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January-March, 2005

Accepting Christ’s Vision

by Revs. Robert and Mary Stoelting

One of the lessons we are currently working on is accepting the fact that if we think we have a problem, no matter what it looks like, we are forgetting to accept Christ’s vision. It does not matter whether the problem seems to be coming from someone else or whether it appears to be beyond our ‘control.’ We are learning that in every circumstance the reason we think there is a ‘problem’ is because we are looking at the situation through the filters of the ego’s thought system.

In Lesson 158 Jesus tells us, “Christ’s vision has one law. It does not look upon a body and mistake it for the Son whom God created. It beholds a light beyond the body; an idea beyond what can be touched, a purity undimmed by errors, pitiful mistakes, and fearful thoughts of guilt from dreams of sin. It sees no separation. And it looks on everyone, on every circumstance, all happenings and all events, without the slightest fading of the light it sees.” (W-158.7:1-5)

This seems like a pretty tall order — always seeing the pure Light of truth in every Son of God — always focusing on the eternal Love that is everyone’s reality, and recognizing consistently that the truth about every brother is unaffected by his mistaken thoughts of separation and his fearful projections of guilt.

As we continue on our daily practice of forgiveness and awakening to the truth, we are learning to recognize that this only seems like a tall order if we are still resisting the acceptance of Holy Spirit’s ongoing gifts. We are learning that at some level, we still want to on look at ‘others’ through the ego’s eyes if we continue to dwell on their errors and their mistakes. When we acknowledge what is going on in our minds, we are then in a position to ‘choose once again,’ this time with the help of the Holy Spirit.

The good news is that the Holy Spirit is always giving us the gift of Christ’s vision and, as we are ready and willing, we can accept this gift that is always there for us. We have to want Christ’s vision. We have to welcome it. Christ’s vision shows us our unity and equality with our brothers. Christ’s vision shows us we are one and the same. Where there is no conflict, there is peace.

But if we want to keep our individuality, our unique and special identity, we will not welcome Christ’s vision. It offers us happiness and peace beyond anything in this world, but we will not accept it if we treasure the little niche we have carved out of nothingness to call our own. The world of the ego is filled with battles in defense of these little niches. Or we feel that what we have is not enough and we want to get more. We would rather be right about the identity we have made for ourselves than accept the gift of joy offered us by Christ’s vision.

Jesus reassures us that with consistent practice, we can see beyond separation in every circumstance, all happenings and all events. But this takes a willingness to practice. Jesus tells us, “This lesson is not difficult to learn, if you remember in your brother you but see yourself. If he be lost in sin, so must you be; if you see light in him, your sins have been forgiven by yourself. Each brother whom you meet today provides another chance to let Christ’s vision shine on you, and offer you the peace of God.” (W-158.10:3-5)

Stepping Back

We are finding that we do not remember to accept Christ’s vision unless we are willing to consistently step back from the ego thought system. This stepping back takes diligent effort at first. When we get caught up in the ego’s world, it seems that there is no time left to ‘step back.’ It seems that, if we take the time that is needed, we will be missing out on something that is important. We will be neglecting all that we have to do on our busy ‘to do’ list. When we get caught up in the ego’s frame of mind, we also think we already know the best way to solve our problems. The merry-go-round of the world of separation seems to be unending and creates an endless list of problems that need to be attended to immediately.

We are finding that the endless list of problems will continue popping up until we are willing to spend the time to go within and let our minds quiet. In this quiet place we have the opportunity to view the world differently. We have the opportunity to accept Christ’s vision. “Christ has dreamed the dream of a forgiven world. It is His gift, whereby a sweet transition can be made from death to life; from hopelessness to hope. Let us an instant dream with Him. His dream awakens us to truth. His vision gives the means for a return to our unlost and everlasting sanctity in God.” (W-159.10:4-8)

In our daily practice we have found that sometimes we need an extra boost in order for us to get into the frame of mind where we can receive Christ’s vision. We asked for help with this and this is what we received:

