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Spirit Calls

by Rev. Colleen McNally, O.M.C.

A warmth comes over me

An ocean of energy

Spirit calls

Hello

I say

Guide me today

I’m listening now

I hear the call

That is all

Just be

Oh

I see

This light

Of Love

Rev. Colleen McNally is a Pathways of Light student living in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

© 2005, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this notice and website address are included.

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There’s No Place Like Home — Choosing the Altar Now

by Revs. Deb & Paul Phelps, O.M.C.

In preparing for this article we invited the Holy Spirit to select the topic for us to share. We did this by first joining in holy purpose, quieting our minds and randomly opening up the Course. We know from experience that, when we practice this, Holy Spirit always selects the ‘perfect’ topic for us for that moment in our lives. This time, Holy Spirit gave us Text, Chapter 20, Section II: The Gift of Lilies.

In this reading, Jesus shares with us the idea of how we have used the body as a separation device and that we have a choice through forgiveness to see beyond the body to the unity and innocence that we share in reality. He helps us see that through the body we only offer punishment to both our brothers and ourselves. Through this choice of fear and separation that we have made, we hold no value in the truth of our brothers or in ourselves and therefore we believe that Love has no place in us.

We cannot give to one another by seeing bodies. It is only on the level of the mind that we can truly give and receive. Through our minds, we choose which gift we will offer to our brother and to ourselves. The gift is either love or fear. We can only offer one or the other. The gift we offer reflects the core belief we hold and therefore experience through our interactions with our brothers.

Jesus speaks to us as our brother in Christ. Jesus sees us as whole and suggests that we too can see our brothers as he sees us all. He reminds us that it is always our decision which gift we offer and receive. When we choose forgiveness, we let go of what we think we see and the vision of truth is revealed to us. When we choose otherwise, we see a grim image that reflects our belief in guilt. We cause ourselves pain when we choose to punish and blame.

Throughout the Course Jesus reminds us over and over again of the importance of practicing forgiveness — forgiveness of our brothers, ourselves, and the illusion of the world that seems to be around us. He tells us that when we forget to forgive our brothers, it is ourselves we are actually crucifying. “Offer him thorns and you are crucified. Offer him lilies and it is yourself you free.” (T-20.II.3:8)

He knows that there is something much better waiting for us and he wants us to receive these gifts waiting for us from the Holy Spirit. “Those who accept the Holy Spirit’s purpose as their own share also His vision.” (T-20.II.5:3)

In joining with the Holy Spirit and sharing His purpose, we will also share His vision. In our willingness we have received the vision that we are all whole. In His vision, we see one another as “dearly loved and loving friends.” (T-20.II.5:5) There is peace within us as we accept this gift within.

Carefully hidden deep within our minds is an altar. This altar contains the Christ Light of our true Self. This is the Light of God’s Love. With a little willingness and practice we can become aware of the Light and peace that lies beyond what we see with the body’s eyes. The Holy Spirit is joyfully and patiently standing by, waiting for our slightest invitation to receive His gift of Christ’s vision. When we begin to experience the Christ Light, we will begin to recognize that everything we see with the body’s eyes is just an illusion. We will begin to recognize that we are not separate from God or our brothers, but in fact we are all in Heaven with God right now.

“You have the vision now to look past all illusions. It has been given you to see no thorns, no strangers and no obstacles to peace. …With him, your vision has become the greatest power for the undoing of illusion that God Himself could give. For what God gave the Holy Spirit, you have received.” (T-20.II.7:1-2,5-6)

“[Your brother’s] innocence will light your way, offering you its guiding light and sure protection, and shining from the holy altar within him where you laid the lilies of forgiveness.” (T-20.II.9:2)

We can practice experiencing the Christ Light within our minds by practicing true forgiveness, remembering that forgiveness means completely ‘letting go’ or ‘forgetting’ the illusion of separate bodies living in the world.

Jesus instructs us how to practice this in many of the Workbook Lessons. We practice by sitting down, stilling all our thoughts and waiting for Holy Spirit in quiet expectation of His gifts. By doing this, eventually we will hit the gap within our mind of complete stillness. In that instant, the miracle of the Light of Christ within us will suddenly flash into the perception of our mind’s eye. It is clearer than day and the body’s gentle shift into peaceful bliss is both unmistakable and undeniable. We will have discovered the Truth within and our salvation.

Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves. By helping us let go of the illusion, the Holy Spirit will show us our true Home. If we use His precious gift, then we will see past all the illusions of the world. We will see peace instead of conflict. There will be no more fear of our brothers, the world and God.

We will come to recognize that we are the Son of God. We are the savior of the world. This is the truth that we are searching for. It is up to us to change our thoughts and as we do this, all our perceived brothers will receive the release from the nails that we have chosen to keep them and ourselves entrapped in pain. Home is waiting for us; we just have to brush past the flimsy veil that we have used to keep It from our sight. The reminder Jesus gives us here is that all you need you have.

