Revelation and Progress

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #61: “I am the light of the world”

A lot has changed in the last couple of millennia, don't you think? We could spend hours listing changes in thought and our understanding of our universe! Some things which have not changed much are our ideas about God. Religion has pretty well held us locked in to what has been thought of as truth. Many of us are fearlessly admitting that we are all the expression and experience of God. We're happily allowing our thought to embrace new concepts such as, "I am the light of the world"! This is not a self-important declaration, but an all-inclusive, divine-Love centered exclamation of the wonder we know as Life. Our expanding thought is bringing a joy we never dreamed would be possible on this earth plane. We're starting to understand that the kingdom of heaven is right here, waiting for us to embrace it. Let's go forth today and shine!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Light: Symbol of Truth; revelation and progress."

Science & Health Page 591:23-24

One Light Brings Peace

photo courtesy of Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #82

Review: “The light of the world brings peace to every mind through my forgiveness” and “Let me not forget my function.”

We all share the same light which brings peace to every mind. It's easy to forget this is true. Darkness often feels as real as light, but it's a mirage. We can go around telling people about light, but that doesn't take away the darkness in a room. By bringing light to a situation, no matter how small the flame, the darkness is dispelled as surely as if the sun were shining. We're like the rays of light from the sun. We are an emanation of the One light: the same essence, with the same function. Unhappy circumstances in life may cause us think we've lost our light, but that can't happen. An eclipse may cover the sun beams temporarily, but they are still there, shining as brightly as ever, although unseen by some. Our function is to remember our true being. We are Love with a capital "L"! By our remembrance of this Source, our function is fulfilled. Our light glows and grows, illuminating peace.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils 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: 23-29

April 3, 2015 - Light Materialized

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #93

“Light and joy and peace abide in me.”

Some days it's difficult to feel that light and joy and peace are abiding in me. During one of those times, I watched a documentary called "Queen of the Sun". In this film about bees, we are told that pollen is materialized light. I love that, don't you? When thought of in this way, it seems possible that we, too, are materialized light. As the reflection of God, that's exactly what we are! They also illustrate how the bee's light is freed through blocks of honeycomb, exquisitely shared with all as sweet, beautiful honey. And yet again, the light is freed through the illumination of beeswax candles. The freeing of light is cumulative with the bees, and we can experience the same thing as we unshackle the light and peace and joy within ourselves. Another lesson from the bees is the importance of community. Watching them working together for a common cause is uplifting and inspiring to me. It makes me want to join with my neighbors and do something important. But wait -- I'm doing that! What blesses one blesses all. My awakening to light and joy and peace is yours, too. Bees, people, trees -- as an idea of divine Mind, we're all in this together!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Light is a symbol of Mind, of Life, Truth, and Love, and not a vitalizing property of matter. Science reveals only one Mind, and this one shining by its own light and governing the universe, including man, in perfect harmony.."

Science & Health Page 510:27-1

April 22, 2013 - Calm Assertive Behavior

"Ozark Valley"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #112:

Review of:

#93 "Light and joy and peace abide in me"

#94 "I am as God created me."

Last year on this day, I wrote something which is a nice reminder to me this year. It concerns the giving up of strong opinions, not jumping up on my soapbox to expound upon things, and quickly admitting my mistake if I do happen to fall into the ego trap of self-importance. Part of today's lesson tells us that "light and joy and peace abide in me". I remind myself today that this is true, and examine what it is which leads me into forgetfulness of this fact. No longer do I react if someone has an opinion different from mine about politics, religion, or someone I love and respect. It is what it is, and I can happily say something like, "You may be right about that". The only things over which I fall into reactionary mode have to do with our environment -- things like hog farms and electric lines and wasting of resources and such. It would be very easy to insist that I'm right and you're wrong when a utility company wants to cut great swathes through our lovely wooded neighborhoods. And sitting with closed mouth and shielded eyes is not the response to many other situations either. I know there are divinely-inspired ideas waiting for me to discover them, showing me ways to act in defense of goodness and purity. I will today remember that "I am as God created me", while leaving behind self-righteous opinions, clearing the way for Truth to be heard.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Man is idea, the image, of Love; he is not physique. He is the compound idea of God, including all right ideas; the generic term for all that reflects God's image and likeness; the conscious identity of being as found in Science, in which man is the reflection of God, or Mind, and therefore is eternal; that which has no separate mind from God; that which has not a single quality underived from Deity; that which possesses no life, intelligence, nor creative power of his own, but reflects spiritually all that belongs to his Maker."

Science & Health Page 475:13-22

April 3, 2013 - "Queen of the Sun"

"Zion National Park - Flowers and Bees"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #93

“Light and joy and peace abide in me.”

