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January-April, 2024

Salvation in a Snow Globe

by Rev. Robin Singler, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

According to the Course, forgiveness is my function, and forgiveness looks and waits and judges not. This means forgiveness is the act of looking and suspending all judgment. It is looking at all things in my awareness, both within and without, from a place of calm observance and of detached watching, absent of all need to form opinions or condemn what is being observed.

When I first started studying the Course and attempting to apply it in my life I thought that Awakening would be reached by clearing my mind of all extraneous thoughts and all negative emotions. This led me to go down a path of denying the full experience of my feelings, fears and doubts because I thought it was “not spiritual” to have thoughts or experiences of suffering and that the goal was to somehow eliminate them from my mind and my awareness. But my Inner Teacher; the wise Voice deep inside my mind, has given me a very helpful symbol to use to apply the teachings of A Course in Miracles.

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January-April, 2024

Be Fueled with Kindness — It’s Not Combustible

by Rev. Vicki Evans, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

During a phase of peace, I asked Holy Spirit to join me to help me remember that I am Love, not a judge sputtering out assumptions. Whenever I start to judge others or judge a situation, I remind myself that I really don’t know, I only think it! I am now making it a habit to start my assumptions and judgment statements with “I think”…… which tells me: “I imagine…. which then leads to: It’s not real; I don’t know!”

I now practice adding the prefix words of “I think” or “I imagine” attached to my judgment sentence or thought and replace this thought with a self-question of, “Do I know this for a fact?” If not, move on, let judgment thoughts go and evaporate into the air. I am taking this activity a step further by replacing any judgment thoughts or false assumptions with a kind thought for the person or situation I started to judge or thinking a self-mantra of “I really don’t know — no false assumption!”

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January-April, 2024

My Brother and I Are One Forever

by Rev. Christine Anderson, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

In the year 2000, I rented a large home that would be big enough for my brother Ed from Vienna to stay with me when he came to visit twice a year and have his own space in the upper part of the house.

My memory from childhood was that I didn’t think he liked me very much. And it didn’t seem like there was much love in our relationship. So I really felt guided by Spirit to have this opportunity to live together and open to Love, a love that we could both enjoy. I invited him to stay with me and share the house when he would visit, and he agreed that it would be a good idea, and that he would also pay me rent.

During his visits, every morning he would greet me with a “Happy Good Morning” and it made my day and brought a lot of happiness to my mind. Our days were filled with going places together and enjoying each other’s company. I gave him his privacy and never went upstairs unless he invited me.

He was used to being alone and played computer games often in his living space upstairs, so I didn’t see him that much apart from our outings together. I learned to trust that all was well, and that he was spending his time as he wished to in a way that was comfortable for him, and so I learned to accept him as he was and to be okay with that. I opened my mind to see that he was my spiritual brother, and I became very comforted by having his presence in my home, right upstairs from me.

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January-April, 2024

I Am the Light of the World…?

Rev. Holly Honorato, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

I don’t know about you, but I forget about this at least a hundred times a day (if not more).

What is it about life that gets in the way of this realization? Sure, it’s easy to remember when we’re in church, sweat lodge ceremony, or in a study group, but once we step into the ‘lab’ or the real world our light often dims and it can be very frustrating.

Usually, for me, it’s others’ inability to recognize or appreciate my light that dulls it, because, at the end of the day, we are all mirrors. Many times we reflect back on what is directed at us (commonly referred to as projection). While studying the Course assists us on our journey, I often wonder why it’s so hard to practice.

Here are some pointers to staying illuminated:

1. Remember that others are operating from their own capacity and that’s okay (not everyone is capable of doing such deep, inner work).

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January-April, 2024

Whack a Mole

by Rev. Ashley Rose Legrand, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

This is the song that never ends. Yes, it goes on and on my friends.

We are never truly satisfied whenever we achieve something in the world of form. We get what we think we want and after momentary relief, there’s now something else glistening out there, just off in the distance, enticing us and calling our name. A new shiny object luring us in with the promise of total fulfillment. Voila.. the ego scavenger hunt.

“When you have achieved it, it has not satisfied you. This is why the ego is forced to shift ceaselessly from one goal to another, so that you will continue to hope it can yet offer you something.” (T-8.VIII.2:6-7)

We set goals. Excited and filled with hope, that THIS time… THIS will do it. It will really bring the happiness, the peace. This one is going to be the cherry on top. The icing on the cake. The silver bullet. The goal to end all goals. Hallelujah! Then I can finally rest. Finally be at peace, with nothing to bother me. Nothing to infringe on my serenity. I can be safe now that nothing will disrupt me. Whew. What a relief. Cause I’m tired. Tired of being out here, trying relentlessly to keep myself safe. If this burned calories I’d be at my ideal body in no time.

