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January-March, 2011

Deciding for Holy Spirit

by Rev. Ken Gorman

Only Love is Real… So what does that mean? I have one of those plastic wrist bands with this written on it (that I got from Shanti Christo). So does my 13 year old daughter. I was guided to tell her not to take it off until she understands what it means. Wow, what a tall order… Recently her PE teacher challenged her and wanted her to remove it, but she successfully refused… She knows this is a key lesson somehow and in doing that, her faith teaches me.

Only Love is Real… This is the same to me as realizing that we are already Christ or, as a cross reference, in Buddhism they would say we have Buddha nature inherently. So this is where we begin, from our inherent Nature. The rest was a mistake, but one we were allowed to make, as we have free will.

So we start from Where we are and What we are. In this awareness, there is no place to go, nothing to accumulate, no sins to be corrected, etc. To me, this is totally in alignment with the first page of the Course, which states that the goal is simply to remove the blocks to the awareness of Love’s Presence. It does not talk about our inherit Nature needing to change. All of the instruction is around miracles, which are really just a change in perception and, in the end, that we are not these bodies but one with God so the changes in perception are leading us to that awareness.

So, this is easy, right? It does not seem easy as we are overwhelmed by a combination of our habitual mind grinding out this reality we so cling to and being obsessed with fear. We can have lessons like lesson 11, ‘My Meaningless Thoughts are Showing Me a Meaningless World.’ Yet how many of my ‘thoughts’ as well as the world these thoughts showed me did I take seriously today? You almost have to laugh and cry at the same time.

I believe there is no hope in our habitual, fear-driven, thinking world. We have been at this for hundreds of lifetimes and will be at it for thousands more if we continue down this track — never finding what we are looking for, which is to remember that we were Christ the whole time.

However, we are Christ and there is hope. We have the power to create as God does through Intention. We can decide that we want only the Kingdom and there is a Guide who will answer us. At Pathways of Light we generally refer to this Guide as the Holy Spirit. As we have free will, we must consciously and deliberately choose for this Guide over the habitual, fearful mind that we normally operate with. No one, not even Jesus, can do this for us. Otherwise we would be victims to something else and not what God created us to be.

For myself, as a student of A Course in Miracles and being a follower of Jeshua and that lineage (I found it very freeing to admit to myself that this was my calling), the best I can do is to follow the instruction in the Manual for Teachers in “How Should the Teacher of God Spend His Day?” It encourages me to spend time with God each morning and evening and to trust Holy Spirit with every decision.

I also find taking five minutes once an hour, reading the Course as much as I can, and also participating in study groups and working with students is very helpful. I have really come to understand that teaching as we perceive it is learning and also giving. And there is also the ego-dreaded ‘Rules for Decision’ section which I have vowed to implement one day. 😉

Being of service, in the end, is all there is left to do. Maybe someday I will be able to take this wrist band off that says ‘Only Love is Real’ because I really get it. Until then, I will enjoy the journey with all my friends in the Pathways of Light and ACIM community.

Rev. Ken Gorman is a Pathways of Light minister living in San Francisco, California.

© 2011, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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January-March, 2011

The One About the Reunion

by Rev. Stephan Mead

When I received notice that my high school class was going to celebrate our 40th reunion, I was excited. I had gone through twelve years of school with many of them, and several were a big part of my youth. We were to meet at a prestigious yacht club for the festivities. My anxiety started two days before the event. “What was I going to wear?” “Should I bring a date?” “How will I be judged?” “Will I be thought of as a success?” My brain was off to the races!

I called my ex-wife about the clothing dilemma and she suggested charcoal slacks and a cashmere sweater would work. She even told me where in my closet the sweater was. When I went to gather my clothes, the sweater was not there. My ego said, “Steve, I’ll take care of you, do not worry about a thing.” Being completely insane at the time, how else could I reply except to say, “Thank you, thank you!” Here is how it looked in my mind:

“Steve, you know you are a failure, right?” “Your classmates do not only have good jobs, they own the companies!” “You realize you will be the only one there without a spouse or a date right?” “Think of the fun you will have telling your friends how you lost your home and now rent a small place in the middle of the central area.” “What will you say when the conversation turns to retirement packages and vacation homes?” “Have I already mentioned that you are a failure?” “You can’t even find your sweater!”

I was a wreck! “What happened?” I wondered. “It’s only a stupid reunion, there has to be something else going on.” I tried to calm my mind, and most surprisingly, I could not. I was starting to feel even worse, and feeling even worse was not the direction I wanted to head in. I reminded myself that I am a serious student of the Course, I am quite familiar with the truth of Lesson 5, “I am never upset for the reason I think.” And, damnit, I was not going to let fear spoil what should be a very pleasant evening.

I called my youngest daughter and she agreed to meet me at the shopping mall to help pick out a new sweater. We had a great time shopping and making plans to get together again soon. Still, my emotional state was not understandable to me. “Why do I feel so bad?” “What is wrong with me?” “Oh, to hell with everything and everybody,” I found myself thinking. “All this just for a reunion?” “Nothing is making sense anymore!”

I managed to get dressed and show up at the yacht club. There was much joy in the main room, but none emanating from me.

I hated being there, I felt I was a fraud, I felt a loneliness that all but crippled me. “What is wrong?” I wondered for the thousandth time. “Why am I so upset?” “Why am I so upset?” “Why am I so upset?” Nothing I had learned from the Course was available to me.

After an hour, I left the party quietly without saying good by to anyone. I did not even stay for the banquet. “I’ll just go home,” I figured, “tomorrow things have to look better.” I sat in my car and could not move. “I can not even drive home” I realized, “I am in way more trouble than I first thought.”

