Tribute to Ken Wapnick

Within the confusion we believe we live in, Ken Wapnick represented a powerful light in the darkness, a lighthouse that unequivocally guided us to the truth; that guidance did not come from him, but was within him and masterfully we all sensed it, since it is our universal heritage. We hope the light of Ken will continue pointing the way, even after his physical disappearance. Now we feel a loss. It is paradoxical that his absence seems to provoke such tremendous desolation.

The constant teacher that he is corrects me sweetly and lovingly, telling me gently but with great emotion that I am not sad because his vibrant figure has disappeared; I'm feeling [sad] because part of my desire to be special has died. His death reminds me of my belief in my own, but only he who believes he can die dies. My wrong mind serves now to point toward the light and I see more than ever the futility of the dream.

We all admired the prodigy that Helen Schucman was, by performing the purest channeling ever known of Jesus (the Christ Mind). No one can obliterate the fact that without Bill Thetford, Helen would not have been able to take down A Course in Miracles. It was without a doubt a joint venture of love and perfect joining in the mind. However, we would not have known the Course without the intervention of Ken Wapnick and finally of Judith Skutch. A perfect synapse developed among the four of them, which extended the message of forgiveness capable of redeeming humanity from the dream of oblivion.

Kenneth Wapnick continues to be The Voice of the Course, motivating us to choose once again, to understand it in its authentic dimension and voluntarily forgo our special desire, our insanity, our illusion, our lie, to regain our innocence and acknowledge the error.

Finally, the message of the first teacher of God from A Course in Miracles is: Forgiveness does not aim at keeping time, but at its ending, when it has no use. Its purpose ended, it is gone.

And where it once held seeming sway is now restored the function God established for His Son in full awareness. Time can set no end to its fulfillment nor its changelessness. "There is no death because the living share the function their Creator gave to them. Life's function cannot be to die. It must be life's extension, that it be as one forever and forever, without end.

And what a joyous thing it is to dwell a little while in such a happy place! Nor can it be forgot, in such a world, it [is] a little while till timelessness comes quietly to take the place of time. God says there is no death; your judgment sees but death as the inevitable end of life. God's Word assures you that He loves the world; your judgment says it is unlovable. Who is right? For one of you is wrong. It must be so. Teach not that I died in vain. Teach rather that I did not die by demonstrating that I live in you."

Ken had a profound influence on my life. It is because of him that I became a committed student of the Course and remained so for the last twenty years.

I am deeply grateful for Ken's lifetime of dedication to teaching the Course. He was an exceptional and brilliant teacher. Without him, I would not have been able to understand the Course—or expand my understanding over the years. I am so thankful that the recordings of his workshops and academies allow his words, wisdom and wonderful sense of humor to remain available to current and future Course students.

From the moment I met Ken, I assumed a totally unjustified familiarity. Upon reflection, it was very funny. Part of me kept waiting for him to say, leave me alone stranger! Aside from classes, I wrote letters and called. I did manage to limit the phone calls, but I think I may have sent hundreds of letters!

Thank you for this opportunity to express my eternal gratitude to my dear teacher. He opened my eyes, told me where to look, and helped me see. For the rest of my life I hope to offer nothing but the smile he never failed to offer me. I love you Ken.

Ken was an amazing man, he had a way of inspiring others and a great sense of humor. I only met Gloria and Ken once and found them both to be so welcoming and cheerful. I am very grateful to Ken for his dedication and for all the work of the foundation.

We didn't have the opportunity to meet Kenneth in person, but we'd like to acknowledge his contribution in helping us to better understand the message of ACIM through his Lighthouse newsletters and several of his many books. He will continue to be an inspiration on our spiritual path.

Thank you Ken. I cannot begin to express my gratitude for the teaching tools you have provided and without them I believe I would not understand A Course in Miracles at all. With them I may really be able to live it. Thank you for this lesson in forgiveness and for the lessons you continue to teach.

Thank you to Gloria and everyone at the Foundation, I can't imagine the what you are going through and my heart goes out to all of you and all of us.

In early September I was listening to one of Ken's tapes and I heard him say I must get in touch with my unforgiveness of Jesus and with this course. I thought I didn't have any and then I wondered what unforgiveness I had of Ken. A few days later I saw the announcement regarding his illness and wham! I knew this was it. Thank you. I am still bring my thoughts back to "God is not fear but Love". And trying to really look at this.