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January-April, 2024

Holy Spirit, Knock My Socks Off!

by Ninette Terhart, Student of ACIM, Reiki Master, E.F.R. Practitioner

When I first began studying A Course in Miracles seven years ago, every time I looked at that 2000+ page book, or even thought about it, huge conflicting energy waves of wonder and dread would pass through my mind. I’ve always had the mindset that if I felt resistance towards something, it was probably the road I needed to embark on! To me, it kinda felt like a second bible but way hipper! 

The first time I heard David Hoffmeister say, “Holy Spirit, Knock my socks off!” I thought, “What does that mean?” I was so intrigued by the idea of asking Holy Spirit for anything, let alone to Knock My Socks Off! And, to be honest, it scared me! Well, clearly my intrigue caused enough momentum to usher an experience that changed my life and relationship with Holy Spirit forever. 

At this time, I had been living in this very quiet and cozy community for about two years, where I pretty much knew everybody! I was singing (and still do) every Thursday evening at a Sushi restaurant located inside the community. One day, I was walking our German Sheppard back from the park and, as I was about to cross the street corner, a car frantically pulled up beside me. As I glanced over to see who it was, expecting it to be somebody I was familiar with and most likely would exchange pleasantries, the passenger window slid down revealing this very gruff and disheveled appearance of a man I had never seen before. He reminded me of Beatle Juice. A lot! (And definitely resembled some of my father’s vibe as well.)

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January-April, 2024

Something

by Rev. Vicki Rostant, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

In a recent weekly Pathways of Light Sunday morning ACIM Interactive Discussion meeting, the section chosen for reading and discussion was Chapter 16, Section II. The Power of Holiness. Paragraph 2 stood out for me, especially the last sentence: “And so there must be Something in you that does understand.”

I was prompted by Holy Spirit to share the following:

M and I had been friends for a couple of decades. We had bonded over books — classics and not-so-classic ones; poetry — Rumi was her favorite, and A Course in Miracles.

We delighted in each other’s company, sharing stories from our past — hers from Scotland, mine from the West Indies.  She had a great sense of humor, and we shared much laughter.

In 2019, her son suggested that she give up her apartment in the city and move closer to him and his family, out of town. His two children were eight and six years old, and they loved their grandmother, but did not get to see her very often because of the distance. Feeling settled and energetic then, she said she wasn’t ready to move. 

Then the pandemic happened. The lock down during the first year of COVID lead her to the tendency towards increasing isolation and depression. Her neighbors in the apartment building remained supportive through phone calls and safe doorway contact. I called regularly, and we met at her apartment for lunch when conditions allowed. Then I started noticing that she was canceling our lunch dates more and more, due to various “illnesses.”  Her sister in Texas and I were growing more concerned about signs of increasing dementia.

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January-April, 2024

From Facilitator to Friend to Hermana!

by Rev. Barbara Adams, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

I met Rev. Maria Felipe in NYC at an ACIM conference produced and presented by Community Miracles Center of San Francisco. Maria was, and continues to be a powerful speaker. At her presentation, Maria made a statement that caught my attention which ultimately helped me to heal. “We did the best we could with the awareness we had at the time.” POW!

That one sentence uttered by Rev. Maria hit me hard. But in a positive way. Not only did it help me to understand my own parents’ motivations and actions better, but it helped me heal the pain that I had been carrying for too long about coming out to my children. As a gay woman who hid in a closet for more than half of my life, the coming-out process was a journey filled with relief and remorse. My children were devastated by the break-up of our little family. My guilt consumed me. But Maria’s statement helped bridge the divide. I did the best I could with the awareness I had at the time.

After her talk at the conference, I introduced myself to Rev. Maria. Her warmth and understanding demonstrated her truth. This was a lovely woman both physically and spiritually who had a mission to help guide others toward healing. This former model embraced me. From that moment, I have not let her out of my life.

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January-April, 2024

Crossing the Bridge

by Dani Novak, Student of the POL Ministerial Program

In previous issues of Miracles News I wrote about my experiences with depression and how rays of divine light penetrated through the darkness and allowed me to experience Peace, Love and Joy for a while. What helps me in the dark times is to keep a journal of my experiences. Lately I started to accurately document the depression and I am posting here from my journal.

I noticed that the last three depressions lasted exactly 21 days while the elated time in between the depression varied (sometimes it was months of peace but the depression always followed). I distinctly remember that I was 100% convinced that the depression will not return… that I “finally got it” but it always returned and now I know that it was a blessing beyond words. 

