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July-September, 2012

Teacher and the Learner: Serving as a Pathways Facilitator

by Rev. Larry Glenz, O.M.C.

I have learned from my study of A Course in Miracles “that to teach is to learn, so that teacher and learner are the same.”

I have been having a powerful experience from serving as a facilitator in the Ministerial Curriculum. Five years ago while studying these courses for ordination as a Pathways minister, I was consumed with the peril of my son Kevin’s drug addiction. Now I am reading my answers from that time and sharing them with my “student” Mike. More than two years after Kevin’s death, I realize how clearly I was being guided by Spirit and was being prepared to see the tragic results with a different vision. I was learning the power of true forgiveness.

A father/son relationship could be considered a classic “special relationship” by Course teachers/students. Resentments and grievances abound when one or both of the men involved see the other as not fulfilling his contract as father or son. Fear of disappointing the other leads to conflict, anger, and feelings of guilt. Projection causes perception and I projected enormous fear.

While Kevin struggled as an opiate addict, I was engaged in a mind-training process with my inner Guide through the Pathways courses. I was being guided through each course by reading the literature, listening to guided meditations, and answering questions on how these metaphysical concepts applied to my life. I was being trained in how to turn to Spirit, my Higher Power, to see the true innocence of my son despite his aberrant behavior as a heroin addict. But this understanding of his true innocence as a perfect Child of God was not coming easily for me during that period.

When meeting recently by phone with my student/teacher, Mike, we shared our answers to the questions and our comments on the processes from a ministerial course. I was actually reading Holy Spirit’s advice to me written by my own hand about reacting to Kevin. I did not realize that I was being spiritually strengthened for the hard road ahead. My role and Mike’s as teacher/learner or facilitator/student seem to reverse at times or they blend together so they are indistinguishable. This is the same with Sharyn Zenz, who serves as my facilitator for Miracles Practitioner Courses. We are mind healing partners; both of us are the teacher and the learner.

A student of A Course in Miracles sees the world as a classroom. Sometimes I see it as a weight room or a gym. I have to do the work to get spiritually stronger and more flexible. Repetition is effective in mind healing. I need to keep practicing in order to advance to higher levels. My role as a course facilitator and spiritual counselor is helping me to build mind healing strength and flexibility.

Practicing with a mind healing partner helps with Self revelation. It takes me deeper. It is the entrance to a holy encounter. The more I practice these concepts with a brother, the healthier my thinking becomes. These healing thoughts bring me a happier dream. I am able to receive and extend love more consistently. I am more able to let go of the darkness of my dream and to still keep all Kevin’s love in my heart. Certainly this is no small gift.

I give much credit to the process of serving as a facilitator for helping me to deal with great tragedy. I feel gratitude for the strength that has been the effect of this process. I am more ready to pause, step back, step aside, and let Inspiration guide. The result is healing. I feel the emotion of gratitude and I want to share it with my brothers. My experience confirms that the teacher and the learner are the same.

© 2012, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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