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April-June, 2005

Nothing Has Changed

by Revs. Robert and Mary Stoelting

The night before writing this article we asked the Holy Spirit to bring us inspiration. The following is what transpired:

Mary — While I was showering, the idea kept coming to me: Nothing has changed. Then a picture came to me. When I was a child, I had a picture of Jesus across from my bed. When I woke up in the morning, there he would be, reassuring me that no matter what seemed to be happening in my life, he was there. His picture reminded me that everything was going to be all right. This picture was the face of kindness, the face of gentleness.

Now, when I read in the Course that the face of Christ is all there is to see, I am reminded of that picture. Through that picture, I am reminded that nothing has changed. No matter what story is seeming to be told in the moment with all its ups and downs, twists and turns, the fact is that, “The sight of Christ is all there is to see. The hand of Christ is all there is to hold. There is no journey but to walk with Him.” (T-24.V.7:7,9-10) I am reminded that nothing has really changed. Everyone is still as God created them. If I am willing to remember the truth, I am willing to see the face of Christ. I am willing to see that nothing has changed. Love is still Love, and no dream to the contrary can change that. I am being gently guided to remember the constancy of truth, the changelessness of Love.

Many times it seems very enticing to follow the dream’s story line. When I am watching a movie, I want to watch it to the end to see how the story turns out. Many times the story is like “The Perils of Pauline,” with one problem after the next to overcome. More than once I have asked myself, “Why am I attracted to these stories? Why am I drawn to them?” Last night we watched a program called, “Extreme Makeover Home Edition.” In the program, an eight year old girl who had been in a children’s hospital cancer ward requested to have the grey and cheerless ward made over with bright colors. She wanted other children to have a more cheerful environment as they were going through their cancer treatment.

The producers decided not only to bring in a team of Disney artists to redo that wing of the children’s hospital, but they also decided to build a big, beautiful home for the girl’s family. The family had six children and their home was very cramped. Instead of renovating the old home, they leveled it to the ground and started over. On that same ground a new home was erected. Volunteers came from near and far to help bring this family a new home that would abundantly meet all their needs.

It was so touching to see this story unfold. It reminded me of what the Course is teaching us regarding letting go of the old ego “home” we built in our insanity. We have a poster beside our bed that says, “To every apprehension, every care, and every form of suffering: I will forgive and this will disappear.” (ACIM W-pI.193.13:3-4) I see this as the means by which we level the old home that no longer serves us. We do this letting go by releasing ego thoughts when they come up. When “The Perils of Pauline” stories run in our minds, we now have a way to choose differently. With every apprehension and every concern, we can remind ourselves, “I will forgive and this will disappear.”

As Course students we are learning that this clears the way for the Holy Spirit to bring us an awareness of our real Home, the House that Love built. We are learning that we all live in this same magnificent Home, where all our needs are always met. As we continue to let our minds be changed by the Holy Spirit, we are gradually being brought to an awareness of our real Home, the Home we never really left. We have just been feverishly dreaming up stories of leaving home and being alone and friendless. But these stories were never true.

The awareness of our eternal Home comes to us as our willingness to awaken to it increases. We learn that we have never left. We learn that the sight of Christ really is all there is to see. Nothing has happened to change God’s Son. In truth there never were separate minds with separate and unique bodies. “The Perils of Pauline” stories never happened. They were all made up. We have remained safe at Home in the Mind of Love all the while.

The Course is teaching us that this is our lesson to learn now. We know the ending and we are all winners together. The losing stories are simply not true. Our job is to remove our attachment to these trauma drama stories. They do not bring us peace. They have only brought us fear and guilt and pain. We realize that we can be done with believing in these stories. We realize that we can forgive, or let these stories go. We can let go of deciding what anything means on our own. We can let go of judging for ourselves alone what is real and what is not real. We can let go of thinking we have a private mind with private thoughts we do not share.

The good news is that in letting go, or forgiving, these old trauma drama stories, our real Home is revealed to us. We come to realize that our real Home fills our every need. Only our real Home brings us true and everlasting happiness. It is up to us to decide to accept the truth of our real Home now. Our real Home is waiting for our acceptance.