I have been listening to the YouTube videos by Keith Kavanagh who is teaching me to practice looking at my ego reactions to triggers from the seeming outside world without judgment and thus not identifying myself with the thought of separation.

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January-April, 2024

Giving and Receiving Are One in Truth

by Rev. Jennifer McSween, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

On April 12th, 2017, I announced to the world via Facebook, that I was in the process of writing a book. Until then, the only people who knew that I was doing so were my husband and daughter, and the members of the Authors group coaching program I had joined a couple of months earlier.

To this day, I cannot recall who sent me the email in February of 2017, promoting a webinar for going “From Blank Page To Published Author In 90 Days.” Though when I first read this, I didn’t think it was possible for me, because I had been trying to write and publish a book for the past four years, but found myself struggling to get the ideas out of my head and onto the paper.

For some reason I felt led to attend. So I signed up. I took the Action Step that was given at the end of the webinar. That first step did help me to get the ideas out of my head and onto paper, and I started writing on March 10th, 2017. On April 7th, 27 days later, I had completed writing my entire first draft and made the announcement on a Facebook post. A little less than 7 months later, with the help of Revs Robert and Mary Stoelting’s professional editing, I became a published author.

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January-April, 2024

On a Mission for God

by Rev. Myron, Jones, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

One time I was talking to Jesus as I do throughout the day. I said that sometimes things seem to happen in such a random way. It looks like there is no rhyme or reason for the occurrences.

Then I felt a surge of fear at the thought. It seems terrifying to believe that everything is meaningless, that there is no purpose to anything.

Then I was given an idea that grew into the following story. It is, like most things we know about reality, a metaphor, but it is a helpful metaphor, in my opinion.  

I was explaining to someone that it is safe to look at our thoughts with the Holy Spirit. This is a necessary step in forgiveness, and forgiveness is what we came to do. I assured her that, of course, we are not guilty for our thoughts. They serve a purpose. These untrue thoughts are the reason we are here. You see, we are on a mission, a mission for God. 

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January-April, 2024

Goals

by Rev. Joyce Peebles, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

I recently read a lesson and reread the comments I had made the year before. I concluded I had not made much progress on how I was perceiving my projections. I am still projecting guilt on someone outside of my mind. Therefore, I am still finding value in judgment. I still think anger is justified at times. I am still entertaining the idea that I am a victim, in short, this ego/ body self I see as Me.

My only function is to recognize this is a lie. That’s it. To accept the atonement for myself. This is done by knowing I am not this ego-body character, neither is anyone in my projections. Reality is I have no difficulties, anger is never justified, and peace can be recognized if I want to enough. I alone have caused my misery. Nobody needs to change because there is no world “out there.” Jesus tells me when I decided to reject love and wanted to be a separated individual, I also decided to invent goals I think I now need.

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October-December, 2023

Miracles News, October–December, 2023

 

“God is with me.
I live and move
in Him.”ACIM W-222

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October-December, 2023

Freedom or Bondage

by Rev. Joyce Peebles, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

“You must choose between total freedom and total bondage…” (T-15.X.9:3)

Jesus says the truth shall make you free. What is this truth? It is simple and almost nobody wants to believe it. It is this:  You are innocent, totally without guilt, and so is everybody else. The reason you don’t want to believe this is because you are unaware you harbor this idea of sin and guilt.

Jesus says it is unconscious until the Holy Spirit reveals it. You may not believe that you are guilty, or maybe you do, but you believe that someone else is guilty.

The world you see was made by you on purpose as a place to prove that what God says is wrong. He says guilt does not exist and all are innocent. You are imagining a world you want to be real. If you do not think you feel this way, it is because you are unable currently to see beyond the devices of the ego.

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October-December, 2023

I Am Grateful for All Things

by Rev. Myron, Jones, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

I am very grateful for my Guide. I get lots of help on this path, suggestions, teachings, and more, but everything passes through the Holy Spirit. It is in and part of me and the Truth and the Light that keeps me on the path to my Self. How could I not be grateful? 

I have shared with others a Pathways of Light course on gratitude several times. It is really good for me to do these courses with other people. We join in teaching and learning with each other. And gratitude is more meaningful to me now than it has ever been. I am now grateful for all things, even the problems. After all, they bring me the opportunity to heal the false thoughts in my mind.

I Didn’t Always Appreciate the Power of Gratitude

Before I began studying Pathways of Light’s Miracles Practitioner course 903: Gratitude for God’s Gifts, I didn’t really understand why gratitude was important. Now I marvel that there was ever a time I didn’t understand the power of gratitude. When I am grateful, I am peaceful and happy. My goodness, what else could I ask for?

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