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July-September, 2014

From Fear to Love: Removing the Biggest Obstacle to Peace

by Rev. Linda Wisniewski, O.M.C.

A Course in Miracles states there are four obstacles to Peace. I would like to share my experience of working with Holy Spirit to overcome the fourth obstacle to peace: The fear of God.

In Chapter 19, Section IV D it states:

“What would you see without the fear of death? What would you feel and think if death held no attraction for you? Very simply, you would remember your Father. The creator of Life, the Source of everything that lives, the Father of the universe and of the universe of universes, and of everything that lies even beyond them would you remember.” (T-19.IV.D.1:1-4)

When I read that fear is the attraction to death, I thought this is crazy. In Linda’s dream she believed she tried to push death away, not attract it. Yet so much of Linda’s dream was filled with thoughts of death which were very fearful and which she projected onto the body in the form of pain and sickness. It wasn’t until she looked at this with Holy Spirit did she begin realizing that the fear of death was really the fear of God.

In Linda’s dream, the memory of the fear of God began when her beloved grandpa, who lived with her, left his body. Linda in the dream was 6 years old when this happened. She believed God took her grandpa away from her and she became very afraid of God and feared Him.

Who else that Linda loved was God going take away? She believed God was the cause of death. Linda believed it was too risky to love because she believed God would snatch her loved ones away. Linda also believed she must have done something terribly wrong that God would punish her by causing the death of loved ones or the loss of special love relationships.

The pain of losing her beloved grand-father and later the loss of special relationships was so great and the fear of God was so huge that she projected the pain and fear onto her body and suffered from an auto-immune syndrome. In the dream, an auto-immune syndrome is when cells in the body attack themselves and cause swelling and inflammation. However, the real cause, Linda has been learning, lies in the mind and what Linda was projecting onto the body was caused by an attack on her True Self, her God- created Self and was using the body as a defense against God’s Love.

As Linda started to look at these beliefs with Holy Spirit, asking Spirit to help her see this differently, she couldn’t help but laugh as she realized she had been a student of the wrong teacher throughout this dream life. As she now chooses Holy Spirit to be her Teacher, the fear of God and the attraction to death is gradually being undone. Holy Spirit has been very gentle and patient, knowing the depth of Linda’s terror of God.

Recently Holy Spirit has helped Linda uncover an even deeper fear of God which she now is willing to forgive. Linda not only wrongly believed that God caused the death of loved ones but that God would be the cause of her own death, i.e. that God would snatch her body away like she believed He snatched her grandfather away. Now if this isn’t the fear of God that is the biggest obstacle to Peace, I don’t know what is.

Now, with Holy Spirit as her beloved Teacher, Linda is learning that all she had believed about God and death, which led to fearing God, is a big fat lie. How could God, Who is the Creator of Love, cause death, pain and suffering? God is the Spirit of Life. The body has no life; it is neutral. In the dream it has been used by the ego thought system as a form of punishment because we believed we were guilty for separating from God and death was our punishment meted out by God.

Holy Spirit is teaching Linda that while she believes she is still dreaming, the body could be used for a holy purpose — to become a vehicle for communication to extend God’s loving Thoughts into the dream world and help the Sonship awaken from the dream. As Linda is now connecting with her True Self and through Holy Spirit’s gentle help undoing her fear of God, she is gradually losing her attraction to death. She is beginning to realize that when the body has served its holy function, it can gently be laid aside and Life will continue.

I know from the passing of loved ones, that even without the body, Minds communicate as I am in communication with others who have left their body. If Minds are joined forever, how could death be real?

With Holy Spirit as my teacher, the fear of God and the attraction to death is gradually being undone. As this obstacle is being removed, peace and joy is rising up. The Spirit of Life — the Self is coming to life as God is being remembered as Love and I am the extension of that Love as are we all.

“God turns to you to ask the world be saved, for by your own salvation is (the world) healed. And no one walks upon the earth but must depend on your decision, that he learn death has no power over him, because he shares your freedom as he shares your will. …And now is God forgiven, for you chose to look upon your brother as a friend.” (T-30.II.5:1-2,4)

Thank you Holy Spirit for teaching me that death has no power over me. I am willing to reclaim Life, Peace and Joy as my Inheritance. I reclaim you, Holy Father, as my loving Creator. I reclaim my True Self as one with my Creator. I reclaim Life, Peace, Joy and Love.

