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July-September, 2015

Peace

by Rev. Maria Kingsley, O.M.C.

I use Peace to center me
I feel peace as Me
I return to Peace and all is well.
What a wonderful feeling Peace truly is.

I think Peace and it shifts
From confusion to clarity
My heart beats but I don’t really feel it.
My heart is no longer an organ but Peace
It is not even at peace but just Peace.

Peace feels so free
Peace is my Home
Peace invites everyone into Itself
And embraces and expands
all at the same time.
I love the feeling of Peace.

Peace connects me with everyone
Peace is Oneness and Communion.
Peace makes me invulnerable
Because I am always safe in Peace.
Come join me in that Peace
Where we together can celebrate
The Peace that we Are.

Rev. Maria Kingsley is a Pathways of Light minister living in Tucson, Arizona. Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

© 2015, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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July-September, 2015

Today I Learn to Give as I Receive — L 158

by Rev. Myron Jones, O.M.C.

“We but undertake a journey that is over. Yet it seems to have a future still unknown to us.” (3:6)

Jesus finally explains why it is that our salvation is guaranteed. It has already happened. We are at the end of time, watching and reviewing what has gone before. We are fully awake, enlightened. We are the Christ, the Buddha, and every other enlightened being that has ever lived or will ever live. We are in God as we always have been. We are not living this dream story. We are watching it.

It is no wonder that this is all so confusing to us. We are playing a part and we are the watcher of the part. We are playing all the parts and watching all the parts. We are completely involved in the parts. We made time so this could occur and we believe in time. We are told this and yet we do not remember it.

“The script is written.” (4:3)

From our perspective, we seem to be trying to remember, trying to wake up, and yet the script is written and so this has already happened and all our effort is not going to change the moment of enlightenment, not going to bring it closer or delay it. If I awaken in this lifetime, it does not mean I finally did something right. If I don’t wake up in this lifetime, it would not mean I failed, that I didn’t give it my best effort, that I should have tried harder. It would simply be that it was not the time that I woke up.

“A teacher does not give experience, because he did not learn it. It revealed itself to him at its appointed time. But vision is his gift.” (5:1-3)

If I were to awaken right now, I could not give you that experience. This is something that cannot be learned and cannot be given. But we do have a part to play here, something to learn and something to give. We have Christ Vision available to us. Because Vision is in Christ, it is shared by the Holy Spirit, and so we can learn this, too, even in the dream. Seeing each one as his true forgiven self is our goal here.

Here is how I have experienced this. I am with someone at work and they seem to be guilty of stirring up trouble. I see them doing it, and I see the distress they are causing, the damage they are doing. I feel resentful toward this person, and I am aware that person could turn their attention to me next and so I feel afraid. This is the ego vision that I have always used, and it is the vision that keeps me bound to the story and unaware of anything else.

In this lifetime I have become aware that there is something else. I realize now that I can see differently because there is something else to see. First it is a concept that I accept as true. Jesus says that we are not changed by our experience of separation. He says that we are as God created us and remain untouched by our experiences in the dream. In fact, he says that nothing we do, no matter how bad it seems in the story makes us guilty because we were created innocent, and creation cannot be undone.

I cannot see this innocence with ego vision, but I am learning that it is possible to see with Christ Vision. So I ask for this when I think about the trouble maker at work. I know how the ego sees this person, but I want to know how Christ sees this one. I sit in quiet for a moment to allow this healing of the mind. I wait for a shift, or I just trust it has occurred. When I see her again, everything has changed even though nothing has changed.

“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.” (7:1-5)

She is still living her script, but all I just feel love for her. I didn’t try to feel love. I didn’t try to see her innocence. I just desired to do so, and asked that I be given that vision. I truly desired it. I gave up any desire to blame her and see her sins, and just desired to see her natural state. Probably it is not as complete a transformation as it could be. I say that because if I saw her as she truly is I would likely fall to my knees before her glory. But I do see her very differently now and I am grateful for that.

“We practice seeing with the eyes of Christ today. And by the holy gifts we give, Christ’s vision looks upon ourselves as well.” (11:3-4)

Each time I do this, the other person receives what I have given, even if they are not aware of what is happening, and even if I do not see a change.

And, I see my own innocence more clearly than I did before. I forgive myself more easily.

“It matters not when revelation comes, for that is not of time.” (11:4)

This is not ending the dream, but it is ushering in the happy dream, and it does it for all of us. I feel it more directly as my life becomes happier and more peaceful, but it also changes all of the mind, and makes it easier for every aspect of our mind to accept change.