As we wake up, we return to the truth that the sight of Christ is all there is to see. The hand of Christ is all there is to hold. There truly is no journey but to walk with Him. We return to the awareness that nothing has changed God’s Son. Despite the appearances of the stories, we are all God’s one Son. Together we share His one Mind. This willingness to share requires a willingness to let go of the private stories, the private trauma dramas, the private judgments.

Our true Home is there now, waiting for us. As we are willing to give up our belief in littleness, the magnitude of our true Home comes into our awareness. We are one with the united Mind of Love. We all have the same Home and are the same Home. As we are willing to listen, Jesus reminds us that we are in Heaven because we are Heaven. Like the prodigal son, we have dreamed of going away awhile. Now we are returning, grateful that our Father has a banquet waiting for our return. As we awaken, this is the universal truth that we learn: Nothing has happened to change God’s Son. Love is. God is. Nothing else is real.

Robert — The fact that nothing has changed is the basis for forgiveness. As we remember that we remain Love as we were created by Love, we realize that nothing ever really happened that needs to be forgiven. True forgiveness is the recognition that there is nothing to forgive. There never was justification for guilt.

With the help of the Holy Spirit in our minds, we can learn to recognize that the stories of attack and loss, fear and guilt are just dreams. When we become aware they are just dreams, the automatic next step is to disregard them. It’s as easy as disregarding our dreams when we wake up in the morning. With our eyes wide open, we have no trouble recognizing that the images and stories we experienced in sleep were really nothing because they had no effect. Nothing changed.

As we learn to bring all of our stories to the Holy Spirit and receive His perception, we realize that these stories have no effect. They change nothing. The Holy Spirit helps us open to a new way of seeing that disregards what the body’s eyes see. The Holy Spirit shows us His vision of reality. In that vision we see that only Love is real. With His help every situation becomes a lesson in Love. Every situation becomes a lesson that moves us closer to the full recognition that we remain Love as we were created to be. There is nothing else. Love is our Home.

Revs. Mary & Robert Stoelting are co-founders of Pathways of Light. They live in Kiel, Wisconsin

© 2005, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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April-June, 2005

Trusting God Assures a Happy Outcome

by Revs. Deb & Paul Phelps

Does your life seem to present an endless series of problems? Are you experiencing struggles and conflicts at work, at home and in your personal relationships? Have you asked yourself, “Why does it seem so difficult to figure out how to live a simple, peaceful and happy life?” We are going to discuss what is really going on behind the scenes and how to apply the real solution in our lives.

When we chose to come here we wanted to experience individuality. We chose the ego’s false definition of reality and learned to place our trust in everything the world had to offer. This world is like an ego carnival of rides where we jump on one thrill seeking ride after another until we get tired of it. We thought that accomplishing these ego goals would bring us happiness.

To achieve these goals, we scheme and plan to get what we want. If we do not get our way, we become quick to blame others, blame God and sometimes take the step to blame ourselves. We want the outcome to be sure because we think we know what is in our best interest. We want our plan to work because we think we are alone. And because we think that we are on our own, we try to control every little detail of how to achieve the goal. We wrap our fists around it so tightly that nothing can escape our grasp. We are terrified to loosen our grip because to do so means to surrender our control to that of a Divine Source, and acknowledge that there is something greater than our individual selves.

In releasing the idea of control, we place our future outcomes in the hands of God and come to know our True Identity. We release the past, present and future to Him. Only He knows what is in our own best interest. In ACIM Workbook Lesson 194, “I place the future in the Hands of God,” we are told: “Accept today’s idea, and you have passed all anxiety, all pits of hell, all blackness of depression, thoughts of sin, and devastation brought about by guilt. Accept today’s idea, and you have released the world from all imprisonment by loosening the heavy chains that locked the door to freedom on it. You are saved, and your salvation thus becomes the gift you give the world, because you have received.” (W-194.2:1-3)

We may think we know the future and what is best for us but, in truth, we do not. In thinking we know, we lead ourselves astray and eventually to pain. We unwittingly present ourselves with the same lessons over and over again. Eventually, we come to a place where the pain is so great that we want to stop the world and get off the merry-go-round.

