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Applying the Rules for Decision

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

For the past five years, a water conditioning company has placed us in a collection agency trying to collect a fee from us for a service we haven’t used in the five years and which we have asked them to take back their equipment. Each time we get a notice from the collection agency, I initially panic and imagine myself being carted off to a prison or having my husband’s wages garnished. Oh what vain imaginings the ego constructs to keep us in fear and separation.

I also noticed how, in the ego thought system, I was projecting blame onto this water company. From a split dualistic mind, ego tries to make someone right and someone wrong. Of course, it wants me to believe, they are wrong and I am right. That way, I don’t have to look at the hidden guilt in me. And if I keep projecting it onto them, that cloud of guilt in me will never be lifted and God’s Light and Love will remain hidden from me.

From a fearful place, the ego seeks fearful solutions and wants punishment for the guilty party. So from this place, I focused out there in the illusion for a way to solve this problem. I sought legal help and the more I wanted to punish them and make them guilty, the more I was really punishing myself because I wasn’t at peace. In fact, I was at war — not with them, but in myself. It didn’t feel good and the body played it out in all kinds of painful symptoms. In trying to defend myself, I ended up crucifying myself. Lawyers became my false idols because I was seeking them out to help me win the war against a perceived enemy. I was shutting God out, and isn’t this what ego stands for — edging God out?

I remember there was a section in ACIM that talked about the Rules for Decision: Chapter 30 Section I. So I went there because after five years of trying to solve this from Linda’s own separate will, I knew there had to be a better way. So, rule number one states:

“Today I will make no decisions by myself” …This means that you are choosing not to be the judge of what to do.” (T- 30.I:2;2,3)

In Linda’s attempt to judge on her own, she not only judged but became her own executioner.

“If I make no decisions by myself, this is the day that will be given me.” (4:2)

Holy Spirit, I would rather be happy than right. I want peace above all. When I chose on my own that I wanted to be right; the days were filled with anguish, not peace.

“I have no question. I forgot what to decide.” (6:4)

Oh Holy Spirit, I didn’t step back and ask you first; I tried to decide on my own what was going on and tried to come up with a solution from my own separate will, a will that believed it was in danger in the world and that the source of this danger was the water company.

“At least I can decide I do not like what I feel now.” (8:2)

Oh, Holy Spirit, I don’t like feeling fearful and anxious and worried.

“And so I hope I have been wrong.” (9:2)

Oh, Holy Spirit, I realize that on my own, I will never solve the problem peacefully because in this separate mind, I judge everything to be a conflict. I seem to be a victim of a world I made in this separate mind, a mind that believes everyone is my enemy and there is no room for love.

“I want another way to look at this.” (11:4)

Dear Holy Spirit: I am willing to open this mind and am willing to be shown a better way. I am willing to choose peace instead of this pain.

“Perhaps there is another way to look at this. What can I lose by asking?” (12:3,4)

Holy Spirit, I come to you and ask you to help me see this differently and I am in gratitude that you are there waiting for me to give you my willingness.

In the instant I sought Holy Spirit’s help to see this differently, I was given the following image:

The water company, the collection agency, the lawyer, my husband and myself were all standing in a circle of light which was pouring down on all of us. We were all drinking from a beautiful cup of water that we passed around. It was an endless supply of pure delicious water. Then I heard myself shout: La Chiam, which in Hebrew means Life. There was so much joy. Each on of us then lifted the cup upwards to God shouting our praises and La Chiam.

This image given to me by Spirit showed me that God is Life, there is no hatred in the Kingdom of Heaven. All is Love, all is Light. There is no separation; there is no law but the law of Love that joins all of us in a circle of life, a circle of Love. I no longer felt hatred towards the water company; I no longer felt scared or that I was a victim or in danger.

For the first time in the five years of dealing with this issue with the water company; I was at peace and in joy as a result of practicing following the rules of decision as laid out in ACIM.