Now that I am getting a taste of what is possible, and now that I know there is something besides this dream, I want very much to wake up. Perhaps this strong desire for God is a precursor of an actual awakening, but there is no point in struggling for that, making effort and bemoaning my apparent lack of progress. This is out of my hands, but what I can do is learn to forgive and learn to see. I can experience this dream in peace and even in joy. This is my goal and it is a worthy goal.

Rev. Myron Jones, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Read her inspiring Healing Journal articles on the Pathways website. Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Web: http://www.forgivenessisthewayhome.org  www.facebook.com/myronacim Twitter: https://twitter.com/RevMyronJones

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July-September, 2015

Fear, Doubt and Trust, Forgetting Then Remembering

by Maura Williams

I’m a minister in training through Pathways of Light. Rev. John Vise is my facilitator, which means he is walking with me through the course curriculum. It has been an awesome journey for me. Since February, we have been meeting almost every week to do this work.  Now, I’m going to back up a week and tell you I had a dream that was very meaningful to me. I had a similar dream right after I started my ministerial training and I felt it was given to me to show me I was on the right track.

I started out doing this work because I realized I had told God “no” pretty much my whole life. I believed in God, but I always put conditions on Him. I was always afraid to completely give myself to Him. This was my way of saying, “Yes! I’ll do whatever you want me to do.” And this dream felt like a continuation of my saying, “Yes.”

Two days after the dream, I got an interpretation. This may sound strange to you, but I believe God’s voice speaks to me all through the day. Lesson 49 says, “The part of your mind in which truth abides is in constant communication with God, whether you are aware of it or not. The part that is listening to God is calm, always at rest and wholly certain.” I won’t say I was “wholly certain,” but two days after the dream, I was willing to be still and listen and this was the interpretation I received:

Knowledge is Power — Power is gentle. Power is patient and kind. Look at the lioness. She is very powerful but very gentle with her cubs. True power is gentle, because true power is Love.

Knowledge — To you, knowledge comes from text. Not knowledge, but Knowledge. (I realized we’re talking about Knowledge with a capital K.) There are many ways to know. You Know in your sleeping dreams and you Know in your waking dreams, but you are not aware that you Know. Sometimes knowing requires faith and belief. Often you know, but can’t see with your eyes what you know.

In your dream you were confronted with doubt in yourself. You weren’t sure, but you were quiet and you were patient and peaceful, even though you didn’t understand. Doubt and fear will always be with you unless you give them to Me. Your dream shows you that you know this. And you do trust yourself.

This dream was given to you to show you that you Know. You Know Love is your true Power. You know now, there are many ways to Know. And you know that you Know, but you don’t know why. The “why” doesn’t matter. Trust and believe. Give all your doubt and fear to me and walk through this world in Peace.

You would think I would have taken those words to heart and given my doubt and fear to the Holy Spirit. Now, I’m going to tell you about how I forgot and how someone helped me remember to trust and to believe.

A few months ago, John asked me if I would write down the story of how I got to be where I am today, so he could submit it to Pathways of Light for their publication, Miracle News. I had already written what I called “My Story” and I gave it to him and he sent it in and it appeared in the April-June edition of Miracles News.

At the time it was published, he told me I would probably receive emails from people wanting to know more about me and my article. I had received one email from a very nice man encouraging me in my Pathways study, which I thought was very sweet, and I thanked him for his encouragement, but that was all.

Seven days after I had the dream, I get an email from someone (whom I will call Sylvia — not her real name) who read the article. This is the email I received:

Dear Maura,

I read your article online at Pathways and was very moved by it. I too, am having difficulty in “showing up as who I really am” in my marriage.

I have studied ACIM for 28 years. I struggle every day with what seems to be two different worlds. I have such fear about showing my husband who I really am. I know he really loves me, but does he really know me? If you would care to share how you approached that matter, I would love to hear about it.  Sylvia

I have to tell you that when I read that she’d studied ACIM for 28 years, I felt sunk. How on earth was I ever going to be able to help her? I’ve only studied for three or four years at best! The Holy Spirit let me know very quickly, it doesn’t matter. If you’re lost, you’re lost. 28 years or two minutes, it doesn’t matter.

It took me almost two hours to allow the Holy Spirit in me to put together an answer for Sylvia. When I was all finished, I was afraid to push the send button. Notice I didn’t say it took me two hours to write it. It took me two hours to be wholly certain I had listened to the Holy Spirit and delivered the message He had for her.

