Thoughts That Illuminate
Legend has it that when Einstein was asked by a reporter: "What, in your opinion is the most important question
you can ask?" Einstein thought for a bit then replied, "I think the most important question that you can ask is, 'Is the
universe a friendly place?' This is the first and most basic question all people must answer for themselves” Why is
this most important question to ask? Because what you believe about the universe (is it friendly or unfriendly) will
determine what kind of universe it is for you. We can find this answer written in ACIM; “Every thought you have
either brings peace or war; either love or fear.” (W.#16.3:1)
This idea that our minds are powerful and how we direct our minds determines our experience is an old idea that
is gaining new attention. In the Gospel of Thomas it is written: (106) Jesus said, "When you make the two
(thoughts and experience) one, you will become the sons of man, and when you say, 'Mountain, move away,' it will
move away." In modern science we see it expressed this way: “Belief is the “program’ that creates patterns in
reality.” (Gregg Braden) or “The universe may be nothing more than a giant hologram created by the mind." (David
Bohm, physicist). What is the guiding force in all that we see and experience? It is our choice in what we believe
(think). Recently I saw the movie “The Soloist”.
Before I became a mom, I must confess that I bought hook-line-and sinker, societies definition of motherhood…
We give birth, tend to the child’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs, teach them about the world, and in return
the child responds with smiles, laughter, love and obedience. The goal of motherhood is realized when they
become a loving, responsible, contributing member of society. It seemed so simple and straightforward. That is
until I became a mom. As many young mothers I often struggled with the “right answer”, felt completely “out of my
league” and had gone to bed many nights feeling like a complete failure. How many of us feel as if we have been
put in the driver’s seat of our kid’s lives without so much as a map, a GPS system or an On-Star with a nice calm
voice that will tell us exactly what to do in all emergency situations?
Over the past month or so I have been uncovering a deep-seeded belief in failure. Although I saw how this
transferred into many experiences of my life, I was lead to see that ultimately the deeply-rooted belief that was
blocking healing was my belief that after all of this spiritual work, in the end I am going to fail. Maybe some of you
have had this same belief or ones similar: “I will never get this”, “I don’t have a clue what I’m doing”, “and I will fail to
wake up”. If you have been here, you can attest to the complete devastation that comes when believing these
thoughts. As convincing as these thoughts are, do not believe them! For you are closer than you think to the
acceptance of truth. We can see this in the intensity in which the ego is coming out in full-force to save its life! I
would like to share with you how the Holy Spirit guided me to let go of this idea of failure, in hopes that you too will
see that you cannot fail to make the final choice to recognize the truth of Who you are.It all began one evening while
watching a scene in the movie “I Heart Huckabees”.
| By My Thoughts I Suffer: |
| What is Motherhood? Turning the definition right-side up |
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| You Cannot Fail |
Have you ever seen a “Magic Eye” book? At first glance each page appears to be a pattern of shapes and colors. If
someone did not tell you there was something else to see you most likely would look at the page and say, “So
what? It’s a bunch of colors and shapes on a page.” You are asked to look again but this time with the
understanding there is something else to see. As you relax your focus and open up your mind, out pops a whole
3-D picture! It’s amazing to experience the sudden shift in what you are seeing. This book illustrates an important
teaching from ACIM on perception. We are walking around looking at a flat page of colors and shapes thinking that
is all there is to see. The whole time we are seeing this world there is a whole 3-D world just waiting to be
discovered. This 3-D world is what the Course refers to as the Real world. If we choose to “see” the Real world we
will be walking around saying, “What loveliness (I) look upon today! What holiness (I) see surrounding (me)!” “All
things are at peace” (W.#291.1:4) In any given situation we can ask ourselves this: are we seeing a flat page of
colors and shapes or are we seeing the 3-D picture full of love, holiness and peace?
