Miracles News

January-March, 2021

Soul Nectar

by Rev. Mary Lenihan, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

Ever since a hummingbird and I had a mutual exchange of souls as I stood praying in the meditation garden outside St. Mary’s while my mom’s soul was moving towards full transparency; ever since, I have been communicating with my soul. Two weeks after the fluttering wings of the hummingbird danced Infinity upon my forehead, I received the meaning of this encounter and clear direction in these words, “to companion souls.” That answered an eternal question I had asked over many days and many of nights. Pouring myself out to the Holy Spirit, waiting upon Spirit to pour upon me.

I stepped outdoors for a walk muttering the words in my mind, “Soul, I want to connect with you.” The word soul does something for me. I am opened, drawn more inward, deeper, while the expansiveness lures me to envision what I otherwise would not see.

The Course doesn’t use the word “soul.” “The term “soul” is not used except in direct biblical quotations because of its highly controversial nature. It would, however, be an equivalent of “spirit,” with the understanding that, being of God, it is eternal and was never born.” (ACIM, Clarification of Terms) I can see that, but for me to call upon my soul is without the constriction of dogmatic walls. I have always been able, since a child sitting in the pew, to see beyond the traditional definitions, meanings, and understanding of “religious” words.

This walk had a purpose. Two questions are repetitively being asked of me by well-meaning people. Not having answers to these questions leaves me feeling hanging in midair, quite like the hummingbird. Hmm. Hummingbirds are said to pause in mid-flight to drink the sweet nectar from the flower. I suppose this is what I am doing in conversations with my soul~flower, consuming God’s sweet nectar.

Over many years several people have asked me in regard to our nonprofit, Pause For Inspiration. “Who is your target audience”? I have always thought, “What is it with this target audience business”? To which others will say, “Oh, you have to have a target audience, that’s how marketing works.” Hmm. Firstly, I have never been interested in marketing Pause or myself. I am willing to share my experiences of applying The Pause Practices with everyday life stuff, hopefully encouraging others to give it a whirl and experience it for themselves.

The purpose of Pause was to “Inspire the dispirited.” Pause is a simple blessing I received from Inner Inspiration. I trust Wisdom Within will provide the vision, arrange all encounters, and give me all I need to do my part in it. Let me tell you this, the way I see, and experience Pause, in NO WAY fits into the world’s ideas of “vision.”

Somewhat adrift with my soul, I ask these two questions. After all, who could answer these two questions better than who I am as God created me? As I walk with my soul, I am aware that I am remembering something. My soul is helping me to remember. The following communication ensues:

Soul: Mary, Pause is helping the whole world in ways seen and unseen. And as you accept your part in God’s plan for salvation, you will be doing your part in the world. Your cooperation on this side of the veil is essential. As you accept your part in God’s plan for salvation, that is cooperating.

Mary: I realize that my soul has relayed an ACIM lesson to me; “My part is essential in God’s plan for salvation.” (Lesson 98) Hmm, my soul knows the Course! And one of my favorite lessons. I look forward to opening the Course and practicing the lesson when I get home from walking. I feel immensely relieved. Since childhood I have been wanting to do my part, to know that I even had a part. Hoping for God’s sake that I did because otherwise, what was I doing here?

Acceptance brings with it no need to continue struggling with these ominous questions about Pause. No need to feel shame, that something is wrong with me because I can’t seem to focus on a target audience or conjure up a vanishing vision for Pause.

And the repetitive thoughts about “Am I doing my part? Is there something else I should be doing? What is my part?” can stop harassing me because I choose to hear another Voice, the Voice that was sent to speak for the Unspeakable.

I can stop feeling like a failure because I don’t have a business plan for something wonderful that was given me by a Mind so complete, an Insider LOVE, a LOVE that loves me; a LOVE who’s business plan is a healed mind, whose currency is forgiveness, and whose revenue is giving.

Now, I am clear that as long as I accept my part in God’s plan for salvation, I will be doing my part. The acceptance of my part is the fulfillment of my part because LOVE is the Great Fulfiller. How cool is that?

Soul: Whew!

Mary: I began to laugh because it is all so simple. “They will see their function in your shining face, and hear God calling to them in your happy laugh.” (W.98) So, there you have it, our part. A shining face, a happy laugh, an embodiment of God’s calling to those longing to know their part, so they can once again be fulfilled. And, yes, an embodiment! The body has this glorious role as a vehicle of Inspiration’s communication that gives fulfillment. And so, I do not deny the body, yet I don’t identify myself as a body either. “Give me your face” says the Great Fulfiller. “Give me your laugh. Give me your tears. Give me your eyes. Give me every word that enters your consciousness, and I will give you back the Word in their place.”

Oh, how easy You make this sound. So mathematical. Give me this and I will give you that. “Holy Spirit, give me the how.”

HS: When you judge people, you disrespect your Self. Self-respect is something I can give you; others cannot. Lack of respect for your soul and the communication it is constantly sharing within you, causes deep pain and inner conflict. You are at war with yourself. Self-acceptance is not surrender. It is the end of suffering. Acceptance of Self is the end of self-conflict, the war with yourself. There is no conflict, Mary. With whom would LOVE provoke a war? Let LOVE ~ love you.

HS: Stop judging the self, in you and everyone else.

Mary: But HOW do I stop judging the self? Show me —

HS: I will show you. As you live your life, ask me all throughout the day, this question, “Holy Spirit, SHOW me how to accept my Self, in this moment?” And I will SHOW you. I will be a living, visual demonstration of the Word. Watch me, and follow.

Mary: Okay. I can do that, beginning now.

Mary: At that moment, my ACIM hourly lesson bell went off. It was Lesson 100, “My part is essential in God’s plan for salvation.” Hmm. Then I received the answers to those two annoying questions about the Pause target audience and vision in words the world seems to need right now! I saw the yellow book in my mind and the words I first heard when Pause showed up in October 2008.

“Someone needs to help these people. They need training on how to be helpful. We are all one another’s customers in this world. We are here to provide one another with supreme customer service — to be truly helpful. I am your customer. You are my customer. . . This is for the WHOLE WORLD.” (There’s the target audience!)

Then I saw the vision:

The Pause Vision is a simple one brought to life through Your Helpful Self.

Use these Pause Practices to meet Your Helpful Self and experience that it is in your shining face, your happy laugh, your voice, your hands, your feet, that LOVE ~ loves. Let LOVE ~ love you. Let LOVE ~ love everyone. Set your heart and mind at ease. Everyone is waiting to be truly loved. Pause is a Present Hope because of you.

Rev. Mary Lenihan, O.M.C., is a Pathways of Light minister living in St. Louis, MO.
She is Co-founder and Co-creator of www.pauseforinspiration.org
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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