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The Healing Power of Love

by Rev. Kelly Lewis, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

As I opened my mind to be shown what to write for this quarter’s edition of Miracle News, I knew immediately that I would share my recent practice using Holy Spirit’s Love to bring healing to myself. We are told in ACIM that by bringing illusions to truth, our minds are healed. The illusions are ANY fear-based thinking and the Truth is the Loving essence that we ARE.

I found out at the beginning of October that my ex-husband of 11 years took his life. After we had divorced in 2010, we made amends to each other and both found much forgiveness and healing at that time. We were aware that while there were struggles in our marriage, that it was not awful like some marriages, but we were simply not a good match. Beyond that however, we both had our own baggage/issues that we struggled with through the marriage and that ultimately ended it. Just prior to separating I had gotten out of a four-month treatment facility. Having returned from treatment and witnessing the disparity between the lives that we both wanted, I knew that while I still felt a love for him, that I could not stay with him if I wanted to remain in recovery from multiple addictions.

It was after the divorce that I began my deep dive into spirituality and soon found ACIM. I also ended up marrying my high school sweetheart quite quickly. My focus was solely on recovery, spirituality and my new marriage. At no point did I pause to grieve the end of my first marriage. I recall feeling at times that I was on automatic pilot and that I could not pause to feel because it was simply too scary; I was actually quite terrified of my emotions as my addictions had numbed them out for so long.

There were also times that I found it peculiar that I had not experienced any emotion around the dissolution of my marriage, given I never felt at any point that I could not stand him, or held any intense anger or hatred towards him as I have witnessed with many divorces. I wondered at times if I was heartless. But when I got the news that he had taken his life, my heart sank. I could not believe what I had just heard. He had always presented as a very happy, fun and playful person. His family and friends evidently had no indication that he had been having suicidal ideation.

My initial feeling was guilt. I immediately began blaming myself for his death, feeling that it was due to things that occurred throughout our marriage, although we have been divorced for 11 years now. I struggled with this for several days, despite telling myself and hearing from others that it was not my fault.
I know from the Course that guilt is always a cover up for the guilt that we unconsciously feel because of our belief in separation from our Source/Creator. But this wasn’t helping me at all. I was also, of course, struggling significantly with sadness over the pain he must have been in to do this and the pain that his family is now experiencing. After a few days of this, I realized I needed to go with Holy Spirit with the pain, and find healing.

For about one and a half weeks I spent time each day allowing myself to feel the sadness, the shame, guilt, and the pain. I allowed myself to recall good and bad memories from our marriage. And with each emotion and memory that came up, I brought the pain fully to my awareness, and then asked Holy Spirit to please heal it. I would then feel love washing through me and witnessed the pain dissolve. I did this repeatedly.

After only a few days I stopped feeling the guilt and sadness for his pain. I stopped consistently feeling the grief of the marriage and all that occurred in it. When it comes to mind now, which is most days still, I don’t feel overwhelmed by emotions and can quickly bring love and peace to it for healing/transformation. While his decision has brought a lot of pain for many people, including myself, I see it now as a gift as it allowed me to acknowledge so much pain that I had buried. Each experience can be used for healing; they can ALL be used to choose Love over fear. In choosing Love in each experience, we are giving everything a joint purpose, which heals the split mind (negative ego vs. one mind of Love/Truth).

As I continue to practice allowing the “darkness” in my mind, all of its pains and secrets to be brought to the healing Presence of Love within my mind (Holy Spirit), I am noticing increased peace and joy. I am recognizing an ease in life and practically no fear. My level of trust increases as I realize that Love is truly always present, that it is only my pain and fear that have blocked It from my awareness. It is only my willingness to turn to Love that allows It to step up and transform me. The following passage from ACIM makes these lessons very clear:

“The Holy Spirit asks of you but this; bring to Him every secret you have locked away from Him. Open every door to Him and bid Him enter the darkness and lighten it away. At your request He enters gladly. He brings the light to darkness if you make the darkness open to Him. But what you hide He cannot look upon. He sees for you, and unless you look with Him He cannot see. The vision of Christ is not for Him alone, but for Him with you.  Bring, therefore, all your dark and secret thoughts to Him, and look upon them with Him. He holds the light, and you the darkness. They cannot coexist when both of You together look on them. His judgment must prevail, and He will give it to you as you join your perception to His.” (T-14.VII.6)

“Seeing with Him (Holy Spirit) will show you that all meaning, including yours, comes not from double vision (split mind), but from the gentle fusing of everything into one meaning, one emotion and    purpose. God has one purpose which He shares with you. The single vision which the Holy Spirit offers you will bring this oneness to your mind with clarity and brightness so intense you could not wish, for all the world, not to accept what God would have you have. Behold your will, accepting it as His, with all His Love as yours. All honor to you through Him, and through Him unto God.” (T-14.VII.7)

Am I completely over this whole experience? No. But I have the capacity to trust that Love can and absolutely will continue to heal all of the pain. I do not fear painful emotions as I used to, but welcome them, for I know that in meeting them with acceptance and Love, that I am welcoming the healing grace of God and in that there is peace and beauty.