The idea to call my ex-girlfriend arrived. “Oh great” I thought; “now I can add feeling pathetic to my already battered self.” I called her and she was home, which surprised me. I basically hadn’t seen her in about eight months and now I didn’t even know what to say. “Hey, I know it’s late and I’m calling right out of the blue, but may I come over for a little while, I’m not doing too well emotionally.” “Of course you can” she said, “I’ll put some tea on.” “It will be great to see you.”

When I showed up, I wanted to be polite so I asked how she was doing. For the next forty minutes I got to hear how happy she is and how much love she feels for her new boyfriend. By this time, I had proved to myself that indeed, I could feel even worse than an hour ago. It was difficult to see her happy which further depressed me. I thanked her for seeing me and finally got home. Preparing to go to bed and end this miserable day, I was hanging up my clothes and there, in the closet, right in front of me was the cashmere sweater I could not find earlier.

I just started laughing. Not only did I not know the reason I was upset, I didn’t even know why I was no longer upset. I do not know anything! I had asked (well, begged) the Holy Spirit for emotional relief.

Over the next couple of days, my readings and meditations led me to a different kind of reunion, a reunion with who I am and a reunion with what really matters. And what really matters, (really matters = material of reality) is everyone, even ex-wives and ex-girlfriends are available to help me find the barriers keeping me from peace.

How obvious that is when I reunite with Truth! I had the best reunion ever!

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

© 2011, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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January-March, 2011

Responsibility

by Rev. Gail Hamley

Recently I accepted a position with my church as director of family services. In this position, I manage the Sunday school for children ages 1 through 18 and the nursery as well. It is more than a Sunday school. It is a community of families who bring their children to a sacred space for friendship and learning.

When presented with this enormous responsibility, I immediately went into meditation. I have never done this type of work before. I was at a loss. Sure, I have children and grandchildren. I’ve taught them about God or my perception of God as the years passed. But, in meditation I was thrust deeply into a new reality and I knew some very core beliefs and ways of being were about to shift.

A passage in A Course in Miracles states: “Your insane laws were made to guarantee that you would make mistakes, and give them power over you by accepting their results as your just due.” (T-20.IV.3:1) I knew in that moment that my lack of experience was exactly why I was in this position (no preconceived beliefs or laws about how it should be done). Yet, I have had to struggle with “laws” I have accepted and lived by during my various careers.

For example, I immediately placed goals in my mind and deadlines that would have thrilled my former bosses! I could ‘see’ them pick up my worksheet and mark their own calendars with my dates and accomplishments and then assume a role of authority over me to accomplish them. Of course, all of this was in my imagination but it created a stress within me that was real. ACIM asks, “What could this be but madness?” (3:2) Yes, it was madness and I was very, very aware about how I had created this madness for myself. Fear. That’s what it all boiled down to.

I forgot that I am not alone. I forgot for a moment that the “I” I am used to being is not in charge. Then I read, “The plan is not of you, nor need you be concerned with anything except the part that has been given you to learn. For He Who knows the rest will see to it without your help.” (6:1-2) What a beautiful release of responsibility!

My only responsibility is to learn and that is the beautiful state of openness I now am in. It feels like grace. And it is peaceful. I invite you to think about the ‘laws’ or beliefs that are the madness in your life. And I invite you to let them go. Open … be the student. Let grace and peace in. This is the perfect time for birthing a new life.

Rev. Gail Hamley is a Pathways of Light minister living in Tustin, California.

© 2011, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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January-March, 2011

Love — Living Only Vibrant Energy

by Rev. Kimberly Beck

Recently my prayer to Holy Spirit was for an answer to why so many things are challenging me to remembering only Love is real.

The Holy Spirit replied with an answer in the form of an acronym for LOVE:  L = Living, O = Only, V = Vibrant, E = Energy.

The energy flows naturally just thinking Living Only Vibrant Energy… can you feel it? The idea and concept is simple, yet expansive as my heart opens with love and happiness. I connected with this message and applied it in many areas of my life.

We recently discovered that my daughter had head lice. While a common childhood occurrence, it seems interesting to look at what is really ‘bugging’ me. Or with many car problems, what is driving my emotions this way? Or thrust into family drama that seems to be intensified around the holiday season!

So, I allow myself to feel my emotions and look at where my ego is working (or driving me) to convince me the fear is real. As I relax and not allow my ego to become angry or fearful with these situations I see the truth of the incredible healing that has taken place as a result of these experiences:

I have healed long term anger with my ex-husband as I asked for His help with head lice — That was big!

With the car issues it was about healing my mind around used car salesman… As funny as that sounds, it was definitely standing in my power with love to move through some hard situations.

As for the family drama, remembering that out of all of the seminars I have attended in my life, my family is by far, the best seminar (and opportunity) in town for healing my mind. Most importantly, remembering what truly serves me, as I consider myself and how I play my hand in all of this unfolding drama. 

I believe it is about letting go of the picture in my mind of the ideal family that I want. I cannot change anyone but myself — and as much as I wish things could be different, I surrender these relationships to God and have accepted everyone is on their own journey and learn in their own time. 

The power of opening to healing my mind and trusting the miracle of healing will go out into the world and make a difference,  accepting I may never see the results. I trust that God’s perfect plan is in action, working to assist everyone to wake up to the glorious gift of Love, not only during this beautiful holiday season, but living only vibrant energy every day.

By far the greatest healing is to simply remember I Love. That at the end of the day, no matter what I said, didn’t say, did or did not do… I Am Love.

At any time I can activate the energy of Love (for people or bugs) and hold the space for healing and forgiveness for myself and others. As I do this, I hear Holy Spirit whisper: “Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the Peace of God.”

Rev. Kimberly Beck, O.M.C. is a Pathways of Light minister living in Huntington Woods, Michigan.

© 2011, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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