Be gentle with yourself… Be kind to yourself on your journey of awakening… Relax… Soften and let the tension go… You need not hold on so tightly… You need not do this alone… Let yourself be carried…

Let yourself become aware that you are surrounded by the Love of God… You are surrounded by Heaven’s peace… Let it in… Take a while to breathe it in… Let yourself open up to the peace that is forever yours… Let yourself rest awhile in this peace…

Let yourself become aware of the truth that you have never left Heaven… You are still as God created you… You are still the Light of God… You have just been dreaming of something else… It is not there…

To make the transition easy, let Christ’s dreams replace your dreams… Let Christ show you the forgiven world… Let Christ show you your safety… and everyone’s safety… Nothing has changed to harm God’s Son… No one can harm or be harmed…

Listen in quiet… and accept Christ’s vision…

We have found this to be helpful to pave the way to the acceptance of Christ’s vision. Frequently reminding ourselves that our priority is to accept Christ’s vision pays with dividends of peace and happiness. Gradually we learn to discern more effectively what has value on our ‘to do’ list and what is valueless. There is less efforting and fretting. There is less and less doing in search of approval or to measure up to some self-imposed standard of performance.

We recognize these efforts as just reflections of a mistaken belief in limitation and lack. The more we accept Christ’s vision, the more we know that we are already complete because we were created complete. As our willingness to accept Christ’s vision grows, we remember that we always have what we need.

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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January-March, 2005

Spirit Calls

by Rev. Colleen McNally, O.M.C.

A warmth comes over me

An ocean of energy

Spirit calls

Hello

I say

Guide me today

I’m listening now

I hear the call

That is all

Just be

Oh

I see

This light

Of Love

Rev. Colleen McNally is a Pathways of Light student living in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

© 2005, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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January-March, 2005

There’s No Place Like Home — Choosing the Altar Now

by Revs. Deb & Paul Phelps, O.M.C.

In preparing for this article we invited the Holy Spirit to select the topic for us to share. We did this by first joining in holy purpose, quieting our minds and randomly opening up the Course. We know from experience that, when we practice this, Holy Spirit always selects the ‘perfect’ topic for us for that moment in our lives. This time, Holy Spirit gave us Text, Chapter 20, Section II: The Gift of Lilies.

In this reading, Jesus shares with us the idea of how we have used the body as a separation device and that we have a choice through forgiveness to see beyond the body to the unity and innocence that we share in reality. He helps us see that through the body we only offer punishment to both our brothers and ourselves. Through this choice of fear and separation that we have made, we hold no value in the truth of our brothers or in ourselves and therefore we believe that Love has no place in us.

We cannot give to one another by seeing bodies. It is only on the level of the mind that we can truly give and receive. Through our minds, we choose which gift we will offer to our brother and to ourselves. The gift is either love or fear. We can only offer one or the other. The gift we offer reflects the core belief we hold and therefore experience through our interactions with our brothers.

Jesus speaks to us as our brother in Christ. Jesus sees us as whole and suggests that we too can see our brothers as he sees us all. He reminds us that it is always our decision which gift we offer and receive. When we choose forgiveness, we let go of what we think we see and the vision of truth is revealed to us. When we choose otherwise, we see a grim image that reflects our belief in guilt. We cause ourselves pain when we choose to punish and blame.

Throughout the Course Jesus reminds us over and over again of the importance of practicing forgiveness — forgiveness of our brothers, ourselves, and the illusion of the world that seems to be around us. He tells us that when we forget to forgive our brothers, it is ourselves we are actually crucifying. “Offer him thorns and you are crucified. Offer him lilies and it is yourself you free.” (T-20.II.3:8)

He knows that there is something much better waiting for us and he wants us to receive these gifts waiting for us from the Holy Spirit. “Those who accept the Holy Spirit’s purpose as their own share also His vision.” (T-20.II.5:3)

In joining with the Holy Spirit and sharing His purpose, we will also share His vision. In our willingness we have received the vision that we are all whole. In His vision, we see one another as “dearly loved and loving friends.” (T-20.II.5:5) There is peace within us as we accept this gift within.