I was concerned; at first; that I wasn't overtly emotional and more upset a hearing Ken had passed away. And then I said to my husband that any grief I have would be for purely selfish (ego) reasons. Not that I haven't cried since then it is just that I know if I am sad it because of some need I think I have to have filled. A need that doesn't give a damn about anyone else. I continue to try to look with Jesus at my attraction to death and hope to truly understand this lesson some day.

I am saddened that I will never meet Ken. As I would have liked to feel the peace and gentle laughter many have spoken about. Alas it is not to be. I am still planning to visit the Foundation when I am able to and I am also continuing to download and purchase many of Ken's teaching aids. I want to be a reflection of that peace and to show that he did not die by demonstrating that he lives in me.

Something that brings a smile to me every time I think I have. a question I would like to ask Ken; I find myself asking them and then hearing Ken give a little laugh and saying are you kidding me? Didn't you get the part about the joke? Or some other response the reminds there is only one question and one Answer. Thank you I will have this as one of my own tools that I will use whenever needed.

Thank you Helen and Bill for all you have done for all of us.

With love and kindness,

Ms. Jamie Williams

TO SEE WITHOUT JUDGEMENT

I woke up from my dream about the world.
And in my awakening I recognized your face,
my brother. Without judgment.

I woke up from my dream about my life.
And in my peace I recognized your face,
my brother. With love.

I woke up from my dream about time.
And in my freedom I recognized your face,
my brother. As one.

I woke up from my dream.
And in forgiveness I recognized your face,
my Brother.

I wrote this poem for Kenneth in the winter 2012—2013. I had just started my translation of "What It Says", and I felt very grateful and happy after a long period of depression and confusion.

Kenneth will remain our guide and companion on our journey through A Course in Miracles. Through his any books and articles he will continue to inspire us, through our translation work and studies he will make us understand. We are forever grateful and humble. His generosity and sense of humour will be deeply missed.

Tribute to Kenneth Wapnick

The first time I heard Ken speak was at a conference in the early eighties. I remember that I left the gathering feeling dismayed—Ken had addressed some fundamental misconceptions about the course that went around at the time, all of which I held! It felt as if he had taken "my course" away from me.

It was through his books and recordings that I eventually reconnected with Ken. After waiting in vain for him to come to Europe to teach a class, I traveled to Temecula and told him: "If the mountain doesn't come to Mohammed, Mohammed goes to the mountain!" He laughed and gave me a wonderful hug, the first one of many.

On another occasion—after a week-long class—I left the room with other people waiting for a final "Ken hug." When it was my turn, I told him how bad I felt that I kept getting it wrong with my practicing of the course. Ken quickly took me aside, held my arms, looked in my eyes and impressed on me: "But Frans, that was the whole point of this week, not to feel guilty!" And everything fell into place for me.

Ken and I shared a love for classical music. When I asked him last year for advice on a course-class that I had started teaching in Belgium, he replied: "First give them Stockhausen, then Mozart." I knew exactly what to do.

Ken Wapnick, a dear, dear friend, a great teacher, a "mentsh."*

*I checked the spelling of "mentsh." In German it is "Mensch" of course, but this is the Jiddish spelling, according to sources I checked. Thank you.

YOU TAKE MY BREATH AWAY

You take my breath away and place a song within my heart.
The melos seems to say we will never be apart.
You tell me time does not exist and surely this is so,
How or why I do not care I do not need to know.

You take my breath away, the child within is singing,
The tune I know is soft and slow, a song without beginning.
I hear the beauty of your thoughts, whose words have set the music,
a tone so full of peace and grace with love if you but choose it.

You take my breath away, the man within has risen,
with outstretched arms he lifts the child, who now is just a vision.
A man whose heart is full of love and generous of Spirit,
Who shares the song within my heart because he placed it in it.

You take my breath away, as we travel on together.
We share the Spirit and our song and journey up the ladder.
Spirit now, our song is sung; we made it home where we are One.
He kept His promise to His Son. You~Take~My~Breath~Away.

An Invitation to the Dance

He will dance us Home I promise
If we let him lead the way.

He will dance us Home together.