Miracles News
Spring 2004

Highlighted Minister - Rev. Marshall Spall

We recently received an inspiring and enthusiastic communication from Marshall Spall, a Pathways minister who lives in Saskatchewan, Canada. Below he honestly shares with us the importance of his learning to let go of his willfulness and accepting Holy Spirit’s miracles by not deciding what anything means on his own. We thank Marshall for this helpful message that is important to us all.

I have been making incredible leaps and bounds with my understanding of A Course in Miracles. There was a time when all I really wanted was just to feel better about my life, which I felt was pretty bad. Heck, lets face it, I had some really hard breaks in my life and had used that to further gain support from individuals that would buy into my “dream of self victimization.” This went on for quite some time — quite some time.

I do not know when it came about but what happened was the realization that the Course was really telling us that there is nothing to run away from. By being with the pain and experiencing it without giving my answer to try to solve the pain, and letting go of practicing willfulness, my mind was able to enter the miracle ready state.

My painful situations have become an opportunity in learning how not to practice self autonomy so that the natural occurrence of the miracle can cause a shift in my consciousness and what I thought before is gone.

I do not think it was by chance it was named A Course in Miracles, but more importantly, A Course in Miracles is a course in learning how to be in the miracle-ready state of mind and that is all that is needed for the miracle to occur.

Now I have learned to step back and ask my Father for a new way to see the things that I feel pain over. I wait in quiet expectancy for my Father’s answer — not as I would have it be according to the way I think would answer my pain, but in the acceptance that I do not know what I am going to do in the situation.

In effect I am abandoning my plan and relinquishing my willfulness. The miracle then occurs for me. I have found that the absence of willfulness is the prerequisite for the miracle-minded state of being that allows for the manifestation of the miracle to occur.

My will was to run away from my problems or pain through trying to define the problem and answer. And here all this time the answer was the miracle.

Rev. Marshall Spall is a Pathways of Light minister living in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Email: marshallspall@sasktel.net

Hitting the Wall

by Rev. Deb Frantz

How many times have we “hit the wall” in our spiritual growth? We have feelings of depression, anxiety, fear, worry, sadness and even physical ailments. Somehow we know that we are close to a major healing, and yet somehow we shy away from it. The healing would bring us peace but somehow we are convinced that it would bring us more pain and agony. It seems easier to run away from further spiritual growth. We use various tactics to get away from our growth. For instance, we make excuses for why we do not practice the Workbook Lessons, or even use the weather as an excuse not to join with others in Course study.

I can hear all of those now because I have used them myself, so that is how I know. I used to be very anal about starting the lessons on January 1st and continuing throughout the 365 days. If I missed a lesson, then I was done for the year. My ego then termed me as a “failure” for that year. I, of course, learned later to just brush my little ego off and pick myself up into the lessons.

And what about joining with others for healing, “Oh well,” you may say to yourself, “I have missed so much already, why bother? I’d be so far behind.” I have a little secret for you. The Course tends to repeat itself over and over until we finally are illuminated. You can jump in at any point, just be open and willing to listen and you will receive what you need at the given time.

“Brother, we heal together as we live together and love together.” (T-11.VIII.11:4)

When we get to the blockage, we attempt to go around it, or under it, or over it. What we really need to do is go through it. Take the Holy Spirit with you and go through it all. Here’s a reminder from my favorite quote:

“I am responsible for what I see. I choose the feelings I experience, and I decide upon the goal I would achieve. And everything that seems to happen to me I ask for, and receive as I have asked.” (T-21.II.2)

That is a real hard lesson to learn, that we are responsible for everything that has manifested in our lives. We have somehow put our intention of unloving thoughts out there into the universe and the universe has duly supported the thoughts by bringing to us those seemingly “difficult” people, relationships and situations into our lives. But yet, this simple quote offers us freedom from the prison that we have encased ourselves in. It is a cold prison that we have created, but God’s Love is true freedom. Give yourself permission to feel what you are feeling. Experience it to the fullest, all the while knowing that when you are ready you will move beyond to the Light.

I went through this myself months ago. Yes, it seemed painful at the time, yet the Holy Spirit was there with me, holding my hand, surrounding me with His gentle kindness and unconditional Love that I had no choice but to emerge from this and into the Light of God.

