The Impossibility of Separation

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #41 

“God goes with me wherever I go.”

For years, I suffered all the symptoms of separation from God: depression, anxiety, worry, a sense of helplessness and loneliness. I also went through the typical material means to quiet these feelings, but none of them worked for long. Knowing ourselves as consciousness, melded like a drop of water with the ocean, or a ray of sunshine with its source -- that's the feeling we're hoping to remember. I say remember because it's something we've always known, but perhaps have forgotten. Peace, joy, happiness: these are ours in the kingdom of heaven within, no matter what the outward circumstances may appear to be. Take a deep breath and feel the Oneness!

Mary Baker Eddy quotes:

“Existence, separate from divinity, [divine] Science explains as impossible.” 

Science & Health Page 522:10-11

April 5, 2012 - I Am One Self

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #95

“I am one Self, united with my Creator.”

Group in Mongolia
photographer unknown

[Marsha's thoughts]

Don't we all love stories of people overcoming adversity with super-human strength and ability? For instance, Kerri Strug in the 1996 Olympics, spraining her ankle on a vault, then continuing and sticking her landing on the next one. We all know people who continue through seemingly insurmountable odds against them doing so. We love movies such as The Blind Side or Precious which show us exactly how difficult it can be to survive, much less flourish in life. And each of us have turning points, times when we could give up or take an easier route than the one we have chosen. We all have times we need someone to lean on. Humanly we may not have this support. Spiritually, we always do. Today's lesson tells us we are never alone, because we're one Self, united with our Creator and all of Creation. Everything we need is always a part of us, inseparable, complete within. Divine Love is our essence, forever an integral part of our Being. Once we have felt this ever-presence, once we've gotten but a small taste of Its peace, we can never go back to believing we're alone. Any help we need is always available, no matter how difficult our circumstance may seem, by allowing Love to replace fear.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Identity is the reflection of Spirit, the reflection in multifarious forms of the living Principle, Love. Soul is the substance, Life, and intelligence of man, which is individualized, but not in matter. Soul can never reflect anything inferior to Spirit."

Science & Health Page 477:20-25

February 10, 2012 - Never Alone

ACIM workbook lesson #41 

“God goes with me wherever I go.”

Somewhere near the Great Wall of China
photo by Aaron Springston

[Marsha's thoughts]
The acceptance of today's lesson opens our existence to a world of joy and peace, even if situations seem less than loving. A Bible verse tells us: If I make my bed in hell, Thou art there. In many belief systems, this would be impossible because heaven is God's place and hell is the devil's, both entities battling for our attention. In the teachings we are studying, as in Jesus' words, we learn that the kingdom of heaven is within. In our reality as children of God, there is nothing other than heaven, harmony. Heaven on earth is our natural state. The hell we so often find ourselves experiencing, although unnatural, seems to be a part of this material existence. These are the situations we are learning to see as unreal, and through this we know that we are the reflection of the One good, God. By this understanding, we are always with God, and God with us, because we are One.

Mary Baker Eddy quotes:

“Existence, separate from divinity, [Christian] Science explains as impossible.” 

Science & Health Page 522:10-11