Episode 25: Gary is in Western Massachusetts as this episode is recorded, and he starts off by discussing all the ice and snow he's had to deal with while traveling; as the Course describes everything in the ego's universe, things can appear beautiful from a distance, but upon closer inspection, it's often a different story... Gary talks about how his previously living in Maine was really the perfect location for Arten and Pursah to begin their visits to him. He then mentions an upcoming workshop in a warmer location, as he'll be appearing at "The Crossings" in Austin, Texas this coming March - on his birthday, in fact. Gary and Gene then enter into a discussion area that's a bit more somber than usual, in that one of Gary's closest and most long-time friends just recently passed away. Gary talks about their many experiences together, and then relates the discussion to a Course perspective, specifically referencing the section from the Manual for Teachers entitled, "What Is Death", and also how the grief period becomes shorter when one learns that the body is not the reality of a loved one, and that Spirit - the true reality of us all - goes on forever, and is not ended by the body's passing. The conversation shifts into the area of pain and suffering - both emotional as well as physical - and how these, too, are lessened (and even ultimately eliminated) by the practice of advanced forgiveness, and allowing the Holy Spirit to be in charge of one's thoughts. Next, Gene presents several 'Questions for Gary' that relate to this episode's theme. First: how to deal with an unwillingness to progress with one's Course work, out of a concern that this might prevent a person from still feeling connected to a loved one who has passed. And then, do we continue to make progress in our forgiveness practice (and does Jesus continue to help us in this) when we are on "the other side", the "in between life" that we seem to experience after we have passed on from our physical form?