Miracles News

Tweet

July-September, 2012

The One About Employees

by Rev. Stephan Mead, O.M.C.

I didn’t see this one coming…

For the past six months, the project I am working on has been a 10-12 hour a day commitment. In addition to work, I am involved in several Pathway’s 900 courses, have two teaching/learning slots on ACIM Gather Radio per week, and regularly meet with another 5 or 6 people for an hour at a time, and meditate every morning. My life seems full!

You might think that with all this constant “spiritual stuff” being poured into my brain on a daily basis, I should be getting a break from my ego. Not happening!

The other day I was planning the content of a meeting I wanted to hold with my employees — in which the end result would be that they would find much motivation in my inspired words, and work harder, more productively and show a little appreciation for what a great boss I have been. It is almost like they have forgotten the promises they made me when I hired them.

“Why can’t my employees be like I want them to be?” This was the thought that I ended up identifying as my main problem. I did try and word it differently because even to me it didn’t sound like a very spiritual description of a problem; in fact it seemed completely crazy. That thought was however, an exact reflection of my belief.

At home, sitting in my meditation chair, I quieted my mind and examined all the evidence carefully and dispassionately and came up with the same conclusion, “My employees need to change, or I will make some changes they won’t like.”

I drew up a list of the changes I wanted to see from the work crew and was prepared to call a meeting the next morning. Nancy, (my mighty companion,) came over to my house after her work. I explained the dissatisfactions I was experiencing with my employees, and my reasons for the upset. Nancy gave me what I thought was an odd look. As I was preparing to repeat the whole story again, in case she wasn’t paying close enough attention, she said, “The only problem is that you are insane. What’s for dinner?”

Because I care so much for other people, I have noticed that occasionally I am very sensitive to criticism, perceived or real, from others and especially from Nancy. As dinner ended my thoughts about how I was being unfairly treated were interrupted when Nancy said, “Why don’t you read lesson 5 in the Workbook while I do the dishes? Then maybe we can have a sane conversation for a change.”

Lesson 5 in the course reads, “I am never upset for the reason I think.” The word “never” was what caught my attention. Okay, all joking aside, I really consider myself a serious Course student. My goal is to be sober, which means to me, that I see the truth and only the truth as being true. (Some call it awakening, some call it enlightenment and some call it living in bliss.)

I again tried to quiet my mind, set everything I thought was happening to me aside and ask for a new perspective. The first thing I did was admit I was upset and did not want to be upset. I wanted peace in my mind.

Pretending I saw the truth about my situation was not an option I exercised. “My employees need to change” was the idea I just could not get out of my mind. By now I was also agreeing with my ex-wife. “I am insane!” What happened next is the whole point of this article.

After writing and rewriting several more drafts of the employee meeting I wanted to hold, I gave up. I simply asked the Holy Spirit to help me and then watched an episode of “Law & Order” with Nancy before going to bed. (I probably don’t even need to mention that the episode dealt with some maniac who thought he was right and everyone else was wrong.)

Anyway, the next day at work, I actually forgot I was going to hold a meeting. Everyone, including me, seemed to perform their duties just fine and I ended up feeling at peace. I “did” nothing.

Why am I still going through these periods of ego beliefs, after all these years of trying to discern what the truth is? I don’t have an answer. The Course, and Course related materials continually show me where there is still a need to heal my mind… Hey, maybe that is the reason! Perhaps I just answered my own question!

I didn’t see that one coming either.

Rev. Stephan Mead, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in Seattle, Washington.

© 2012, 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

July-September, 2012

Our Body Reflects Our Beliefs

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

A friend of mine told me she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was devastated because she said, “I did everything right. I eat right, I exercise, and I take supplements. And now I have cancer.” She told me she was so bewildered that she is having a difficult time leading her weight management group. I felt really bad for her.

We talked for a while and then I told her I would be there for her no matter what. I went home and read in the Text of A Course in Miracles, hoping to find some comforting words. It is sometimes difficult to approach a non-Course student about words of wisdom from the Course when it may not be something that they can grasp. But I read in the Text on page 187, “All magic is an attempt to reconcile the irreconcilable. If God created you perfect then you are perfect. If you believe you can be sick, you have placed other gods before him.” ….

I thought about how I could say something to her without making her feel like she was to blame for her illness because that is the last thing I would want her to feel.

When we spoke again and she said she was having a hard time leading the group now, I smiled and reminded her that she is doing everything right, she already conquered her diet and her exercise and now she is working on her thoughts and that it is sometimes more important what comes out of the mouth than what goes into it.  That seemed to make her really happy, and then she hugged me and thanked me for showing her a new way of seeing that.  I thought about how beautiful it was to see someone’s face transform when they come to a new reality.

