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July-September, 2011

Embracing Each Moment

by Gail Boydstun

Lord, help me to embrace
the moments of my life that are
hard to get my arms around.

Enable my eyes to see
You in each moment.
Help me to acknowledge the
abundance of Your goodness in me.

I lift up to you the deepest
struggles in my life.
I trust You to open my eyes
to see all You have for me in them.
Reveal to me the fullness of it all.

Thank You that I can be filled
with the joy of Your Presence
in every step I take,
because You have given me the Light
I need for whatever step I am on.

I lay my worries before You
and ask for Your mighty intervention
to show me what’s right,

when I can only see what’s wrong.

I am determined to see the good,
so help me not be blinded
by my own fears, doubts, wants
and preconceived ideas.

I ask You to reveal to me
Your truth in every situation.
Bless me with the ability to
understand the bigger picture,
and to distinguish the valuable
from the unimportant.

When something seems to go wrong,

help me not to jump to fearful
conclusions. I trust You to help
me see the ‘Light’ in every situation.

Gail Boydstun is a Pathways of Light ministerial candidate who lives in Racine, Wisconsin.
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© 2011, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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July-September, 2011

The One About Specialness

Rev. Steve Mead, O.M.C.

In Chapter 24 of A Course in Miracles, the first two sentences in paragraph two of the Introduction read, “To learn this course requires willingness to question every value you hold. Not one can be kept hidden…” When I first read this eight years ago, I thought, “This seems simple. I should probably ace this course in no time at all!” What I didn’t realize was that I was using ego to interpret the directions.

What I was willing to question was every value that I thought others held, which I did question, often! I knew what love was. I had been ‘in love’ many times, and sacrifice was not only part of being in love; basically sacrifice proved the emotion was love. What was Jesus telling me in this chapter? Suddenly I wasn’t so enthusiastic about looking at love differently. Perhaps it was no coincidence that my love life (as I understood love) was in great turmoil. Within a year I was going through a divorce, and I couldn’t even do that correctly… I still loved my wife and deep inside me I knew she loved me.

The next few years went by quickly. I found much relief and purpose in my life reading ACIM and course related materials. I was led to the ordination process of Pathways of Light, attended multiple course related workshops and conventions, made what I believe will be life-long friends from all over the country and still, my love life was in turmoil. “Why would it be so difficult for God to give me a special person to love?” I wondered frequently.

In another coincidence (?) my former wife also got involved with the Course, and we began meeting and discussing the various principles we found in it. We even began to study a course Pathway’s of Light offers, dealing with special/holy relationships. That joint study lasted about two weeks, ha ha. What we were being asked to look at (ourselves) wasn’t going to solve any problem we thought we had. We each wanted to experience a holy relationship and we each had conditions on how that experience should look. Talk about a capacity to suffer! It was miserable!

We sought counsel from several highly regarded teachers of the Course, The counsel we received seemed boringly all the same: “Whenever you are upset you can be sure that you are looking through your own ego.” In other words, “Look within and forgive.” I couldn’t do it. To me, all she had to do was be like I wanted her to be, and she seemed to be inflexible to that desire of mine. What manner of love is that?

I was tired of suffering and I couldn’t not suffer. The old escapes from ‘relationships gone bad’ were not available anymore. My ex-wife and I were now spending more and more time together, trying to figure out our relationship. In our hearts, we heard the same song and it was a solo. The way we were living our lives, the song was a duet. Almost simultaneously, we arrived at the conclusion that, “we couldn’t figure it out.” A very real sense of peace enveloped me. I saw the problem as the problem was; I wanted to be special! I wanted to be treated in a very special way. I wanted the safety and protection of my ego. I wanted what could never be!

I re-read chapter 24 again for the hundredth time, and finally “saw” the simple directions. I questioned the values I held and found I no longer wanted them. I wanted peace and peace I found. Later on in that same chapter Jesus says, “Specialness is the great dictator of the wrong decisions.” Once I was willing to question my values, I saw that I was worshiping that ego dictator of mine, and simply put, I didn’t want to anymore. I wanted to experience who I really am… and I’m happy to report that I’m being introduced to someone who isn’t special at all!

Rev. Stephan Mead is a Pathways of Light minister living in Seattle, Washington.
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© 2011, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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July-September, 2011

It Is as Easy as Your ABC’s

Rev. Margeaux Hakes, O.M.C.

I was asking the Holy Spirit, “How do I hear you?” I was feeling that others heard and spoke of the Holy Spirit so much easier. Their words flowing and abundant, I love hearing from them. My connection comes more in the form of written words each morning.

As I sit and write from Spirit, I am connected. After I have written and continue with ACIM daily lessons or the Text, it seems to say what I’ve just written. My goal is to remember… to remember through the day, so again I asked this question, “How do I hear you, Holy Spirit?

