April 9, 2013 - My Only Function

"Zion National Park"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #99

“Salvation is my only function here.”

Our only function is seeing, knowing, and living Truth. It can be rather difficult to understand that salvation and forgiveness are a part of the dream of material existence; that there is in reality nothing from which to be saved or forgiven. The distinction between illusion and reality is essential to this understanding. And even an understanding does not preclude a desire to hold on to unreality. I was shown an illustration of this reluctance while sleeping. I had a long and elaborate dream involving not being able to find nor help a loved on who was in trouble. There was snow so deep it couldn't be passed, along with many other impediments which produced anxiety and distress in my slumber. The dream seemed to go on forever. and I kept trying to climb out of it. But when I woke up, my first thought was of going back to sleep to see how the dream would end! As I was sliding back into sleep, the thought came to me that this wasn't necessary. Why should I care how it ended? Couldn't it end any way I wanted it to?? As I came back to conscious awareness, it occurred to me that this was a perfect analogy showing our desire to hold onto illusions. From this perspective I will notice my actions and thoughts today, looking at them from all sides to see if they are coming from God or my own personal ideas of how things should be. I am holding to the fact that God is All, and that I reflect this Love as my governing Principle. I gratefully accept this salvation today and always.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The starting-point of divine Science is that God, Spirit, is All-in-all, and that there is no other might nor Mind,--that God is Love, and therefore He is divine Principle.”

Science & Health Page 275 6-9

July 25, 2012 - What is your function?

A Course in Miracles Lesson #206 (review)

Central theme:

“I am not a body. I am free.

For I am still as God created me.”

Specific review: #(186) “Salvation of the world depends on me.”

"Germany 2006"
photo by Aarro Springton

So often I hear it said that humanity is too far gone for salvation. Looking at the material state of the world, this could seem true. I don't need to reiterate the travesties we hear about every day. You know them as well as I. This is why it's imperative for us to accept our function. And this doesn't mean that what we're doing now isn't important. On the contrary! Everything we do is of utmost importance. It's our function to open our hearts to accept what we should be doing every moment of our life. Part of today's lesson tells us that we have the gifts of God and we must give them where they are intended to be given. This is why it's essential that we allow ourselves to receive. We cannot give what we do not have. This giving takes many forms, and I'm sure you can identify many yourself. Recently I watched a documentary on a group of people whose average age is 80. These delightful people sing in live performances all over the world. Their songs are surprising and joyous, bringing happiness to all who hear them. This ever-changing group of joyful givers call themselves "Young @ Heart", and the film bears the same name. They inspire me to give of what I have been given, to be willing to share the salvation which is mine and yours. And so whenever I forget my true Self, the memory of these resplendent people will remind me that we're all here for each other, and that with giving we receive, and with receiving we give.

Mary Baker Eddy quotes:

"Knowing that Soul [God] and its attributes were forever manifested through man, [Jesus] healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, feet to the lame, thus bringing to light the scientific action of the divine Mind [God] on human minds and bodies and giving a better understanding of Soul [God] and salvation. Jesus healed sickness and sin by one and the same metaphysical process."

Science & Health Page 210:11-18

"Truth casts out error now as surely as it did nineteen centuries ago. All of Truth is not understood; hence its healing power is not fully demonstrated."

Science & Health Page 495:3-5

April 9, 2012 - Salvation is my only function here

ACIM Workbook Lesson 99

“Salvation is my only function here.”

Heather in Glacier National Park
photo by Aaron Springston

[Marsha's thought]

Our only function is seeing, knowing, and living Truth. It's rather difficult to understand that salvation and forgiveness are a part of the dream of material existence; that there is nothing from which to be saved or forgiven. The distinction between illusion and reality is essential to this understanding. And even an understanding does not preclude a desire to hold on to the unreality. I had a dream last night which illustrates how we want to keep our illusions. I had a long and elaborate dream involving not being able to find nor help a loved on who was in trouble. There were piles of snow so deep they couldn't be passed, along with many other impediments which produced anxiety and distress. It seemed to go on forever and I kept trying to climb out of it. But when I woke up, my first thought was going back to sleep to see how the dream would end! As I was sliding back into sleep, the thought came to me that this wasn't necessary. Why should I care how it ended? Couldn't it end any way I wanted it to?? As I came back to conscious awareness, it occurred to me that this was an exact analogy illustrating our desire to hold onto illusions. This experience has caused me to examine everything I've done today, looking at my actions and thoughts from all sides to see if they are coming from God or my own personal ideas of how things should be. I am holding to the fact that God is All, and that I reflect this Love as my governing Principle. I accept this salvation today and always.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The starting-point of divine Science is that God, Spirit, is All-in-all, and that there is no other might nor Mind,--that God is Love, and therefore He is divine Principle.”

Science & Health Page 275 6-9