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October-December, 2011

What Is Guided Is Provided

by Rev. Sylvia Joy, O.M.C.

Since I was very little, my highest joy was always in singing and communing with God. I was aware that I came here to follow a path back Home and that He was leading me. Through the years I remained aware of and cherished His Presence. After many years in a very successful career as manager, I started to feel an inner calling, as if something was missing and I started to wonder what it was.

I didn’t have any idea at that time about what my purpose was, what someone’s purpose could be like, or even more, how to find purpose at all. It was just a wondering. This wondering made me uncomfortable and it wasn’t until later that I understood that what really felt uncomfortable was listening to the ego trying to tell me what to be. What was really uncomfortable was to experience life without meaning. It just wasn’t clear to me at first. All I knew was that I was willing… willing to stop and listen for directions and follow. Willing like never before!

So one day came and, talking to God, I said, “Father, if — and only if — You have a purpose for me in this life, please show it to me. I put this next year in Your Hands to show me clearly the way, for I want to work for only one Master! I realize I cannot just quit my job, because I would have no money to live on this year. I ask You instead to show me a way without financial worries and still be shown my purpose.”

Then the enterprise where I was working came to a process of fusion, and we were told by the President of the company that between the twelve managers working at the time, he needed to choose only six to continue the next year.

“The next year?” I thought. “This is it! I have a real purpose!” In trust, I took this as a “Yes” from God. I stayed in trust, waiting for everything to happen. From my trust, I could watch how everyone else was going through a lot of stress and anxiety. I could see how my trust was my invulnerability, and I was so grateful.

One and a half months later, the president of the company called me into his office and said, “Sylvia, since the beginning, your results have always been much more than what we asked of you. We really would like you to be part of the new structure of the company. More than a third of the workers in the factory are now keeping their jobs during this fusion because of the extra profit that came from your products last year. We had a great projection for you but something just happened. This morning we were informed that your counterpart is now pregnant and the law in this country protects pregnant women from being fired. We are so sorry, Sylvia, but we will continue to cover all your benefits during the next six months to a year and your severance pay is going to be the best we can offer.”

I was so grateful! I understood that I did have a purpose and I was going to be shown during that year. It was what I was asking for — to feel free to dedicate all my time to my spiritual path. I could now meditate, listen for directions and follow the inner prompts, read books, watch movies and meet teachers from different spiritual orientations but always listening within for my lessons.

My idea was to dedicate one whole year to be shown about my purpose. But the first message I was getting through everything was about peace. I didn’t know much about peace, so I wondered what peace had to do with my purpose. I really felt clueless at that time, confused and even disappointed that I was getting messages about peace instead of purpose. I laugh now as I share this part with you. So much undoing was still necessary!

The more peace I was experiencing, the more I started to value peace. Little by little, I started to notice that peace was necessary to hear to God’s Voice even clearer. He started to lead me in every move and every encounter. Everything in my life was changing.

One day, I had almost nothing left. No apartment, no car. Even some of my past relationships I used to value were left behind. It felt like I was going to be traveling, but I didn’t know where to or how I would get there. All I knew was that a year had already passed, and that the joy and peace I was experiencing was all I wanted, so I was willing to keep following.

After a very deep and powerful meditation during a retreat weekend with some friends, I discovered a book called A Course in Miracles. I was in the back seat of a car and there we were — this book and me. I took it, closed my eyes, asked my Inner Guidance for help and let my fingers be guided. I opened the book and read: “God is Love.” I closed my eyes again, asked and let my fingers be guided. I opened the book for the second time: “God’s Will for you is Perfect Happiness.” That was enough to know that this encounter was guided.

The very next week, I went to a conference and met an ACIM Teacher from the United States and received guidance to come to his retreat house. I embraced a very practical retreat for myself to listen within. I was mostly by myself, watching my mind day and night for three months, carefully and consistently releasing every thought and belief that I found menacing my cherished state of peace and joy and Love.

Three months later, Jesus said to me, “Now go out and follow me. This way is inspired and is meant to be inspiring, so just keep it that way for yourself. Just keep the house clean, keep your mind at peace. Now that you see the value of a clean house, it will be easier for you to keep it clean.”

Very soon after, I was guided to Pathways of Light and I am now very proudly one of its ministers. I did not choose POL, it was completely guided. I often say that to teach how to listen to God within is to teach how to fish instead of giving the fish. In this I find myself feeling really helpful. Thank you Pathways of Light.

I have learned to listen and follow His Voice by doing it, and this is all I have to do to be helpful: To remind you now to choose peace first and then be willing to listen and follow your Inner Guidance in trust and gratitude, and to remind you that your happiness is your own choice and that you can only choose to be happy now.

When you are aware of what it is that you really want, you can see everything that interferes with it and let it go. Meditation is a great tool to help you become more aware of your purpose. Meditate, for example, on the purpose of water for the planet; meditate on how clear the purpose of water is for the planet. Then resting in the feelings of gratitude and joy that come with the clarity of purpose, ask yourself what your purpose is. What is it that you really want? What is it that brings you real happiness? Then write down whatever comes to you without judging it. Trust everything is connected because everything is reflecting the same truth. Be gentle with yourself in becoming more and more clear, but be consistent in going deeper.

Literally, life is not made by a series of casual events where things seem to happen to us. It is not the result of millions of wills interacting in conflict to access a limited source of means. Life is forever, intelligent and perfect. When you were created, your purpose was given to you along with the way to fulfill it, divinely provided. Your real joy lies in living life aware of your purpose and being consistent with it.

Just like giving and receiving are one, trust and Divine Providence are one. Trust and Divine Providence are one in gratitude! When there is gratitude there cannot be worries. You cannot be grateful and worry at the same time. So in the now, worrying can simply be seen as lack of gratitude. In trust there is gratitude, for you are aware that you are divinely provided for and that is all already given.

Awakening is divinely provided. It was given to you from the beginning of time. All you have to do is accept it! Accept that God’s Will for you is perfect happiness now, and place the future in God’s Hands.

What is guided is provided! Your trust lies in knowing this. Just be willing and consistent in listening to and following the peace, Love and joy within. Release the fear. Trust! You are never alone…

© 2011, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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