In fact, that is a decision I now willingly make. Seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven, be willing to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit first. Holy Spirit helped me to see the truth of the situation. As a result, peace was given and I experienced joy. Doesn’t Holy Spirit guarantee the outcome will be a happy one when we ask to be shown the truth? Isn’t that God’s Will for us, His Children, that we be happy?

Rev. Linda Wisniewski, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in Plymouth, Wisconsin.

© 2012, 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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Healing Emotional or Physical Pain and Sickness

by Rev. Nouk Sanchez, O.M.C.

Excerpt from ‘The End of Death’

If we truly wish to help ourselves or another to heal from emotional or physical sickness, then it’s wise to look more carefully at our intent. The ego seeks to cure through fear, so as the underlying cause of all sickness (guilt), it is never found and addressed. If we have un-relinquished fear beneath our intent to heal, then we’ll inadvertently increase fear in ourselves and/or the one we’re attempting to help.

When we are suffering or sick, it’s because we unknowingly believe that it will bring us something that we want. That’s the unseen ego playing its role. So if someone is in pain or sick and we want to help them, we can’t truly help them until we examine our own motive first. Are we fearful? Because if we are, then we need to acknowledge our fear, without self-judgment, and take an instant to suspend the fear and ask for Atonement instead. It only takes an instant to suspend our fear, inviting the miracle to take over. Remember that Spirit cannot take away our fear. Fear is a choice we make and our ego ‘will’ cannot be over-ridden by God. We must be disciplined to suspend fear to allow Love and Right-Mindedness to take over.

“The presence of fear is a sure sign that you are trusting in your own strength.” (W-pI.48.3:1) Also, fear proves that we believe the threat is real. Once we believe it is real, we cannot forgive it. Forgiveness can only take place when we willingly recognize that any expression of fear is an inappropriate response because it is not part of God’s Love. Therefore it must be unreal. We choose to remember that only God’s Love is real. We remember that this ‘appearance’ of sickness must be just that — an appearance other than God’s Love, and therefore unreal. This acknowledgement opens the mind and heart to forgiveness and miracles.

“The only sane solution is not to try to change reality, which is indeed a fearful attempt, but to accept it as it is. You are part of reality, which stands unchanged beyond the reach of your ego but within easy reach of spirit. When you are afraid, be still and know that God is real, and you are His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. Do not let your ego dispute this, because the ego cannot know what is as far beyond its reach as you are.” (T-4.I.8:4-7)

A sick person does not usually recognize the ego’s underlying desire for pain or sickness which, when truly investigated, reveals the desire to separate from God’s Love. The sickness will always mask an unrecognized ego sabotage. And in some cases, if we try to help someone who believes unconsciously that they need their sickness, then we may cause ourselves and the one we attempt to help, unnecessary suffering.

For example, my mother was in physical pain for most of her life. I tried desperately at times to help her find and release the cause of her misery. But I was met with fierce resistance so many times that I gave up in the end. Her resistance and anger made me resentful.

What I didn’t know back then was that her ego clung to sickness and pain as her identity. And through trying to help her find and undo the cause of her suffering, I was threatening her perceived identity. No wonder she was so resistant. Due to my own ignorance about true healing, I unknowingly caused separation between us instead of joining. And joining is where all healing lies.

Much later, after examining the deeper intent beneath my desire to help my mother, I found that it was from fear and guilt. Anything we do from this intent will produce separation instead of joining and healing.

Miraculous Healing Only Takes One

When we desire to help heal another, we must look at our deeper intent. As difficult as it is to grasp, there is always only one to heal, and that’s our self. So in my mother’s case, I could have been instrumental in her healing and mine had I just become more mindful in watching my own reactions to her pain and physical deterioration. The real healing for both of us lay in recognizing my own pain and fear, along with my own concerns, as they revealed to me how much I still feared to trust in God’s Love. This fear is the unconscious guilt that drives all adversity in our lives. And when we get an opportunity to see it and relinquish it (forgive), it is an incredible healing for ourselves and for the person who believed they were sick.

