Miracles News

Articles by
Pathways of Light Ministers

Subscribe to printed version of Miracles News.

Most Recent Articles

(Drag to scroll down.)

Archives

Complete Archives

Tweet

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
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this notice and website address are included.

Tell a Friend

Printable Page

---

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
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this notice and website address are included.

Tell a Friend

Printable Page

---

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
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this notice and website address are included.

Tell a Friend

Printable Page

---

When You Meet Anyone, Remember It Is a Holy Encounter

by Rev. Myron Jones

When two people meet, it is such a special moment. Stretched before them are infinite possibilities of discovery. What is this person’s story this time? Where do their stories cross? How will their stories be helpful to each other? How will their interactions affect the awakening of the Sonship?

Wouldn’t it be extraordinary if every time two people interacted, they could set aside what they think they know about the other person (the story they have written about the other through the filter of their own ego) and meet them anew? Each meeting would be exciting and interesting. Who, in this very moment, is this person standing before me?

What an incredibly loving thing it would be to allow each person to lay aside the past and taking up a clean slate, be the person they are in this now moment without the lie of a past. It seems that it should be possible to do this. A Course in Miracles tells us that there is no past and no future. There is only now. When meeting someone again, I could ask myself, “Who is this person before me? What gift does he bring with his presence?”

I imagine meeting John on the street. I look at him and see the ego I created to take the place of this holy Son of God.

I say, “Hi, John. Haven’t seen you in a while. How’s the wife?”

I think, “Been getting drunk and yelling at her lately?”

I have a picture in my mind about this man and allow it to define him. I saw something, or heard some gossip about something John did in the past, and I refuse to let the past go. I allow it to define everything I think I know about this man. To step even further from the truth, I allow what I heard to filter through my own past experiences with an abusive alcoholic father.

I have imprisoned this man in a box that defines him according to my own judging thoughts. In being unwilling to see him outside the prison house of my judgments, I have made it impossible to free my own mind from those judgments. As I judge him to be just another man like my father, I sustain in my mind a victimization story I chose for myself many years ago. And so, at least in my own mind, we two stand in the street pretending to chat amiably, but actually frozen together in the past, like bugs in amber, with no hope of escape.

There is a way out, a way to freedom for both of us and, make no mistake, freedom can be experienced only if it is experienced for both. We go home together. I would release John from the prison house of my mind so that I could be free as well.

From A Course in Miracles T-13.VI.

“You would anticipate the future on the basis of your past experience, and plan for it accordingly. Yet by doing so you are aligning past and future, and not allowing the miracle, which could intervene between them, to free you to be born again.”

“The miracle enables you to see your brother without his past, and so perceive him as born again. His errors are all past, and by perceiving him without them you are releasing him. And since his past is yours, you share in this release.”

I would like to be free of my past and I see the way to become free is to offer this blessing to my brother. As he is freed, so will I be freed. All that is required is my willingness. I stand in the street before my brother. Who is this man? Is he a reflection of his past? Or a reflection of mine, for that matter?

“Holy Spirit, my mind is so clouded by ego beliefs based on the past that I cannot see what stands before me. I created the clouds in my mind with judgments long ago and cherished all this time as truth. I am willing to see that I have been mistaken. I am willing to be wrong. I am asking for the miracle. Please help me receive it by correcting my thoughts and healing my mind. Please show me the man you see. Please let him be born again in my mind.”

I imagine meeting John on the street. I look at him and see another aspect of my Self. I wonder what his story is? I wonder who he is today?

I say, “Hi John. How lovely to see you again. It’s been awhile. Tell me what’s been happening.”

I think, “Holy Spirit, let no dark cloud from my past obscure from me the holiness of this man.”

Rev. Myron Jones is a Pathways of Light minister living in St. Charles, Louisiana. Read more of her inspiring Healing Journal articles on the Pathways of Light web site. Web site: http://www.forgivenessisthewayhome.org

© 2011, 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.

Tell a Friend

Printable Page

---

Back to main page of Miracles News.

Featured Store Items

Spiritual Counselor Training — based on principles of A Course in Miracles, including ordination. More….

24 ACIM Practitioner courses including 50-page study guide, CD's or MP3s, with facilitator. More….

Healing Inner Child 8-week program will help you nurture your inner child, connect with your Higher Self and heal relationships.

Listen & Receive 30-Day Home Study Learn to receive insight for your life in a form that is perfect for you …heal fears, find joy & peace. Learn more.

Hey, Holy Spirit, It's Me Again by Rev. Myron Jones. An indispensible guide for anyone on the path of ACIM with insights on the 1st 90 lessons. More…

True Forgiveness by Rev. Jennifer McSween. The Proven Path from Pain to Power and personal happiness in 5 Simple Steps. Learn more.

From the Christ Mind Book II scribed by Darrell Morley Price. A great supporting supplement to A Course in Miracles. We highly recommend it. More….

Forgiving Kevin Audio book by Rev. Larry Glenz. A moving and inspiring true story of a father/son relationship that withstood seven years of addiction, recovery, and relapse. More….

Healing Family Relationships Applying the Principles of A Course in Miracles audio book by Rev. Myron Jones. Learn how family relationships offer fertile grounds for forgiveness and healing your judgments of the world. More.