June 11, 2013 - How am I Created?

"Mongolia 2009"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #162

“I am as God created me."

When we hear the above statement, "I am as God created me", we may think that this "me" is our body, which is subject to material circumstance. The same goes when we hear that we are created in the image and likeness of God. How could terrible things be perpetrated by the image and likeness of God? It must be that this body is not what is created by divine Mind, God. Does that make this body worthless, perhaps even abhorrent? Of course not!! By accepting our Being as an idea of divine Mind, we are freed to see the body as a compound idea, an aggregate creation, but not the image and likeness of God, which is spiritual. I remember how upset my oldest son was when he first heard the scientific statement of being, which is the Mary Baker Eddy quote below. It says that there is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. He was angry because he thought it was saying he wasn't smart, and he knew he was. "No intelligence in matter" means that you express all of the intelligence of divine Mind, and none of that Mind is found to originate or even exist in the material shell we call a body. The love we feel and express, the intelligence we utilize in a multitude of ways, these are not originated in a brain or a heart. But they are translated into expression through this human body. So the way I see it, human experience should be celebrated and utilized to its fullest! And that fullness comes from the acknowledgement of the Source of all goodness. "Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual."

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Question: What is the scientific statement of being?

Answer: There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all. Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal. Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual."

Science & Health Page 468:8-16

June 10, 2013 - Inner Peace

"Yellowstone National Park"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #161

“Give me your blessing, holy Son of God.”

Often in times of trouble, we seem to become stuck in our feelings, thinking there is no way out, perhaps wishing we could die. Mrs. Eddy posits that we will be surprised when we die and find out we're not dead! Salvation must be worked out here or hereafter, she tells us. I remember this in times of sadness or turmoil. There is no escape other than through an understanding that we are a reflection of God, good, and that everything else is unreal. By bringing thought back to this truth time and again, we begin to see the veracity of it and the falsity of any other way of seeing this experience. Our inner peace cannot be taken away, even if joy seems to have disappeared!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"’Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’ It should be thoroughly understood that all men have one Mind, one God and Father, one Life, Truth, and Love. Mankind will become perfect in proportion as this fact becomes apparent, war will cease and the true brotherhood of man will be established." Science & Health Page 467:16-20

June 9, 2013 - Be Yourself!

"South Africa Lake"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #160

“I am at home. Fear is the stranger here.”

Just be yourself! Countless times I heard this admonition from my mom. I don't recall wanting to think like my friends did, as much as wanting to have what they had and do what they did. And so then I'd hear from her, "If everyone was jumping off a cliff, would you do it, too?" "Well, yes, mom, I certainly would", I would tell her. It's so easy to fall into the habit of being a lemming and thinking as those around us do. The act of realizing our true heritage as the child of divine Mind is the beginning of freedom from this bondage of mortal mind. My home is Love. Anything else is a stranger in that home. And so I relax into the comfort of my true home, turning away from every fearful thought. This acronym for fear will help me do this: False Evidence Appearing Real.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The Apostle John says: "There is no fear in Love, but perfect Love casteth out fear. . . . He that feareth is not made perfect in Love." Here is a definite and inspired proclamation of Christian Science.”

Science & Health Page 410:17-21

June 8, 2013 - What is Healed?

"Forbidden City Acrobats"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #159

“I give the miracles I have received.”

When someone asks us for help with healing, we are not trying to change a physical condition, but rather to change thought about the situation. Although we tend to think there are certain laws of living which cannot be usurped, most of us have witnessed numerous examples of how this is not so. We have witnessed what appears to be a law set aside, and society generally thinks of this as supernatural intervention. In Christian Science, we call these events the demonstration of Truth. Today's ACIM workbook lesson asks us to give what we have received. This sharing of the understanding of our relationship to God is gained through our living of it. When we let ourselves slip into that space which releases all mortal thought, we allow the "Mind to be us, which was also Christ Jesus". Through this simple -- yet not always easy -- process, we give all we have accepted, and this is sometimes referred to as healing. I look forward to giving everything I have received, and by that giving, I will come to understand what it truly is.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Implicit faith in the Teacher and all the emotional love we can bestow on him, will never alone make us imitators of him. We must go and do likewise, else we are not improving the great blessings which our Master worked and suffered to bestow upon us. The divinity of the Christ was made manifest in the humanity of Jesus."