If we were to take the time to take all our problems to the Holy Spirit, we would discover that He knows a better way and He wants us to be happy. As we practice asking and receiving His Guidance, we find that the experience of our lives in the world becomes happier, more joyful and more peaceful. As we see this occurring, our desire to receive these gifts grows. In Text, Chapter 20, Section IV, Jesus comments on the idea of accepting the peace of the Holy Spirit’s plan:

“You may wonder how you can be at peace when, while you are in time, there is so much that must be done before the way to peace is open. Perhaps this seems impossible to you. But ask yourself if it is possible that God would have a plan for your salvation that does not work. Once you accept His plan as the one function that you would fulfill, there will be nothing else the Holy Spirit will not arrange for you without your effort.” (T-20.IV.8:1-4)

The following is an example of how this has recently worked in our lives. Paul was in a situation where he had financial obligations that needed to be met but the income needed to meet them seemed to be nowhere in sight. Of course this was concerning him, so he went into quiet meditation and asked the Holy Spirit, “What are we going to do? How are we going to deal with this? What is your plan for me? Please show me in a way in which I will have no doubt.” We then waited for His answer.

The next morning, which was a Saturday, we got up with no plans for the day. We went to Holy Spirit and asked what He would have us do that day. He said to Deb, “You will know when you get there.” And to Paul, “Go west.” And so we did. We began doing just as He instructed. No maps and no plan. We got in the car and just drove west. This was the beginning to what was to become an amazing day of miracles that happened one right after another. Four hours later Paul was being interviewed for the perfect part time job for his situation. He later was offered the job and gratefully accepted. Holy Spirit’s journey for us that day ended with a fun movie, joy, excitement, enthusiasm, amazement, and gratitude for what had occurred that day. We could not have planned it better ourselves.

Now let all of us imagine for a moment what our lives would be like if we practiced asking, receiving and trusting Holy Spirit’s guidance all of the time. The Holy Spirit wants us to be happy and joyful all of the time, and He will give it to us if we just ask and then trust in Him.

“Say to the Holy Spirit only, ‘Decide for me,’ and it is done. For His decisions are reflections of what God knows about you, and in this light, error of any kind becomes impossible. Why would you struggle so frantically to anticipate all you cannot know, when all knowledge lies behind every decision the Holy Spirit makes for you? Learn of His wisdom and His Love, and teach His answer to everyone who struggles in the dark. For you decide for them and for yourself.” (T-14.III.16:1-5)

In finding peace, we begin to surrender to God more and more. We begin to trust that God will lead us to where we need to go. We begin to have faith that all the obstacles will be removed from our way. Holding onto outcomes loses its meaning. We commence everything that we now do with a sense of holy purpose. Asking appropriately, “What is it for? What do I want to come of this?” This is allowing doubt to disappear and to fully realize the life we have in God.

God only gives of Himself. We have learned that in the world to give is giving up or sacrificing. Giving our trust to God could be perceived as sacrificing everything that we desire or want. When it comes down to it, what is it that we truly want? Is it not peace and a quiet mind? Letting go of the world answers that question for us. God has never lied to us about our true worth. We need to realize that it has been the ego that has deceived us. The ego wishes only our distraction from God. In trusting God, we are stepping back and allowing His lead to bring us to where we need to be. We are safe as our feet are set along the path with Him.

“Now are we saved indeed. For in God’s Hands we rest untroubled, sure that only good can come to us. If we forget, we will be gently reassured.” (W-194.9:2-4)

Our trust does increase each time we take the time to turn to the Holy Spirit. We practice this by quieting our minds, stilling our thoughts and waiting to receive His direction. In accessing the Holy Spirit’s wisdom more and more, we begin to want that peace of mind as well. It is up to us then to continue to be mindful and to continue to demonstrate that we are not the ego. The ego does not love us. We simply withdraw allegiance to it. Our allegiance to it is what seems to give it power. The only power that is true is the undeniable Divine power within.

“You have very little trust in me as yet, but it will increase as you turn more and more often to me instead of to your ego for guidance. The results will convince you increasingly that this choice is the only sane one you can make. No one who learns from experience that one choice brings peace and joy while another brings chaos and disaster needs additional convincing.” (T-4.VI.3:1-3)

In continuing the practice of vigilance, the Holy Spirit sees and recognizes that you truly want to be guided solely by Him. In listening to His Voice, you realize that He alone has the answer. Trust is increased each time we listen. The Holy Spirit does not bargain; there is no sacrifice. He alone respects our choices.

Very simply, trusting in the ego’s plan brings pain. Trusting in God’s plan brings joy. And I can ask myself, “Which do I want today?”

