Perfect Love

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #224 “God is my Father, and He loves His Son.”

Today's Course in Miracles lesson tells me that God is my Father and He loves His Son. When we take away material gender-related terms, it's easier for some of us to know this is telling us that we are all reflections of creative Mind (God), and that divine Love is equally ever-present for all. There is no division by religion or any other so-called standard. There is no Love more readily bestowed on someone who fits the requirements to be called saint or sinner. This perfect Love is available to all, simply for the accepting of it. We truly are all created equally!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfills the Scripture, “Love thy neighbor as thyself;” annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry, — whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed. "

Science & Health Page 340:21-29

The Unity of Love's Experience

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #225

“God is my Father, and His Son loves Him.”

To me, today’s lesson is asking us to experience the Love which is ever-present by virtue of the Oneness we all are. If we are all the experience of God, the creation of divine Mind, the reflection of divine Love, there are no degrees of unity. It’s easy for me to feel at One with people I like and admire, but what of those I’d rather not be around? I can certainly see myself as One with Meryl Streep or Richard Gere, but what about Donald Trump or — well, you get the idea, I’m sure! If I weren’t judging someone to be awful, I wouldn’t feel the need to condemn them in my thought. If I do not judge, I need not condemn. Today I will remember to see beyond personalities and witness the reality of everyone as the expression and experience of the One! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“…with one Mind and that God, or good, the brotherhood of man would consist of Love and Truth, and have unity of Principle and spiritual power which constitute divine Science.” 

Science & Health Page 470:2-5

July 28, 2014 -

ACIM Workbook Lesson #209

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #189 “I feel the Love of God within me now.”

During my lifetime, I've seen oppression of various types falling. I admit that there's still a ways to go -- but just think how far we've come! The strides I have made personally in releasing preconceived notions about people who seem different from me are huge! Recently, a man said to me that he was afraid to come to Eureka Springs. Of course, I asked him why. He said if we were having one of our "diversity" weekends he didn't want to be here. He assured me he had nothing against "gays", but he didn't want it rubbed in his face. This is a learned behavior of prejudice on his part and has nothing to do with the way he felt when he came out of the womb into this life. As we release what we have come to believe that we're supposed to think, we open the way for divine Love to guide us. Love is the liberator!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The history of our country, like all history, illustrates the might of Mind, and shows human power to be proportionate to its embodiment of right thinking. A few immortal sentences, breathing the omnipotence of divine justice, have been potent to break despotic fetters and abolish the whipping-post and slave market; but oppression neither went down in blood, nor did the breath of freedom come from the cannon's mouth. Love is the liberator.”

Science and Health Page 225:14-22

April 13, 2013 - Happiness, Love, Butterflies

"Butterfly World in St. Louis, Missouri"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #103

“God, being Love, is also happiness.”

One of my favorite sayings is: If you have a choice of being right or being kind, be kind! In my gallery, I  witnessed a man who was determined to be right no matter what. He was relentless in correcting his wife on everything from her memory of events to her pronunciation of giclee'. I couldn't detect an iota of happiness anywhere in his aura. If he had been familiar with the above saying and had allowed himself to express kindness instead of a staunch determination to be right, perhaps a chink would have appeared in his armor and a ray of joy could have escaped. Mrs. Eddy made this declaration: "Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you." Unfortunately it seems the opposite also applies. We can put up a barrier to Love and refuse to admit that it even exists, much less understand that Love is our essence. We can allow belief to cover up Truth; hiding the knowing that God is Love, happiness. I have an acquaintance who tells me he doesn't know what love feels like. He is certain he's never felt love and wouldn't recognize it if he did. Personally, a most intense feeling of Love came over me when I saw the first butterflies of spring! There they were, a gathering of beautiful Swallowtails, joyously flying from flower to flower. My heart opened at the sight, and I breathed deeper trying to capture just a bit of their grace. And so today I will remember the butterflies, knowing that I Am that same reflection of perfect Love, exuding happiness wherever I go.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Soul has infinite resources with which to bless mankind, and happiness would be more readily attained and would be more secure in our keeping, if sought in Soul. Higher enjoyments alone can satisfy the cravings of immortal man.”

Science & Health Page 60:28-1

June 28, 2012 - Grace for All

A Course in Miracles Lesson Review #179

Central Theme: "God is but love and therefore so am I."

Review of:

(167) "There is one life, and that I share with God."

(168) "Your grace is given me. I claim it now."

"Wildflower"
photo by Aaron Springston

There are many definitions given in the dictionary for grace. It is a noun, a verb, and an adverb, so it covers a lot of ground. The definition which best suits our review today would be this: "Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people." This grace which is ours shows itself in many ways. Perhaps it is seen in our kindness to others, and them to us. It is emerging in the synchronicities we see in daily life. It is active when everything works together to bring order to our activities. Perhaps it is demonstrated in an apology, or an act of benevolence, a charitable deed, or an acceptance of someone's opinion which is opposite of ours. Grace is mine today, simply for the knowing of it. To quote William Blake:

“To see the world in a grain of sand,

And heaven in a wild flower,

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,

And eternity in an hour.”

