June 24, 2014 - At Home with Happiness

photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #175

Central Theme: "God is but love and therefore so am I." Review of: #159 "I give the miracles I have received." #160 "I am at home. Fear is the stranger here."   

I'll always remember a man who came in the gallery and told me that he thought Eureka Springs was stuck in a time warp. He seemed to think this was a detrimental thing so I considered what he meant. Of course, it's not wise to be stuck in the past, so I asked him if that's what he thought. Yes, he said, but even more than that he found the people here to be oblivious to the outer world. He actually asked if we watched television and had computers here! He said that everyone he had met was happy, and if we knew what was going on in the world we wouldn't be. Wow!! I really liked that he saw us in this way, but, as we know, it's more than that. I know many happy people who are aware of what's going on out there. Perhaps this is what is meant by "being in this world but not of it". This happiness we exhibit is being shared unselfishly with all who wander into our world. We give our acceptance of Life to everyone we meet. With the understanding that God is love and so am I, there is nothing to fear. To live Love is to claim peace and express it in every action and thought. This man caused me to examine what it is which allows us to live this way, and I'm happy with what I see! I'd be willing to bet he's had a few thoughts along these lines, too! He's probably out there scattering joy just like we're doing here in Eureka. It's contagious!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Beauty, wealth, or fame is incompetent to meet the demands of the affections, and should never weigh against the better claims of intellect, goodness, and virtue. Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it.”

Science & Health Page 57:15

June 23, 2014 - Am I Projecting?

ACIM Workbook Lesson #174

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

photo by Arthur Lau-Sed

Review of: #157 "Into His Presence would I enter now." #158 "Today I learn to give as I receive."

I made a blanket statement about a lot of people the other day. It still echoes in my ears and I've examined why I said it. I said to a friend when he inquired about business: "Everyone seems to be dull, uninterested and uninteresting." Quickly, I remembered that when I'm pointing a finger at someone, three are pointing back at me. Yes, I was being uninterested and uninteresting, and yes, I was accusing everyone else of being the same. Yikes! This is definitely not being the reflection of divine Love, and it's most certainly not giving what I am receiving as the expression of God. I am so grateful for dear friends who provide a sounding board, helping me to see the error of my ways. Namasté!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

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

Science & Health Page 589: 8-11

June 22, 2014 - I Am Not Helpless

ACIM Workbook Lesson #173

Central Theme: “God is but love and therefore so am I.” Review of:

#155 "I will step back and let Him lead the way." #156 "I walk with God in perfect holiness."

Today there was a bird trapped between the roof and the ceiling in my gallery. We could hear its frantic cheeps and flutterings for hours. It would pause for a few minutes, then start again. I felt helpless. When a customer commented on it, I told her I was heartbroken, but there was nothing I could do. And that woke me up!! I talk about kinship with all life, I espouse Oneness, and I profess to practice spiritual discernment. What's the use if I think I'm helpless?? I immediately began to affirm the ever-presence of divine Mind, guiding all action. I silently told the little bird to calm down and look around, to look for light and go to it. I assured her that if she got into that space, she could get out of it! And that was the last I heard of the bird. Did it find its way out or die? Which "light" did it go to? Whichever one it was, its friends were very happy. It was well after dark when I walked to my car, and along the road in the trees many birds were chirping in the same voice I'd heard all afternoon. I don't remember birds singing at night on that stretch of road. Maybe they always do and I just haven't been listening. Whatever the case, the bird and I are at peace.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"All of God’s creatures, moving in the harmony of Science, are harmless, useful, indestructible."

Science & Health Page 514:28-30

June 21, 2014 - New World Every Day

"June Snow, Utah"

ACIM Workbook Lesson #172

Central Theme: “God is but love and therefore so am I”

Review of:

#153 “In my defenselessness my safety lies.”

#154 “I am among the ministers of God.”

"I wake up in a new world every day!" I jokingly tell people this when I don't remember that I know them, yet they're repeat customers to Eureka Thyme. As often as not, someone will tell me it's a good thing to wake to a new world -- and I agree. Waking up to a new world, letting go of so-called mistakes, releasing long-held beliefs -- what's wrong with that?! Some might think this is silly, and that I would be giving up the good things along with the bad. But what if being One really is true? We would all be a reflection of the one divine Mind and hence, when allowed to go there, would be accessing the thought of all that Is. Nothing true would or could ever be forgotten. It's all right there, awaiting our acknowledgement. Some call this knowledge the Akashic records. The knowledge of everything that ever was or will be. It's mine today -- even if I don't remember your name!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Teach your student that he must know himself before he can know others and minister to human needs. Honesty is spiritual power.”

Science & Health Page 453:14-15

June 20, 2014 - Starting Over

"Utah Snow in June"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #171

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

Review of:  #151 "All things are echoes of the Voice for God." #152 "The power of decision is my own."