Rev. Linda Wisniewski is a Pathways of Light minister living in Plymouth, Wisconsin. Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

© 2014, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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July-September, 2014

3 Step Grievance Process — The Source of Our Suffering

by Rev. Ken Gorman, O.M.C.

In lesson 71, the Course assures that ‘Only God’s Plan’ for salvation will work. This is good news as it means there is a plan. It is not of me so I don’t have to worry about constructing it. It will work and Holy Spirit will help me …all of the time. However, this same lesson also says that ego has a plan for our salvation which involves getting us to buy into “Grievances.”

So this is how I look at the Grievance Process. Grievance energy is something we don’t want no matter what as:

— Grievances block our connection to our Inner Guide and True Self 

— Grievances cover the awareness of ours and our brothers’ true Nature, justifying all kinds of attack  

— Grievances occupy our mind, not leaving space for peace and happiness.

So what is a Grievance? When I was working with this question, the Holy Spirit guided me to the section on the Happy Dream: “[The happy dreams] message is, “Thy Will be done,” and not, “I want it otherwise.” (T-18.V.4:3) In this sentence He gives us the mantra when accepting that God is in charge and His plan is functioning in our lives which is, ‘Thy Will be Done.” He also gives us the egos mantra which creates endless grievances with the present moment which is, “I want it otherwise.”

This is the ego’s simple trick — to rail against what is arising “now,” which is clearly insane as what is happening is what is, end of story. Spending energy against it in our mind is like throwing a stick at the ocean, hoping to send back the tide.

For me, I see this as a simple, 3 Stage Process which can be noticed and interrupted (handed to Holy Spirit):

1.  We decide a situation/person, etc. is a certain way — This in itself does not cause the suffering as at this point we can just be in the now, accept what is arising (including our feelings and any necessary responses) and flow gracefully into the next now moment (Note: at a later stage in ACIM we will even question this stage to make space for Christ Vision).

2.  We decide, based on our ego judgment, that the situation should be otherwise for whatever reason. Ego is a grievance machine, so it has an endless list which is constantly changing. As long as grievances are created, it doesn’t mind.

3. We decide it is justified to be upset by this and play this over and over in our minds. We are mad, sad, afraid, etc… whatever step 2 calls for. Now we feel it and it is justified.

For me, stage 3 is where the majority of our suffering is as it creates a continuous stream of negative emotion in ‘MY’ mind. It is based on a simple lack of acceptance for the arising of the present moment, both in our external and internal worlds, and a denial that God’s plan is operating. These feelings are very negative in and of themselves and have little positive benefits.

This is why I believe we are constantly given the instruction to allow, allow, and allow some more, accept and embrace and relax in the “NOW.’ It breaks this cycle and gets us to surrender to the Now moment which is 100% God’s Will ...which allows us to relax and frees up enormous space in the mind to hear Holy Spirit and respond skillfully to whatever is happening right Now ...including ‘receiving’ plans if that is necessary (like book a theatre ticket or schedule a meeting with a friend).

Here is an example:

Step 1. I decided that the current situation is that I am stuck in traffic due to roadwork.

Step 2. I decide that there should not be so much traffic. It just isn’t right. Why can’t they clear the roads?

Step 3.  I decide I am going to have an emotional response to step 2 and I am going to be justifiably frustrated as I am late.

Over and over again about hundreds of things a day ...never noticing it never changes anything except we suffer…

However, there is one thing worse than a grievance — a justifiable grievance — as it is one that ego has convinced us is worth the suffering. It still doesn’t change anything, we still suffer and we are still disconnected from our Source and happiness and nothing changes based on it (I am still stuck in traffic!).

Our grievances against people can be said to be drinking poison …hoping the other person gets sick. Instead we just ingest corrosive material which eats at us inside and the other person has no idea.

I believe we need to train ourselves that grievances are something we don’t want under any circumstances and vigilantly hand them to Holy Spirit whenever they arise. If we ask Holy Spirit for help with this, at our invitation, He will show us the way… ”Grievances hide the Light of the World.”

Rev. Ken Gorman, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in London, UK
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

© 2014, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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July-September, 2014

The One About Truth

by Rev. Stephan Mead, O.M.C.