Rev. Kelly Lewis, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in Saginaw, Michigan.
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

© 2021, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Cause or Effect

by Rev. Paula Richards, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

.Years ago, someone told me that I wouldn’t be truly happy until I moved to Arizona. A more correct statement would have been that I wouldn’t get to Arizona until I allowed myself to be truly happy.

After five years living with my elderly mom in Massachusetts, I felt really stuck in the caregiver role. I had gladly chosen to live with mom and help her out, and the first four years, although challenging, were rewarding for both of us. But, now, I was angry — a lot. After having yet another full-blown temper tantrum, through my tears, I begged Holy Spirit for help. I was guided that, instead of trying to get rid of my anger, I might ask it what it was trying to tell me. Journaling revealed I was clinging to this caregiving role out of fear of moving forward with my life, of stepping into the unknown. Staying stuck wasn’t showing love for myself or my mom. I already knew what my heart wanted. Fear was the only thing holding me back.

When I asked for help letting go of my fear, I was guided to sit quietly, put my hand on my heart, and focus on something or someone I love. I was told to stop thinking and just feel the love flowing out from my heart. Once I connected with the loving part (the only REAL part) of me, Holy Spirit prompted me to ask the love what it wanted to do — not what I thought I needed to do to become happy, but what I wanted to do because I already was happy.

Shortly after that, solutions for caring for mom began streaming into my awareness, far better solutions for her and our whole family. The wheels of change had been set in motion, but I was no longer running from what I didn’t want. Instead, I was running toward my joy. Eventually, I realized I was running with my joy. And where did it lead me? To Arizona!

Living in Arizona was a dream twenty-five years in the making! But, once I took steps toward living that dream, amazing things began to happen. My brother found an excellent place for mom right near him and his wife in Maryland, where she is very content and well cared for. Countless other synchronicities occurred as well. Everything just fell into place, from selling mom’s house during a good seller’s market to affordable, convenient flights, new friends, and finding a charming, insanely affordable townhouse to rent. Life seemed to flow.

I often fear change because I want to feel in control. Change introduces an element of the unknown. How can I be in control if I don’t know what will happen next? I am learning that I don’t have to fear change because it isn’t happening to me. Instead, it reflects what is inside of me, and that I can control. With Holy Spirit’s help, I’m learning to let my inner joy direct my choices instead of my fear.

I’ve been in Arizona for two months now. I greet each day with overflowing joy and gratitude. I squeal with delight at the magnificent mountain views. I revel in the colorful expressions of joy in the art galleries, and I am meeting wonderful new friends who have also followed their hearts and shared my excitement. It feels like the perfect place to share God’s Love through art, writing, and speaking.

But now I understand. Being here in Arizona isn’t the cause of my joy. It’s the result

Rev. Paula Richards, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in Green Valley, AZ. Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address): spiritrisingministries.com 508-517-9361

© 2021, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Miracles News,

January-March, 2022

Homecoming

Rev. Maureen Yarbrough, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

“A major contribution of miracles is their strength in releasing you from your false sense of isolation, deprivation and lack.” (T-1.I.42)

A life perceived full of abandonment with feelings of unworthiness and being unlovable corroding my mind… well, I was always on a search to fill this hole in my soul. Alcohol, drugs, sex, relationships… moving on to the next demon when one did not work, as of course, none of them would work. Setting myself up for failure in almost every area of my life, my ego clung to my professional life. It was there I wore a mask of confidence and surety, but I almost sunk that ship, too, on my long and arduous journey of self-destruction.

Darkness, demons, hopelessness… I was so blinded in a fear-taught thought system which I clung to because I trusted and believed in all of those that told me it was true. There is no blame, they all had faith in it, too. It took me to the floor — brought me to my knees and then I found myself in the fetal position, pathways of tears streaming down my face. Oh, the pain and the quiet and messy hope of desperation.

After a restless night of sleep, I made my way to the restroom. There, taped up on the run down dark and damp wall, in much need of some painting, was, “God, please help me to set aside everything that I think I know for an open mind and new experience.”

It was as if I heard an angel’s choir…. There it was! The miracle I had been praying for…. All veils came tumbling down and for the first time in a very, very long time I felt hope and experienced the lightness of joy and gratitude…. For the next year you couldn’t touch the smile that started not on my lips, but in my soul.

“Miracles are examples of right thinking, aligning your perceptions with truth as God created it.” (T-1.I.36)

A Course in Miracles did not find me quite yet at this time, but Marianne Williamson’s book, A Return to Love, did.

In my early twenties I recall coming to the realization that only Love mattered… all else was fluff. It wasn’t enough to return me to sanity, but it was a beginning! So, when a friend gave me A Return to Love to read in 2003, it spoke to me on so many levels.

I felt like it was a Homecoming. I even remember where I was. I was living with my sister at the time, and I was soaking in a bath reading away… engrossed and excited, newly sober, again. I was too intimidated to buy and read ACIM at the time. However, after my miraculous shift described above, it was given to me six months later by my cousin, whom I had not spoken to in many, many years. There are indeed no accidents! And so, then, the start of my awakening, in January 2007, I began working the Lessons and I have not put ACIM down since. 

