Miracles News

October-December, 2007

Allowing A Time of Quiet

by Mary Stoelting

When I do not feel relaxed and in a state of peaceful calm, I have a way to change this when I am willing. The Course reminds me in Lesson 189: “Simply do this: Be still, and lay aside all thoughts of what you are and what God is; all concepts you have learned about the world; all images you hold about yourself. Empty your mind of everything it thinks is either true or false, or good or bad, of every thought it judges worthy, and all the ideas of which it is ashemed. Hold onto nothing.” W-189.7:1-3

The sounds and sights of the world seem so appealing and demanding at times. It appears as though I am not doing my job unless I am constantly attending to the ‘things that come up’ in a steady stream that seem to demand my attention.

When I ask Spirit for help in returning to the peace that I know is so important to receiving clarity and understanding, I am reminded that the world will present an unending series of ‘problems’ and ‘challenges’ that disturb my being in a place of peace unless I am willing to disengage from joining with the ego thought system. Looking out through the body’s eyes and making what I see real is joining with the ego thought system — which has one intent — making separation from God’s oneness real.

The only way out of this ongoing cycle of self crucifixion is to stop and get off the ego’s bus that leads straight to forgetting What I am and Where I am in truth.

The way to get off the ego’s bus for me is to allow a time of quiet… allow an open space in my mind for peace to enter.

If I sincerely want God’s peace, I will make way for it in my mind. This is the Holy Spirit’s use for time — bridging me back to peace, where I will receive a miracle — a correction in the way I am seeing the world.

Sometimes it takes a while for all the busy thoughts of the world to stop. For this to happen in my mind, I must be willing to observe the thoughts that come up and hand them over to the Holy Spirit, no matter how important they seem to be in the moment. I would not keep them. I would not continue giving them residence in my mind. To help with this, sometimes I see these thoughts going into Holy Spirit’s Light to be purified.

As I hold fast to my one intent of handing over every thought that comes up to the Holy Spirit, my level of peace gradually gets stronger and finally fills every corner. Here I find quiet. Here I find peace. Here I find the gentleness and comfort of the Holy Spirit’s gift of Christ’s vision.

In Lesson 159 of the Course, I recently read, “Christ’s vision is the bridge between the worlds. And in its power can you safely trust to carry you from this world into one made holy by forgiveness. Things which seem quite solid here are merely shadows there; transparent, faintly seen, at times forgot, and never able to obscure the light that shines beyond them. Holiness has been restored to vision, and the blind can see.

“This is the Holy Spirit’s single gift; the treasure house to which you can appeal with perfect certainty for all the things that can contribute to your happiness. All are laid here already. All can be received but for the asking. Here the door is never locked, and no one is denied his request or his most urgent need. There is no sickness not already healed, no lack unsatisfied, no need unmet within this golden treasury of Christ.” W-159.5-6

Is this not worth a little of my time? Sometimes I wonder why it takes me so long to sit down and, in quiet, receive the Holy Spirit’s gifts. I have to ask myself what I am valuing more, Holy Spirit’s insight, or the ego’s constant stream of problems that are clamoring for my attention.

Each time I allow a time of quiet listening I am renewed and energized by the treasure house that resides right in my mind when I take the time in quiet listening.

In Lesson 159 I am reminded, “Behold the store of miracles set out for you to give. Are you not worth the gift, when God appointed it be given you? Judge not God’s Son, but follow in the way He has established. Christ has dreamed the dream of a forgiven world. It is His gift, whereby a sweet transition can be made from death to life; from hopelessness to hope. Let us an instant dream with Him. His dream awakens us to truth. His vision gives the means for a return to our unlost and everlasting sanctity in God.” W-159.10

I am in the ‘time’ of transitioning from death to life. This is now what time is for. Will I take the time to receive the gift of Christ’s vision? I am saying ‘yes’ to this question whenever I allow a time of quiet listening to receive Holy Spirit’s single gift of Christ’s vision.

All that I need comes quietly into my awareness. I see that all my needs are met now. I remember What I am and Where I am in truth.

Mary Stoelting is co-founer with Robert Stoelting of Pathways of Light. They live at the Pathways of Light Center in Kiel, Wisconsin.

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