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I Am as God Created Me

by Erica Leftus, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

I sat with a loved one outside our local café yesterday. As we watched the sea view, the seagulls, the dogs walking their owners, and the general comings and goings of the café’s patrons, I noticed an unease within me.

Nothing was wrong. I was with someone I loved. I was enjoying a beautiful morning. But I had this unease, this restlessness within me and a question in my mind, “When will I be content?”

I am having a career transition, and I have never really done the work I feel I was truly called to do, so at 51, I have been studying to help others in the spiritual way that would bring me the most joy, counseling informed and inspired by the teachings of A Course in Miracles.

As I was noticing a mild annoyance about myself as a result of my unease, I noticed a man walk towards us, joyfully holding his baby, with his wife beside him. Radiantly he beamed a smile at me, while I was holding a baby of my own — our toy poodle!

We shared a recognition between us that we were holding something innocent and beautiful in our arms; a being to love.

This man then sat down with his wife. His baby was wearing a beautiful woollen jersey. He looked so comfortable, so warm, so content — there it was! He had what I wanted! I watched as his parents, who obviously loved each other, doted on this little baby boy… “Do you want your snack? Do you want your toy truck? And yes, “Yay,” no technology was in sight to occupy this child! His parents just wanted to be together and to be with him. This boy was, if my observation was correct, going to be a very secure, and dare I say, happy adult when he grew up.

So many people miss out on this great start this child was having, even though all parents are always doing the best they can! But it was a wonderful message to me, that it’s not too late. Even if we didn’t get that idyllic childhood, we are adults now, and we have within us all the resources that our inner children within us need.

It reminds me of a little insight I had the other day — we have our childhoods where we make all our meaning, and we get a do-over in adulthood where the same patterns emerge, the same dynamics in relating are still there, but as we are adults now, we can heal the past by being conscious in the present.

I know this very well after having just become certified in the Pathways of Light, Healing Inner Child 8-week Program which I believe in and love so much and I am so excited to be facilitating.

For me, what this illustrates is a pattern of having decided an untruth about ourselves when we were children — that we were not good enough in some way — and now as adults, we get to forgive ourselves for having believed we were anything less than one of God’s eternally beloved children. Such freedom in that! I am still as God created me. See lessons 94, 110, 162, 219 and review of Lesson 199.

Rev. Erica Leftus, OMC, is a Pathways of Light minister living in New Zealand.
https://www.facebook.com/ericaspeaceplace/

© 2025, 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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Fear

by Rev. Lee Catalano, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

Fear is not the fear of God, which is what I believed for SO long. The material of A Course In Miracles must be digested over time, for there is so much resistance to truth buried in the unconscious. I have been a devout student for 33 years. Remember what Jesus told the apostles? They had been with him every single day for at least three years, and He told them they would understand His teachings later.

When Saul was struck down blind, he went into the quiet for several years and emerged as St. Paul. This fear that we have is our anguish and terror that we have been abandoned by God’s Love. Jesus wants us to see through the interpretation of the Holy Spirit when we feel someone has defaulted into fear and attack. Can you see it in yourself? I sure can. This realization, this awakening had me very still at my desk this morning. I normally write an article for Pathways very fast, but nothing was dawning. Well here it is.

Can you remember a time when you felt pure and devastating anguish? Allow the Holy Spirit and His pure Love to go there with you and re-interpret it in your mind.

There is TERROR and ANGUISH in the mind. As I answer every call for Love that comes my way, this terror and anguish is healing within MY mind. Remember “we do not heal alone.” That angry cab driver, that obnoxious co-worker, that rude daughter-in-law, that gossipy, jealous neighbor? All my SAVIORS. Why and HOW is that? Because what is appearing there is not only fear, but the unconscious TERROR of being cut off from Love. The desire to receive the Holy Spirit’s interpretation of them, heals me! 

<---- Me at my desk sighing and praying right now. Wow, just wow.

I need to end this article now so I can put my head in my hands and cry. I’m so very grateful.