Science & Health Page 25:27-33   

June 7, 2013 - What Are We Receiving?

"Colorado Summer"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #158

“Today I learn to give as I receive.”

Before we learn to give as we receive, we must realize what we are receiving! It could be said we're receiving the gifts of God. But what is that? We are learning it is the knowledge that our true state is Spirit, that we are one with All That Is. We needn't worry that we're not good enough, that we don't know enough, that we've made too many mistakes to qualify as the reflection of God. All those thoughts have been propagated as fact, but they are only material belief. What we are receiving is this Truth, and that is what we give with every breath, with every inspiration.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Mind creates [Its] own likeness in ideas, and the substance of an idea is very far from being the supposed substance of non-intelligent matter. Hence the Father Mind is not the father of matter. The material senses and human conceptions would translate spiritual ideas into material beliefs, and would say that an anthropomorphic God, instead of infinite Principle,--in other words, divine Love,--is the father of the rain, ‘who hath begotten the drops of dew,’ who bringeth ‘forth Mazzaroth in his season,’ and guideth ‘Arcturus with his sons.’” 

Science & Health Page 257:12-21

June 6, 2013 - I Am God's Image

"China - 2009"
Photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #157

“Into His Presence would I enter now.”

"Practicing the Presence" is the first book I read by Joel Goldsmith. What wonderful, Life-affirming writings he has penned for us! Let us remember that we already are and always will be "in his Presence". The space "I enter now" is a shift in perception, a change of thought. This shift allows us to realize that we always were and always will be the image, the reflection, of God. I Am that I Am. If good news were reported in the media, it would be proclaiming instances of this yielding to Truth. I see it everywhere! I trust you do, too. That's what it's all about, huh? What I give, I receive. What I receive, I give. We are being "renewed by the transforming of our mind". We're transforming our mind into Mind, and entering into the kingdom of heaven. How lovely to know we have that choice!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“One moment of divine consciousness, or the spiritual understanding of Life and Love, is a foretaste of eternity. Time is a mortal thought, the divisor of which is the solar year. Eternity is God's measurement of Soul-filled years.”

Science & Health Page 598:23-28

June 5, 2013 - Trust

"Mongolian Mountaintop"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #156

“I walk with God in perfect holiness.”

Do you think you do -- or even can! -- "walk with God in perfect holiness"? How would a person do that? It certainly would involve giving up all need to know what's going to happen next. There must be a certain yielding of self will; a yielding to being led by Love, by Mind, by Truth. I must trust that these attributes of God, in which we share, are reliable reality, here and now, forever. Today I will follow intuition, listening for divine Mind to guide.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“We must look where we would walk, and we must act as possessing all power from Him in whom we have our being.”

Science & Health Page 264:10-12

June 4, 2013 - Choose Again

"Reflections in Vietnam Memorial"
photo by Aaron Springston

A Course in Miracles Lesson #155

“I will step back and let Him lead the way.”

Our burgeoning understanding of the one Principle is setting us free from the bonds of mortal laws. And yet sometimes it seems as though we're back to baby steps, faltering over the simplest of decisions and becoming fearful of all the what-ifs. At times like this, we tend to say we're having a bad day. I often laugh when people tell me this, observing that the day has nothing to do with it; it's our perception of events. Well, I've had a difficult day today. That's the way I took it. It seems that once something goes awry, our little self starts to expect more of the same. And so we get it. But acceptance of myself as God's image and likeness allows me to  step back from the planning and worry which can so easily become habitual. I don't like the choices I made today, so tomorrow I'll choose again!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Spiritual sense, contradicting the material senses, involves intuition, hope, faith, understanding, fruition, reality. Material sense expresses the belief that mind is in matter. This human belief, alternating between a sense of pleasure and pain, hope and fear, life and death, never reaches beyond the boundary of the mortal or the unreal. When the real is attained, which is announced by Science, joy is no longer a trembler, nor is hope a cheat. Spiritual ideas, like numbers and notes, start from Principle, and admit no materialistic beliefs. Spiritual ideas lead up to their divine origin, God, and to the spiritual sense of being.” 

Science & Health Page 298:13-24

June 3, 2013 - I'm Listening!

"Fun at Crystal Bridges"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #154

“I am among the ministers of God.”