During that time of doubt, I was certainly not demonstrating trust in my mother, my Self or in God. And this is what longed to be seen (with Spirit) without judgment, and surrendered in exchange for the Atonement, for the miracle.

Here is a miraculous prayer for healing that was given to me by Spirit, “Holy Spirit, please help me to forgive myself for using ______ (the appearance of pain or sickness in myself or another)_____ to attack myself and to separate from Your Love, as my Holy Self.”

There are never any problems. Only the temporary absence of Love’s presence in my awareness. Love’s presence, in the form of a miracle, is invoked the instant I remember, “Regardless of the appearance of chaos, I am wholly perfect and innocent, therefore I share in God’s Strength, safety and invulnerability. I call on these to help me look past (forgive) all ego appearances. I trust and accept that only Your Will is done.” This is accepting the Atonement, which is the healing of unconscious guilt.

We can help heal another without saying a word to them. True joining and healing occurs when we refuse to believe what the ego-body senses tells us is real. Sure, magical medical remedies might still be administered. However, true healing of the fundamental cause of all suffering is gently taking effect as we quietly place our trust in the miracle.

Rev. Nouk Sanchez is co-author of best seller, Take Me to Truth and Founder of the ‘Take Me to Truth Foundation’ which is based on the teachings of A Course in Miracles, http://www.undoing-the-ego.org The launch of her latest book, The End of Death will be announced in her Newsletter. You can sign up for the Newsletter here: http://www.undoing-the-ego.org/newsletter.html

© 2012, 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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Taking a Stand

by Rev. Carol Witfoth, O.M.C.

When I received the email regarding articles, I was sad because I had no subject material and hadn’t contributed for some time. God answers all requests!

This morning I received a post on Facebook for which I felt a need to address the sender. Then it dawned on me that it is perfect material for this article.

The post was a joke about a man who goes to pick up his welfare check and says to the person at the counter, “You know I’d really rather be working than be on welfare.” The welfare worker advises the man about an available job as a chauffeur to a very wealthy man. Actually, the job is to chauffeur the man’s daughter and perform all kinds of tasks — which, and I quote — “includes servicing her personal needs.” The job had a twelve-hour day.

The welfare recipient starts out by protesting the time and other things and he refuses the job. The implication of the whole post is that all welfare recipients are on welfare because they don’t want to work. You are familiar with the stereotype, I’m sure.

Now, I took the joke personally. You see, I get food stamps and Medicade because I, like millions and millions of Americans, can’t get a job. I’d really rather be working! Though I have an excellent work history, I am of a certain age and, trust me, I know that’s why I am unemployed.

I choose to stand to represent all persons who receive any assistance for whatever reason and it is from this position that I responded to the post and from which I write this article.

The person who forwarded the joke has issues with her former daughter-in-law. Guess what? The former daughter-in-law is on assistance/welfare. The joke sender is a Christian and claims to be spiritual.

So, here’s the lesson I was given to learn and to teach. How do we personally think and respond to people on assistance including those who abuse the system?

My thoughts went to my favorite teacher, Jesus. What would Jesus do whether the scorned daughter-in-law, the person in the joke or me in my situation is the subject?

He would do today what he did before. Jesus would love and offer a hand to us and accept us. He would heal us. He would feed us. And, if we were willing, he would teach us.

How do I know this? Because that is what He’s done for me and I am no different than anyone else!

Lest you feel sorry for me, I chose to not be angry. I decided to do something new with my life. I have spent eight quarters at one of the best community colleges, Southeast Community College, Lincoln, Nebraska, in their excellent Entrepreneurship Program. I’m an award winning artist, author and now entrepreneur. My first novella will be published this week or next on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and in the near future available in epub and audio formats on etsy.com. I have to finish the cover first.

Never in any of the last four years did He leave my side! I love Him dearly.

Rev. Carol K. Springer-Witfoth, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in Lincoln, Nebraska.