Rev. Lee Catalano, OMC, is a Pathways of Light minister living in Worcester, MA
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

© 2025, 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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Messages from Spirit (Via Joey My Cat)

by Laura Woodyard, Pathways of Light Spiritual Counselor training student

My cat Joey went missing one day. My husband asked if I’d seen him in the morning, and I hadn’t. He didn’t show up for his breakfast.  The search began. My three kitties are indoor only, so I looked everywhere, opened every drawer, looked under all the furniture, scoured the closets. I rattled the box of food, which usually brings him running. The basement and garage were searched as well, no cat.

I decided my (guilty) husband had carelessly opened the garage door and he had run outside. So I made flyers, walked through the neighborhood, looking under cars, peering into bushes.

Then I grieved. Two of my cats, my little family, my hearts, had died earlier this year due to a mistake I made. My stepmom died this year as well, my last close family member. She had been the bright light in my life. Losing her was terrible.

After sitting for a time in prayer and meditation, I remembered all is well in truth.  I let my story go, my story of disaster, my cat will be run over, he’s terrified of strangers. My story that other cats will attack him, he’ll starve, and on and on.  (This was starting to sound familiar.) 

When I surrendered my story, my mind returned. Fear dropped away. I had peace, trust and forgiveness instead. I rested in God.

About 10 minutes later I heard his distinctive meow. I have two other cats, and it wasn’t them. I searched the house, high and low, looked all through the basement and garage. I figured it was just hopeful hearing.

The next morning my husband said he’d heard him too, in the back corner of the garage where the freezer is. When I looked up I saw he could have climbed into the space between the ceiling downstairs and the floor upstairs. I planted a bowl of his food on the floor, and the food was gone when I checked 20 minutes later.

Now, how to catch this nervous elusive beast? He won’t let himself be touched.  (I have to lure him upstairs into a small room and quick shut the door to catch him for the vet.)

I took charge and devised a plan. I would plant bits of food every three feet, make a trail, the Hansel and Gretel trick. I put the food out, little blobs of it all the way upstairs. I explained my plan to my husband, who promptly walked all over the food. I waited until my husband left and reset the bait. It was a long path, through the garage then basement. Up the stairs, through the kitchen and out into the foyer. That way I could quick shut the door behind him so he wouldn’t bolt back downstairs. 

I waited, sitting in an uncomfortable chair.  No cat. I started listening to a satsang. They were talking about relinquishing control, how the ego’s plan for happiness is try and do, and stress and worry, but never succeed. The leader then suggested instead of looking at a plan for future happiness, remember God’s truth is now, in the present, and not dependent on outcomes.

It’s so novel to me, understanding gifts that are mine in the immediacy of the moment. Happiness now? Regardless of what appears to be happening? Relax, and trust now? I shifted with such gratitude, to be learning that I am already that, filled with happiness when I open to it.

I stopped worrying about my operation to outwit Joey. I lay down on the couch. I heard him in the kitchen. He traipsed in like he’d never left. When I got up to shut the basement door, I saw that he didn’t even eat the trail of food. All my work for nothing! (The dogs were delighted to clean it up.)

Holy Spirit’s lessons for me are so gentle, always filling me with relief, appreciation and happiness. As I lighten up, the more I give up the blocks I create to the awareness of love and joy, the sillier my plans look. The world will end in laughter, right?

Laura Woodyard is a Pathways of Light student living in Coquille, OR.
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

© 2025, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Letting Holy Spirit Purify Our Minds

by Revs. Robert and Mary Stoelting, Founders of Pathways of Light

In dreaming of a world of separation, we have made up a concept of an individual self. This concept hides the changeless Self that God created from our awareness. We have not lost our true Self. But as long as we identify with a separate self, we cannot know the glory that God shares with our Self. But we have a choice. We can choose to let go of a self-concept we made and accept our Self as It is.

We need to accept the Holy Spirit’s help, Who always speaks for our Self and our Father. By declaring that the power of decision is our own, we are reminding ourselves that we can choose once again. We can choose to let go of our self-concept and accept that we are Love and nothing else. In this acceptance we awaken to the Heaven of God’s Love.

We have the means to live in joy. We need only make it a priority to step back and listen to the Holy Spirit’s Guidance all through the day. He will teach us to see beyond the dream of fear and disaster. He will help us see the reality of Love shining everywhere, unencumbered by dreams of separation.