As I ponder what it means to be a minister of God, many thoughts come to mind. First I think of my half-brother, Little George Havens, traveling evangelist. He was quite short and very flamboyant! I can still hear him singing, to the tune of Battle Hymn of the Republic, "The circuit ridin' preacher traveled through the mire and mud; preached about the fiery furnace and of Noah and the flood". What a character he was! He spend his life spreading the Word of God as he knew it. And he helped countless people find hope along the way. But did he ever listen for the voice for God, or did he just recite what he had come to believe as Truth? That, I can't say. We can only know our own heart, not others'. And so today I will examine my motives in my interactions. Am I truly listening for that still, small voice when I respond to life's situations? That's a question I'll ask more than once today!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Millions of unprejudiced minds--simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert--are waiting and watching for rest and drink. Give them a cup of cold water in Christ's name, and never fear the consequences.”

Science & Health Page 570:14-17 

June 2, 2013 - Acceptance of Good

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #153

“In my defenselessness my safety lies.”

The world we live in teaches us we should try to defend against any contingency which may come up -- i.e., get your inoculations, take out insurance for every possible disaster, check your blood pressure, teach your children not to talk to strangers -- the list goes on and on. Acceptance of good as the only reality is where our safety lies. Is it even possible to protect our mortal selves from every material malady which may befall us? Of course not. But we can be aware of the still, small voice which is always guiding us in our every action, when we listen. Trust yourself! Listen to your instinctual prompts. This is where safety lies. I now see that defensive behavior is nothing more than trusting in suppositional evil more than the good which is God. Trusting Mind, Soul, Spirit, Principle, Truth, Life, Love, God, is how safety is experienced. Then a peace you've always dreamed of is actualized, and you find yourself imparting that peace to others, through your living of it.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Instead of tenaciously defending the supposed rights of disease, while complaining of the suffering disease brings, would it not be well to abandon the defense, especially when by so doing our own condition can be improved and that of other persons as well?”

Science & Health Page 348:21-25

June 1, 2013 - My Decision

Photo by Aaron Springston

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #152

“The power of decision is my own.”

A dear friend sends out a monthly newsletter. The focus of the latest one is how much he enjoyed a movie about Jackie Robinson. He tells us of how racial prejudice has changed since the days he was a child. While he acknowledges that its face has changed, he feels it is still prevalent, and perhaps worse. Today's topic addresses this in its expansive infinity: "The power of decision is my own."  The way I think about things can be changeable, but the way I really think about things, in my function as a reflection of God, is unchangeable. Basically the only decision I need make is whether to think in changeable, material beliefs or allow myself the freedom to think as God does. I know this can seem impossible, but it is certainly a worthy endeavor! My parents considered themselves to be free of prejudice. After all, my dad had married a Chicano girl from South Texas, and in 1931 this was tantamount to marrying outside of "your race", which wasn't often done. I'll always remember a day when I was around 10 years old and we riding in the car. My mom and dad were talking about Sammy Davis, Jr., a black man, marrying May Britt, a very white woman. I piped up and said, "I wouldn't mind marrying a black man". Dead silence ensued. Not another word was said until we got to our destination and my mom took me aside and told me never to say anything like that again. I didn't understand it then, and I don't understand it now. The difference is that now I have the option of making a decision to stand with Oneness as my only choice in Life. We are all the children of God. There is no decision to be made when you leave aside the strange human interpretations we have placed on everything in this world. So I will continue to strive to recognize what we have created in this illusive world, look through it to the other side, and live that as my reality. Namaste' to the World!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The point for each one to decide is, whether it is mortal mind or immortal Mind that is causative. We should forsake the basis of matter for metaphysical Science and its divine Principle.”

Science & Health Page 195:11-14

May 31, 2013 - Sawtelle dogs

"Happy Dog in Colorado"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIIM Workbook Lesson #151

“All things are echoes of the Voice for God.”

