortunately, I think the instruction for spiritual ego is the same… notice it when we can, chose the Voice of the Holy Spirit which tells the truth… and if we really get what’s going on… laugh our heads off 😉. ❦

Rev. Ken Gorman, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in London, UK

© 2013, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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January-March, 2013

My Friends — Holy Spirit and Black Squirrel

by Rev. Georgeann Medved, O.M.C.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

Early this morning I saw the little black squirrel that lives in our oak tree run from branch to branch, climbing higher and higher and transfer to another tree, going even higher. He did not hesitate. He did not fall. He was sure and swift. A creature of God, he reached the top branch and perched there, looking up as if at peace with his Maker. He then let out a loud shout of joy at his achievement.

The peace of the Lord was with me as I witnessed that scene. The squirrel portrayed the strength, peace, hope and joy that A Course in Miracles teaches.

As I climb through my day, ego chatter takes over and I snap at my husband, which sets me back on my medium sized tree branch. Then I tire of hearing a friend’s complaints and tell her I have another call, a lie. I feel my heart go thud. Boom. I hit the ground that time.

I compose myself and go to my quiet place and meditate and decide to start this day over on the lowest branch of the tree. I make a firm resolution to do better with Holy Spirit’s help. Peace!

Our next chore is to go grocery shopping and I am doing fine until a mother, daughter combo with two kinds and a small dog in a purse block an aisle with their two carts. I look around and am blocked by customers behind me complaining so I say, “Okay Holy Spirit, what do I do?”

I hear, “Patiently wait.” I take deep breaths and relax my whole body and feel calmness cleanse me. The two ladies finally continue down the aisle but still block it so progress is slow. I decide to enjoy studying the labels of items I don’t usually buy and then find a can opener I have been wanting. Jackpot! Quiet patience does help. I am making progress by listening to Holy Spirit’s command to, “Patiently wait.”

I feel good as we leave the store to go home. It is nice to sit and rest while my husband, Joe, drives. I appreciate that and tell him and then say a silent prayer of thanksgiving. At home we start to unload groceries and, because he is in a hurry, he snaps at me. But I am relaxed and just keep unpacking so he will be free to rest and the go to a meeting tonight.

As I lay down to meditate and review my day, I don’t feel I have climbed as far as the black squirrel today but I have been aware of ego chatter, being irritated and untruthful with people and keeping in communication with Holy Spirit. I ask Holy Spirit to help me do better tomorrow and to bless everyone I came in contact with today.

Before I go to bed tonight, I will go to our front door, open it and let out a loud shout of joy, celebrating my achievements, and tomorrow morning I will enjoy watching my little black squirrel friend climb to the top of the tree steadfast and sure and listen as he gives out a shriek of blissful joy. (“Sing joyful songs to the Lord.”) ❦

Rev. Georgeann Medved is a Pathways of Light minister living in Columbiaville, Michigan.

© 2013, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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