Even so, doubt welled up in me. My ego is a good question asker… I should say interrogator, and condemner and it had a ball with me. I’m not a minister yet. I’m a minister in training and I’m no therapist. So, I did what any self-respecting minister in training would do: I called John, my facilitator. He was getting ready to go to work on a very busy day, but he still took the time to listen to her question and my answer. He said what I’d written was a “masterpiece.” I told him that was because I didn’t write it.

But he also said I needed to address something in the reply and I’ll share that with you when we get there. He is so good at seeing through all the ego stuff and into the heart of the matter. Someday, I’ll learn to listen as well as he does.
This is what I wrote back to Sylvia:

Dear Sylvia, 

It’s so nice to hear from you. It means a lot to me that you were moved by my article. Writing helps me put things in the right perspective. Even writing this email is helpful, because I get to look again at what I did and how I did it. Thank You!

I can tell you that the change in me didn’t come overnight. It was a process and still is. It started with noticing the fear inside of me. I was terrified of myself. The Course talks about this a lot. We’re afraid of ourselves because of what we think we’ve done — separated ourselves from God.

I wasn’t sure what I was or what I had become. When I looked at my husband I was sure I didn’t know him, and wasn’t sure I wanted to know him. (We’ve been married over 30 years) I had to face all that fear with the Holy Spirit and let Him help me sort that junk out. I guess that would be the willingness. I think that was really the hardest part, overcoming the fear. I didn’t do it myself. I learned to give everything to the Holy Spirit when I didn’t understand, and know that I wasn’t alone in dealing with fear.

I learned to accept fear as it came up in my mind and ask the Holy Spirit to help me look at it without judgment. Fear wasn’t so terrifying anymore. Fear is just fear, another opportunity to look at something with the Holy Spirit. Once I stopped judging myself, a lot of it just went away. Then I felt more peaceful and could accept the truth and allow healing into my life.

[This is the part John said I needed to clarify. He said her question showed that she had forgotten who she is, and that I needed to be very clear with her about the truth and the dishonesty I found in my own life. He asked me, “What was it you were denying by being dishonest?” The answer was plain as day and this is what I wrote:]

There is only one Truth about me: “I am as God created me.” My dishonesty showed me I was denying the Truth about me. Accepting Truth into my life meant I had to be more honest. The more I looked at my life and saw how dishonest I was, I couldn’t believe it. I began to see dishonesty as denial of this Truth. I was then able to stop trying to manipulate and control everyone and everything around me by believing in separation. This often meant I had to displease my husband. It was awkward, because I was such a people pleaser. Learning to be more honest brought me a lot of peace.

I had to be willing to let go, to let go of everything — my self-concept, my concept of marriage, my concept of my husband. I had to be willing to let it all go. I had to put down all my assessment of the world and of myself. I’m still working on this. I think it will take a lifetime, because we are so programmed to judge and condemn, compare and contrast, weigh the possibilities, etc.

I, of myself, truly know nothing. Letting go sounds so terrifying but it is so freeing. I’m also working on letting go of a lot of things I’ve collected over the years. Many of these things were handed down to me by my family but, I’m no longer using them and my kids don’t want them. It’s time to de-clutter my house, and in doing so, it feels like I’m de-cluttering my life.

With all those things stripped away from me, I was totally defenseless and I was still okay. I learned you are never not okay. The Comforter of God is in you. Peace is always there inside. It’s only when we resist any of the fearful things we think we see that we feel fearful. When we learn to embrace the fear that comes up for healing, life becomes much easier, much more fun and very meaningful.

I don’t think I can stress enough that this is a process and I’m still a work in progress. It didn’t happen overnight. There were times I loved my husband more than I ever had loved him before and there were times I felt I hated him more than I’d ever hated anyone. I was always brought back to the realization that there is nothing outside of me.

It’s all projection, so I’m still dealing with what’s inside. I’ve always felt a deep conviction that I gave him to myself to learn from him. I’ve seen so many people get divorced and remarried and end up dealing with the same unresolved stuff from their last marriage in another spouse. I’ve always felt the need to go back to him and work things out. He is truly a good man and I’m very thankful he’s chosen to walk through this world with me. Our relationships are where we do the most Course work. It only takes one person to change a relationship completely.

Lesson 139 is my lesson for today: I will accept Atonement for myself. It speaks so clearly to me and maybe to you too.