I was told it is simple; it is as easy as your ABC’s. Holy Spirit said, If you release, you will receive.

If you release Attack, you will receive Abundance.

If you release Blame, you will receive Beauty.

If you release Control, you will receive Calm.

If you release the Dream, you will receive Devotion.

If you release the Ego, you will receive Eternity.

If you release Fear, you will receive Freedom.

If you release Guilt, you will receive Guidance.

If you release Hatred, you will receive Honesty.

If you release Illusions, you will receive Innocence.

If you release Judgment, you will receive Joy.

If you release Killing, you will receive Kindness.

If you release Lack, you will receive Love.

If you release Mistakes, you will receive Miracles.

If you release Negativity, you will receive Nearness.

If you release Oppression, you will receive Openness.

If you release the Past, you will receive Peace.

If you release Questioning, you will receive Quiet.

If you release Resistance, you will receive Release.

If you release Separation, you will receive Safety.

If you release Time, you will receive Trust.

If you release Unworthiness, you will receive Unity.

If you release Violence, you will receive Vigilance.

If you release Why, you will receive Wisdom.

If you release the X factor, you will receive Xtasy.

If you release Yesterday, you will receive a Yippee!

If you release Zero, you will receive Zenith.

It seemed to flow and also be a simple reminder to remember Holy Spirit’s lessons all through the day. Thank you Holy Spirit for you guidance. It truly is simple — as simple as ABC.

He also said to Love, All – Ways.

Rev. Margeaux Hakes is a Pathways of Light minister living in Grand Junction, Colorado.
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© 2011, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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July-September, 2011

Following the Laws of God Will Set Me Free

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

I have been experiencing many symptoms in the body lately. The dentist told me I had infections in my gums and if I didn’t take care of them, they could spread to my body and I could die. Ooooooh! Fear coming up big time. The dentist; isn’t he an expert? Isn’t he someone who knows? Shouldn’t I trust him? Who should I trust? 

Well, I’ve been practicing the principles of A Course in Miracles long enough to know that when fear comes up as it does when I experience body symptoms, I need to go into quiet and go to Holy Spirit. So, I asked Holy Spirit, “What is the infection in my gums all about?” ACIM tells me the body is neutral; it can’t feel; all of what I am experiencing comes from the mind. So what did Holy Spirit share with me when I went into quiet?

Dear One, Do you choose to be infected with the laws of ego, which are fear, sin, disease and death, or do you choose to be guided by the Laws of God, which are Truth, Life, Love, Peace and Joy?

The laws of ego infect you with fear; belief in weakness; in all things that weaken and terrify you; fear for your body; fear of loss; fear of lack; fear of sickness; fear of harm. The laws of God strengthen you and infuse you with Creation. They give you power because these laws are infused with the power of your Creator. They give you truth and will set you free.  

You have a choice. You have been given free will. Every symptom in the body can either be used by the ego to imprison you with fear and keep the guilt going, or they can be used by Holy Spirit as an opportunity to awaken you from the dream.  

Following the laws of ego will make the symptoms real, and if you believe the symptoms are real, the egoic mind will concoct a story that will leave you feeling weak, paralyzed with fear and seeking salvation and healing outside yourself. As long as you believe the symptoms are real, you will be identifying with the body. 

In fact, isn’t that what happened the other day when you were talking with your mind healing partner, Betty as you were sharing from the Miracles Studies Course 909; Wellness Through Mind Healing? You told her, “I have pain in my knee; Wow! Isn’t that identifying that I believe I am a body and that the body can experience pain? Is it the body that causes pain or is it my painful thoughts that I project onto the body that is the source of pain?” 

The body only reflects what the mind projects. Can the body really produce symptoms of disease or are the symptoms simply the effect of a mind run amok by ego beliefs and laws? And all the laws of the ego reflect one belief — the belief in separation which is followed by guilt of “sin” and the need for punishment. And, since the body was the replacement home that ego made in its belief in separation, it’s the body that will act out the guilt that comes with thoughts of separation. And what are the thoughts of separation? They are belief in specialness, attack, grievances, judgements, sickness and unworthiness. 

It’s interesting in the story I made up about separation; I had two parents that were continually running to doctors and saw MD’s as medical deities. So, Linda had internalized this as her story and did the same thing. And yet, as long as she did this, she kept getting more symptoms; not more healing. She kept experiencing pain because she kept seeing the source of pain in the bodies and the doctor’s only confirmed her beliefs. They were like a giant megaphone broadcasting her fears and beliefs.

In Miracles Studies Course 909: Wellness Through Mind Healing, we were led to read Manual for Teachers, Section 5, Part II: The Shift in Perception on pages 17-18.

In paragraph 2 it says, “The acceptance of sickness as a decision of the mind, for a purpose for which it would use the body, is the basis of healing. …Who is the physician? Only the mind of the patient himself.”

