Good Questions
Questions & Answers
[as it appeared in the March 2011 Newsletter]
There is nothing I like more than a good question about the Course. And by “good question”, I mean a thought provoking one – a question that makes me reassess what I currently believe and perhaps come to see it in a new light. As a result, we have a very interactive study group of Course students here in Louisville where everyone is encouraged to share their insights and questions. It is also a very diverse group with people from widely varying religious backgrounds so we get a lot of very insightful questions and I’ve been making a note of them for the last 15 years.
Question: I know that, as a spiritual person, I’m not supposed to be into things but the Course says that the Holy Spirit knows that I need things while I am here just to survive until I learn to go beyond this level of existence. Things are really tight for me right now and it’s becoming a big distraction to my spiritual progress. Any ideas?
Answer: Have you ever heard about “The Higher Shopping Service“?
It’s a service Jesus offered Helen and Bill and it’s available to ALL of us. (And I’ve found it to be downright miraculous since living on such a mini budget these last few years so it would be helpful to you, too, while you’re kinda’ short. 🙂
Jesus says he’ll help find the things he knows we need – along with “a reasonable amount of whims”, as well (his words, not mine) – AT THE PRICE THAT WE CAN AFFORD so that a) he can prove to us that he exists and hasn’t left us (as he promised), and b) to save us time dealing with the worry and frustrations so we can spend more time in doing what we’re here to learn to do (just extend the love of God to each other :-).
Using THSS always results in a win-win outcome, miraculously. Using it proves to us that we’re not alone and we’re being heard and cared for. And eventually, it makes us feel so safe and secure that very little can shake our peace, distracting us from loving life. And each other.
It’s really cool! I’ve had things I need just show up (often left right on my doorstep). I’ve had a gazillion experiences of finding the perfect thing at the unbelievably low price I could afford (comfortably)! And I’m far from being alone in learning that THSS is not only real, it’s DEPENDABLE. (And fun – ‘cuz you just never know HOW that perfect item will turn up, and it’s often in such a way that telling the story almost sounds like fiction! lol )
Over the years since learning of THSS, our group has extended it to a broader “reach” into:
– the higher relationship counseling service
– the higher career counseling service
– the higher whatever-you-need-in-the-moment service.
Maybe you’re in the place to need THSS just because it’s time for you to learn how safe you are (if you already haven’t, that is 😉
Loving you, sweet child of God. You are beloved!
~*~
* Carmen Cameron, who is a founding member of Course in Miracles Society, has been teaching classes in A Course in Miracles since 1994. She was a presenter at the 2009 Miracles Conference in San Francisco and presented again at the 2011 Conference. Carmen’s website is: http://peaceful-path.blogspot.com/
Course in Miracles Society [CIMS] 
Mery V. had the following question:
HI! Can you explain me about HTSS? I never heard of that and I think I would benefit from that. Love Mery Valencia
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Carmen replied:
I hope I can be helpful. Here goes…
“The Higher Shopping Service” is what Jesus called his willingness to help us get ANY mundane (earthly) task done, get any need or want taken care of, just to save us time in our daily lives so we’ll have the time and energy and resources to do the REAL work of helping others.
For instance, the example that Jesus used to illustrate how THSS works was when Helen Schucmann wanted a very particular kind of coat but she didn’t want to spend much money on it. She asked Jesus what to do about it and he told her which store to go to to find it. It was a discount store. And Helen just didn’t do “discount” normally. But when she followed Jesus’ direction, she found a BETTER coat than what she was hoping for PLUS it was significantly UNDER her budget for it!
Oh yes, and this is part of its value, WHILE Helen was looking through the racks at the shop, a clerk asked if he could help her and they got to talking. It turned out that he had a handicapped child – exactly Helen’s professional specialty as a psychologist at Columbia (no coincidences in the Plan of Atonement) – and Helen was able to give him precisely the information he needed to get the proper help his child needed.
Jesus told Helen this was not an accident but the purpose of THSS. It frees us up both time- and resource-wise so we can live and act more efficiently in service to his greater plan.
Does that make sense, Mery? Remember that THSS isn’t just for “special” people (like Helen). It’s available for ALL of us. I know because my study group here in Louisville, KY, has used it often and well for YEARS. Sometimes with often downright miraculous results!
Some in our study group aren’t well healed, financially speaking. Personal examples of THSS include things just being gifted to people once they request it. Sometimes the money they need to get things just shows up – out of the blue. Sometimes the perfect thing – at the perfect price – is found immediately after asking Jesus what to do or where to go.
There’s usually a very clear connection, Mery, between getting what it is we need and finding a way that we can be helpful to another. EVERYTHING of Spirit is a two-way street in that everyone involved wins (gains) whatever it is that they need most (like the man in the store who had apparently prayed for help for his son).
The section of Helen’s notes that has the whole description of THSS is on another computer that isn’t linked to the internet. That computer is on another floor but I’ll go get it if you’d like me to send it to you.
But basically, what it all boils down to is: Prayerfully ask for what you need and listen for directions so you can learn how you have a gift to give someone else in need.
Or, as it says in the Text, “[The Holy Spirit] offers YOU a miracle for every one that you LET Him do through you.”
T-14.XI.10.10
OR, be willing to give of what you have in order to get whatever it is you need.
I pray this has been helpful to you, Mery. Let me know if you’d like me to get that full transcript to you.
God bless!
—
With love always,
Carmen
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