We have a mission here. We did not come to reinforce the madness that we once believed in. Let us not forget the goal that we accepted. It is more than just our happiness alone we came to gain. What we accept as what we are proclaims what everyone must be, along with us. Fail not your brothers, or you fail yourself. Look lovingly on them that they may know that they are part of you, and you of them.

This does the Atonement teach, and demonstrates the Oneness of God’s Son is unassailed by his belief he knows not what he is. Today accept Atonement, not to change reality, but merely accept the truth about yourself, and go your way rejoicing in the endless Love of God. It is but this we are asked to do. It is but this we will do today. (W-p.I.139.8-9)

Your story may be very different from mine, but the fear to look within is always the same. The Course says we only have two emotions, love and fear. If you feel fear, it’s a call for Love, so be kind to yourself. Your husband can only know you as much as you know and accept yourself. Don’t judge yourself, your husband or your situation. Know you are guided. Know you are loved and loving and everything is working out for your good. I apologize for the length of this email. I’m so grateful you contacted me and I hope sharing my story has helped.

Peace and love, Maura

I would love to tell you that I sent that email and just let go of the outcome, but that would be a lie. I fretted; I worried; I wondered and I prayed a lot. In that time, the Holy Spirit started dealing with me about the responsibility I was feeling

In not letting go, I was assuming the Holy Spirit’s job. When I realized this, it was easier to relax. I am God’s Child, not His parent. I’m not responsible for anything but my own thoughts, words and actions. Sylvia asked me a question and I had answered her honestly. My part was over. The Holy Spirit could take it up from here. Her reply was there waiting for me.

Dear Maura,

I am in tears after reading this. You speak to all that I feel. I have never read a Pathways article online before. I don’t even remember how I got there yesterday and “stumbled” across yours. It is so true that we cannot do this alone. We all need each other and Holy Spirit/Jesus. You are already a miracle worker. You have spoken the words that I needed to hear. I have read them in ACIM a hundred times, but to have someone say them to me in a way that helps me to understand my own emotions is so powerful. I will cherish this forever. I too have a wonderful husband. And I must have given him to myself to learn from him. What a blessed thought. I truly intend to take all that you have said to heart and to practice the gift of your words.

Your answer to me was perfect. Every line is holy to me. And I believe that this answer is an entirely new article for Pathways that you have just written. I urge you to share it with everyone. We all need to hear this. It is Beautiful. You are a natural writer. Keep doing it. With deepest gratitude,  Sylvia

I wrote back: …and you, Sylvia, have been an answer to the doubt I often feel when I share my experiences with others. Thank you for your healing words.

My ACIM group often teases me about how much my husband changed after I started studying the Course. He is my mirror. If I remember that, I’m good.  Love, Maura

Wow! What can I say? It is miraculous what happens when we get out of the way and let the Holy Spirit work through us.

We truly can’t get Home by ourselves. We need other people to show us the way. We need other people to help us remember who we are. Sylvia helped me remember to trust and to give all my doubt and fear to the Holy Spirit.

My focus in the coming weeks is going to be on letting go of more of that doubt I often feel when I share my life experiences with others. Doing this will require me to trust. Trust for me is a deep reliance on God and the faith and belief that He knows what is best for me. Knowing this enables me to trust myself.

He created me like Himself. The Holy Spirit watches over me and can use anything I do for my good and for the good of all mankind. This way no one loses and that is God’s way. Sometimes this is hard for me to accept. A Course in Miracles says, “You are asked to trust the Holy Spirit only because He speaks for you. He is the Voice for God, but never forget that God did not will to be alone. He shares His Will with you; He does not thrust it upon you. Always remember that what He gives He keeps, so that nothing He gives can contradict Him. You who share His Life must share It to know It, for sharing is knowing.” (T-11.I.11:1-5)
“You who share His Life must share It to know It, for sharing is knowing.” (11:5)

This line rings so deep inside me. Sharing is knowing. Sharing is how I Know I’ve learned what the Course is trying to teach. I feel sharing is what I’ve been asked to do with my life. If I’m sharing my life, I’m not judging myself or others. I’m simply allowing the Holy Spirit to work through me to use my life as a living example to teach and to learn. I’m open. I’m honest. I’m defenseless, trusting and loving and I’m in my natural state of Peace. I’ve put myself in God’s hands and I’m very safe. I don’t need to worry about anything. There’s a bigger plan. I’m not the whole plan, just part of it.