We surrender to Him for only He knows the way to true happiness. We have believed that happiness lies in the things of the world, the bodies, the places, the trinkets and toys. All have failed us. Today, say to yourself, “I can choose to listen to His Voice above all others. I can choose to begin again to trust in the One Who knows what is best for me. I can believe in the Kingdom of Heaven and that I do belong there. It is my inheritance and it is my joy.” We can do this. We can release the outcome to anything that comes into our lives. All situations are opportunities for us to practice returning to the Holy Spirit and placing all thoughts into His loving hands. Release all to Him. We soon find that a happy outcome to all things is sure.

Revs. Deb and Paul Frantz live at the Pathways of Light Center in Kiel, Wisconsin

© 2005, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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April-June, 2005

Moving Toward My Real Home

by Rev. Christine Anderson, O.M.C.

In 2003, at the age of 89, my mom decided to sell her house and enter a community of people her own age. I think that this took a lot of courage on her part. She no longer wanted the responsibility that comes with the upkeep of a house. My brothers and I worked together to find a place to her liking and helped her make the move to the senior residence.

I had mixed feelings about her new venture. I had an ego script that was telling me I must have done something ‘wrong’ to be out of the job of being mom’s caretaker. We had been living together for more than three years and it saddened me to realize that this time may be over. But I was also happy that she would be in a safer environment with no stairs to climb and would have many interesting experiences with new friends.

As I look back on this, I realize that I was thinking like a frightened child. I made that house special. I made mom special. I had counted on living the rest of my life there. My inner doubts screamed, “I want it my way! I want to stay here and be safe in this house with my mom. I don’t want anything to change!” I didn’t have a clue as to Spirit’s new plan for me, which was just awaiting my willingness to open my mind to it.

But I was asked to leave the home of my earthly beginnings. “Abandonment, abandonment!” shrieked the ego. The Holy Spirit whispered softly, “Peace, my child. You are always safe at home in Love, your eternal Home where there is no beginning and ending.” I was being given a great opportunity to practice going to the Holy Spirit over and over again to stay at peace. I was reminded that the changes taking place in the dream world of form would have no bearing on the reality of the changeless Love of God, which has nothing to do with form.

We siblings emptied out the family home of all of the stuff that accumulated over six decades. Many times emotions would bubble up in us about the family home being sold. No more seeing mom there. No more family gatherings there… yadda, yadda, yadda! Of course, the ego’s position on this situation was, “Let me use this to prove separation is real.” These times would continue to be perfect opportunities to tune in to Holy Spirit for reassurance that we are never really in lack of any kind. “I can’t wait to see the good that is going to come from this” became our motto.

There were also times when we didn’t feel motivated to go over to work at the house. One of us would call the other to whine and moan. Then we would join in opening to Spirit’s helpfulness with a prayer over the phone and then again when meeting at the house. Our energy level would then increase and we would feel more joyous. We would return to the task with more enthusiasm.

Mom has been in her new home for more than a year now. I moved to a lovely new home where I enjoy having miracle study groups. My weekly visits with mom are becoming more love filled as I continue to open to the Love within and remember to see this Love in mom. We talk about family and what is going on in our lives. She attends chapel every Wednesday and remembers all of us on her prayer list. She says that she would not know what to ask for so she mentions all of us to the Father and, in faith, leaves the rest up to Him.

It took me years to learn this for myself and here it is being modeled by my own mother. When we visit she brings half-sandwiches and other goodies from the dining room for us to eat. She says they feed her too much. When I come to visit, the first thing after greeting each other is the announcement of the menu! This is one of the ways she shows her love. Mom is happy to see her children’s hungry appetite satisfied. It gives a mom peace to see her children fed. This symbolizes to me how happy God is to see His children fed with spiritual food from His banquet table of Love offered in each now moment to all of us.

When it is time to go, I put on my coat and she walks with me to the door with her walker. On one particular occasion, we gave each other a hug and said, “I love you.” After taking a few steps down the hall to go to the parking lot, I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit say, “Go back.” I followed the prompting and went back.