© 2012, 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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Immigrants, Aliens and Ditties from Home

by Rev. Bob Stebbins

There is a form of communication that exists between us, as strangers in a strange land of illusions, and Heaven, our true Home. Although often overlooked and seldom discussed, it is frequently mentioned in A Course In Miracles, for example:

“Listen, and see if you remember an ancient song you knew so long ago and held more dear than any melody you taught yourself to cherish since…” (T-21.I.7:5)

“...the melody that pours from God to you eternally in loving praise of what you are…” (T-24.II.4:4)

“Say His Name, and you invite the angels to… sing to you…” (W-pI.183.2:2)

It is, of course, the music or singing coming from Heaven that looms so important, for it is this that helps in bringing us Home. Still, I don’t know of anyone who has actually “heard” such music… I sure haven’t. And we haven’t for a very good reason, for according to the Course, to hear this music we need to:

“[The Holy Spirit’s] Words are born in God, and come to you with Heaven’s Love upon them. Those who hear His Words have heard the Song of Heaven.” (W-pI.198.6:4-5)

Yet, still again, I know of no one, including myself, who has actually “heard” any talking either. But it doesn’t matter, I think most of us know what God, through the Holy Spirit, is saying. He speaks to us of Love, reminding us Who We truly Are, and from Where It is that We came.

God’s caring is for our awakening from this terrifying dream that we call “reality,” and as much as we may want to think otherwise, our Father has no desire that we become more proficient in living in this dream. But as long as that is where we think we are, He wills that we be happy… although the “happiness” of which He speaks comes through our expression of love and forgiveness, with our intention being toward helping others to remember Who They truly Are, and that this world and the universe(s) is not Our Home.

But it was us who believed that there could be “someplace else” that would be more satisfying. And from such…

“…a tiny, mad idea, at which the Son of God [having taken the idea seriously] remembered not to laugh…” (T-27.VIII.6:2) and in merely…

“…a tiny interval of time, [so short] that not one note in Heaven’s Song was missed.” (T-26.V.5:4)

there was made a whole, new reality.

This venturing off to find “someplace better” sort of reminds me of the early immigrants who came to the strange new land called America. They, too, had an idea… maybe not as tiny or mad… but they definitely saw coming to this “new world” as a way of making a fresh start in a place that promised a life more to their liking.

And there were those among them who had no doubts about wanting to become “Americans,” yet just as surely were there also those who were more reticent and simply saw coming to this Country as an adventure… but not a place to which they wanted to become attached.

And with those who were not so enamored, part of the reason had to be that they experienced some rejection from those already here who saw themselves as “real Americans” and the newcomers simply as “intruders.” So it wasn’t long before some of the dissatisfied immigrants started missing their homelands, and to compensate they tended to cluster together according to their heritage, thereby forming small pockets of “similar attitudes,” which eventually became such places as German Town, Harlem, Little China, The Barrios, etc.

This type of joining together allowed them to feel “not so distant” from their previous homelands. But, for all their attempts at duplicating their previous living styles, they really weren’t able to recreate them well enough to alleviate a sense of longing that seemed always to be with these immigrants.

And so they would write back to their friends and family that were still in “the old country,” asking for information on daily happenings, and for pictures that would remind them of “home” because they wanted so much not to forget who they really were and where they came from. And they cherished the letters from home which they would read to each other as reminders of their heritage. As well, would they often sing the “old songs,” and their singing would spark a flame of yearning for memories past.

And so it was not only the letters from home, but also the music that would then be taught to the upcoming generations, inculcating a lineage that held certain stories and melodies capable of awakening in a person a sense of pride and belonging to a place not of this new world.