Do you ever seem to have problems with a particular person? If you're like me, it seems the same script runs over and over and we always end up at the same spot. The owners of the building I rent for my business and I have been going around and round in that pointless circle for quite some time now. I won't go into details, as I've realized that's part of the "problem". I seem to have fallen into the trap of replaying past conversations, planning future conversations, and generally being disgruntled about certain things in our relationship. This morning I vowed to stop being self-righteous and really listen for guidance in this situation. Before making a phone call to my landlady, I sat down and reminded myself that we're all doing the best we can, and we're all in this together. I saw the whole world vibrating with the divine Love that I know is everywhere, supreme in its presence. We had the best conversation we've had in a year and a half. While I had been thinking of her as uncaring and arrogant, she had been thinking of me as pushy and stubborn. We cleared the air and she stated, "Let's start over right now." Wow! Divine Love really does meet every need, when we express it rather than just think about it.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Individuals are consistent who, watching and praying, can 'run, and not be weary; . . . walk, and not faint,' who gain good rapidly and hold their position, or attain slowly and yield not to discouragement. Imperfect mortals grasp the ultimate of spiritual perfection slowly; but to begin aright and to continue the strife of demonstrating the great problem of being, is doing much.”

Science & Health Page 254:1-15

June 19, 2014 - Choose Again

ACIM Workbook Lesson #170

“There is no cruelty in God and none in me.”

As I was cooking dinner, a neighbor stopped by and asked a question about my flower garden. I stepped outside to talk to her, forgetting about the food on the stove. When I came back in, it was burned. I immediately thought cruel thoughts about my sweet neighbor, blaming her for the ruined meal. Wait a minute!! She didn't ask me to walk outside and chat for ten minutes, and if she had, I could have thought to turn off the burner. I had many options in this situation. My reaction of immediately looking for someone to blame opened my eyes to what I've been doing the last few days. While working in the gallery last weekend, three people from my past came in: one took me back to school in the 60s, one to the 70s for the "years the locusts ate", and one to the 80s and a doomed love affair. My reaction of wanting to blame my neighbor for the burned food made me sit down and think. I can try to apportion blame, but the fact is I have slipped back in thought to a time when my heart was hardened and, very possibly, my reactions were cruel. I am very grateful for today's workbook lesson which has reminded me there is no cruelty in God, and none in me. I am a reflection of divine Love. I'm not responsible for anyone else's actions, only mine. What I'm doing right now redeems the past because now is all there is. I am grateful for these insights -- and the fact that I can "choose again"!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“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.”

Science & Health Page 497:24-28

June 18, 2014 - Claiming Grace

ACIM Workbook Lesson #169

“By grace I live. By grace I am released.”

It is so easy to feel put-upon! I awoke this morning to thoughts of what to do about things which had gone awry. A water overflow problem in a building I'm responsible for was foremost in thought. Next I pondered what to do about a printer I had ordered, which had not been delivered although I had been charged for two of them. Rather than fall into a why-me way of thought, I decided to take my time and savor the morning readings and meditations to which I've become accustomed. We are told in today's Course in Miracles workbook lesson that grace is inevitable for the prepared mind. And so I prepared to meet the outside world, with no thought for what that might entail, but with a single-minded desire to be an expression of divine Mind. Soon a dear friend with a wet/dry vacuum and a strong back was helping me with the wet carpet. And he even took me to lunch! I trust I've been led to speak to just the right person to solve the printer delivery maze. By grace I live ...

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." 

Science & Health Page 333:19-23 

June 17, 2014 - Grace

"Tiny Praying Mantis"
photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #168

“Your grace is given me. I claim it now.”

A definition of grace from Webster's Dictionary: "Divine Love and protection bestowed freely on people." As I was closing the gallery, a couple of young women came in. They were a little tipsy and were very appreciative of what they were seeing. One of them said that she didn't have any talent because she had been sexually abused as a child. I smiled at her and she said, No, I mean it! Every day for years and years! I told her I wasn't smiling about what she had said or what had been done, but I was smiling at the part of her which had never been touched by any of this. I told her she had lots of talent and to try different things she found interesting until she found something that she really loved -- and then keep on doing it! By practicing kindness when faced with hardness of heart, meekness when those around us are aggressive, loving those who seem unlovable, and paying it forward at every opportunity, we acknowledge the  grace which is our true heritage. By this, we learn what it feels like, not just what it means.

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds."

Science & Health Page 4:3-5

June 16, 2014 - Frozen Thought

photo courtesy of Creation Spirit

ACIM Workbook Lesson #167

“There is one life, and that I share with God.”