someone did not tell you there was something else to see you most likely would look at the page and say, “So
what? It’s a bunch of colors and shapes on a page.” You are asked to look again but this time with the
understanding there is something else to see. As you relax your focus and open up your mind, out pops a whole
3-D picture! It’s amazing to experience the sudden shift in what you are seeing. This book illustrates an important
teaching from ACIM on perception. We are walking around looking at a flat page of colors and shapes thinking that
is all there is to see. The whole time we are seeing this world there is a whole 3-D world just waiting to be
discovered. This 3-D world is what the Course refers to as the Real world. If we choose to “see” the Real world we
will be walking around saying, “What loveliness (I) look upon today! What holiness (I) see surrounding (me)!” “All
things are at peace” (W.#291.1:4) In any given situation we can ask ourselves this: are we seeing a flat page of
colors and shapes or are we seeing the 3-D picture full of love, holiness and peace?
| I Can't Believe There is Another Way to See This! |
One day I was having a conversation with a very close friend. I don’t remember the specifics but I do remember that
as we were talking I became increasingly disturbed. I could have sworn that she was attacking my position on
something, accusing me of not being right, and overall not caring about what I thought. The conversation was so
unsettling that I made up an excuse to leave. I returned home and asked the Holy Spirit for relief from the pain and
suffering I experienced while being with my friend. I was reminded of the Course teaching in lesson #15; “what I
think I “see” is an image I have made from my thoughts.” In the situation with my friend this idea seemed to hard to
grasp….only imaginings? I am suffering only from my thoughts that are making images? The pain and suffering
from the conversation seemed to be coming from her and not from my thoughts! I have developed a trust that the
Course’s teachings if applied will bring me to peace so I asked the Holy Spirit for help in understanding how this
could be true.
as we were talking I became increasingly disturbed. I could have sworn that she was attacking my position on
something, accusing me of not being right, and overall not caring about what I thought. The conversation was so
unsettling that I made up an excuse to leave. I returned home and asked the Holy Spirit for relief from the pain and
suffering I experienced while being with my friend. I was reminded of the Course teaching in lesson #15; “what I
think I “see” is an image I have made from my thoughts.” In the situation with my friend this idea seemed to hard to
grasp….only imaginings? I am suffering only from my thoughts that are making images? The pain and suffering
from the conversation seemed to be coming from her and not from my thoughts! I have developed a trust that the
Course’s teachings if applied will bring me to peace so I asked the Holy Spirit for help in understanding how this
could be true.
| It’s All Our Imagination |
I was raising children in the 90’s. In this decade you couldn’t go to a play group, social gathering, grocery store or
public place where you didn’t hear a mom say at least once to their kids: “Do you have your listening ears on?” It
wasn’t too long before I discovered why this was such a popular question. I began to notice that even though it
appeared as if they were listening they often were distracted by their own thoughts and not really hearing the
message I was trying to convey. Once I realized this I adopted “Do you have your listening ears on?” as my favorite
words in the English language. How does the idea of being a good listener relate to our spiritual journey? The
Course teaches that we have two voices that we listen to. One is the voice of the ego and one, the Voice for God or
the Holy Spirit. So often Course students talk about how loud the ego is and how it seems that when we ask to
hear the Holy Spirit we just can’t. As usual Course instruction always leads us back to the idea that we are the one
making the choice. If we are not hearing it is because we do not want to pay attention. Are we at times like the
children who appear to be listening but are distracted by our own thinking and desire to hear the ego instead?
public place where you didn’t hear a mom say at least once to their kids: “Do you have your listening ears on?” It
wasn’t too long before I discovered why this was such a popular question. I began to notice that even though it
appeared as if they were listening they often were distracted by their own thoughts and not really hearing the
message I was trying to convey. Once I realized this I adopted “Do you have your listening ears on?” as my favorite
words in the English language. How does the idea of being a good listener relate to our spiritual journey? The
Course teaches that we have two voices that we listen to. One is the voice of the ego and one, the Voice for God or
the Holy Spirit. So often Course students talk about how loud the ego is and how it seems that when we ask to
hear the Holy Spirit we just can’t. As usual Course instruction always leads us back to the idea that we are the one
making the choice. If we are not hearing it is because we do not want to pay attention. Are we at times like the
children who appear to be listening but are distracted by our own thinking and desire to hear the ego instead?
