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April-June, 2020

A Simple Question

by Rev. Stepan Mead, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

“A simple question yet remains, and needs an answer. Do you like what you have made?...” (T-20.lll.4:1-2)

Years ago when I first started studying the Course, sentences like the one quoted above were much easier to ignore than they are today. Similar to many students, my life was a mess when I discovered ACIM.

Could this bible looking book really change my miserable life? (a simple question)

I read the Course from the introduction to the last page in a frenzied marathon session. As I recall, it took me about four days and it affected me as no other book had. What was it I just read? (a simple question)

If anyone asked me to summarize my understanding of the nearly half a million words in the book I would have answered, “The Course says I’m insane, and I think it is right!” No one asked me that question though because my thinking was I had read a book which was unexplainable, so I told no one about it.

With my life in even more of a mess, I asked the Holy Spirit (apparently I believed there was access to this Power inside me,) “What should I do next?” (a simple question) “Read it again, slowly, carefully, prayerfully or put it away and forget about it,” was the answer I heard.

Also, when reading the Course something bizarre happened to me. It’s very difficult to articulate, but the words on the pages went into my mind and I lost the sense of my physicality — I was no longer sitting on my couch reading a book. I felt like I was in another dimension. “I can’t figure out what the Course is saying from one paragraph to the next,” was my thinking. “What should I do?” (a simple question)

“ALL the help necessary you think you need is available to you right now,” was the answer I received.

I turned to the Internet and looked up, A Course in Miracles and after scrolling past website after website, I landed on one calling ACIM a cult. I did read that site carefully, but whatever was written, didn’t ring true with me. I knew I was in the midst of a life changing experience and ACIM did not meet the requirements of being a cult.

Until that point, I had never heard of an ACIM gathering, let alone an ACIM community. “What if I found an ACIM gathering, attended and everyone else at it saw that I WAS insane?” (a simple question) Even though I did not mean to phrase that as a question, immediately the thought, “You’ll be in good company!” was my answer.

Scrolling through the websites again, I discovered Pathways of Light. After staring at the phone number for a few minutes I called. Pathways must have had a speaker phone because as I remember that call, both Robert and Mary were talking to me. If either of them even recollects that call, I hope they can still chuckle over me trying to sound like I knew something about the Course! With saint-like gentleness and patience, they answered all my questions, encouraged me to continue to seek guidance from within and volunteered they might even be able to help by sending me some study materials if I was interested.

I saved my simple question for last, “Is it true what the Course says, that I have made my life what it is? That no one else has caused my misery or even contributed to it? I hate my life; no way did I make this!” In the background, I think I heard Mary quietly say, “Oh dear.” Robert suggested I already knew the answer and even congratulated me for calling. I like being congratulated! I ordered some courses, found ACIM gatherings nearby and today, if I was asked the simple question, “Do you like what you have made?” My answer would be, “YES!”

© 2020, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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