After watching the hit movie, Frozen, someone told me that it had been attacked as being Hollywood propaganda for a liberated way of living which particular groups think of as ungodly. I decided to see if I could turn the movie into a vehicle to push what I think, so here it is -- without going into too much detail. We are frozen in a thought system which has been perpetuated by years of dogma and habit. When someone happens to realize their  power as the expression of divine Mind, they are labeled as bad, perhaps someone to be feared, maybe even told to hide their light so as not to upset others. So they hide until someone finds out how fabulous they are, then they either deny it and continue to hide or accept themselves in all their glory -- and they shine. Shining lights up the world from the inside out . "For the wakened mind is one that knows its Source, its Self, its Holiness." (ACIM)   

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Question: What is Life?

Answer: Life is divine Principle, Mind, Soul, Spirit. Life is without beginning and without end. Eternity, not time, expresses the thought of Life, and time is no part of eternity. One ceases in proportion as the other is recognized. Time is finite; eternity is forever infinite. Life is neither in nor of matter. What is termed matter is unknown to Spirit, which includes in itself all substance and is Life eternal. Matter is a human concept. Life is divine Mind. Life is not limited. Death and finiteness are unknown to Life. If Life ever had a beginning, it would also have an ending.”

Science & Health Pages 468:26-6

June 15, 2014 - Happiness Heals

photo from Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #166

“I am entrusted with the gifts of God.”

Happiness is profoundly palpable. It affects everything and everyone around it. We all have stories of seeing situations change when touched with peaceful joy. This doesn't mean we laugh in the face of misery. That is not compassion, but neither is being overly sympathetic while perpetuating the illusion. I hope to never lose the ability to empathize with others. On the other hand, I want to retain the ability to see past the form of sorrow and know the Truth of the situation. Carrying a calm, buoyant feeling of happiness wherever we go is to bring healing to everything, everywhere. Whether it's a gentle internal smiling or an exuberant outward giggling, I invite you to join me today in the expression of Love, "giving living waters to the thirsty" -- and never fearing the consequences!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Whatever inspires with wisdom, Truth, or Love--be it song, sermon, or Science--blesses the human family with crumbs of comfort from Christ's table, feeding the hungry and giving living waters to the thirsty.”

Science & Health Page 234:4-8

June 14, 2014 - I Know Nothing

ACIM Workbook Lesson #165

“Let not my mind deny the Thought of God.”

When I was a school-aged child, I never wanted to admit I didn't know things. Most of the education I received seemed more like a reminder rather than learning about something new. So when I didn't understand something because it actually seemed foreign, I wouldn't admit it. Only in the past few years have I been comfortable with the words, "I know nothing." Now it seems like a wonderful relief and freedom to say them -- both silently in prayerful humility and out loud in an odd sort of open confessional. I'm so grateful for this cleansing of false pride and egoism. I was full of self-importance. Now I welcome into my mind every thought that divine Mind has to offer me. I love this type of education! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Mind, joyous in strength, dwells in the realm of Mind. Mind's infinite ideas run and disport themselves. In humility they climb the heights of holiness.”

Science & Health Page 514:6-9

June 13, 2014 - United in Good

Arthur Lau-Sed photo

ACIM Workbook Lesson #164

“Now are we one with Him Who is our Source."

Even the slightest understanding that I am one with God brings me a glimmer of what that means. The enormity of Oneness is more than I can fathom! To be united in goodness is such an exciting prospect, don't you think? Realizing our spiritual nature as the experience of God opens a new world in which I am not a victim of mortal mind and its manifestations. I am unafraid to take a stand for harmony and peace, knowing that it is our birthright as reflections of God.

Mary Baker Eddy quote: 

"As mortals gain more correct views of God and man, multitudinous objects of creation, which before were invisible, will become visible. 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 264:13-19

June 12, 2014 - We Are Free

ACIM Workbook Lesson #163 

"There is no death. The Son of God is free."

Many meanings, both literal and metaphorical, come to mind when thinking of the word "death". The first thought which came to me upon reading today's topic was the death we experience when we are born into this existence. Suddenly our spiritual sense is deadened by the deluge of materialistic stimuli which constantly bombards us. In this forgetting of the Truth of our Being, life becomes very uncertain. We are victims of inharmonious circumstances, until we recognize ourselves as expressions of divine Mind. We begin to see glimpses of eternity. We start to realize the unreality of time and space. I think we've always known this. Perhaps it's part of the dissatisfaction which drives us to "feeling out of sight for the ends of being and ideal grace." (Browning)  We know there's something more, and we keep grasping at what it might be. We search for freedom from the belief that we are victims of circumstance. We have the choice of waking up! Today's lesson gives many examples of how we allow death to be stronger than life. To wake up from this dream of erroneous thought, let's switch on the light of Truth, and see that we have it backwards. We will see through the veil we have hung to hide the truth of our being. With this sight will come the understanding of Life as timeless!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The chief stones in the temple of Christian Science are to be found in the following postulates: that Life is God, good, and not evil; that Soul is sinless, not to be found in the body; that Spirit is not, and cannot be, materialized; that Life is not subject to death; that the spiritual real man has no birth, no material life, and no death.”