What stood out in paragraphs 3-4: “What is the single requisite for this shift in perception?  It is simply this; the recognition that sickness is of the mind, and has nothing to do with the body. …The world [body] does nothing to him. He only thought it did. Nor does he do anything to the world, [body] because he was mistaken about what it is. Herein is the release from guilt and sickness both, for they are one. Yet to accept this release, the insignificance of the body must be an acceptable idea. With this idea is pain forever gone.”

So Dear Spirit, I give you my willingness to have all my painful, guilt-ridden thoughts that make me believe I am worthless and have “sinned,” am guilty and deserve punishment, forgiven. Please show me how to replace these painful thoughts with the Thoughts of God, of Truth, of Life.  

Holy Spirit guided me to Workbook, Lesson 190, which is titled, “I choose the joy of God instead of pain.” And lesson 76 reassures me that I am under no laws but God’s.

Dear Holy Spirit, use the body while I am in the illusion for Your purpose as a communication device to receive the Love of God so I may extend it to the Sonship. Forgive me for allowing it to be used by the ego as an instrument of guilt and separation.

Thank you, dear Spirit, for this miracle.

More Healing Miracles

I woke up on Memorial Day and, as I was getting out of bed, I felt the back crunch. This back has been in chronic pain for 15 years in this illusion. The first thought that came up was, “Oh No! The chiropractor doesn’t work on holidays. What am I going to do?”

This has always been a habitual response in the egoic mind. Seek outside of yourself for salvation. Course students may say when they read this, “Oh, don’t you know the body isn’t real?” As a Course student, I am learning that it says the body doesn’t feel pain or pleasure. It can’t be sick and it certainly is not the road to salvation. In fact for me, the hell I’ve experienced is because I’ve attached my identity to being the body.

So does the body have any purpose? If I’m not a body, do I have a body anyway? The Course says the Holy Spirit will use the body as well as everything in the illusion for another purpose, a holy purpose. The Course tells us that Holy Spirit works with us wherever we are in the illusion and, with a little bit of willingness, will help loosen and undo the illusory thoughts so we can remember our true Identity.

So, how can the Holy Spirit help me with my back pain? If I continue to identify with the body and my goal is to fix the body and seek salvation for the body in external idols, then the Holy Spirit will be compassionate. But His gentle voice won’t come through because the egoic voice of fear seems much louder.

So what was I to do? Every time in the past when I felt pain in the body and believed it was real, the first thought was to run to a doctor. Run somewhere; get it fixed and get it fixed quick so the body can get back to doing stuff in the illusion; to filling up it’s time and believing it’s important and has got important stuff to do.

So, now I didn’t have that option. But was I helpless? Was the situation hopeless? No. I remembered what the Course told me and because I have been diligent in practicing my lessons and really trying to work with the lessons and Text in my daily life. The thought came to me, “Seek first the Kingdom which is inside of you.” To me, this meant asking Holy Spirit to help me, to show me what I needed to do to heal. Of course, I also had to examine my goal. Was my goal to heal the body and continue to make the body real? Or was my goal to awaken from the dream and remember the truth of what I am?

So, with willingness, I stopped being upset about not being able to run somewhere to find relief. I quieted myself and went inside to the place of deep stillness. I rested in God the entire day and spoke with Spirit about my deepest desire to heal my mind and awaken from this nightmare I have made.

Holy Spirit reminded me that for a few days before the back became sore, a part of my mind had been harboring attack thoughts about others and believing I wasn’t loved or supported by others. Ah! Was the body and the back going out a reflection of these attack thoughts? Was the body reflecting what the mind was projecting? I asked Holy Spirit to help me see the situation differently. I was willing to have these thoughts undone and replaced with the thoughts of God.

In the stillness, I experienced so much peace and love. It just enveloped me. By the next day, the soreness was greatly reduced and the day after that the pain was gone. Of course, in the habitual egoic thinking, there was a thought that maybe I should still see a chiropractor. But this time I spent another day resting in God, asking Spirit for true healing, spending another entire day surrounded by the peace of God. I can’t think of a better way to spend time while in the dream. And as the mind was filled with peace, the body reflected that also.

I know, it still sounds like my motivation is to fix the body, and this is loosening. I know that while I am in the dream, the body can be used for a holy purpose. And so I give Holy Spirit my willingness to have it be used by Him for this holy purpose.

I need do nothing but continue to be vigilant with my thoughts and when I am not in peace, seek first the Kingdom. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven, because that is where the laws of God operate truly, and they can operate only truly because they are the laws of truth.” (T.7.IV.7:1)

Rev. Linda Wisniewski is a Pathways of Light minister living in Plymouth, Wisconsin.
E-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

© 2011, 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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