And who do you think taught me this? A lot of people did. All of you did and John did. He has shared so openly and willingly with me through our Pathways of Light ministerial training work together. The morning he had his episode, he was selflessly sharing with me as he got ready for work on a very stressful day. His sharing with me enabled me to share myself with Sylvia and then share this with you today. Go from here and dare to share. You never know how your experience might help someone else, but the Holy Spirit does. Don’t be afraid. Trust yourself and believe you are part of God’s plan. You are, and you’ll be glad you did! I love you all, and I hope my sharing this story has helped you.

Maura Williams is a Pathways of Light ministerial candidate living in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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July-September, 2015

A Chicken Body or a Human Body, It’s All the Same Oneness!

by Rev. Andrea Sassa Archuleta, O.M.C.

Lesson 94
I am as God created me.

Today we continue with the one idea which brings complete salvation; the one statement which makes all forms of temptation powerless; the one thought which renders the ego silent and entirely undone. (W-pI.94.1:1)
You are as God created you.

The sounds of this world are still, the sights of this world disappear, and all the thoughts that this world ever held are wiped away forever by this one idea. Here is salvation accomplished. Here is sanity restored. (W-pI.94.1:3-4)

If you have been following my writings in Miracles News, you know I live in the foothills of Santa Fe, New Mexico. My husband and I tend a small farm which includes five beautiful chickens. In mid-May, one of our chickens suddenly became ill and within a day her body stopped functioning and died. We were quite sad, having grown very fond of all of the “girls” and their cackling. We were also very confused by her sudden death and concerned about the rest of the flock.

For two days I diligently watched the flock for any signs of illness. I read frantically on the Internet about chicken health and diseases. I fed the girls raw garlic and cayenne pepper (chickens don’t have taste buds for hot spices, who knew!) and organic yogurt with all those lively active cultures, to fortify their immune systems and drive out whatever might be in them. From what I read it could have been anything — bacterial, viral, airborne, mites, worms, parasites — all of which scared the heck out of me! 

Then, to my horror, a second chicken showed signs of illness. I swept her off to the vet only to hear she would likely be dead in a day, just like her sister, suddenly. There wasn’t a distinct diagnosis; I was told the only way to know what happened was a necropsy, which the state agricultural office would do for a nominal fee. The vet and I had the euthanasia discussion and then she left the room.

For some months now I have been in prayer about what it does and does not mean to be a body. Lesson 91 in the Workbook for Students from A Course in Miracles tells me I am not a weak, helpless, limited, doubtful, dark illusion. Rather, I am strong, powerful, unlimited, certain, real, and living in light. In other words, in truth, I am not a body but instead, I am as God created me.

Sitting alone with my Sweet Chicken at the vet’s office and seeing her very weak and listless body, I reminded myself to return to Peace. I reminded myself that no loss was occurring, no drama was happening, that God was all there is, always. I surrendered to the greater will of whatever was happening. Then, Sweet Chicken picked her head up, opened her droopy eyes, and looked directly at me, wide awake. Having surrendered to Peace, I knew to just breath and be with her — to sense and listen beyond her form as a bird and mine as a human, and just Be with Us as One in the unfolding moment. 

With our eyes fixed softly on one another I received awareness and insight, what A Course in Miracles calls “knowledge,” that the choice before me was not one of life or death but only whether I would choose to see Sweet Chicken as a limited body or as formless eternal love and One with me. Wow, what freedom and absolute relief! I didn’t need to choose euthanasia or enduring her death at home. All I needed to do was know that if her form as a bird died or lived, either way it was OK because Sweet Chicken would always be, in truth, as God created her.

My husband arrived at the vet’s office and made the decision to take Sweet Chicken home and let her body pass on with just us. I continued being amazed by the unfolding miracle and my lightheartedness. I was at Peace, knowing anything could happen.

Awaking the next morning, my first thought was of Sweet Chicken. I found her standing up and drinking small amounts of water, much more alert. Day by day she grew stronger. I’ll cut to the chase and tell you Sweet Chicken has a new name, it’s Chicken Miracle. We gave the name Chicken Sweet to our girl who did relinquish her form as a bird. Chicken Miracle and our flock are all well, heartily clucking away and eating anything in sight. This is wonderful to see and live in. I am so grateful for the Peace and miracle teachings I received during a time that could have instead been filled with worry and panic. I am so grateful for Chicken Miracle and most of all that I am as God created me.

Reverend Andrea Sassa Archuleta is a Pathways of Light Ordained Minister living in Santa Fe New Mexico. Find Rev. Andrea at Awakening JOY Ministries, LLC at http://www.spiritualcounseling.us and by emailing her at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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