As we accept the Holy Spirit’s help by choosing peace and letting our mind quiet, we will let the false images of conflict and judgment dissolve in the Light of God’s Love, which shows us unity and brings us peace of mind. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we choose to see every brother truly. In recognition of our oneness, every day can be a joyous day of reunion with our true Self.

“You have never given any problem to the Holy Spirit He has not solved for you, nor will you ever do so. You have never tried to solve anything yourself and been successful. …This year invest in truth, and let it work in peace. Have faith in Him Who has faith in you.” (T-16.II.9:1-2,7-8)

Here we have a practice that can set us free from fear and guilt. We can have full remembrance of our Identity in God. Our Identity is a given; It can never change. To ask the Holy Spirit to make all decisions on our behalf is willingness to let truth replace all self-deceptions.

To perceive anyone as a body, including our own, is to accept false beliefs. The Holy Spirit sees past these perceptions to the Love that is our Identity.

Each day we can set our intent to let the Holy Spirit decide all things on our behalf. As we practice pausing throughout the day to accept His help, we become His messenger to bring healing to the world and heal our minds as well.

Experience: We were particularly challenged as we watched the U.S. election. Politics are always centered on opinions about “right and wrong.” One person’s right can be another person’s wrong. This is inherent in the duality of the dream of separation. Opinions maintain the perception of differences and conflict.

As we observed ourselves being disturbed by political rhetoric, we saw that we needed to step back and let Holy Spirit purify our minds from our investment in our opinions. We asked for help to see past differences to recognize our calls for Love and everyone’s call for Love.

We remember that feeling fearful can only occur when we have forgotten that only Love is real. By stepping back and accepting the Holy Spirit’s help, we remember to let Love shine away the dark thoughts of fear. We remember we are safe, no matter what the dream looks like. We feel peaceful and offer Love to those we have judged as wrong.

We learn to see that we are all seeking to feel the safety of God’s Love. We join with perceived adversaries as we remember that in truth, we are united in Love.

We need to forgive the beliefs that are a defense against Love’s oneness. Forgiveness unites us with Love. In reality, there is nothing to forgive. In the dream of denial, forgiveness is Love’s mirror. While we believe we are a body, we focus on perception of what seems to be external. When we forgive, the Love that is our brother is reflected back to us.

Forgiveness is a way of saying: “I accept God’s gift of Love.” This acceptance returns the memory of God to our mind. Today we welcome His Love and let the Holy Spirit help us overlook the false barriers to see the Love that is everywhere. In Love we find peace and joy.

In Workbook for Students, Lesson 350 we learn: “And as we gather miracles from Him, we will indeed be grateful. For as we remember Him, His Son will be restored to us in the reality of Love.”

We have found that the Holy Spirit is our best Friend. He gives us the means to live in joy. We need only make it a priority to listen to the Holy Spirit’s Guidance all through the day.

He will teach us to see beyond the dream of fear and disaster. He will help us see the reality of Love shining everywhere, unencumbered by dreams of separation.

As we accept the Holy Spirit’s help, we will let the false images of conflict dissolve in the Light of Love, which shows us unity and brings us peace of mind. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we choose to see every brother truly. In recognition of our oneness, this will be a joyous day of reunion with our true Self.

We have thoroughly trained ourselves to believe that what the ego sees through the body’s eyes is true. But what we see with the ego are images in darkness, devoid of the Light of Love. The effect of this “seeing” is appearances of conflict, loss, guilt and fear — lack of Love.

It is time to retrain our minds to choose the Holy Spirit’s vision, which sees with the Light of Love. This vision shows us the reality of Love’s oneness. There is no conflict here, for Love is one and the same, everywhere, always and forever.

This vision cannot be seen by the body. It is seen with the vision of Christ in our mind. With this vision the images of the ego’s dark world are dispelled by the Light. They are overlooked as Love’s reality dawns upon our mind. Where we saw loss, we see only the constant extension of Love. Where we saw cause for guilt, we see Love’s eternal innocence. The reality of Love replaces the illusion of fear.

All this comes as we forgive by choosing the Holy Spirit’s vision over the ego’s image-making in darkness. This is how we accept that the Light of Love is here, now and always.

Robert and Mary Stoelting are co-founders of Pathways of Light, which is dedicated to helping people access Inner Wisdom and find inner peace. Pathways of Light offers many helpful resources through its website at:  http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

© 2025, 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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