Mom hadn’t gotten very far and when I reentered the doorway, our eyes met and our hearts connected. No words were said because none were needed. It was a holy moment to be sure. I cupped her face in my hands and in that moment all earthly identity fell away and we saw the Christ in each other. It felt to me that we were being embraced by the most loving and soft Presence — a Presence that knew both of us, but not as separate, only as one. This holy moment has given me such peace. I used to agonize over mom ‘staying in the body’ until she knew what Love was and that she was loved. In that one moment was all of Heaven, eternity, all that is. This moment continues to be a healing balm in our ongoing holy relationship.

In the most recent course at Pathways of Light, I was reminded that when Love is extended, it is accepted in perfect timing. In years gone by, I tried too hard to love others and had expectations about how others should receive my love. I always looked for proof of others receiving my love. I looked for certain outcomes. Expectations of certain outcomes are just hidden agendas of the ego which interfere with the recognition that Love is always received.

As I continue to open to the Love of the Holy Spirit, I let go of the idea of a separate me, a personal me, a special love with conditions. I open to the greater Love that embraces all of us, includes everyone, and leaves no one out. I experience being Love. There is nothing to do but extend the Love I am, knowing with full faith that the Love extended has been received at some level and will be accepted when Love is seen as a blessing and not a curse. As each of us is ready to receive Love, we will see the Love that has always been there.

All the dynamics of the moving story that the ego would use to make me unhappy, given over to Spirit for healing, have become lights on my path toward Home. And we truly do go Home together.

Rev. Christine Anderson is a Pathways of Light minister who lives in Chicago, Illinois.

© 2005, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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April-June, 2005

Are You Ready?

by Rev. Marie Hanson, O.M.C.

“I’m ready! Promotion! I’m ready! Promotion!” was the repetitive phrase my sweetheart’s niece, Alexa, proclaimed as she marched intentionally around our living room. It was Alexa’s eighth birthday. I wasn’t sure where the chant came from. It was not familiar to me. One thing was clear: It wouldn’t be the last time I heard it.

I asked Alexa if she would like to go to the movies. It was the first week of December and there were numerous holiday movies to choose from. I read the list of shows playing in town, including SpongeBob Square-pants. She shared with me that she had been to see it and highly recommended it to me. In fact, she would love to see it again.

I recognized Alexa’s chant soon after the movie began. SpongeBob worked at Krusty Krabs’ and gleefully sings a repetitious “I’m ready! Promotion! I’m ready! Promotion!” The owner, Mr. Krabs, was opening a second location and was to announce the new manager he selected. Would it be SpongeBob or Squidward?

SpongeBob drifted into a visualization of his goal, played out in a scenario as the new manager, and saved the day. He also went through his list of positive attributes and accomplishments that made him the obvious and only choice for this new position. He had done the work and was ready for the recognition and reward.

The grand opening began, the announcement came, and SpongeBob learned he was not the new manager, seemingly for his youth and inexperience. Meanwhile, King Neptune’s crown was stolen and Mr. Krabs was being framed for it! No hard feelings here from SpongeBob. He rose to the occasion to do the right thing for his boss.

SpongeBob, and good friend Patrick, set out on quite an adventure. How hard was it to go to Shell City and recover King Neptune’s crown? No one, especially SpongeBob, would know the countless obstacles and freaky fears on the road ahead. SpongeBob never gave up. He recovered the crown, saved the day, and was promoted!

What SpongeBob went through to get his promotion was not exactly like the visualization he first had. It was much bigger and no doubt exceeded his wildest dreams about what he could ever do. The way I see it, SpongeBob and Spirit agreed he was ready for the promotion. The path he would take to get it was not the one he anticipated. It was Spirit’s plan.

Imagine for a moment, if Spirit revealed to SpongeBob all that he would endure to get that promotion. Considering all of its bumps and scary bits, he may have chosen to stay in bed under the covers that day. He made a choice. He felt his feelings, got over not getting the promotion, and knew what he needed to do, one step at a time, to help his boss.

We all make countless choices every day. In each decision, each thought, each word, each activity, we consciously or unconsciously choose. The Course tells us, “If you could accept the world as meaningless and let the truth be written upon it for you, it would make you indescribably happy.” What happens when you go within and decide with the Holy Spirit’s help? We allow the truth to be written upon our perception.

If you are ready to learn more about making decisions with Holy Spirit’s help, I recommend course 114: The Transforming Power of Trust. I’m ready! How about you?

Rev. Marie Hanson is a Pathways of Light minister who lives in Carson City, Nevada.

© 2005, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this copyright notice and website address are included.

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