In A Course in Miracles, Text, Chapter 14, Section XI, perhaps the key point Jesus is trying to get across to us (to me) is introduced in the first sentence of the section:

“Yet the essential thing is learning that you do not know.” (T-14.XI.1:1)

What don’t I know? As I was studying this section, I noticed the feeling of ‘being attacked’ was in my mind, which I didn’t like.

In the next paragraph I am told, “For you have taught yourself how to imprison the Son of God, a lesson so unthinkable that only the insane, in the deepest sleep, could even dream it.” (2:2)

Can that be the truth? I certainly don’t remember teaching myself that, and if I did, why would I? Now I’m noticing a feeling of anger that is keeping my ‘feeling of being attacked’ company. Emotionally I am trying to communicate with Jesus as I continue reading. “Hey, really? Are you sure?” I guess here I’m giving Jesus a chance to change his mind.

Just before I put the book down to contemplate the storm that is raging in my mind, I looked at another couple of sentences, “Never believe that any lesson you have learned apart from Him means anything.” (4:9)

Never believe that? In sixty plus years my lessons haven’t meant anything? (By the way, I did notice the qualifier in that sentence, “apart from Him”) And, “Your part is very simple. You need only recognize that everything you learned you do not want.” (6:3-4)

In the 10 years I have been involved in the Course, I have heard of people who, in frustration have actually thrown the book away. I think I can understand that tantrum! From almost the beginning of my journey into the Text, I have consciously tried to read it with the thought, “What if everything in here is true?” How can I not think that at least some of my lessons have been valuable to me? I am not trying to portray myself as any kind of a scholar or insightful student. Basically I only want to live a happy life. Also, I am not interested in pretending I understand some of these concepts when obviously I don’t.

Unsettled and irritated, I picked the book back up, and the next sentence I read was, “Listen in silence, and do not raise your voice against Him.” (11:4)

Ok, full disclosure here. I laughed and felt relieved. How did He know I was raising my voice? “Oh yea,” I thought, “He knows everything!”

Lastly, I was given a couple of directions that are sure to be helpful. “Those who remember always that they know nothing, and have become willing to learn everything, will learn it. But whenever they trust themselves, they will not learn.” (12:1-2)

So, in this section, The Test of Truth, I think I passed it with an A+. The real test to me was seeing that I needed a new way to look at what is actually true.

Rev. Stephan Mead, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in Seattle, Washington.
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

© 2014, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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July-September, 2014

I Finally Get It

by Rev. Georgeann Medved, O.M.C.

Today I am full of thought. The bible study I am working on, the sermon yesterday in church and A Course in Miracles studies all stirred up a lot of emotion. “Not a coincidence” Holy Spirit assures me.

When we were kids, we were always told to “be good” and sometimes to “behave or else,” but we were never helped by adults to change our mental, spiritual or emotional behavior patterns.

I seriously started to work toward changing my behavior when I was 33 and, of course, it really disturbed those who were close to me when I no longer responded to their dysfunctional behavior in the same old way. I received lots of rude comments to my face and behind my back from many family members and my husband and I were actually outcasts for a long, long time. I also lost a lot of friends because I no longer fit into their lifestyle.

After 35 more years I continue to grow and I still have a lot — a whole lot of growing up to do. One very wonderful thing has taken place, I am closer to my sister and brother and their spouses than I have been in my life. My 93 year old Mother too. It took a long time but the love and acceptance is now dwelling within me.

What it all boils down to is that there is fear or love. That is what A Course in Miracles teaches. (Lesson 175, Lesson 348) When I am fearful I strike out at others, even strangers because I have forgotten that Holy Spirit resides within me and is trying to get my attention. I am so busy trying to control everything I am not listening to Him. “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

When I am actually in Holy Spirit mode and actually using Him and not ego as my counselor, teacher, guide and friend, I live my life in the gentle Spirit of Love and react to my environment and others around me with complete Love. His message to me has always been to love and “teach only Love” through my actions. I fall short of that many times, however, but I evaluate my mistakes and resolve to do better. I finally get it! “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

Rev. Georgeann Medved is a Pathways of Light minister living in Columbiaville, Michigan. Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

© 2014, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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