ARTICLE
November/December 2003
Modern-day
Disciples on the ACIM Path
by: Karen Bentley
Meet Fran
Spayne
11.20.03
Fran Spayne lives off the beaten path in the
pastoral, undeveloped town of Carlisle, a suburb west of Boston.
Her living room has a big picture window that looks out onto a
pristine forest. Since there are no other houses or distractions to
interrupt the view, the setting has an instantly calming effect.
It’s no coincidence that Fran’s presence is also peaceful and
calming. The combined impact of tranquil setting and presence is a
strong one.
Fran was introduced to A Course In Miracles® more than 20 years ago when she received a gift certificate to an ACIM workshop being taught at a local center for spiritual education. “I had no idea what it was about and only went because it was a gift. They used a lot of concepts that I had never heard before. They also had this big blue book, which I had no interest in reading or buying because I was dyslexic. I didn’t reject the teachings, but I also didn’t feel the need to do anything else with it. I was just really intrigued. Then, a year later I found myself repeating the same workshop. I was shocked to see that in my year away; I had begun incorporating some the principles that I had learned without any conscious intention or effort. I never even spoke to anyone about it, or read any ACIM related material. It was then I realized there was something really deep happening here. That is when I knew there was no doubt in my mind about this path. Because of my dyslexia I had difficulty reading the text, so I slept with it. And I begged Jesus to teach me everything. I wanted to know what it was like for Him to live this life of Christ. I wanted him to teach me everything.
“Since I first started doing ACIM, I was really committed to walking the path of Christ. I want to know, I want to live, and I want to be here in the same way that Christ was. I want to have that heart. I want to have that compassion, that gentleness, that vision. I want to become Him in the world. And I’m still working on it. It’s a process for me. I pray when I get up in the morning, when I first open my eyes. I pray to be used throughout the day. And particularly when I have some conflict or turmoil or something that I’m working through in my own personal life, I ask for guidance and assistance. I always get it.”
”Jesus is my advisor, my brother, my friend, and He’s me. Jesus can’t work through me unless I have the belief and the understanding we’re one. When He’s working through me, there’s no separation between us. Every day is different, but I feel His presence most intensely when I’m doing a session with people. Every time someone asks me for help, I never want to assume I know how to help him or her. I just pray.
“At one point I was having difficulty with a person in my life, and nothing seemed to resolve it. I started to build some fear about being in this person’s presence, and I decided to ask Jesus to help me. Jesus provided the help by leading me to wash this person’s feet. One night in a prayer state, I saw this person sitting before me, just like he was really there. With Jesus’ guidance, I picked up this person’s foot and began to gently wash it. At that moment I knew what it was like for Jesus. I felt I was Jesus and his hands were mine. Jesus was teaching me how to be humble, how to experience the innocence of another human being, and to love unconditionally at a very deep level. The feeling of love was overwhelming. I knew there was absolutely nothing to forgive. I was so moved, I began to weep, and wept for three hours. I was changed forever”
“For me, learning about ACIM comes though direct guidance from Jesus. Sometimes I can hear a voice. Sometimes it’s an impulse to do something that I know is true. Sometimes I’m drawn to open a book and read a word or a passage. It usually happens because I’ve asked, and then I’m directed to the answer. Sometimes He just uses my voice. Like when I work with my clients, I ask Him to use my voice, then I hear these words come out of my mouth.”
“When I’m working with clients, I never have a prescribed way of helping them. Everyone’s life experience is different. Everyone’s story is different. And everyone’s healing path is unique. So, I can’t be so arrogant to think that I know what is right for anyone. I always pray to be used in a way that is most helpful. Because I have been in the ACIM community for 20 years people know me. They trust me and come to see me for help, or refer family and friends to me. I’ve tried to advertise a few times, but it just doesn’t work for me. So I trust the Holy Spirit will bring people to where ever I am.”
“My work is very different from traditional psychotherapy. All my clients have a spiritual understanding. For one thing, I don’t use the intellectual mind. Even though I’ve been trained as a psychotherapist, I don’t analyze or diagnose people. I would never limit anyone to what’s happening psychologically, because I feel it’s just such a small piece of the big picture. I don’t believe there’s anything wrong with anyone. You are all on a soul’s journey, and all need to find our own way. I just see myself as a coach, who is very well connected spiritually. Before someone comes I begin to pray, and many times receive messages even before a client comes through the door.“
”When I’m working I am so filled with the Spirit. I just can’t help
but vibrate that into the work. I can say that most of the time
people have a shift because of the connection at the level of
Spirit. I never take notes because I never want to hold anyone
hostage to the past. We all change constantly. I trust the Holy
Spirit will remember what is important. I’ll spend an hour with
someone, and when they’re gone I can’t remember a thing that was
said, because it doesn’t come from my mind, it comes from a state of
altered consciousness. So when they return, I know the only thing
that’s important is, now.”
“I have been very fortunate to have very
profound spiritual experiences. I am spiritually very connected, and
know I am being used for the highest good. For example, on
September 11th I got a phone call from my son, who knew I
did not watch much TV, telling me what was happening on the
morning. Instead of turning on the TV for more information, I sat
and asked how to be useful, how can I help, how could I serve? I was
guided to sit still and not engage. And when I did, I sat in the
same spot for five hours. Miraculously my whole schedule was
cleared for that day. As I sat, it was like an electrical current
running down through my head and out my feet. I was told that I was
being used as a’ hollow pillar for love’, as it ran through me into
the earth and being used for the highest good. I didn’t need to buy
into the idea of a problem, but to hold the space for love and
allowed it to come through me. If I directed it to NY, then I would
be buying into the idea that there’s a problem, which would have
distracted me. Around 5:00 pm, I became curios about what the rest
of the world was doing and seeing. I hadn’t spoken to anyone all
day, and I finally turned on the news. I was sorry I did, because I
immediately felt instant pain, particularly in my breasts, like
someone put them in a vice. I began to get swept into the current
of hysteria, and seeing something bad had happened. After
experience this contrast, I then really knew why I was directed not
to engage. I felt honored that I could serve mankind in this way on
this particular day.”
“I do see myself as a healer, as a psychological intuit, and as a
spirit coach. Sessions can seem like a psychic reading, but they’re
not. I do not do predictions, I am just very good at feeling the
energy and getting to the root of what may be blocking someone from
feeling the presence of love. I am also a hands on spiritual
healer. For most of my life, all of this has been difficult for me
to admit. For a long time I had been trying to hide it, or down
play it for fear of being judged. I was also afraid to scare
people, and I found it difficult to talk for fear of being perceived
as someone who was bragging. I also had difficulty speaking about
something so powerful, beautiful, and magnificent and not taking
credit for it, because I really feeling it is not me. And, yet I
feel people should know what I do, because it is a gift from God for
which I am just an instrument.”
“I know that miracles have happened when I’ve joined with
Jesus to help people. I just want to be used in whatever way I can
that is most helpful. I don’t need it to be big or famous. I’m
okay with being simple and humble. And if a miracle happens, than
I’m happy to facilitate that. I have no agenda for a brother or
sister. I realize we all play an important role for each other. I
am grateful for my role.”
For an appointment with Fran call 617-747-4453
or 978-568-1201, or look at her website, www.MiracleWork.org.
©2003 Interview, organization and editing by Karen Bentley