The Story of 10-10-10

For a number of years, Libby Crew has hosted meetings in Baton Rouge, LA for spiritual seekers. On Tuesday evenings the group, calling themselves “Rays of Light,” reads spiritual books and hosts special speakers on a wide range of spiritual topics. On Sunday nights Bible studies alternated with study of A Course in Miracles. In January 2009, the rapidly growing group decided to drop the Bible study in favor of meeting every Sunday night to work through the ACIM Workbook together.

In March 2009 it was decided to have a week-end retreat in nearby St. Francisville. As soon as the date was announced interest exploded and the “Forgiveness Rocks” retreat was born. The Inn was completely booked and local speakers filled all the time slots in just a few days. Interest was so high that a search began for a larger venue for future retreats.

Just a week later Rev. Myron Jones was hosting a workshop by Nouk Sanchez and Tomas Vieira in Lafayette and several of the “Rays of Light” decided to stop at Hemingbough in St. Francisville on the way to Lafayette. Arlin Dease, the owner, shared with the group the story of how many years ago Hemingbough was created when he felt the guidance of the Holy Spirit to “Prepare a place.” Having known Arlin personally since he was a teenager, I knew this to be the truth. What I did not know, which he has since shared with me, is that his dear friend, my father, was a student of ACIM.

While driving to Lafayette, “10-10-10,” kept running through Libby’s mind. We consulted a calendar and discovered that October 10, 2010 falls on the second week-end in October when the average rainfall is 0.12 inches, the average temperature is 70 degrees, and the fall colors are at their peak. We called, booked Hemingbough and the “10-10-10” conference was born.

Before the workshop was over, Nouk and Tomas had agreed to speak. Nouk invited Gary Renard the next day. Within a month our Conference Planning Committee was formed, officially naming the conference “Voices of Light: an A Course in Miracles Conference at Hemingbough”.

The hand of the Holy Spirit seems to have been on this project since long before we had a thought about it. Truly we have done little or nothing to bring it about. We simply listen in amazement as the “Voices of Light” converge on Hemingbough. We invite you to join us.