I love the affirmative nature of our metaphysical studies! It is not necessary to deconstruct ourselves in order to figure out what is wrong so we can fix it. That belief doesn't even exist in the vastness of spiritual sense we are building. By acknowledgement that all true seeing, hearing, and feeling, is spiritual -- or "echoes of the Voice for God", as today's lesson expresses it -- all we need do is practice this truth and the error falls away. Tonight was another great book club night for me. We discussed "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle". It could be described as a book about dogs-- and it is that, and more. But it left me hanging -- on so many levels! Materially, it left unanswered questions. Metaphysically, it could have gone all the way, but it stopped short of everything at which it hinted. Perhaps that's why I loved the book! It showed me what could be, and described why it isn't. That's what we see every day, and that's what we aspire to surpass -- the beliefs that we've accepted this as the way it has to be. This story asks us to take a journey which, in many ways, is not plausible to our belief system.. I don't know where those what-ifs will take me, but I do know it'll be a fun story. Just like this book! Namaste', one and All!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Your mirrored reflection is your own image or likeness. If you lift a weight, your reflection does this also. If you speak, the lips of this likeness move in accord with yours. Now compare man before the mirror to his divine Principle, God. Call the mirror divine Science, and call man the reflection. Then note how true, according to Christian Science, is the reflection to its original. As the reflection of yourself appears in the mirror, so you, being spiritual, are the reflection of God. The substance, Life, intelligence, Truth, and Love, which constitute Deity, are reflected by creation; and when we subordinate the false testimony of the corporeal senses to the facts of Science, we shall see this true likeness and reflection everywhere.”

Science & Health Page 515:25-6

May 30, 2013 - Opening to Reality

ACIM Workbook Lesson #150

Review of:

#139 "I will accept Atonement for myself." #140 "Only salvation can be said to cure."

The main thought to hold to in this review: “My mind holds only what I think with God."

Remember the hit movie, "The Matrix"? There were some profound metaphysical principles addressed! I particularly liked when Neo is in what appears to be a center for extraordinary behavior. He goes up to a person bending a spoon without touching it. Neo tries to bend the spoon with his mind, but cannot. He is told that the way to do this is through knowing the truth: The spoon is not there. And this is what metaphysical healing is all about. Today's workbook lesson review makes plain that the only cure is the understanding that there is no place where sickness can abide. In other words, the spoon is not there. Awakening to this knowledge brings with it the revelation that all which seems to be unlike good, God, has no reality. If we are attempting to change a material condition, it's just like trying to bend the spoon by the power of your mind. Only by the knowledge of its unreality is it seen for what it actually is: an idea. We are all ideas of divine Mind. We are all One in this reality. What will this realization unfold in experience today? I am open with no expectations!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The Science of Mind denies the error of sensation in matter, and heals with Truth. Medical science treats disease as though disease were real, therefore right, and attempts to heal it with matter. If disease is right it is wrong to heal it. Material methods are temporary, and are not adapted to elevate mankind."

Science & Health: Page 381:22-27

May 29, 2013 - Learning a new Language, of Spirit

"June and June"
photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #149

Review of:

#137 "When I am healed I am not healed alone." #138 "Heaven is the decision I must make."

The main thought to hold to in this review: “My mind holds only what I think with God.”

Through the practice of releasing any meaning I've placed things, I'm learning a new language. This is the language of Spirit, which we're discovering in our study of divine metaphysics. For instance, the word "Spirit" as I used it in the last sentence has an entirely different meaning from its use on the Ghost Tours at the Crescent Hotel! The capitalization of "Spirit" not only creates a synonym for God, but incorporates all the other nuances which are a part of its spiritual interpretation. For instance: Spirit is tangible; Spirit is substance. It "blesses the multiplication of its own pure ideas". (MBE) As with the learning of anything new, it requires practice for it to become second-nature to us; to be able to incorporate these ideas into our lives without specific thought of doing so. As we bring this Truth to our illusionary beliefs, we understand that healing is universal, we see there is no choice between heaven and anything else. It's what we know when allowing "what we think with God" to be heard. Have a joyous day everyone!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“When we realize that Life is Spirit, never in nor of matter, this understanding will expand into self-completeness, finding all in God, good, and needing no other consciousness."

Science & Health Page 264:15-19

May 28, 2013 - Defenses and Yielding

"Bonfire in Mongolia"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Lesson #148

Review of: #135 "If I defend myself I am attacked." #136 "Sickness is a defense against the truth."

The main idea to hold to in this review: “My mind holds only what I think with God.”