This reminds us of the message we received while watching The Wizard of Oz recently. At the end of Dorothy’s journey, she came to recognize that she had always possessed the means within her to go home. When she finally made the choice to stop seeking outside of herself to find the way home, she was able to close her eyes, go within and proclaim, “There’s no place like home.” And so the same is true for us. We seem to be traveling on the yellow brick spiritual road. Sometimes we are distracted and sidetracked; sometimes we believe we will find what we need in a great spiritual wizard or guru. Instead, the pathway to the open door of Heaven is right there within us. It can be found within the place of quietness and peace within our mind.

“Your chosen home is on the other side, beyond the veil. It has been carefully prepared for you, and it is ready to receive you now. You will not see it with the body’s eyes. Yet all you need you have. Your home has called to you since time began, nor have you ever failed entirely to hear. You heard, but knew not how to look, nor where. And now you know. In you the knowledge lies, ready to be unveiled and freed from all the terror that kept it hidden. …And there will be no fear in us, for in our vision will be no illusions; only a pathway to the open door of Heaven, the home we share in quietness and where we live in gentleness and peace, as one together.” (T-20.II.8:1-8,12)

ust like Dorothy eventually figured out that she had a choice either to keep believing in the illusion or to remember the true Home within, Jesus, too, wants us to know that we can choose this right now. When Dorothy woke up from the dream, her companions in Oz were joyously at home with her. Jesus wants us to know that we have a choice and when we make it, we will find ourselves joyfully at Home with our brothers as well.

“And gladly will you and your brother walk the way of innocence together, singing as you behold the open door of Heaven and recognize the home that called to you.” (T-20.II.11:3)

Revs. Deb and Paul Phelps are Pathways of Light ministers living at Pathways of Light in Kiel, Wisconsin.

© 2005, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this notice and website address are included.

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Giving Thanks for Miracles

by Rev. Barbara Kraetsch, O.M.C.

When I let go of the past, I can come to forgiveness now. How often the past wants to assert itself. Here comes the memory of our failure to be open and giving. Here comes the memory of our quiet resentment or anxiety. Here comes the memory of our judgment against our brother, maybe it was unspoken verbally, but it was there in our attitude and actions. We distanced ourselves from others.

I did this on Thanks-giving Day. In all the hustle-bustle, I felt resentment at all the work of putting on the big dinner. I felt judgment toward family members for their perceived failures. I felt jangled when the turkey roasting pan sprung a leak in the oven. I was not entirely peaceful. Realizing that this was all about me, not about my family or the smoking oven that still needs to be cleaned, I am left with forgiving myself for my perceived failures. In some ways I find this embarrassing to say to myself because, as a Course student, I think that my mind should never be in these petty thoughts. I think I should be farther along by now on the path to perfect peace. But I find myself saying once again that I am still in need of major mind healing.

In order to come to true forgiveness of myself for not being ‘perfect’ in the happy dream world, I must let go of all thoughts of harm. I must believe truly that no harm can occur from negative thoughts, even negative actions of complaining or distancing. The only way to God is through forgiveness. I must come to God in the appointed way because there is no other, and that means really coming to grasp the idea that sin remains impossible.

When I sit in the now moment, I feel forgiveness for myself and others. But the ego brings memory of the instant where I failed to see the Christ in me and my brother, just like a little reliving of the moment I thought I separated from God. Reliving the instant of the tiny mad idea over and over, the ego keeps bringing up the past and the idea of ‘what if’ harm really occurred. It’s the same guilt recycled again and again in a different form, a different sounding ‘what if,’ but the same underneath.

There is no embarrassment in looking at our mistakes — looking at them straight on and admitting we believed bodies real for a time. If I let the ego convince me that this keeps me from forgiveness, then I cherish the mistake and give it power. I did cherish the mistake for a little while as I allowed the ego thought system to keep bringing the memory to me. Today, God is my only goal. I let go of these ego memories of an illusive past. The thoughts weren’t real then and they are not real now. I can replace the dream of guilt with the dream of forgiveness by letting go of the memories of the past. I can only do this with the help of Holy Spirit. I am dependent on Him for this healing.

Only letting go of the past brings us to the now moment where we experience the miracle of healing. Only in letting go of the past can we come to true forgiveness of self for perceived shortcomings, because it is only in the now moment that we can see they truly have no effect. No harm was possible and no harm was done, not to anyone else, not to me. All is well.

Silly thoughts remain silly thoughts — they cannot keep me from God if I choose God as my only goal. Forgiveness is the way to return my mind to Him. I forgive myself for thinking I am sinful and pretending to be. Holy Spirit is right there with me, helping me to release the burden of the illusion.

What relief to let go of the past. No need to struggle against ego memories or push them away. I let go of the past by looking through the mistake to see the truth. I look with forgiving eyes to see only the love that was present, is present now and always will be present. I look with forgiving eyes and witness the sharing, the joy, the laughter, the giving of thanksgiving, the coming together in love.