By listening to spiritual sense, we are led in ways which are often unexpected. This light and joy and peace which are an integral part of us can be expressed in many ways. Acting as stewards of our world and its creatures is a natural expression of these qualities. And there are so many ways to do this! There is a documentary entitled "Queen of the Sun", which asks us to examine what bees are telling us. Bees are the epitome of expressing Oneness. They are a perfect metaphor for the value of community and working together. Their current colony collapse also shows us what happens when our true being is denied. As humans, we have been manipulating nature for our own needs. Part of our awakening is the realization that we've been doing many things for the wrong reasons. We've allowed greed and self-importance to take the place of joy and peace. We have also learned to fear nature in the oddest ways. Recently a ban on beekeeping was reversed in New York City. Through education, people are finding there is nothing to fear from the keeping of hives and collection of honey. By opening ourselves to the purpose of each and every creature, we discover we all have a reason for being. To fulfill this purpose brings peace and joy to all. Every crisis we see around us in this material existence has something to tell us when we open our heart to hear. It was stated in this film that pollen is materialized light; that this light is freed in the blocks of honeycomb; that we again free this light by making candles. The freeing of light is cumulative with the bees, and we can experience the same thing as we express the light and peace and joy within ourselves.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Your influence for good depends upon the weight you throw into the right scale. The good you do and embody gives you the only power obtainable."

Science & Health Page 192:21-24

March 23, 2013 - Shine

"Yellowstone National Park Morning"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #82

Review: “The light of the world brings peace to every mind through my forgiveness” and “Let me not forget my function.”

We all share the same light which brings peace to every mind. It's easy to forget this is true. Darkness often feels as real as light, but it's a mirage. We can go around telling people about light, but that doesn't take away the darkness in a room. By bringing light to a situation, no matter how small the flame, the darkness is dispelled as surely as if the sun were shining. We're like the rays of light from the sun. We are an emanation of the One light: the same essence, with the same function. Unhappy circumstances in life may cause us think we've lost our light, but that can't happen. An eclipse may cover the sun beams temporarily, but they are still there, shining as brightly as ever, although unseen by some. Our function is to remember our true being. We are Love with a capital "L"! By our remembrance of this Source, our function is fulfilled. Our light glows and grows, illuminating peace.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils 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: 23-29

March 2, 2012 - Light

ACIM Workbook Lesson #61:

“I am the light of the world”

"Lightshow"
photo by Aaron Springston

[Marsha's thoughts]

The understanding that we are all "the light of the world" is a freeing one! So often when we catch glimpses of our Godly reflection, we deny the sight in the name of humility, or a false sense of sinfulness, or perhaps because Jesus said that's what he was and we don't think we can be, too. We are learning that there are no degrees of perfection, and this realization enables us to proudly reflect the light which we are, never hiding under a guise of smallness. This light which we are is demonstrated in many ways, and it makes no difference if ours is different from what we've been taught it should be! A friend and I were recently talking about our children and how wonderful they are and how glad we are to know them. She said she didn't know how her boys had turned out so great, as she had moved them around frequently when they were young, and many of her ways wouldn't have been advocated by the so-called experts in childrearing. Yet because she was honest with her children, and she always loved them fully without judgment, they are wonderful human beings and super parents in their own right. My boys also are wonderful, but the physical circumstances of their childhood was entirely different. They attended a beautiful independent school in a small town, had a full-time mom and every-other-weekend dad, and made lifelong friends while learning about the world from their small neighborhood. There are some things my friend and I had in common raising these boys. We didn't place limitations and judgments on them. We encouraged their light to shine and made sure they knew what that meant. We weren't afraid to teach them about God, but we didn't threaten them with this knowledge. Now that they're adults, we have the pleasure of watching their light shine, fearless and loving, giving forth what they have received.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Light: Symbol of Truth; revelation and progress."

Science & Health Page 591:23-24

October 29, 2011

ACIM Lesson #302
“Where darkness was I look upon the light.”

[Marsha's thoughts]

"Autumn Splendor" painting
by Carol Dickie

We've all had experiences where we are recounting an event, probably in great detail, and someone who was with us insists that the details are other than the way we remember them. I can think of many other instances when things weren't as I thought they were. Perceptions are interestingly nuanced by our expectations and experiences. Now that so many are seeing the world through the eyes of illumination, it seems to be easier to turn from the dark and walk in the light. When there are other people seeing through these eyes, it gives us the confidence to admit that we see it, too! Remember "the emperor has no clothes"? If everyone were pretending to not see the shift in our perception of reality, then we might keep silent, too. But they're not! People are not only admitting to this change, but are shouting it from the pinnacle of their understanding. We join today in the Truth.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“EYES: Spiritual discernment,--not material but mental.”
Science & Health Page 586:3