Of course, by now I’m sure that you’re sensing the parallel I’m drawing with the Sonship and those immigrants… even to the point that just as poorly as did the immigrants fail in duplicating the “old ways,” so too does the Sonship make a mockery in trying to replicate Heaven here on Earth. Interestingly, the Course very seldom uses the word “foreigner, and even less often the term “immigrant” to describe us overall, preferring instead to call us “aliens,” as in this example:

“This world you seem to live in is not home to you. And somewhere in your mind you know that this is true. A memory of home keeps haunting you… you are an alien here, from somewhere all unknown. (W-pI.182.1:1-4)

And from this same passage, who is to say that the “haunting memory of Home” isn’t coming to us in the form of Music… even though, if it were, we would doubtful recognize, or even acknowledge Its presence. Nevertheless, it seems to be Music that is capable of rousing within us the memory of Home, just as it did for those early immigrants. But, unlike those immigrants who loved singing the “old songs,” we hardly even accept that there is any such “Heavenly Music” coming to us at all.

What all of this means, obviously, is that it’s not to us that God is talking or singing, but to the Self within our Mind. It is to this Self that God, through the Holy Spirit, keeps reminding us of our Home in Heaven, for our Self is truly but an alien here. This communication that is between God and His Son most surely is why our body’s ears cannot hear any of our Father’s Words, or the Music continuously coming to us from Heaven.

The Course tells us:

“Accept the vision that can show you [are the Christ] and not a body. You know the ancient song, and know it well. Nothing will ever be as dear to you as is this ancient hymn of Love the Son of God sings to His Father still.” (T-21.I.9:4-6)

Yet, do I wonder if another part… perhaps even a larger part… of the reason we do not hear the Song of Heaven may be due to our own inattentiveness… so very seldom do most of us ever think about God or Heaven. We have too many other things going on in our lives… centered as they are, certainly, on our living in this crazy, imaginary world. And, quite frankly, we’ve become rather adroit at keeping ourselves occupied with enough other things to think about, maybe not to intentionally put off listening to, or even recognizing, those Calls to come Home, but nonetheless is that the outcome.

Unlike those immigrants who took pride in their ancestry, the vast majority of us “aliens” try to hush or discount those memories of our Home with God, to the point that we truly have no recollection of ever having lived (and still live) in Heaven. Out of a deep sense of guilt and fear for believing that we have left our Father, we have kept the memory of our mutual Love buried away within our unconscious, giving now only lip-service to our connection with God.

Jesus, in giving his Course to the world, was not naive regarding how we try to cover our feelings about returning awakening to our Father.

Some try to put by their thoughts of God with jobs and games, hobbies and pastimes, or just watching TV, that they do to occupy their time, and keep this fearful recollection from them. Others do not recognize their fears at all. “We speak today for everyone who walks this world, for he is not at home.” (W-pI.182.3:1)
And this…

“He hears the sounds the senseless, busy world engenders, yet he hears them faintly. For beyond them all he hears the Song of Heaven, and the Voice for God more clear, more meaningful, more near.” (W-pI.164.1:5-6)

But I also want to believe that in that Part of our Right Mind where our Self abides It hears continually, not only what God is saying, but also the music and singing that comes from Heaven. How beautiful it is to realize that our Self has not missed any of It. Thus, have we no cause for fear, for we have never really been separated from our Father.

“…a melody is heard that everyone remembers, though he has not heard it since before all time began. Forgiveness, once complete, brings timelessness so close the song of Heaven can be heard, not with the ears, but with the holiness that never left the altar that abides forever deep within the Son of God.” (T-29.IX.8:4-5)

As well, does Jesus tell us in one of the Course’s lovely prayers,

“Father, let not Your Holy World escape my sight today [our Self’s awareness]. Nor let [our Self] be deaf to all the hymns of gratitude the world is singing underneath the sounds of fear.” (W-pII.293.2:1-2)

And so, whether we speak of those immigrants, or of ourselves as aliens, when, at last, we hear the Song of Heaven, if only but a ditty…

“…[we know that we] have never heard It not.” (T-29.IX.8:6)

Rev. Bob Stebbins is a Pathways of Light minister living in Adrian, Michigan.

© 2012, 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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