Carefully hidden deep within our minds is an altar. This altar contains the Christ Light of our true Self. This is the Light of God’s Love. With a little willingness and practice we can become aware of the Light and peace that lies beyond what we see with the body’s eyes. The Holy Spirit is joyfully and patiently standing by, waiting for our slightest invitation to receive His gift of Christ’s vision. When we begin to experience the Christ Light, we will begin to recognize that everything we see with the body’s eyes is just an illusion. We will begin to recognize that we are not separate from God or our brothers, but in fact we are all in Heaven with God right now.

“You have the vision now to look past all illusions. It has been given you to see no thorns, no strangers and no obstacles to peace. …With him, your vision has become the greatest power for the undoing of illusion that God Himself could give. For what God gave the Holy Spirit, you have received.” (T-20.II.7:1-2,5-6)

“[Your brother’s] innocence will light your way, offering you its guiding light and sure protection, and shining from the holy altar within him where you laid the lilies of forgiveness.” (T-20.II.9:2)

We can practice experiencing the Christ Light within our minds by practicing true forgiveness, remembering that forgiveness means completely ‘letting go’ or ‘forgetting’ the illusion of separate bodies living in the world.

Jesus instructs us how to practice this in many of the Workbook Lessons. We practice by sitting down, stilling all our thoughts and waiting for Holy Spirit in quiet expectation of His gifts. By doing this, eventually we will hit the gap within our mind of complete stillness. In that instant, the miracle of the Light of Christ within us will suddenly flash into the perception of our mind’s eye. It is clearer than day and the body’s gentle shift into peaceful bliss is both unmistakable and undeniable. We will have discovered the Truth within and our salvation.

Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves. By helping us let go of the illusion, the Holy Spirit will show us our true Home. If we use His precious gift, then we will see past all the illusions of the world. We will see peace instead of conflict. There will be no more fear of our brothers, the world and God.

We will come to recognize that we are the Son of God. We are the savior of the world. This is the truth that we are searching for. It is up to us to change our thoughts and as we do this, all our perceived brothers will receive the release from the nails that we have chosen to keep them and ourselves entrapped in pain. Home is waiting for us; we just have to brush past the flimsy veil that we have used to keep It from our sight. The reminder Jesus gives us here is that all you need you have.

This reminds us of the message we received while watching The Wizard of Oz recently. At the end of Dorothy’s journey, she came to recognize that she had always possessed the means within her to go home. When she finally made the choice to stop seeking outside of herself to find the way home, she was able to close her eyes, go within and proclaim, “There’s no place like home.” And so the same is true for us. We seem to be traveling on the yellow brick spiritual road. Sometimes we are distracted and sidetracked; sometimes we believe we will find what we need in a great spiritual wizard or guru. Instead, the pathway to the open door of Heaven is right there within us. It can be found within the place of quietness and peace within our mind.

“Your chosen home is on the other side, beyond the veil. It has been carefully prepared for you, and it is ready to receive you now. You will not see it with the body’s eyes. Yet all you need you have. Your home has called to you since time began, nor have you ever failed entirely to hear. You heard, but knew not how to look, nor where. And now you know. In you the knowledge lies, ready to be unveiled and freed from all the terror that kept it hidden. …And there will be no fear in us, for in our vision will be no illusions; only a pathway to the open door of Heaven, the home we share in quietness and where we live in gentleness and peace, as one together.” (T-20.II.8:1-8,12)

ust like Dorothy eventually figured out that she had a choice either to keep believing in the illusion or to remember the true Home within, Jesus, too, wants us to know that we can choose this right now. When Dorothy woke up from the dream, her companions in Oz were joyously at home with her. Jesus wants us to know that we have a choice and when we make it, we will find ourselves joyfully at Home with our brothers as well.