These two review topics take us all the way down the rabbit hole! If you simply want feel-good, improve-your-relationships, make-more-money types of reading material, I suggest you stay away from this. And I don't mean that in an ugly way. I've found that a momentary recognition of the Truth of Being leads me to want more. But I've known many people who don't want to go there. And that's cool, too. The present material beliefs we espouse and demonstrate in daily life are comfortable to us, and it can be hard to let them go. Sometimes we have held on to stubborn memories of the past for so long that we can't seem to dig our way out and up. These things can be frightening, especially if we've convinced ourselves we don't like change. So if you start to become afraid while trying on the new thoughts you are now having, realize that Love is all there is. Sing a Beatles song or two! Do anything you can to cultivate joy. Live Life fully in the whirlpool of divine Love! Go all the way down the rabbit hole, knowing every step is sure when you walk with Love. 

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “Mind, supreme over all its formations and governing them all, is the central sun of its own systems of ideas, the life and light of all its own vast creation; and man is tributary to divine Mind.”

Science & Health Page 209:5-8

May 27, 2013 - Reality

ACIM Workbook Lesson #147

Review of: #133 "I will not value what is valueless." #134 "Let me perceive forgiveness as it is."

The main thought to hold to in this review: “My mind holds only what I think with God.”

God is All. I am a reflection of that all-ness: Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love and everything which that implies. Namaste' ~~~

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Everything good or worthy, God made. Whatever is valueless or baneful, He did not make, -- hence its unreality. "

Science & Health Page 525: 20:22

May 26, 2013 - Live Love Out Loud

"Black Snake in Ozark Woods"
photo by Chris Fischer

A Course in Miracles Lesson #146

Review of:

#131 "No one can fail who seeks to reach the truth." #132 "I loose the world from all I thought it was."

The main thought to hold to in this review: “My mind holds only what I think with God.”

When I read today's review and saw the words, "I loose the world from all I thought it was", my mind immediately went to something I've decided to believe about spiders. I never watch doom-and-gloom television shows, and steadfastly refuse to listen to people's stories of their fear of nature and its consequences. But recently I saw a short snippet of a video about brown recluse spiders, which are prevalent in our area. The narrator of this video was telling us how spiders don't attack unless they're surprised or bothered in some way, and they showed a clip of a spider resting on a stack of wash cloths with a person's hand going toward them. Yikes!! Well, that image has stuck in my mind to the extent that I look for spiders on every towel or washcloth I touch. And the odd thing is, I try to pretend I'm not doing this! Who do I think I'm fooling? Myself? God? This is the type of fearful living which I refuse to acknowledge, but yet I'm doing it. Now, I can choose to analyze this behavior and rationalize that I don't worry about spiders in other places so why here. But that's all it would be: a material rationalization, trying to convince myself there's nothing to fear. So in following today's teachings, when this thought comes to my mind, I'll ask myself what God thinks about spiders. And that's how I'll think of them, too, because "my mind holds only what I think with God". If I'm to "loose the world from all I thought it was", doesn't this include fears and worries about what-if situations? Our review tells us we cannot fail when seeking to reach the truth of Being. I rejoice as these pure spiritual ideas replace any fearful thoughts which may intrude. Harmonious actions are assured in this space where I realize the nothingness of material beliefs and the Truth of spiritual reality, leaving me free to live Love right out loud!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Science reveals only one Mind, and this one shining by its own light and governing the universe, including man, in perfect harmony. This Mind forms ideas, its own images, subdivides and radiates their borrowed light, intelligence, and so explains the Scripture phrase, 'whose seed is in itself.' Thus God's ideas 'multiply and replenish the earth.' The divine Mind supports the sublimity, magnitude, and infinitude of spiritual creation.”

Science & Health Page 510:28-6

May 25, 2013 - Freedom of Thought

"Ancient Enigma"
clay sculpture by Ken Starbird

ACIM Workbook Lesson #145

Review of:

#129 "Beyond this world there is a world I want."

#130 "It is impossible to see two worlds."

The main thought to hold to in this review:

“My mind holds only what I think with God.”

This is a time of rapid change in thought. Most everyone I meet senses that something important is in the air. I notice myself doing things differently without planning a change. Think about it! Aren't you evolving into more You? As we are becoming aware of unseen realities, we're also becoming more of ourSelves. We're doing things we never considered possible in the past. A good friend, who is a veterinarian, is allowing herself to communicate with animals on an entirely different level than when she started her career.  I know a woman who gardens and is experimenting with talking to the deer and other animals who want to eat her vegetables. We are all waking up to new ways of living -- or is it  old ways of Being?! When my mind 'holds only what I think with God', the world I see and experience is one of common ground amongst everyone and everything. We are not different, you and I. We may have convinced ourselves that the material differences we see in each other make us separate, as well they may. But look past all of that to your heritage as a child of God. Let go of preconceived notions about how things are or should be. Let's allow ourselves this freedom of thought -- and see where it takes us!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“When will the ages understand the Ego [note capitalization], and realize only one God, one Mind or intelligence?”

