Rehabilitation and Training

photo credit: Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #89

Review: “I am entitled to miracles.” and “Let miracles replace all grievances.”

The Dog Whisperer, (whom I’ve mentioned often in these writings) Cesar Millan, tells us he rehabilitates dogs and trains people. He observes that dogs live in the moment. When he is helping people to understand a dog which seems maimed by past experiences in its life, he always tells us that feeling sorry for the animal is of no benefit. How can this be? The dog is hurting and we're being asked to deny that? Yes!! This is why we are learning that it's necessary to give up all beliefs -- not just those we deem to be "bad", but all material beliefs. By letting them go and replacing them with an openness of thought which allows us to hear the Truth of our Being, we experience the miracle which is the natural order of Life. It may not seem logical to say that we can simply release feelings of fear and anger. They can appear very real to us, but if we stop and examine them, do they have any purpose other than to bind us to the past? One dog Cesar worked with was afraid to walk on any floor without a carpet, because it had once gone sliding into a glass door. Upon investigation of its people's reactions, they had immediately reinforced the dog's fears by petting, commiserating, and talking about what a horrible experience it had been. They were holding the dog in fear by acts they thought of as compassion. What Cesar explains is that dogs live in the moment, unless they're held in the past by everyone around them. I’m so grateful for every experience which helps me to discern between belief and reality -- especially when it's shown to me by a dog!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“When an accident happens, you think or exclaim, 'I am hurt!' Your thought is more powerful than your words, more powerful than the accident itself, to make the injury real." Science & Health Page 397:12-16

March 19, 2015 - Choose the Miracle

"St. Patrick's Parade in Eureka Springs"
photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #78

"Let miracles replace all grievances."

I'm so happy to see today's topic which asks me to choose one person and see them as God sees them, with pure eyes, rather than with all the muddled grievances I may be holding. A few days ago, I had a brief conversation with a woman which I found to be so distasteful that I nearly told her so! After we parted, I kept thinking of things I could have said to her -- none of which were coming from Love. The conversation recurred in thought until I realized what I was doing -- replaying the past and practicing what I could say to her in the future. Yikes! It was pretty clear I was choosing a grievance over a miracle. "Each grievance stands like a dark shield of hate before the miracle it would conceal." (ACIM Workbook Lesson #78) So although the conversation is still popping up in thought -- or else I wouldn't be writing about it! -- I now tell it that it isn't important, it's not my problem unless I choose to hold onto it. The miracle of forgiveness which is showing itself by this practice will shine forth when I clear the way. How do I love? Let me count the ways!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Human affection is not poured forth vainly, even though it meet no return. Love enriches the nature, enlarging, purifying, and elevating it. The wintry blasts of earth may uproot the flowers of affection, and scatter them to the winds; but this severance of fleshly ties serves to unite thought more closely to God, for Love supports the struggling heart until it ceases to sigh over the world and begins to unfold its wings for heaven."

Science & Health Page 57:22-30

March 18, 2015 - Softly Changing Beliefs

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #77

"I am entitled to miracles."

I'm beginning to see the difference in changing my mind and releasing beliefs. If I change my mind about something, I'm more than likely exchanging one belief for another. I have always had a prejudice against the word "miracle". In Christian Science, I learned there are no such things because what we think of as miracles are simply the way that things ought to be. It is implied in material interpretations that a miracle sets aside a physical law and that this is done by a special compensation from God. But in divine metaphysics, it is the laws of Spirit which have been set aside by our material beliefs. So I am most delighted to see that slowly but surely I am releasing my material beliefs about this word -- and many other things! I'm not changing my mind about this, but letting go of my long-held beliefs about the definition of the word. Every day, fewer and fewer things cause me to cringe. It doesn't matter if it's a political opinion, a person's actions, or my understanding of what something means, I'm becoming softer, and it feels really good. I'm ready to accept all the goodness, no matter what it's named!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"A miracle fulfills God's law, but does not violate that law. This fact at present seems more mysterious than the miracle itself."

Science & Health Page 134:31-32