July 1, 2012 - There's no place like Home

Fantasy Photography by Melanie Myhre

A Course in Miracles Lesson #182

“I will be still an instant and go home.”

Although I realize today's subject has nothing to do with the physical presence of home, it causes me to realize how I cherish that space. There is absolutely no place I'd rather be. If I suddenly had a month to do anything I wanted with no obligation, I would remain at home. I'd putter in the garden, I'd read, I'd sit on the back deck and watch the birds and wildlife -- I'd do all the things I do every day, but more of it!! Often I feel I'm in a cocoon of peaceful harmony. My dog loves to hang out and do nothing with me. Although my children are grown, the one who is with me on weekends loves to stay in his downstairs "man cave" and rarely leaves our end-of-the road haven. We live in the type of neighborhood where we freely call on one another for things as simple as borrowing an egg; as complex as fixing a car. It's a lifelong dream to be living this exact life, and I couldn't be happier. And so it seems natural to "be still an instant and go home". This lesson is asking us to quiet all the hubbub in our existence for just an instance, in order to feel the peace of God which is ours. And so I will today pause for many instants. I will sink deeper into the wonder of Truth, knowing all else is but a made-up dream of existence. When I hear anything which might cause me to think in a defensive way, I'll remember what is true and what is imagined. If the world has decided to live in an attack mode, defending against everything which it deems to be harmful, I will do my part in bringing in the dawn of Truth by accepting spiritual reality and rejecting material myth. An instant is all it takes to feel the presence of God!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“As mortals begin to understand Spirit, they give up the belief that there is any true existence apart from God.”

Science & Health Page 282:30-32

June 30, 2012 -Trust Yourself

A Course in Miracles Lesson #181

“I trust my brothers, who are one with me.”

"Joy at Great Wall of China"
photo by Aaron Springston

How easy it is to condemn others for their actions! As I look at my inner thoughts toward people, I see that I am projecting my fears and insecurities outward onto everyone today. The woman with the little boy whose sticky handprints dot my gallery's window, the couple who ignore my greeting and look through me as though I'm not there, the countless people who seem alternatively bored and critical -- they all combine to cause me to take today's lesson to heart and hold it there.  These lines from the workbook lesson #181 speak to the critical assessment I'm throwing at everyone: "When you attack a brother, you proclaim that he is limited by what you have perceived in him. You do not look beyond his errors. Rather, they are magnified, becoming blocks to your awareness of the Self that lies beyond your own mistakes, and past his seeming sins as well as yours." I'll always remember how this was brought home to me one day during a parade. I was standing outside by the door watching the festivities. A fellow shopkeeper on our street was telling me about a rude couple and how the woman had refused to speak to her because (in her opinion) she had tattoos and was a lesbian. She then pointed out the couple, who were walking down the sidewalk. They went into my gallery. I followed them in and began a conversation with the man. I asked him why he wasn't watching the parade. He gruffly said that they were on vacation and they had a schedule to keep; that they didn't have time for fun! He actually said this, in all seriousness. I persisted in talking to him and found out that his wife had lost her voice the year before. She was an attorney, and having been a court reporter myself for years, I know just how much lawyers like to talk! This was the woman the fellow shopkeeper had judged as being rude to her because she didn't respond verbally to a greeting. This so perfectly showed me how our own perceptions are put onto others, and how totally off the mark they can be! Once again, I vow to look past all notions I may have about my brothers, seeing their real Being as the image and likeness of God.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“I saw the love of God encircling the universe and man, filling all space, and that divine Love so permeated my own consciousness that I loved with Christlike compassion everything I saw.”

"We Knew Mary Baker Eddy" Page 68

June 29, 2012 - By Grace I Am Released

A Course in Miracles Lesson #180

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

Review of:

(169) "By grace I live. By grace I am released."

(170) "There is no cruelty in God and none in me.

"Ozark Mountains"
photo by Aaron Springston

For me, preparation for reception of Grace has but one essential quality: silence. Whether you call it meditation, prayer, communion, listening, it matters not. Be kind to yourself. Allow your heart to hear. There's a Joel Goldsmith book entitled "Practicing the Presence" which contains wonderful words speaking to this subject. One analogy he gives is of a person sitting in the dark and declaring that electricity gives light. Of course this is true, but we're still sitting in the dark until we flip the switch and make a connection with the source of the light. He states that nothing is going to happen to us, regardless of how many affirmations of truth we know or repeat, unless we attain the consciousness of that truth and realize our Oneness with the Source. I am particularly struck by the two statements in today's review: "By grace I live. By grace I am released" and "There is no cruelty in God and none in me." Recently I had a conversation with a friend in which it was disclosed that her in-laws and her husband had been abused by their father. The father has passed away and the three children, now in their 60s, suffer in numerous ways from these past actions. The mother knows this, but won't admit it happened. If only she could do this for her beloved children, they could all be set free. Everyone knows, but no one will acknowledge it. "By grace I live. By grace I am released." This grace is ours whether anyone gives it to us or not. This mother does not need to release her children, but they don't know this and so they remain trapped. How many situations do we feel ensnared by, when in actuality nothing can keep us in bondage. All we need do is realize our source is God. Nothing else matters.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"As aforetime, the spirit of the Christ, which taketh away the ceremonies and doctrines of men, is not accepted until the hearts of men are made ready for it."