I know, believe and breathe the Truth of Who it is I am, or shall I say, I AM. Yet, even after all of these years of practice and after all of this time in study and daily repetition of A Course in Miracles, it can still go out the window with an ever so slight blink of the eye — especially in the busy-ness of this world… designed to be full of distractions to entertain my raving me-ego.

So, I will continue forward, trusting, loving, and living joyfully and kindly as a light in this world practicing forgiveness (it starts and ends with me).

My ministry’s mission is to help others see the Light within themselves. I know this, of course, will continue to help me see mine. We will walk each other Home! The destination is definite!

“Only God could make a home that is worthy of His Creations, who have chosen to leave it empty by their own dispossession. ⁵Yet His home will stand forever, and is ready for you when you choose to enter it. Of this you can be wholly certain.” (T-4.I.11:4-6)

I am so very grateful for Pathways of Light and their Spiritual College. Thank you, Mary and Robert, for shining for so many! I want to give a special shout out to my long-time facilitator, Rev. Cathy Silva, as well as all of the facilitators in Step 4… and those walking this path with me: Daniel, Derek, Louie, Sharon, and Heather… you all are INCREDIBLE!

Lastly, my sweet and supportive husband, Freddie. So much love to each of you.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank YOU!

Rev. Maureen L. Yarbrough, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in Yulee,FL Email:momohere@gmail.com Web: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_xD2nI-wAXzQrm7EsJDeSWg

© 2021, 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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Forgiveness *Does* Offer You Everything You Want

by Rev. Jennifer McSween, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

I’m writing this article at the end of November. Soon the Christmas season will be in full swing, and we’ll be hearing Christmas Carols and other seasonal songs repeatedly, on every radio station and television channel.

I already find myself humming what has become one of my favourite Christmas songs. It’s the “Xmas Song” — written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The opening lines are: “So, this is Christmas and what have you done — Another year over a new one just begun.”

I’m sure you’ve heard it yourself. Hearing these lines bring me a deep feeling of peace, joy, fulfillment, and happiness. But it wasn’t always this way. It only became this way from 2017 — the year I wrote and published my book — TRUE FORGIVENESS: The Proven Path From Pain to Power In Five Simple Steps.

It had taken me three years from the day I decided to write a book on Forgiveness, before I actually wrote the first line. But from the day I wrote the first line to the day I became a published author it took seven months — from March 10th, 2017, to October 10th, 2017.

I remember the goal I would set at the beginning of each of those three years would be: “Write my book this year.” But, come December I would not have even started… I would hear the opening lines of that song, and I would have this sad, sinking feeling deep inside me. I would think about how another year had come and gone in which I had yet not again kept my resolution, reached the goal, or met the intention I had set. And at times, that feeling was almost unbearable.

But in December of 2017, two months after I had become a published author, when I heard that song I was literally beside myself with joy! I remember responding to the line that asks: “And what have you done?” by shouting out loud like a Rapper: “I - wrote - and - published - my - book, - Bro!” (lol)

I also noticed that the feelings of peace, joy, fulfillment and happiness I was feeling were not only associated with the fact that I had become a published author. Those feelings seemed to have become the way I was feeling most of the time, regardless of what I was or wasn’t doing or what was or wasn’t taking place in my life.

As I thought about this change in my new way of feeling and being, I realized that writing the book about forgiveness, as taught in A Course in Miracles, led to a deeper level of learning and understanding of what it means to forgive. I had become more willing to forgive, seeing it for the simple and pain-free process that it really is. So I had begun to practice forgiveness more frequently.

The title of Workbook Lesson 122 is: “Forgiveness offers everything I want.” The first paragraph is a detailed list of the feelings we are always seeking, which include the feelings I mentioned experiencing above. The opening line of the second paragraph of Workbook Lesson 122 reads: “All this forgiveness offers you and more.”

Those feelings of peace, joy, fulfillment, and happiness that had become more present in my life were the result of my frequent practice of forgiveness. And these feelings are the end results that we are always seeking, regardless of the form of the goal or intention that we set, the resolution that we make or the thing we choose to do, have, or experience. It is never the “form of the thing” that we want, but the way we think it will make us “feel.”

However, we are often unaware that nothing (no thing) or no one can “make” us feel anything. And that what determines the way we feel in any moment or situation, is whether we are practicing forgiveness or engaging in judgment — which is the opposite of forgiveness.

So, as we come to the end of this year, and you reflect on what you have done and are thinking of the goal or intention you want to set or the resolution you want to make for the coming year, remember that what you are really seeking, regardless of the “desired form,” is a feeling. Make practicing forgiveness one of those goals, intentions, or resolutions for the New Year because forgiveness “does” offer you everything you want!

Rev. Jennifer McSween, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light Minister, #1 International Bestselling Author of the book, TRUE FORGIVENESS, and The True Forgiveness Coach. You can join her “TRUE FORGIVENESS FB Group” where you’ll get frequent posts and Weekly FB Lives on Forgiveness from the perspective of A Course in Miracles.

© 2021, 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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