God, thank you for loving me and the entire Sonship, and thank you for showing my friend how perfect she is.

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

© 2012, 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

July-September, 2012

Call to Truth

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

The insane mind tries to keep its illusions. It defends against the Truth with intensity, ferocity and with guile. It will “do” anything to keep truth from entering its abode, and makes the false appear to take the place of Truth.

We are learning that the insane mind is only foolishness, not to be taken seriously. The insane mind is the desire to see special wishes come true. The faith or belief in these wishes makes this world appear very solid and real. The insane mind does not want to wake, yet beneath all its noise and magic, its grandiosity and pride, there is the Truth. And the Truth calls to you again and again to be Itself.

The Truth is hidden by layers of clouds and screens of smoke. It waits, eternally patient for your willingness to accept a change of mind. Truth holds no grievances because there is nothing in the clouds or smoke to fight against. It knows you will wake and return to the only Home you’ve ever known. It knows that your true Will cannot be denied, and this true Will will bring you Home with Light shining everywhere and at once.

The good news is that you are not the insane mind, though it seems often to be the one part that you are aware of and place your focus on. There is a Part of you that knows and accepts the Truth. There is a Part of you that holds every answer to any question, that lays the Truth before you in any circumstance. There is a Part of you where peace is welcomed and Love is given room. This Part of you has never been away or disconnected from you. You may choose dreams in place of the awareness of this eternal Part of you, but dreams cannot touch or change It.

You can learn to choose again — to choose for awareness of this Part that seemed so distant to you. You can learn that this Part can only help you and not deliver punishment, pain or death to you. You can learn that what was hidden was only your perfect innocence and Love. The Part of you that was denied asks only that you open and receive the gift of Truth. This Part of you that can never depart because It is one with you. It has never been separate from you, and what is part of something must be in the whole. What appears to be part of you, in reality is the only Part, the only “You.”

This loving Self that you seem to connect with on “certain” occasions is what you really are. The loving Self Is you, not the fragmented fantasy image that you dreamed. The loving Self is your one Identity.

As you allow the Truth to be remembered more and more, you will find all fear removed in accepting this Identity. All the fear-generated ideas around the body will be released. The practice to remember the Truth, to welcome the Truth, seems to take time. But with every instant of practice, you shorten time. In each instant of accepting truth, you move closer to Home, saving eons of time in the dream. 

PS: What more could you want? What else could ever bring true happiness? You are one Self, united with your Creator, your Source. You have never left your Source. There is no distance between you.

Your loving Self gives you every answer to every problem, every dilemma that seems to confront you, every fear that would inhibit you, or stifle you to not extend Love. Your loving Self gives you everything. It touches anyone or anything with Love. With Love are all released, made free from sick dreams of guilt and separation. With Love, you are freed from illusions, freed from the dream, freed from fear and despair.

Your mind and mine can unite in shining your ego away, releasing the strength of God into everything you think and do. (T-4.IV.8:3)

Rev. Mary Manke is a Pathways of Light minister who lives in Wautoma, Wisconsin. Read more of her inspiring Healing Journal articles on the Pathways of Light web site.

© 2012, 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

July-September, 2012

Listen to One Voice

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

I am always amazed at the myriad ways Spirit finds to communicate with us. As I was passing by the television set recently, a commercial that was playing caught my eye. The image on the screen was of a young woman’s face looking straight into the camera. Then you began to hear the inner dialogue that was going on in her mind, which went something like this. “What happens if I fail again; what if I’m not strong enough; what if I give into temptation; what makes you think you’ll be successful this time?”

This inner dialogue went on for about 15 seconds or so until you heard another voice say “Shhh… There’s only one voice you need to be listening to, and that’s the voice of encouragement, support and compassion.”

It turned out it was a commercial for Weight Watchers telling how with their program you would receive all the support necessary to stay on course and achieve your goal.

I was immediately struck by the similarities between the commercial I had just watched and a powerful exercise from Pathways of Light Course 111: Awakening to Your True Self called ‘Personality Aspect Role Playing.’ Since there is only ever a choice between one of two voices playing in my mind, the voice of ego or of my true Self, it is my responsibility to decide which voice I want to hear. And as my true Self will not impose It’s views as the ego does, it is up to me to quiet the ego and tune into peace to be able to hear my true Self.

Then, just like in the commercial, the Voice of my true Self will give me all the love, encouragement, support and compassion necessary for me to stay on course and achieve my goal, which is awakening from the ancient dream of separation into the full remembrance, awareness, and experience of my true self in God. Thank you Holy Spirit, for reminding me that there is only One Voice I need listen to!

Rev. Larry Pueppka, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light Minister living in North Platte, Nebraska.

© 2012, 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.