Rev. Celeste's guest is Maureen Muldoon, spiritual leader, author, actress, teacher, speaker, life coach and master storyteller. She works out the "thorns in her paw" through art and vulnerability. She noticed how helping other people tell their stories is healing for her. She learned from hearing other people's stories and through the 12-step program - sharing experience, strength and hope.
Frustrated by the idea that she had the wrong body parts to be a minister, after practicing the Prayer of Jabez, she got signs to move into ministry. While community building and leading a Youth and Family ministry, she learned how to build a church. She used A Course in Miracles (ACIM) to move into speaking in a pulpit. Before then, her resistance, based on old stereotypes kept her from ministry.
Maureen created Miracles Live 365 with two lessons 6:45 am and 8:20 am CT seven days a week with eight other teachers. In order to build content, she offered an ACIM sampler. She was asked to go the distance. She said yes, and has been doing it for several years. If someone comes to her with a problem, it's her problem. She sees a way to work on the issue and be loving instead of shutting down. While giving advice, she often thinks that she needs to follow her own advice.
Maureen is the Spiritual Leader of the Speakeasy Spiritual Community, where the Sunday
service includes a dialogue around the message delivered. She was sick of the triangle where one guy on top gets to say something and others have to accept it. She is one of six children who didn't always get a word in, so at Speakeasy, she gives people an opportunity to talk.
While sobriety is no longer an issue, Maureen uses the principles and techniques of the 12-step program in almost everything she does. Practicing the lessons and applying the theory makes all the difference.
Speakeasy has a Culture Club where racism, White fragility and solutions for eliminating racial discord are explored and discussed. She listens to the story and is willing to be wrong. From there, she gets an opportunity to heal. She sees herself on the spectrum of racism. She's not afraid to look at her biases. She recounts her first husband leaving her for Miss Universe, an Asian woman. She began to notice her hatred toward Asian people as a result of her journey toward forgiveness.
Maureen also acknowledged her reaction to a Black woman. After reading "White Fragility", she realized that she was harming the person by not allowing the woman her anger. Maureen mentioned how White women's tears have been destructive over the years. She acknowledges White privilege includes not allowing other people to have their emotions while willing to have all of hers.
Maureen founded Miracles Live 365, the study and application of A Course in Miracles lessons. She would love to have the legacy of seeing people continuing it for years to come. The class meets at 6:45 am CT seven days a week. There is also another class at 8:20 am CT. There are also noon and evening sessions on Wednesdays. Register and listen to as many lessons and participate. Go to miracleslive365.com to subscribe.
Maureen invites people to tell their stories and listen to the stories you haven't been listening to before now. She feels every story needs to be heard. She invites people to Voice Box Stories (https://wgnradio.com/after-hours-with-rick-kogan/maureen-muldoon-cathy-richardsons-voicebox-where-a-song-becomes-a-story-and-a-story-becomes-a-song/), a monthly event where real people's stories are told and great music is played by Jefferson Starship's Cathy Richa