| “Do You Have Your Listening Ears On?” |
Yesterday my family heard what appears to be devastating news. The news involved a young man, a heart, a virus
attack, a loss of income, loss of normalcy, and possible loss of life. As I heard the news I became increasingly
aware of a shift of my inner state. Just moments before and for days previous, I had experienced unwavering
peace, and seconds later after hearing the news I felt rattled, unnerved, anxious and fearful. From my past learning
I knew the change from peace to fear came about, not from the news itself but from my belief in what my body’s
eyes and ears were reporting. My decision to rest my “eyes” on the form of a man, a heart, a virus and death and
then judge it as very real and very true was the cause of my suffering. Although I have learned this in the past with
my work with A Course In Miracles, in this situation it did seem very real and very true. Going to bed last night I
asked the Holy Spirit to teach me about how to deny the false and accept the true even in the midst of something as
seemingly real as a heart condition and possible death.
attack, a loss of income, loss of normalcy, and possible loss of life. As I heard the news I became increasingly
aware of a shift of my inner state. Just moments before and for days previous, I had experienced unwavering
peace, and seconds later after hearing the news I felt rattled, unnerved, anxious and fearful. From my past learning
I knew the change from peace to fear came about, not from the news itself but from my belief in what my body’s
eyes and ears were reporting. My decision to rest my “eyes” on the form of a man, a heart, a virus and death and
then judge it as very real and very true was the cause of my suffering. Although I have learned this in the past with
my work with A Course In Miracles, in this situation it did seem very real and very true. Going to bed last night I
asked the Holy Spirit to teach me about how to deny the false and accept the true even in the midst of something as
seemingly real as a heart condition and possible death.
| Make Room for the Miracle |
The word “story” is defined as “a narrative tale; true or fictitious, that is meant to report or give an account of the
matter.” What is the narrative tale of your life? It’s easy to find out. Simply ask someone you trust “what is the
statement I most often use when talking about a person, event or situation in my life?” Or maybe you have gained
enough awareness to do a mental review of your thoughts when dealing with an experience in you life. The
narrative that goes on in your own mind will give you enough information to see what your story is. For me, just a
quick look at my past journals will reveal the story of my life; I had reported in my written venting how “no one
supports me emotionally”, “I’m always having to take care of the emotional needs or other”, “People don’t
appreciate what I do for them”, “Others can’t be trusted to care for me”. What are your stories? Maybe you feel you
have to do it alone, or others always take advantage of you, or you have to work hard to have the things you need.
Where did these stories come from?
matter.” What is the narrative tale of your life? It’s easy to find out. Simply ask someone you trust “what is the
statement I most often use when talking about a person, event or situation in my life?” Or maybe you have gained
enough awareness to do a mental review of your thoughts when dealing with an experience in you life. The
narrative that goes on in your own mind will give you enough information to see what your story is. For me, just a
quick look at my past journals will reveal the story of my life; I had reported in my written venting how “no one
supports me emotionally”, “I’m always having to take care of the emotional needs or other”, “People don’t
appreciate what I do for them”, “Others can’t be trusted to care for me”. What are your stories? Maybe you feel you
have to do it alone, or others always take advantage of you, or you have to work hard to have the things you need.
Where did these stories come from?
| It’s My Story and I’m Sticking To It |
Yesterday was “one of those days”. A day where sadness slowly creped into my awareness and a large gloomy
cloud seemed to be hovering over me. I did notice early on in the day there was a slight problem but as the day
went on it began to gain momentum as my thoughts traveled even further into the dark. I wondered where these
thoughts were coming from, what did it mean in terms of healing, and how could I release these thoughts that were
the cause of my despair? After I had spent much of my quiet time in this way, all of a sudden it dawned on me that
even though I was looking at my problems from a spiritual perspective, I was still “thinking” about my problem and
trying to solve it myself. And we all know what that means…..I had tried to solve the problem with the ego (the ego is
the belief I am an individual self that can solve my own problems). After realizing this I invited the Holy Spirit into my
awareness to help me solve this problem of my despair.