The Christ was present at Thanksgiving. I see Him now with Holy Spirit’s eyes. That is all that is important really — that I see Him now. All else is a false past that never was. The miracle of seeing is now. I give thanks for miracles that come everyday that I let go of what never was and accept the truth of love with the help of Holy Spirit.

Rev. Barbara Kraetsch is a Pathways of Light minister living in Hartford, Wisconsin.

© 2005, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this notice and website address are included.

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From Fear to Faith and Love

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

During the month of October and into the first weeks of November, I noticed I have been gripped by more fear than usual. It’s not surprising when I realized I had been watching more TV than usual and listening more to National Public Radio, ego’s boom boxes for gloom and doom. News about the flu vaccine shortage, the war in Iraq, cancer scares, ads for new drugs that would first promise cures and then kill you from the side effects, and electioneering all flooded my mind.

Both Kerry and Bush promised we would be safer if we voted for them and be subject to more terrorist attacks if we voted for the other guy. Before the election we were told to vote against same sex unions and the right of women to choose because this is what was making the world a dangerous place in which to raise our children. The elderly were threatened with losing Social Security and enjoying a ‘comfortable’ retirement. In addition to all this, my husband had recently lost his job and we were without health insurance. Is it a wonder that I lived in fear?

The seduction of worry or fear captured me. I was giving my life over to the ego and it was a nightmare. The ego was winning the battle that was taking place in my mind.

By the time of election night, everyone seemed to be going insane. The United States was divided into red and blue states; husbands and wives on opposite sides of the political arena were fighting with each other; children were even taking sides in the tug of war of good guys vs. bad guys. “The ego is nourished by the insanity that makes us feel separate.” (Casey, Karen; Daily Meditations for practicing the Course; June 29) “The separation we perceive is merely a figment of our ego imagination and gives rise to the fights, fears, and threats we endure daily.” (Daily Meditations; Dec. 30)

On the day of the election, I vowed I was not going to turn on the TV and watch the results. I went to bed early and felt proud that I made a choice not to let the ego seduce me further. I kept waking up and forcing myself to return to sleep. I even put on meditation music. But lo and behold, I awoke at 4 a.m. and turned on the tube, gazing at flashing lights proclaiming Bush the winner. The ego part of me went berserk. I rushed downstairs where my husband was calmly baking bread and ranted and raved. When I calmed down, I started to examine my thoughts and I wrote down; “I’m scared. I don’t feel safe. I wish there was somewhere I could run.” I felt so vulnerable.

It was not a surprise that I awoke the next day with a cold and an eye inflammation. My body had become a battle ground for the war games that were taking place in my mind. I was so focused on the dream of the illusory world created in one mad instant by the ego that I was making the error real. It really wouldn’t have mattered if Kerry, the person I voted for, won. It would only have given me a false sense of security in the illusion. The ego wants us to believe that the enemy is outside of us. The politicians were projections of that belief. But I have been learning that is was all being created by my thoughts — the elections and the ‘bad’ news are all reflections of my projections.

As I shared this with Myron, my facilitator in the Pathways of Light ministerial program, she gently reminded me that there is no place in the Illusion where we are safe. In fact Myron said, “There is no illusion. It’s all in our mind.”

The madness of the outside world is only a projection of the ego. “But the purpose of the madness is to finally bring us back to the other part of our minds — the part we call holy. When we choose that space, we are at peace. In that space we can’t see or hear the madness. In that space we are secure, filled with love and free from stories that haunt us.” (Daily Meditations, Feb. 13)

Since then, I have been letting Holy Spirit lead me into the still waters of my holy Mind. With Holy Spirit, I feel safe and secure, remembering that in the real world we are all one in God’s Love and nothing can harm us. I have been restored to sanity with Holy Spirit’s guidance.

The outcome of the election was a mass call for love and an appeal for help. I suddenly felt compassion for all my brothers and sisters who are coming from fear and crying out for love and to feel safe in this nightmare of madness. I am grateful for what I am learning through the Pathways of Light courses and A Course of Miracles itself. In my most fearful moments I am now turning to the Course and practicing the daily lessons.

I am learning in Lesson 50 that “I am sustained by the Love of God.” “Put not your faith in illusions. They will fail you. Put all you faith in the Love of God within you; eternal, changeless and forever unfailing. This is the answer to whatever confronts you today. Through the Love of God within you, you can resolve all seeming difficulties without effort and in sure confidence. Tell yourself this often today. It is a declaration of release from the belief in idols. It is your acknowledgment of the truth about yourself.” (W-50.4.1:8)

In the days since the elections, instead of turning on the TV, I tune into Holy Spirit and I am transported into a sea of tranquility and calmness which spills over into every aspect of my life. Every day my joy increases knowing that, with the guidance of Holy Spirit, the conditions for our awakening are being created; we are being led to our true Home, safe in God’s Love.

Rev. Linda Wisniewski is a Pathways of Light minister in training living in Plymouth, Wisconsin.

© 2005, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this notice and website address are included.

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