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july - September, 2007

Reflections from a Recently Ordained Pathways Minister

Rev. Kathy Streng

On a warm Saturday evening in April of 2006, something inspired me to ask my husband’s niece Carrie and her fiancé Dell, if I could perform their marriage ceremony in June 2007. They agreed. It was to be a simple outdoor June wedding, held in the beautiful garden of her Grandmother.

On the same night, an Internet search brought “to light” the means by which I could achieve this new goal. It was a Spiritual College and retreat center called “Pathways of Light” in Kiel Wisconsin. The web site itself offered a delicious smorgasbord of spiritual courses and programs of study, including opportunities to progress spiritually through correspondence facilitated by a Pathways of Light Minister.

Being a student of both Christian Science and A Course in Miracles, the program of study to become a Miracles Practitioner interested me. But it was the Ordained Ministerial Counselor training that captured my full attention. This ministerial training worked for me because I could do most of it from home. As a 50 year old full time elementary art teacher with a rigorous teaching schedule which includes more than 600 children and travel among three buildings, I don’t have much energy left at the end of the day.

“Pathways of Light,” I told my husband, “could be my graduate school!” All I really wanted at that time was to be legally sanctioned to perform marriage ceremonies. Now I had two questions. Could I complete the program in time and who would be my facilitator?

I found my facilitator, Rev. Michelle Signs, in Marquette, Michigan. Her services were listed on the web site as a Pathways of Light Minister. During the Hiawatha Music Festival in Marquette in July 2006, I called her, introduced myself and asked if we could meet sometime that weekend. She had a full schedule of weddings on her calendar, but happily met with me that Sunday and agreed to be my facilitator. She assured me that if I was willing to be vigilant in my studies, I could be ordained by the following June. To this joining of minds entered Holy Spirit and all blessings therein. Beginning in September we joyfully progressed through 21 courses.

Michelle and I committed to weekly phone meetings for at least an hour each, with four weeks off for the holidays or during my weeks of parent/ Teacher conferences at school. I studied two nights a week and sometimes on the weekends. Never in my life have I been engaged in a pursuit that was as satisfying and fulfilling on so many levels. The course materials were nothing short of amazing. All Pathways of Light materials are sourced and guided through Holy Spirit. They reflect a highest level of perfection in professionalism and content. It was no coincidence that Robert and Mary Stoelting, the founders of Pathways of Light, owned a successful advertising agency in Arizona prior to returning to Kiel, where Robert’s parents had begun a spiritual center in the 1960s.

With all this going for me, I began to discover and strengthen my connection with myself, Holy Spirit, peace and oneness. I had many experiences which included phenomenal readings, written responses, drawings, meditations and visualizations. I explored ways to heal limiting beliefs while strengthening my ability to live in the presence of Holy Spirit, where I could hear my Inner Voice for God. I learned I do nothing by myself, and in the spirit of ACIM, I do not know what anything means. I learned that while I do not know what anything means, I have nothing to worry about as long as I return time and time again to the presence of my True Self or Inner Wisdom. In so laying aside those reins of illusion I thought I had over my life, I rest in the safety, comfort, love and wisdom of the Oneness which is unlimited and supports and guides us all.

I learned along the way that my new path as an Ordained Ministerial Counselor afforded me a variety of unexpected opportunities to serve. I could be a facilitator for someone else as Michelle has for me. I could lead groups of people who might wish to explore or awaken their own spirituality through facilitating 8-week groups called Spiritual Awakening and Healing the Inner Child. I was amazed to learn I would be receiving training to become an Accessing Inner Wisdom Counselor. This meant I could lead a client through a gently meditative process in which they identify and transform limiting beliefs through their own connection with their Inner Wisdom. My cup runneth over with opportunities to assist others on their own path to wholeness, holiness, love and peace. Likewise, my cup runneth over with opportunities to heal myself.

My training culminated in two unexpected weekends of twelve hours each of teleconference training. Originally I was told to plan to spend a week of study on campus at Pathways of Light which would culminate in the ordination ceremony. However, Robert and Mary, ever “walking their talk,” received guidance from Holy Spirit that this week of study on campus should be transformed. Thus was born the teleconference.

Our group consisted of six ministerial candidates and five love-filled experienced Pathways of Light Ministers. If you had told me a year ago that I would be joyfully participating in 24 hours of teleconferencing I would have said “not me, no way, no how.” I truly came to understand that with a quiet environment, comfortable chair and a good headset (for which I am grateful to my loving and supportive husband, Charlie) teleconferencing is a powerful way to facilitate the laying aside of the illusion of bodies and never before would I have expected to agree that technology is the way to connect with ourselves, each other and to heal the world by healing our minds.

During the teleconference I was reminded by the wise ministers in our group that when we listen to the false voice of the ego, we know nothing. Again and again I was gently guided to “go to Spirit” in all things. We were told that the right people would be attracted to us as Ministers of Light for our healing and their own. I learned to recognize a truly inspired idea sourced in Holy Spirit by the feeling of peace and lightness that accompanies it. So what will I do now?

I will give each day, each moment to God and Holy Spirit. I will pay attention to guidance in its myriad forms from my Inner Voice for God. Even since our final teleconference weekend, I am noticing at school that needed time, materials and ideas appear with no effort on my part. I can only deduce that I am spending more time in the presence of Holy Spirit who sees and responds to my every need.

In addition, I received guidance from the patient frog that awaited me on my front step when I came back from my walk inspired to write this. In Ted Andrew’s book, “Animal Wise,” I read that when a frog appears, “we should listen for new opportunities and know that our abilities to persuade and influence people to participate in new beneficial endeavors is very great right now.” I read that the frog “heralds an awakening of the unique and creative powers of our own voice.”

Twice, while riding my scooter down country roads to work, I saw a large turtle beginning or completing a road crossing. Again I read “turtles remind us that we have plenty of time to accomplish what we wish and we must not be impatient. The tortoise teaches that time is irrelevant especially when examined from the spiritual perspective.” I will pay attention to all gifts of guidance and receive them with gratitude until my entire life is lived without agenda, fear, or impatience. Finally I will continually practice putting “Peace First” in my life in all things and know that I sacrifice nothing of myself in so doing.

In “The Secret” Neal Donald Walsch, author of Conversations with God, tells us there is no blackboard in the sky upon which our purpose is recorded. He tells us that our purpose isn’t something we discover, it’s something we choose. Our purpose is what we make it. In light of my experiences of the past nine months as a student of the Pathways of Light Ordained Ministerial Counselor training, my purpose is simply to listen in stillness and serve as Holy Spirit would direct me. It’s exciting that I have no idea what lies ahead and that it need not concern me except that I respond as God would have me, from my Oneness with Light, Love and Peace. And so it is.

© 2007, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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