Destroy Erroneous Belief With Truth

Photo from Aaron Springston

An article was making the rounds on social media which concerned a public school in Tennessee forcing children to participate in Muslim practices. The comments to this post ranged from mildly ignorant to wildly speculative. Finally, someone named Doug calmly recited all the reasons this is not happening, stating that the article is a satirical joke, and nicely asking if all the responders felt silly for believing it. In other words, The Emperor has no clothes!!  We see this same scenario take place numerous times a day, in some form or fashion, and usually we look the other way — possibly because it’s happening on the television news! We must speak truth to error of all sorts. I encourage everyone to refute lies which are “going viral”. May the calm voices of reason prevail!

“Erroneous belief is destroyed by truth. Change the evidence, and that disappears which before seemed real to this false belief, and the human consciousness rises higher.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health  Page 297:12-15

“Complete abstraction is the natural condition of the mind. But part of it is now unnatural. It does not look on everything as one. It sees instead but fragments of the whole, for only thus could it invent the partial world you see. The purpose of all seeing is to show you what you wish to see. All hearing but brings to your mind the sounds it wants to hear.”

A Course in Miracles W-161.2:1-6

Laugh and Choose Again!

I'm listening to Eckhart Tolle's classic book, A New Earth. It seems quite appropriate at this time of quickly-changing values. As consciousness unfolds into form, we are witnessing fearful reactions from millions of people who are stuck in old ways of thinking. Living from Love should be as easy as pie, but apparently mortal mind (as Mrs. Eddy refers to it, or ego as it’s known in A Course in Miracles) can misinterpret anything in multitudinous ways. Eckhart has reminded me that every one of us who accepts this shift from fear to Love helps to pave the way for others to move into this space. While every thought we have is important, let's not beat ourselves up when we feel we have failed -- because thoughts of failure and guilt are, once again, the ego jerking our chain. Let's learn to laugh at ourselves as we choose again and go forward with joy!

“Erroneous belief is destroyed by truth. Change the evidence, and that disappears which before seemed real to this false belief, and the human consciousness rises higher.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 297:12-15

“There is a stranger in our midst, who comes from an idea so foreign to the truth he speaks a different language, looks upon a world truth does not know, and understands what truth regards as senseless. Stranger yet, he does not recognize to whom he comes, and yet maintains his home belongs to him, while he is alien now who is at home. And yet, how easy it would be to say, ‘This is my home. Here I belong, and will not leave because a madman says I must.’”

A Course in Miracles W-160.2:1-4

Love Leaves No Room For Fear

Glacier National Park

A friend went on an 8-month camping trip to remote regions of the United States. She’s 74-years-young and she jumped into her car with a pup tent, a few blankets and changes of clothing, her sketch pad, her dog — and not much else! She slept under the stars, when possible by a river, and met many interesting people, while getting quite an education about Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Oregon, Arizona, and Utah. As I related some of Lizzy’s adventures to a mutual friend, she said she could never do anything like that until she “conquered her fear”. Hum, what an interesting concept! I suppose we are taught that fear is something to be overcome, but I think of it as something to be replaced. I suggested she start by ceasing to listen to or watch the news, and definitely not to watch any crime dramas on television or horror movies. She thought I was joking, as she can’t imagine life without any of those activities. The conversation caused me to stop and think about the things I’m indulging unnecessarily which may bring on angst. I find there are a few!

"One moment of divine consciousness, or the spiritual understanding of Life and Love, is a foretaste of eternity."

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 589: 8-11

“Into Christ’s Presence will we enter now, serenely unaware of everything except His shining face and perfect Love. The vision of His face will stay with you, but there will be an instant which transcends all vision, even this, the holiest. This you will never teach, for you attained it not through learning. Yet the vision speaks of your rememberance of what you knew that instant, and will surely know again.”

