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Changing My Priorities

by Stella Romero

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 332 was a good one for me. I had decorated a wicker pumpkin for the Thanksgiving holiday and took it to work. I put it on the front desk as a decoration, with the intention of taking it back home when the holiday was over. With all the flowers and other stuff I put into it, not to mention my time and effort, it turned out to be costly.

When I came into work the morning I was working with Lesson 332, I saw the pumpkin was missing. Someone had apparently stolen it. Initially, I was angry and hurt that someone would do that. I’ve got a lot of spirit when it comes to holidays and I had thought of bringing in Christmas things to decorate. But right away, I began to think “I won’t ever bring in anything else again. How can some people can be so thoughtless and inconsiderate. I don’t know why I bother, etc., etc.”

This is the sort of situation that I can dwell on over and over in my mind. These resentments can control me and rule the type of day I will have. But with the practice of these lessons, I’ve learned to turn my anger, my fear, my judgements, over to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to help me to see things differently. I don’t know who took my decoration, but somehow, it doesn’t matter to me anymore. I’m learning to value my peace and serenity.

My priorities are changing and today I choose to experience God’s peace instead of dwelling of my fears that show up in anger, distrust and resentment. Fear truly does bind the world and I can experience how forgiveness sets it free because today, right now, I am at peace. Thank you Holy Spirit.

Stella Romero is a Pathways of Light student living in Arlington, Texas.

© 2004, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Holding the Space

Rev. Shirley Patterson, O.M.C.

Pathways of Light ministers are taught from the first group encounter to “hold the space” for each other. Psychotherapists and counselors are also taught this important concept but not quite so extreme. It is very hard not to want to verbally or physically comfort someone during a painful experience. Holding the Space is so important that we are strongly discouraged not to let ourselves (ego, really) get in the way of some else’s healing. This is a very good spiritual and therapeutic practice.

On the return flight home from Kiel this past August, it occurred to me I should also be holding the space for God, that is the very least I could do. The Muslims have built into their culture to stop whatever they are doing five times a day to “hold the space” for God/Allah. What a wonderful practice this is and I am wondering what this world would be like if everyone would remember God five times a day. If nothing else, it would be a good reminder that we are never ever left alone, not even for one nanosecond. I know this is just an illusion, a miscreated thought.

Some might ask what this would look like. It does not matter what form it takes, just hold the space. Meditation could be used as one form. However, unless one is an experienced meditator it is quite difficult to have no thoughts for more than a minute or two.

Wayne Dyer called this process “getting in the gap” and in fact, has a book out called just that. Eckhart Tolle speaks about “entering the space” Dr. (Brother) Wayne Teasdale and Thomas Keating, Catholic monks, also address this as “lecto divina and the Centering Prayer.” I simply call it “getting into the zone” which I believe is a phrase that athletes use. It is obvious that ‘holding the space” for God is not a new concept but has been called various names.

Mystics (Merton and many of us) also use another form called contemplation. They love to contemplate on sacred and holy things and on God in general. They rarely get fooled by worldly illusions and hold God in their minds most, if not all the time. Mystics not only meditate and contemplate but they pray, usually unceasing along with reading, perhaps studying and teaching to keep close to God (they know they are never separated from the Source). They truly hold the space for the Holy Spirit.

These are a few of the ways one could practice Holding the Space for our Beloved. God is truly wonderful and I cannot conceive of not having this Energy in my life. Thank you God! Thank you!

Rev. Shirley Patterson is a Pathways of Light minister, living in Tacoma, Washington.

© 2004, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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An Opening (Poem)

Rev. Stephanie Pokorzynski, O.M.C.

Putting all trust where it belongs.

So much strength in knowing

my Source.

Trusting-knowing all is well.

I give concerns to One Who knows.

Please let me follow You home

to Truth.

To all that I am.

I open my heart, soul, mind.

To the blessings all around,

deep inside,

immersed in true Love.

Rev. Stephanie Pokorzynski is a Pathways of Light minister, living in Alpena, Michigan.

© 2004, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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You Guide Me

by Rev. Deb Frantz, O.M.C.

