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Sharing the Spirit of Christmas

by Rev. Jennifer McSween, O.M.C.

It’s December 12th, 2 a.m. I’m seated in my living room, enjoying the stillness of the night, the tiny flickering lights of our beautifully decorated Christmas tree; basking in the deep sense of peace and the growing feeling of joy I’ve been experiencing, as we moved into the Christmas season.

For me, this in itself is a miracle. It’s not that I did not normally experience joy at Christmas. It’s just that joy was not the only thing I experienced. It was more of an experience of “mixed emotions.” The joy of getting together with loved ones to celebrate this joyous occasion was mixed with the pain of identifying with my own guilt that surfaced as I interacted with those very same loved ones on this joyous occasion. How this played out in the drama of my life would read along the lines of Dr. Seuss’ story of “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” where everyone seemed to have “the Spirit of Christmas” but him. But I digress.

In last winter’s issue of Miracles News, Rev. Therese Anne Ward of Kentucky, wrote an article about finding a whole new meaning to the words of the old Christmas song “Oh Holy Night.” Rev. Ward’s “new meaning” of that old song led me to see myself in a new light as I found a deeper meaning of Christmas. I had the revelation that “Christmas,” the Birth of Christ, is really about the Recognition (Birth) of “Christ Consciousness” in me, as me. That means that my true Identity is the one created by God, not the one I created based on “guilt-ridden” characteristics, and so is everyone else’s. As it says in Lesson 61, Who we are is the Son of God. Who we are is the Light of the world. That is the Truth of Who we all are.

As I accept this as the truth of Who I am and Who we all are, what naturally follows is a deep sense of peace, which the Course says is “the condition for the awareness of your relationship with God.” and “Joy, for the time of Christ is meaningless apart from joy.”

Accepting that Truth is recognizing the Presence of the Spirit of Christ (Christmas) in me. Embracing that Truth allows me to experience and express the joy and peace that comes with my acceptance of the Presence of this Spirit in me, in all situations.

It was in this Spirit, that I approached the last meeting of the season, on December 8th, of the weekly ACIM study group I facilitate. I wanted to extend my Joy of recognizing “the Spirit of Christmas” in me. I felt led to select Workbook Lesson 61, “I am the light of the world,” as our Workbook lesson for that week. Our topic was “The Gift of Christmas.” In place of a reading from the text, I took along copies of Rev. Ward’s “rendition” of “Oh Holy Night.” The group sang, line by line, the words to the song “Oh Holy Night,” while I narrated and commented on Rev. Ward’s new words and meaning. It was magical!

There we were, a culturally and religiously diverse group of 8-10 Muslims, Jews, Catholics and other denominations, joining with each other in the Spirit of Christmas. Thank you, Rev. Therese Anne Ward, for sharing your Miracle. And to All, I wish You “A JOYFUL NEW YEAR.”

Rev. Jennifer McSween is a Pathways of Light minister living in Nuns Island, Quebec, Canada

© 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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Looking Back with Gratitude

by Rev. Susan Hanshaw, O.M.C.

At the very top of my favorite holiday activities is the ritual of writing cards to friends and family members. I’m blessed with loved ones far and near, and I treasure this annual opportunity to reach out to those I don’t normally connect with throughout the rest of the year.

This year, as I sat down to begin the process for the very first time, it occurred to me what a very special year it has been, and how many new friends I’ve welcomed into my life, with whom I’ve shared on a very deep level.

I look back with deep gratitude at three specific callings I said “yes” to this year whose teachings enriched my life, and the friendships made added lots of love to my heart. First, I became a Chaplain for Unity In Marin, in Northern California. After several half-day Saturday sessions, twenty-five of us went to the mountains for a weekend retreat of heartfelt bonding. It turned out to be one of the most meaningful weekends of my life. I didn’t know any of my co-participants more than casually at first, yet walked away with an understanding of the depths of connection I can feel through sharing from my soul.

The second experience was late in the summer, after Spirit had led me to “stumble” across the web site for Alan Cohen Publications, where I learned about a Mastery Program to be held in Maui. I turned out to be the final registrant, and they didn’t have room for me at the main retreat facility, so I had to be placed a mile away at another, more remote facility. When I arrived, I discovered that my room, with it’s private pond overlooking the ocean, was the most spectacular room of all, and I knew that it was my gift from Spirit to make the experience even more soulful. Once again, I bonded from the heart with 25 strangers from all over the country, feeling the joy of sharing true love in my heart for all of them.

Last, but not least, was the week-long experience I shared with five other ministerial candidates and three facilitators in Kiel, Wisconsin, the week I was to be ordained at Pathways of Light. The days passed quickly, as we sat for hours studying and sharing. There were many, many precious moments, and we felt them at the time, yet for me, one of the most precious gifts is now looking back at the pictures taken, the memories frozen in time, that bring me back to the depths of the open hearts that we were sharing.

As I think about these 60 or so strangers that I came to love deeply over a few days time, I imagine that I will never see many of them again in a physical sense. Even though our physical time together on this planet may only be these few days, these friends will be among my life’s greatest teachers, for they taught me the deep joy of giving and receiving with an open, loving heart, and about how connected we really are on many levels.

Rev. Susan Hanshaw is a Pathways of Light minister living in San Rafael, California.

© 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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