Dave Hawkins has been an ACIM student since1987. He is trained in Reflexology, Usui Reiki master/teacher, Karuna Reiki master/teacher, Northland Hospice Volunteer, Northland Hospice Certified care giver (5 years) , Hospice of the Valley Volunteer: PCU, SNFE, Eleventh Hour, and Dementia (1 year), and was ordained at the Center for Life Awareness. He currently works in a materials management group which he says is, " cool since I am always working with people to resolve problems."

How have ACIM principles influenced your eleventh hour work?

As you probably know eleventh hour hospice work is when a volunteer is called in to provide comfort and care to a patient who is actively dying. The volunteer is given a brief background which includes but is not limited to the persons age, diagnosis, gender and the names of the closest relatives and asked if they want to take the assignment. We work in shifts which are coordinated from the main office.

I consider it an honor and a gift whenever I am called to be with a patient. This is a very personal and intimate time for the patient because they are bringing their lives to completion with their relatives, friends casual relationships and their higher power,in what is usually called a life review. My goal is to not look at the persons disease but to always extend unconditional love, be truly helpful and connect with their higher self while monitoring and caring for their physical self to minimize their discomfort and pain. One of the most important methods I use is being centered and actively listening to the "still small voice within" to guide my actions and reactions. This is not as difficult as it would seem since to be fully present with the person it is necessary to live only in the moment. When I am alone with the person I can concentrate on connecting with their higher self which is much easier than one would think since we are all one. Then I can let them know there is nothing to fear, everything is being taken care of and they can let go and move on to their next adventure. This is all done in a very peaceful, centered loving way. This is a very unique situation because the ego is trying to keep the body living forever and the spirit wants to leave the body so by extending unconditional love the ego is being placated while the spirit is moving on.

Dave, I get a sense of honoring the patient’s process in your work and that you feel deeply connected with them. ACIM Lesson 137 states, “When I am healed, I am not healed alone.” Would you say this applies to your relationships with the eleventh hour patients, and if so, how?

I feel that would be a fair statement. When I am one on one with an eleventh hour patient it is very easy for me to make a heart to heart connection with them.While doing this I visualize my higher self directly connecting with my heart by making the 18 inch journey and then my heart connecting to the persons heart and they make the 18 inch journey from their heart to their head and through to their higher self and that is where the healing begins. We have two "separate" people whose higher selves are directly connected (we really are one). There are no barriers, no games, no obstacles that could inhibit the exchange of love and healing because all the person wants is love and that is all I really have to give. This is one of the best opportunities I have to extend unconditional love without any concerns as to its form or if they "get it" , it is actually our natural way of really living. This helps the patient heal (knowing a "stranger" can be with them and love them unconditionally) and it is always healing me knowing I can be loving in all circumstances by "just being" and I won't be hurt. As a side note, I have noticed the more I practice unconditional love the easier it is to extend and become a essential part of my being. What more could I ask for, everyone wins and nobody loses?

You offer a powerful message with your intention and presence as you do this work. How is it that you take this practice out into your everyday life?

My goal in life is not to just to make a difference in other peoples lives but to make a positive difference in their lives. In any interaction, I constantly strive to maintain and strengthen my connection to source knowing my words or actions will always be for the highest good in any situation. Whenever I feel like I am judging or feeling the need to attack someone I stop myself and listen to the small voice and respond with love. It is becoming easier for me to extend unconditional love in all situations because the more I give the more I receive and the process gains even more momentum. I am constantly learning that it is ok to open my heart space up and make myself more vulnerable because in doing so I really cannot be hurt and my connection strengthens. Therefore I consciously and unconsciously practice being centered, looking at a persons true self not the persons actions and treating other people like I would like to be treated, with kindness and compassion. I take the time to ask them how they are doing, listen to them and respond with genuine care. There was a video I was privileged to receive on the internet. It is a U-Tube rendition of Amazing Grace preformed by II-Divo. It is an extremely moving and powerful performance "out of nowhere" I knew I had to send the link to one of my material suppliers. Not knowing her religious beliefs I wanted to make sure she wasn't offended so along with the link I told her I hope she wouldn't be offended and I would like to share it with her (I even called her to make sure there was no misunderstanding). Her work computer did not have the correct software to view the video so she sent it to her home. She called me a few days later and told me her brother had suddenly and unexpectedly died and that video was a tremendous help to her. What more could one ask for --- Spirit in action?

Dave, thank you for sharing so much of yourself with us. Is there anything you would like to say in conclusion?

One of my favorite sayings in the course is "all roads lead home." One of the most powerful blessings I have received was when I was first introduced to both you and Hal at the Center for Life Awareness. I was "lucky" enough to be there when the Course of Miracles became a major theme of the center. As you know I was going through a very painful period in my life and I still credit you and Hal with teaching me unconditional love, forgiveness and renewing my connection with source. I still talk about the study group we had and I feel I am still learning from it even though it was many years ago. As you know I married and moved to Flagstaff where I learned Reiki (another extension of love) and was introduced to Hospice and became a certified Hospice caregiver. After my marriage ended I moved back to Phoenix and after a period of time I started volunteering with Hospice of the Valley. To make a long story short, looking back on the path I have traveled I can see where it has been a slow, and at times not so gentle progression which has helped me to be able open myself up to source and really start living. For that I will be eternally grateful to both you and Hal for listening to Spirit and teaching me what it is really like to live.