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Throughout all generations both before and after the Christian era, the Christ, as the spiritual idea,--the reflection of God,--has come with some measure of power and grace to all prepared to receive Christ, Truth. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and the prophets caught glorious glimpses of the Messiah, or Christ, which baptized these seers in the divine nature, the essence of Love. The divine image, idea, or Christ was, is, and ever will be inseparable from the divine Principle, God. Jesus referred to this unity of his spiritual identity thus: "Before Abraham was, I am;" "I and my Father are one;" "My Father is greater than I." The one Spirit includes all identities.” 

Science & Health Page 333:19-

June 22, 2012 - Tornado clean-up led by Love

A Course in Miracles Lesson #173

Central Theme:

“God is but love and therefore so am I.”

Review of:

(155) I will step back and let Him lead the way.

God is but love and therefore so am I

(156) I walk with God in perfect holiness.

God is but love and therefore so am I

"Harmony in the Springs"
photo courtesy of AETN

These words are from the review which began with ACIM lesson #170: "The self alone knows love. The self alone is perfectly consistent in Its thought; knows Its Creator, understands Itself, is perfect in Its knowledge and Its love, and never changes from Its constant state of union with Its Father and Itself."

I met a young man who spent a week in Joplin, Missouri helping in the aftermath of a devastating tornado. He and some college buddies went there and just walked around finding people who needed help. They cleaned up houses for people who had been working for weeks without seeming to get anywhere. They, with their loving hearts and strong bodies, quickly accomplished what needed to be done. No government aid, no paperwork, no permission from insurance companies: just Love. I am humbled at his demonstration of these thoughts from today's review:

"God is but love and therefore so am I.

I will step back and let Him lead the way.

I walk with God in perfect holiness".

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“I am Spirit. Man, whose senses are spiritual, is my likeness. He reflects the infinite understanding, for I am Infinity. The beauty of holiness, the perfection of being, imperishable glory,--all are Mine, for I am God. I give immortality to man, for I am Truth. I include and impart all bliss, for I am Love. I give life, without beginning and without end, for I am Life. I am supreme and give all, for I am Mind. I am the substance of all, because I AM THAT I AM.”

Science & Health Page 252:32-8

June 20, 2012 -I Am nothing other than Love

A Course in Miracles Lesson #171

Central Theme: "God is but love and therefore so am I."

Review of: (151) All things are echoes of the Voice for God.

(152) The power of decision is my own.

"Tibetan Monks Chanting in
Christian Science Edifice
in Eureka Springs, Arkansas"

I'm really excited about this review! "God is [nothing] but love and therefore so am I." What could be better than to think about an all-encompassing, all-permeating Love for ten days! Heck, if we do it for ten days, why not forever? This is the start of something big, and I hope you are as pleased as I am to be doing this. That's our overall thought to hold to constantly, then each day we'll have a review of two days' lessons. It's always been such a comfort to know that whatever "things" are going on in my life, there will be perfect correlations and answers to my questions found in the weekly Christian Science Lesson. The same is true of these wonderful Course in Miracles daily lessons, too. Actually, it has crossed my mind to do next year's correlations by pulling together these two weekly/daily lessons. But that's a topic for another day. Today let's concentrate on the Love which is God and all the ways in which we reflect that. Specifically, knowing that all things are the echoes of the Voice for God is a wonderfully comforting knowledge to relax into. It helps me to see God everywhere. In doing that, the decisions to be made are already made. Listening to these echoes leads us in paths of peace and right choice. There can be nothing else when surrendering my personal will, my so-called ego, to the perfection of divine Love.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Individuals are consistent who, watching and praying, can 'run, and not be weary; . . . walk, and not faint,' who gain good rapidly and hold their position, or attain slowly and yield not to discouragement. Imperfect mortals grasp the ultimate of spiritual perfection slowly; but to begin aright and to continue the strife of demonstrating the great problem of being, is doing much.”

Science & Health Page 254:1-15

April 13, 2012 - Butterflies, Love, Happiness

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #103

“God, being Love, is also happiness.”

Butterfly Gardens in St Louis
Photo by Aaron Springston

[Marsha's thoughts]

One of my favorite sayings is: If you have a choice of being right or being kind, be kind! I recently witnessed a man who was determined to be right no matter what. He  was relentless in correcting his wife on everything from her memory of events to her pronunciation of giclee'. I couldn't detect an iota of happiness anywhere in his aura. If he had been familiar with the above saying and had allowed himself to express kindness instead of a staunch determination to be right, perhaps a chink would have appeared in his armor and a ray of joy could have escaped. Mrs. Eddy made this declaration: "Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you." Unfortunately it seems the opposite also applies. We can put up a barrier to Love and refuse to admit that it even exists, much less understand that Love is our essence.   We can allow belief to cover up Truth; hiding the knowing that God is Love, happiness. I have an acquaintance who tells me he doesn't know what love feels like. He is certain he's never felt love and wouldn't recognize it if he did. Personally, a most intense feeling of Love came over me a few days ago when I saw the first butterflies of spring! There they were, a gathering of beautiful Swallowtails, joyously flying from flower to flower. My heart opened at the sight, and I breathed deeper trying to capture just a bit of their grace. And so today I will remember the butterflies, knowing that I Am that same reflection of perfect Love, exuding happiness wherever I go.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Soul has infinite resources with which to bless mankind, and happiness would be more readily attained and would be more secure in our keeping, if sought in Soul. Higher enjoyments alone can satisfy the cravings of immortal man.”

Science & Health Page 60:28-1