cloud seemed to be hovering over me. I did notice early on in the day there was a slight problem but as the day
went on it began to gain momentum as my thoughts traveled even further into the dark. I wondered where these
thoughts were coming from, what did it mean in terms of healing, and how could I release these thoughts that were
the cause of my despair? After I had spent much of my quiet time in this way, all of a sudden it dawned on me that
even though I was looking at my problems from a spiritual perspective, I was still “thinking” about my problem and
trying to solve it myself. And we all know what that means…..I had tried to solve the problem with the ego (the ego is
the belief I am an individual self that can solve my own problems). After realizing this I invited the Holy Spirit into my
awareness to help me solve this problem of my despair.
| Who Ya Gonna Call? |
Many years ago I had become frustrated and unhappy with my life. I had spent years trying to teach others how to
behave toward me, how they could change to better our relationship and taught myself how to be resilient to life’s
many challenges. After years of this “learning” I found myself feeling hopeless that I would ever find the magic key
that would change others or make the outside world meet my need for happiness and peace. Seeking a new
direction to go, now that I had dried up all of my own resources, I entered into a counseling relationship. During a
session there was a pivotal moment that would forever change my life. Up until this moment, I believed I could only
be free; happy and at peace when others responded or behaved in a certain way; when nothing serious was going
on, or my day went smoothly without mishaps or uncomfortable feelings. After years of living this way, I had a
sudden epiphany in the counselor’s office that day. This never works!
behave toward me, how they could change to better our relationship and taught myself how to be resilient to life’s
many challenges. After years of this “learning” I found myself feeling hopeless that I would ever find the magic key
that would change others or make the outside world meet my need for happiness and peace. Seeking a new
direction to go, now that I had dried up all of my own resources, I entered into a counseling relationship. During a
session there was a pivotal moment that would forever change my life. Up until this moment, I believed I could only
be free; happy and at peace when others responded or behaved in a certain way; when nothing serious was going
on, or my day went smoothly without mishaps or uncomfortable feelings. After years of living this way, I had a
sudden epiphany in the counselor’s office that day. This never works!
| Let Freedom Ring |
In my last posting I wrote about the moment in my life when my spiritual journey began; when I focused my
attention away from the world and toward the healing of my mind. This change in direction rang the bell for
freedom and with this action; I entered a new school of learning. This new school is not the “hard knocks” school
where we learn how to survive when the world keeps beating us down but rather a school whose curriculum is to
teach us about our Self. It seems a bit silly doesn’t it, that we need to go to school to learn about our self? But we
do!
attention away from the world and toward the healing of my mind. This change in direction rang the bell for
freedom and with this action; I entered a new school of learning. This new school is not the “hard knocks” school
where we learn how to survive when the world keeps beating us down but rather a school whose curriculum is to
teach us about our Self. It seems a bit silly doesn’t it, that we need to go to school to learn about our self? But we
do!
| Class Has Begun Please Take Your Seat |
A while ago my family had an experience of lice. As I went into combat against the invisible enemy that had invaded
my home I was aware of the terror that flooded my mind. Then it happened. What is “it”? “IT’” is the multitude of
“fear and attack” events that follow after the initial one. Following this one event I then experienced a potential loss
of insurance, neighbors attacking from both sides, seeing unloving behavior in my relationships etc. It felt as if I
slipped on a rock by going into fear with the lice, only to fall head-first into the abyss of problems. Has “IT” ever
happened to you? You’re going along maintaining an inner state of balance and peace and one event comes
along to disturb you. This seems to trigger an avalanche of subsequent experiences that buries you and darkens
your world.