Science & Health Page Page 131:22-25

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 27, 2012 - Is it God or ego?

"Martha Moore Stevens enchanting crowd
at Arkansas Metaphysical Society Meeting"

A Course In Miracles Lesson #178

Central Theme:

"God is but love and therefore so am I.

Review of:

(165) "Let not my mind deny the Thought of God."

(166) "I am entrusted with the gifts of God."

Gathering with others is a lovely way to be reminded of the Truth inherent in these statements. The Thought of God isn't our thinking about God, but our listening to the Thought which is God. I love to talk with others and hear how these Thoughts shine through the myths we have created for ourselves in daily life. More and more we realize what is True and what is simply habitual thinking, perpetuated by repetition. Often I will be troubled by something, and then when I speak it aloud I realize it isn't true. What a treat to bounce these thoughts off of others and have them reflected back at me, to test their veracity when viewed through the lens of Divine Thought. And how do you tell if it's coming from the one Source or your limited thinking? Does it make your heart sing and your mind feel at peace? Does it bless all equally along with yourself? Or do you feel an uneasiness that you can't exactly pinpoint, or perhaps you feel a sense of importance and superiority. These last two things are sure indicators that the thoughts are coming from your limiting sense of ego and not the One Mind, God.  "Be with those who help your being." Rumi --  And don't forget to be one of those helpful Beings!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“How empty are our conceptions of Deity! We admit theoretically that God is good, omnipotent, omnipresent, infinite, and then we try to give information to this infinite Mind. We plead for unmerited pardon and for a liberal outpouring of benefactions. Are we really grateful for the good already received? Then we shall avail ourselves of the blessings we have, and thus be fitted to receive more. Gratitude is much more than a verbal expression of thanks. Action expresses more gratitude than speech.”

Science & Health Page 3:17-27

June 26, 2012

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #177

Central Theme:

"God is but love and therefore so am I."

Review of:

(163) "There is no death. The Son of God is free."

(164) "Now are we one with Him Who is our Source."

"Mongolian Child"
photo by Aaron Springston

It seems we need constant reminders about what we are. “Now we are one with Him Who is our Source.” This statement from #164 is not something we are working toward, but a fact we are acknowledging as true now, always, with no beginning and no end. When we see there is no end, we see there is no beginning. There is not a first cause, but an only Cause. To underscore this daily reminder, I was recently talking with a little girl, maybe four years old, and she was telling me about one of her favorite books. In it, the characters, Max and Ruby, have trouble getting along. She told me that Max would mess up Ruby's tea parties all the time, and do other things that caused Ruby to be sad and mad. I asked her why she thought Max did these things. She told me that Max needed lessons. Wow! Out of the mouths of babes, huh?? Immediately I thought of our workbook lessons and why they are needed. When we understand that we are One with our Source, when we see ourselves as eternal, it's a lot easier to accept our perfection as not only possible, but perpetual. But we need reminders of this all the time, and these studies help us remember that which is so easy to forget: We are One with our Source, forever, and that One is Love, which I Am.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“When the final physical and moral effects of Christian Science are fully apprehended, the conflict between truth and error, understanding and belief, Science and material sense --foreshadowed by the prophets and inaugurated by Jesus -- will cease, and spiritual harmony reign.”

Science and Health Page 288:10–14

June 25, 2012 - Dissolving Anger

"Somewhere in Oklahoma"
photo by Aaron Springston

A Course in Miracles Lesson #176

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

Review of: (161) "Give me your blessing, holy Son of God." (162) "I am as God created me."

Recently I made a three-hour trip to pick up my son at a small airport in our area. As I was driving into town hoping to see a sign pointing me to the airport, I turned off on a road for some reason and within a short time knew I was going the wrong way. So I pulled into a gas station to ask directions. There were many cars lined up at the gas pumps, lots of cars parked at the convenience store section, and one pickup over to the side at the air pump. It seemed easiest to approach the pickup truck airing up its tire. I couldn't see any people as I approached as they were crouched down on the other side of the pickup.  As I rolled down my window and said, "Excuse me", the man stood up and threw his hat down with an explicative. Then a woman popped up and began cursing and kicking the tire. So I said, "Are you familiar with this area?" The man shouted, "What?" in my direction. So I quietly repeated my question. I continued smiling at him and seeing him in Love as he approached. By the time he got to the car, his demeanor had totally relaxed as he rested his arms on my open window and asked what I needed. Even though it was 100-degrees and his face was as red as his hair, a gentleness was shining in his countenance. The woman who was hopping up and down stopped and walked over to see what we were talking about. The atmosphere totally changed in that short exchange. One of the sentences in Lesson 161 states: "Today we practice differently, and take a stand against our anger, that our fears may disappear and leave room for love." It's not only our own personal anger we can take a stand against, but any and all of it! And that's because "God is Love and therefore so [are we]."

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“God is Love. Can we ask Him to be more? God is intelligence. Can we inform the infinite Mind of anything He does not already comprehend? Do we expect to change perfection? Shall we plead for more at the open fount, which is pouring forth more than we accept? The unspoken desire does bring us nearer the source of all existence and blessedness.”

Science & Health Page 2:23-30