A Course in Miracles W-157.9:1-4

Peace For the Restless

Photo courtesy of Aaron Springston

Often we realize change is necessary in our lives, but various reasons may keep us from moving forward. Perhaps there are factors of fear, stubbornness, or hedonistic desires involved in our reluctance. Almost 30 years ago, I was prompted to make some major changes. I brought my children to Eureka Springs and started a new life. We changed everything from our furniture to our way of thinking and daily activities. The cleansing effect of this change brought happiness and peace where drama and turmoil had been before. Through an in-depth study of the works of Mary Baker Eddy, and eventually A Course in Miracles, life has become a walk on the path of “perfect holiness” — for which I am most grateful. Accepting that “God is Love and so am I” brings peace to the restless soul. Namaste …

"… we must first turn our gaze in the right direction, and then walk that way. We must form perfecta models in thought and look at them continually, or we shall never carve them out in grand and noble lives."

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 247:25-29

“There is a way of living in the world that is not here, although it seems to be. You do not change appearance, though you smile more frequently. Your forehead is serene; your eyes are quiet. And the ones who walk the world as you do recognize their own. Yet those who have not yet perceived the way will recognize you also, and believe that you are like them, as you were before.”

A Course in Miracles W-155.1:1-5

Seeing Love

We are the consciousness of God, or divine Mind. With this realization we are stepping into a new/old world. Our expanding understanding is allowing natural shifts in our lives. But it's easy to slip back into discarded ways of thinking, and I've done so more than once. I've been defending silly behavior on my part, lashing out if anyone comes close to exposing my foolishness. I must keep in mind that when I judge others, I judge myself. When I defend, I become defenseless. When I live in Love, I am among the ministers of God. One of my favorite statements from A Course in Miracles is, "Choose again!" And so when I find myself indulging in erroneous thinking and/or actions, I won’t beat myself up metaphorically; but rather shall remember I can, literally, change my choice and go forward with joy! 

“People go into ecstasies over the sense of a corporeal Jehovah, though with scarcely a spark of love in their hearts; yet God is Love, and without Love, God, immortality cannot appear.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health 453:14-15

“But see the Love of God in you, and you will see it everywhere because it is everywhere.”

A Course in Miracles T-7.VII.10:4

Fall in Love

Photo courtesy of Richard Quick

"May you fall madly in love this year ...in love with someone who unhinges your tired trajectory, in love with a spouse of several years who might be aching for lightning, in love with demanding children and crazy relatives ... in love with the particular pedigree of genius insanity that has perhaps claimed you in spite of your reluctance .. and certainly in love with an animal, a cloud, a redwood, the wild .. these at least once a day.

May you fall in love with this fragile jewel of a world, with hard work, real learning, just causes, petitioning and prayers. May you fall in love with wonder itself, with the grand mystery, with all that feeds you in order that you may live .. and with the responsibility that that confers.

May you fall in love with heartbreak and seeing how it's stitched into everything.

May you fall in love with the natural order of things and with tears, tenderness and humility. May this be a magnificent year for you.

May you fall deeply, madly, hopelessly, inextinguishably in love."

~ Rachelle Lamb: Poetess

“The course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however, at removing the blocks to the awareness of love’s presence, which is your natural inheritance. The opposite of love is fear, but what is all-encompassing can have no opposite.”

A Course in Miracles T-in.1:6-8 

“From Love and from the light and harmony which are the abode of Spirit, only reflections of good can come. All things beautiful and harmless are ideas of Mind. Mind [Love] creates and multiplies them, and the product must be mental.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 280:4-8 

Justifiable Defense?

 

Photo of Unknown Origin

The belief in separation fosters fear. Fear and cruelty go hand in hand. Fear causes us to act defensively: standing up for our loved ones, along with values which are of importance to us, and our way of life. To this defensive end, we are willing to attack others in both our words and actions, not listening to the voice of sanity which divine Mind is forever supplying. This sentence from today’s Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson speaks to these defenses: “It is their enemies who are unreasonable and insane, while they are always merciful and just.” As I witness attack thoughts around me today, I will remember that those propounding such ideas believe they are justified in their defenses, and I will see them as a child of Love, knowing they will see our commonality, also.

“And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 497:24-28

“It seems to be the enemy without that you attack. Yet your defense sets up an enemy within; an alien thought at war with you, depriving you of peace, splitting your mind into two camps which seem wholly irreconcilable. For love now has an ‘enemy,’ an opposite; and fear, the alien, now needs your defense against the threat of what you really are.”

A Course in Miracles - W-170.3:1-3