my home I was aware of the terror that flooded my mind. Then it happened. What is “it”? “IT’” is the multitude of
“fear and attack” events that follow after the initial one. Following this one event I then experienced a potential loss
of insurance, neighbors attacking from both sides, seeing unloving behavior in my relationships etc. It felt as if I
slipped on a rock by going into fear with the lice, only to fall head-first into the abyss of problems. Has “IT” ever
happened to you? You’re going along maintaining an inner state of balance and peace and one event comes
along to disturb you. This seems to trigger an avalanche of subsequent experiences that buries you and darkens
your world.
| “I Can See Clearly Now” |
I spent the early years as a Course student diligently practicing the Workbook lessons and reading the Text. An
interesting thing happened along the way. The more I immersed myself in my study and practice, the deeper I
seemed to reflect on the inner meaning of the words. It suddenly became clear to me how radical the Course’s
teachings were. I remember my brother saying to me after going through the workbook again; “Do you realize what
this is saying???!” I answered with a smile, “Yes, its pretty radical isn’t it?” What do we mean by “radical” in this
context? It means the Course’s teachings go completely against what the world teaches. We have spent lifetimes
learning how to stand up for ourselves, set our boundaries, fight back, perform good deeds in an effort to be a
“good” person, sacrifice for others, and suffer in order to be close to God. We have learned how to fix the world by
saving the environment, saving the whales, feeling someone else’s pain to show compassion -- I could go on and
on. There comes a time during a student’s life, when they realize that everything they have learned from the world is
in direct contrast to what they are leaning from A Course in Miracles. This is when they begin to see just how radical
the Course is. I smiled hearing my brother’s realization, but there was a time when the radical teachings of A
Course in Miracles brought terror to my mind.
interesting thing happened along the way. The more I immersed myself in my study and practice, the deeper I
seemed to reflect on the inner meaning of the words. It suddenly became clear to me how radical the Course’s
teachings were. I remember my brother saying to me after going through the workbook again; “Do you realize what
this is saying???!” I answered with a smile, “Yes, its pretty radical isn’t it?” What do we mean by “radical” in this
context? It means the Course’s teachings go completely against what the world teaches. We have spent lifetimes
learning how to stand up for ourselves, set our boundaries, fight back, perform good deeds in an effort to be a
“good” person, sacrifice for others, and suffer in order to be close to God. We have learned how to fix the world by
saving the environment, saving the whales, feeling someone else’s pain to show compassion -- I could go on and
on. There comes a time during a student’s life, when they realize that everything they have learned from the world is
in direct contrast to what they are leaning from A Course in Miracles. This is when they begin to see just how radical
the Course is. I smiled hearing my brother’s realization, but there was a time when the radical teachings of A
Course in Miracles brought terror to my mind.
| “It’s So Radical !” |
As we look on the events happening in Haiti many Course students wonder how they can respond to the situation,
while staying true to the teachings of the Course. We have a tendency to think that our response is an either/or
choice. Either join with the belief that this is a tragedy; that the pain and suffering is very real and then rush to help
or sit back and say “it’s all an illusion” and do nothing believing that if we did respond we would be reinforcing the
illusion and that would not be helpful. Is it an either/or choice or is there a way to respond to the needs of the
people of Haiti without reinforcing the reality of the illusion? I have outlined 3 teachings from the Course that I hope
with help you discern as A Course in Miracles student how to look at and respond to this situation.
while staying true to the teachings of the Course. We have a tendency to think that our response is an either/or
choice. Either join with the belief that this is a tragedy; that the pain and suffering is very real and then rush to help
or sit back and say “it’s all an illusion” and do nothing believing that if we did respond we would be reinforcing the
illusion and that would not be helpful. Is it an either/or choice or is there a way to respond to the needs of the
people of Haiti without reinforcing the reality of the illusion? I have outlined 3 teachings from the Course that I hope
with help you discern as A Course in Miracles student how to look at and respond to this situation.
| A Course in Miracles Response to Haiti |
A Course in Miracles gives a reinterpretation of many of our celebrated holidays. Click on the link below for audio
links and writings on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, Lent, Easter, and Mother's Day.
links and writings on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, Lent, Easter, and Mother's Day.
| Holiday Messages |