Miracles News

Sept.-Dec., 2024

Spirit Working Through Me

by Rev. Larry Glenz, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

“The ministers of God can never fail, because the love and strength and peace that shine from them to all their brothers come from Him. These are His gifts to you. Defenselessness is all you need to give Him in return.” (W-153.20.4-6)

Lesson 153, “In my defenselessness my safety lies” has always been a great challenge to the ego in my mind. The Holy Spirit in my mind understands the Truth of this statement. Therefore, I don’t want to have resistance to this. On some level, I know it is true. It does, however, seem to violate my human tendency to fight back.

This tendency to fight back seems like an automatic response. My propensity to fight against aggression is encouraged and most often admired in the world. Most people believe defensiveness is natural and expected. But we are taught defensiveness does NOT bring inner peace.

“The world gives rise but to defensiveness. For threat brings anger, anger makes attack seems reasonable, honestly provoked, and righteous in the name of self-defense.” (W-153.2:1-2)

In my younger years, I believed that my ability to attack both physically and verbally was a strength. As an athlete and then as a young coach, I had no understanding of the strength of defenselessness.

I was taught to hit back harder. The world was one big competition. Never submit to bullies. Only the courage to stand and fight — regardless of the outcome — was the response that I believed would give me the respect and safety I sought from others. My anger could be fearful. I did not think it was hurting me. Indeed, I considered this to be strength. But I recognize now, that attitude never brought me inner peace.

“You do not realize what you have done to sabotage the holy peace of God by your defensiveness.” (W.153.5:4)

As a student athlete, then as a teacher, coach, and now as a ministerial counselor, I have always embraced my role as a leader. I felt I could be a good follower if that was appropriate to the situation. But as time went on, my passion was to be a good leader.

“Whatever your appointed role may be, it was selected by the Voice for God, Whose function is to speak for you as well.” (W-154.2:1)

My style of leadership has changed dramatically since I first picked up A Course in Miracles in 1994. I was deeply drawn to the Course and its teachings. I am very inspired by the concept that I am among the ministers of God, Lesson 154. It is His Voice to which I choose to listen. I am far from perfect in my efforts to hear only this Voice. But that is the goal.

I have both taught and coached in some capacity for Lynbrook High School on Long Island for more than 50 years now. Many students and players have become good friends. Some of them are in their late 60’s and others are much younger.

It is always interesting to hear the younger and older alumni tell stories about what it was like to have Mr. Glenz as a social studies teacher or Coach Glenz as a football, wrestling, and lacrosse coach. Although the stories are usually filled with laughter and much exaggeration, there is a difference in how I was perceived then and now. The Course has profoundly changed my values.

“Defenses are the costliest of all the prices which the ego would exact.” (W-153.4:1)

One of my older former students is my wife, Laura. When we reconnected 25 years later, I was devoted to ACIM. She was studying Siddha Yoga — a form of ancient Vedanta. While reading Laura’s spiritual literature, I became focused on the word “Shakti” which was interpreted as the Cosmic power that unites the Universe.

I was inspired to use the term “Shakti” with my lacrosse team. I described it as the ultimate attainment that we could accomplish together. Previous to the 1999 season our highest goal was to win championships. Starting that year, we changed our goal to building Shakti.

The players were encouraged to imagine themselves sending this powerful, loving energy into each others’ hearts. Building a “team Shakti” was the focus of each individual. They were to send this energy to each other whether we were winning or losing. Tapping each other on the heart while maintaining eye contact was our sign that we were focused on sending Shakti to each other.

Our team did have excellent talent. But our team’s energy was extraordinary. We won two consecutive New York State Championships. And the love these former student athletes have for each other lasts until this day.

I recently had the honor of officiating the wedding of one of the captains of the 1999 state champs. Twenty-five years later, these men in their 40’s still speak of the power of building Shakti on a team. These former teammates have built a life-time bond.

They want their children to have that same experience now. Some are coaching the youth leagues for which their sons and daughters play. They tell me they want their kids to feel the same loving energy for each other that they felt. They described their experiences together as ultimate joy. I felt Holy Spirit working through me as they spoke.

“For as we prove that we accept no will we do not share, our many gifts from our Creator will spring to our sight and leap into our hands, and we will recognize what we received.” (W-154.14:4)

What a great feeling!

Rev. Larry Glenz, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in Long Beach, NY. Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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