Subject matter may come up that you have never even thought of or even had forgotten. How could I be the one that has shackled someone else and including myself? This I did. I realized this recently as a situation from a few years ago was brought into my awareness. A few years ago I had bailed someone out of jail. I had forgotten about this situation but through the healing process I have experienced as of late, I received an answer from the Holy Spirit as to why I bailed this person out of jail in the first place. I did so because I knew that I could create a better prison than the one my municipality could. I could punish more severely and more harshly, and in fact I did. This awakening has brought me peace and forgiveness. I even shared this with the person, and they agreed that indeed I had created a prison for both of us. Incredible, but true. Another obstacle has been removed from my spiritual path.

On the other side of the obstacle is clarity of sight. We judge ourselves so harshly, but in reality there is nothing to judge, only to know and understand Who we are. Our truth is that we are very holy. The other truth to know is that God is always with us. With this clarity of sight, we can see our reactions and actions to what goes on around us. It continues to remove obstacles and allows us to follow our True Purpose.

Rev. Deb Frantz is a Pathways of Light minister living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Email: revdeb@miraclescircle.org or visit www.miraclescircle.org

It All Began… with a Little Willingness

by Paul Phelps

It’s a cold February night and I can hear the pellets of rock salt crunching between the soles of my shoes and the sidewalk as I walk quietly across the parking lot. Distant, amber flood lights cast a mix of dim, golden illumination and streaks of shadows along my path. I can hear distant city traffic quietly flowing on a throughway in the valley. I was alone and the atmosphere of the lot seemed very peaceful. I stopped short of my car to take it in. Noticing each breath condensing into a cool cloud of white as it wisped into the night air.

Although the lot was densely surrounded by hibernating trees, my eyes happened to gaze up through a single clearing and alight on a beautiful white star, shining away in the Western sky. It was Venus. The beautiful white light reminded me of the new best friend I have come to know over the last year, my savior. I smiled, knowing the search was finally over. I finally found the secret to inner peace and happiness. And it all began with a little willingness.

Although I didn’t know what I was seeing at the time, I realize now that the Holy Spirit began introducing the “little spark” to me sometime within the first thirty workbook lessons. The little sparks kept coming here and there as I practiced the lessons over the next several months. During this time, my ego mind kept telling me not to get excited because it was nothing; it even told me at times that I might be crazy. So I went on doubting the sparks for months because I knew deep down inside I was afraid that I might actually be worthy of God’s Love. Over time, as I continued to open up and understand how to work with Spirit, I began to ask Him, “What’s this spark I keep seeing?” The answer didn’t come right away, but when it did, this is what He gave me.

“In many only the spark remains, for the Great Rays are obscured. Yet God has kept the spark alive so that the Rays can never be completely forgotten. If you but see the little spark you will learn of the greater light, for the Rays are there unseen. Perceiving the spark will heal, but knowing the light will create. Yet in the returning the little light must be acknowledged first, for the separation was a descent from magnitude to littleness. But the spark is still as pure as the Great Light, because it is the remaining call of creation. Put all your faith in it, and God Himself will answer you.” (T10.IV.8:1-8)

After I read this, I began to cry. Not because of these words, for they gave me joy, but because of the section’s title, “The End of Sickness.” I knew at that moment that the desperate plea to God for healing, not even a year earlier, had been answered. I knew it was the beginning of the end of years of depression, sickness, sadness, addiction, untruth, anger, anxiety, worry, stress, confusion … and un-love. I cried at the gift I had given to my Self. And it all began with a little willingness.

As I reflect back on what I’ve learned from practicing the Workbook lessons, and search for a way to consolidate how they helped me to get where I am now, the message seems to be the same one Jesus has been giving us for thousands of years.

You have already been given everything. Quiet your mind and you will remember.

The Introduction to the Workbook for Students states that its purpose is to train our minds. Part of that training includes the practice of quieting of the ego mind through the practice of prayer and meditation, which the lessons describe in detail over and over. After making a commitment to myself and to God, I recall a paragraph within the Introduction that stood out to me,

“Some of the ideas the Workbook presents you will find hard to believe, and others may seem to be quite startling. This does not matter. You are merely asked to apply the ideas as you are directed to do. You are not asked to judge them at all. You are asked only to use them. It is their use that will give them meaning to you, and will show you that they are true.” (W-p1.In.8:1-6)

I said, “OK God. I’m going to set aside everything I ever learned or was told for one year. I’ll do exactly what these lessons tell me to do as best I can, for one year. Then I’ll decide.” I realize now without a doubt, this was the best gift I ever gave to my Self. And it all began with a little willingness.

Thank you Father for You, your most Holy Spirit and… for Me.

Paul Phelps is a Pathways of Light student living in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

Email: paul@miraclescircle.org

TOP | MORE SPRING 2004 ARTICLES | MIRACLES NEWS INDEX