Science & Health Page 204:19-20

May 24, 2013 - What Do I Want?

"Yellowstone Park Moon"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #144

Review of: #127 "There is no love but God's."

#128 "The world I see holds nothing that I want.”

And the main thought to hold to in this review:

“My mind holds only what I think with God.”

One of our review topics opens the door to passionate discussion: 'The world I see holds nothing that I want'. That sentence can be interpreted as saying I shouldn't enjoy the beautiful life which unfolds every day. For instance, today was the most glorious day, with perfect temperatures and mild breezes energizing me as I played in the flower garden. Everything from cooking and cleaning to playing Scrabble with an old friend was blissfully full of joy and love. How could that not be something that I want? The other part of our review tells us, 'There is no love but God's'. Everything I experienced today demonstrated the spiritual reality of my existence. Not everyone would enjoy digging in the dirt, and scrubbing the floor, and chopping vegetables, and being outscored in a game of Scrabble! But it was my experience unfolding in an individual way which reflected this Love that is God, which allowed "my mind [to] hold(s) only what I think with God". It's this living Love which brings the experience. The great thing about this is that we won't ever be at the end of these experiences! It's an eternal unfolding of Love, God. This unfoldment brings unpredictable adventures in harmony when we listen and follow the still, small voice within. Although it's all a joy to experience, it's not the activity which I desire, it's the Love being expressed by it. So I can truthfully say, 'The world holds nothing that I want', because what I want is to know Love, allowing experience to unfold. I can hardly wait to start another day, fresh with the full breath of Life creating my every moment.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“When the divine precepts are understood, they unfold the foundation of fellowship, in which one mind is not at war with another, but all have one Spirit, God, one intelligent source, in accordance with the Scriptural command: 'Let this Mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.' Man and his Maker are correlated in divine Science, and real consciousness is cognizant only of the things of God.”

Science & Health Page 276:4-11

May 23, 2013 - Impeccable in My Word

"Yellowstone National Park"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #143:

Review of: #125 "In quiet I receive God's Word today." #126  "All that I give is given to myself."

And the main thought to hold to in these review: “My mind holds only what I think with God.”

Once again, I am reminded of the Toltec wisdom as translated by Don Miguel Ruiz in "The Four Agreements". The first agreement is, "Be impeccable in your word." It has been a number of years since I've read this book and am not sure where he takes us with this agreement, but in reading today's review those words came to mind. Being impeccable in our word usually means to do what we say we're going to do, to be honest, to speak truth. The latter definition, to speak truth, is so often qualified by words such as "whatever is true for you". This is one of those new-age axioms which is a combination of a qualifier and a cop-out. People say things such as, "My truth may not be your truth." In the material world, this is very much so. But in the world we're learning of, the spiritual reality of our Being, there is only one Truth. Mortal mind, ego, fights against this and tells us that if there is only one truth, then we won't have individuality, we will be giving up free will, and we will all be the same. Looked at from another perspective, perhaps that's what happens to us when we steadfastly believe the material concepts which have been fed to us every day of our life. What if  freedom comes from being open to the reality of Spirit? On the chance that this could be true freedom, it certainly seems worth a try, doesn't it? To quietly "receive God's Word" seems to me to be the ultimate in being "impeccable in my word". I won't have to rely on deciphering what's right and wrong, truth and lie, or any other gauge I've set up for determining what to do. I need only be aware of what "my mind holds" with God. By this awareness and the expression thereof, I allow myself to give and receive with every thought and action. There is no room for anything else when I fill my thought with Truth.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“There is but one I, or Us, but one divine Principle, or Mind, governing all existence; man and woman unchanged forever in their individual characters, even as numbers which never blend with each other, though they are governed by one Principle. All the objects of God's creation reflect one Mind, and whatever reflects not this one Mind, is false and erroneous, even the belief that life, substance, and intelligence are both mental and material.”

Science & Health Page 511:11-19