“And gladly will you and your brother walk the way of innocence together, singing as you behold the open door of Heaven and recognize the home that called to you.” (T-20.II.11:3)

Revs. Deb and Paul Phelps are Pathways of Light ministers living at Pathways of Light in Kiel, Wisconsin.

© 2005, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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January-March, 2005

Giving Thanks for Miracles

by Rev. Barbara Kraetsch, O.M.C.

When I let go of the past, I can come to forgiveness now. How often the past wants to assert itself. Here comes the memory of our failure to be open and giving. Here comes the memory of our quiet resentment or anxiety. Here comes the memory of our judgment against our brother, maybe it was unspoken verbally, but it was there in our attitude and actions. We distanced ourselves from others.

I did this on Thanks-giving Day. In all the hustle-bustle, I felt resentment at all the work of putting on the big dinner. I felt judgment toward family members for their perceived failures. I felt jangled when the turkey roasting pan sprung a leak in the oven. I was not entirely peaceful. Realizing that this was all about me, not about my family or the smoking oven that still needs to be cleaned, I am left with forgiving myself for my perceived failures. In some ways I find this embarrassing to say to myself because, as a Course student, I think that my mind should never be in these petty thoughts. I think I should be farther along by now on the path to perfect peace. But I find myself saying once again that I am still in need of major mind healing.

In order to come to true forgiveness of myself for not being ‘perfect’ in the happy dream world, I must let go of all thoughts of harm. I must believe truly that no harm can occur from negative thoughts, even negative actions of complaining or distancing. The only way to God is through forgiveness. I must come to God in the appointed way because there is no other, and that means really coming to grasp the idea that sin remains impossible.

When I sit in the now moment, I feel forgiveness for myself and others. But the ego brings memory of the instant where I failed to see the Christ in me and my brother, just like a little reliving of the moment I thought I separated from God. Reliving the instant of the tiny mad idea over and over, the ego keeps bringing up the past and the idea of ‘what if’ harm really occurred. It’s the same guilt recycled again and again in a different form, a different sounding ‘what if,’ but the same underneath.

There is no embarrassment in looking at our mistakes — looking at them straight on and admitting we believed bodies real for a time. If I let the ego convince me that this keeps me from forgiveness, then I cherish the mistake and give it power. I did cherish the mistake for a little while as I allowed the ego thought system to keep bringing the memory to me. Today, God is my only goal. I let go of these ego memories of an illusive past. The thoughts weren’t real then and they are not real now. I can replace the dream of guilt with the dream of forgiveness by letting go of the memories of the past. I can only do this with the help of Holy Spirit. I am dependent on Him for this healing.

Only letting go of the past brings us to the now moment where we experience the miracle of healing. Only in letting go of the past can we come to true forgiveness of self for perceived shortcomings, because it is only in the now moment that we can see they truly have no effect. No harm was possible and no harm was done, not to anyone else, not to me. All is well.

Silly thoughts remain silly thoughts — they cannot keep me from God if I choose God as my only goal. Forgiveness is the way to return my mind to Him. I forgive myself for thinking I am sinful and pretending to be. Holy Spirit is right there with me, helping me to release the burden of the illusion.

What relief to let go of the past. No need to struggle against ego memories or push them away. I let go of the past by looking through the mistake to see the truth. I look with forgiving eyes to see only the love that was present, is present now and always will be present. I look with forgiving eyes and witness the sharing, the joy, the laughter, the giving of thanksgiving, the coming together in love.

The Christ was present at Thanksgiving. I see Him now with Holy Spirit’s eyes. That is all that is important really — that I see Him now. All else is a false past that never was. The miracle of seeing is now. I give thanks for miracles that come everyday that I let go of what never was and accept the truth of love with the help of Holy Spirit.

Rev. Barbara Kraetsch is a Pathways of Light minister living in Hartford, Wisconsin.

© 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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