Science & Health Page 288:20-25

June 11, 2014 - I Am

Photo from Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #162

“I am as God created me."

That first thought in the morning upon waking sets the tone for the day. I have always tried to have that thought be something such as a line from the scientific statement of being (quoted below), taking it in and pondering its meaning as I wake up. For the last few weeks, I've been waking up with anxious dreams swirling around in my mind. It's been difficult to think about anything other than what was happening in this vivid illusion. So tomorrow I am going to wake up to the thought "I Am as God created me." I'll go to sleep telling myself this fact, knowing I'll wake up with the thought, too. I'm not going to wonder about what that means to me or anyone else. I'm going to hold to the thought and that thought alone. I trust any meaning I need will be shown to me as I embrace this Truth!

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

"The more I think it 

June 10, 2014 - No More Thorns

Photo courtesy of Creation Spirit

ACIM Workbook Lesson #161

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

Have you ever heard these statements? "It's my cross to bear." "He/She's a thorn in my side." These are ways of saying that some things and/or people seem to be a problem in our life, and we're carrying them around as though they're a part of us and we have no choice but to bear it. There's a particular topic of contention in our town that never fails to get me riled. I like to think nothing bothers me, but this seems to be my "cross to bear." Motorcycles. Big, loud, revving motorcycles. Obviously I can change the way I think about them. It should be easy to see the drivers as reflections of God, unified by our humanity, not separated by our mode of transportation. Today I choose to look at this differently. Another saying comes to mind: God, give me strength! 

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, 2014 - At Home in Love

photo courtesy of Jim Young

ACIM Workbook Lesson #160

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

At times my identity with fear is so great that I think it can never be exchanged for my identity with Love. Everywhere I look, it seems someone is running around like Chicken Little declaring "the sky is falling!"  The act of realizing my true heritage as the child of divine Mind is the beginning of freedom from the bondage of mortal mind's beliefs. My home is Love. Fear is a stranger in that home. I want to 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. Years of identification with duality have made me believe it's necessary to have fear and love, good and bad, health and illness. I'm beginning to see the fallacy of this story!

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, 2014 - Healing

ACIM Workbook Lesson #159

“I give the miracles I have received.”

When someone asks for help with healing, I am not trying to change a physical condition, but rather to change thought from a material viewpoint to one of spiritual reality. 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 seen what appears to be a physical law set aside, and society generally thinks of this as supernatural intervention. In Christian Science, we call these events the demonstration of Truth. Receiving understanding of our relationship to God is gained by letting ourselves slip into a space which releases all mortal thought, allowing that "Mind to be us, which was also Christ Jesus". Through this simple yet not always easy process, we give all we have accepted. This is 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, 2014 - The Flow of Love

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, or that we don't know enough, or that we've made too many mistakes to qualify as the reflection of God. Thoughts of that ilk have been propagated as fact, but they are only material belief. What we are receiving is 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, 2014 - No Choice

photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #157

“Into His Presence would I enter now.”

Entering into divine Presence is a choice. It is always there welcoming me, but I can easily block that reality with what I have chosen to see. I attended a luau this evening, set in a beautiful garden with perfect weather conditions. Everything was delightful, from the surroundings to the food. I first sat at a table with two women who bombarded me with multiple questions about trivialities and proceeded to find negative things to say about every topic they brought up. As I watched them with amusement, I noticed that the choices they made all involved fear. dread. and defense. As I looked around the crowd, it became obvious that joyful people were glowing, while fearful people's eyes seemed blank and dull. What's the difference? If we all share the same essence, why do some people shine and some shrink away? It's a matter of choice, don't you think? Loving every moment, or fearing everything; embracing the Presence, or turning away with disdain; seeing everything as a difficult choice, or recognizing  Truth. Hum -- maybe there is no 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.”

June 5, 2014 - I Walk With Love

photo by Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #156

“I walk with God in perfect holiness.”

I've always had a resistance to yielding. Walking with God in perfect holiness implies a yielding, don't you think? How else could you walk this walk without giving up what you think of as yourself? You can't. What finally got through to me was the realization that what I was giving up was NOT myself, but a mishmash of everything I had ever been told was true, combined with an erratic belief system I had decided was me. Add to that the hypnotism of media and the pull of mass consciousness and we're left with a pretty convoluted idea of what we are. Little by little, I'm letting go of beliefs and learned behaviors. Being present in the moment, giving my full attention to whatever may be in front of me, loving myself and all in Its oneness -- this is what I see as walking with God. Accepting myself and everything as holy becomes easier when viewed without judgment. Simply witnessing events, perhaps with amusement, is certainly more fun! 

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