There’s an enchanting song by Scott Kalechstein called, “You Guide Me.” The lyrics are, “You guide me wherever I go, step by step Lord you’re leading me home. Like a stream in the desert, like a path through the snow. Wherever I am in this world, you’re guiding me home.”

These do not have to be merely words. If you could mean these words as you say or sing them, they do mean the Real World to you. Just as in ACIM where it speaks of wanting the peace of God. “I want the peace of God. To say these words is nothing. But to mean these words is everything. If you could but mean them for just an instant, there would be no further sorrow possible for you in any form; in any place or time. Heaven would be completely given back to full awareness, memory of God entirely restored, the resurrection of all creation fully recognized. W-185.1:1-4

Recently, I had some profound experiences in understanding what receiving Holy Spirit’s guidance is all about. It initiated with the guidance for beginning an Internet radio station for ACIM students. But that was not all. The information flowed quickly and freely and I set up all that I was inspired to do. At the end I was surprised at how quickly it all pulled together in such a short period of time. Here, I was able to trust the Holy Spirit in creating a touchstone for us all. That total acceptance of His Loving Guidance precipitated the opening of the door to trusting Him for much more than I had anticipated.

As the dust settled, I found myself on a deep journey into self-discovery. He called to me and dare I answer? I dared. I spent two weeks in a real un-doing process as every idol, every illusion came crumbling down before me. Those weeks were spent barely sleeping and rarely eating. It was a purging of sorts as the hot tears flowed down my face time and time again. Holy Spirit assured me that He was right there with me, helping me to uncover every dark thought, every painful hurt and that we would together bring it to the Light. It was safe to do so at this time.

As each thought was brought to the Light, I shuddered but felt immensely at peace as I turned it over. I had seen my life these last several years. All the illusions that I believed in came to the surface and the delusions that I allowed myself to be under; the lies that I told myself. It was time now for honesty and truth. “What if it could hurt others?” I protested. Holy Spirit reassured me. I had to move on. I knew and still know that I cannot go backwards. Forward on this healing path is the only way to go.

I had to let go of an outcome that I had held much belief in and it was not the outcome of peace. It was a form that I had based my happiness on. Once I was able to see all of this through the eyes of God, I was ready to let go and allow myself to experience true happiness. Through this I had to make a major life decision. It was difficult, but I knew it was where I was led on this healing path. I had to release my husband. We have been separated for three years, and still hoping and praying that all would be restored. I found that all that we were trying to restore was a golden idol — an illusion built upon illusions.

After I had experienced this awakening from Spirit, I was afraid to share this thought with my husband. The thoughts of what his family and others would think would pull at me. And as I continued to ask for confirmation from Spirit, it was given to me that we both would go further in our healing apart than together.

It has been a month now, and it continues to prove that this is correct. I saw many unhealed thoughts from our years together that I had buried beneath the surface. I no longer have to use the transgressions, betrayals and hurts as unconscious weapons, emotional daggers ready to hold at him at whim. I can now bring it all to the surface to look at it, and when I am ready with the His Guidance, I will be able to release them all to the wind. I am still working on that process and when the timing is right for me, all will be forgiven. I know that it has to be in my time, and when I am willing and ready to surrender them to God.

So as I face the path before me, I see the stream of Life in the desert, I see His leading through the snow. All along the way He holds my hand. The strong trust that I feel in the Holy Spirit has inspired me more as a Teacher of God. It is strengthening all that I do and I will become a better minister and person. I have received the gift of clarity and insight like never before. And because I came to Him for the only advice that I could ever need, I can now be loving to myself. I can surround myself with love and loving thoughts. I am completely and wholly worthy and deserving of all that God has to offer me. I am His Son in Whom He is well pleased. I accept this all within my being now.

It is no coincidence that this has all come about in correlation with the opening of our own rental space finally for the Miracles Center here in Pittsburgh in November. I am led by the most Divine in all that I do, and I choose that leading rather than my own. What more could I possibly want?

No matter where I am, and what I am doing or feeling, the Divine is with me. I honor that within me and within us all.

Deb Frantz is a Pathways of Light minister living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

© 2004, 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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