March 16, 2015 - I Am Light

Ozark Foggy Morning
photo by Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #75

"The light has come."

I am Muslim. I am Hindu. I am Christian. I am woman. I am man. I am gay. I am straight. I am everything and nothing. I am free! Perseverance in dropping false testimony of the material senses is celebrated today: The light has come! Of course, it has always been there, waiting for us to notice it. Having watched the movie "Gandhi" today, I am feeling as though anything is possible. Critical mass tipping point isn't 51%, because just a taste of goodness spreads exponentially, as all Reality must. The light has come. Thinking that we need a tribe in order to prosper, or that family is necessary for us to feel whole, or that a religion is needed to see God, these are all beliefs we have come to rely upon. We are seeing the Truth, and it has nothing to do with belief, dogma, or creed. The light has come. Let's join thought today in the realization that Love is all that is enduring. Other things pass away, but not this light which cannot be extinguished. The light has come!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Let us feel the divine energy of Spirit, bringing us into newness of life and recognizing no mortal nor material power as able to destroy. Let us rejoice that we are subject to the divine 'powers that be.' Such is the true Science of being. Any other theory of Life, or God, is delusive and mythological.” 

Science & Health Page 249:6-10

March 15, 2015 - Spiritual Ideas Give Daily Supplies

photo by Aaron Springston

ACiM Workbook Lesson #74

“There is no will but God’s.”

Recently I was asked to step outside my comfort zone and give a short interview on live television at an early morning hour. Neither public speaking nor early mornings are things which seem to come naturally to me! But, as with anything which promotes Eureka Springs and my gallery, Eureka Thyme, I immediately said I would do it. My preparation for this event consisted of holding thought to the spiritual Truth of Being. Any time a critical thought would enter regarding anything, I would correct it with one of Love and the Truth of the situation. In other words, how does God see this? Or as today's workbook lesson states: "There is no will but God's". Although I was feeling ready to go when I got out of bed at 2 a.m. this morning, as I went about my morning ablutions I started to get a bit nervous. In turning thought to God with an earnest plea asking what I need to know in this situation, it came to me to pick up a Christian Science Journal. I opened it at random and there was an article entitled, "Getting Out of the Small Pond" by Irmela Wigger. She tells of having two young ducks who were raised in her small pond. When it came time to move them to a larger pond, they refused to go. Every time they were offered the advantage of the larger pond, they would swim as quickly as possible back to shore. Then these words jumped out at me: "We can accept without fear the tasks God gives us, even if they demand that we break out of our comfort zone." I quickly saw that not only was I being supplied with this particular reading to break the spell of dread I was falling under, but that by listening I was receiving God's ideas and they were giving me everything I needed. With that, I proceeded forward to a delightful morning full of joy and sharing, for which I am very grateful.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies. Never ask for tomorrow: it is enough that divine Love is an ever-present help; and if you wait, never doubting, you will have all you need every moment. What a glorious inheritance is given to us through the understanding of omnipresent Love! More we cannot ask: more we do not want: more we cannot have.”

Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, Page 307

March 14, 2015 - What Will?

"Loveland Pass"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #73

“I will there be light.”

Much is said about willpower and its role in our self-control. There is always more to be said and written about the subject, because of its changeable nature. But that's not the type of will that is being written of in today's ACIM workbook lesson. It's the same type of will talked about in "thy will be done”, but it's the realization that "thy" is the same as "my" will be done. This will which we are yielding to is not some outer authority in the sky telling us what we should do; it’s the omniscient, omnipresent gentle presence which is always with us, but which we so often hide with our human will. This yielding of self will to the ever-present divine Mind manifests Itself in wonderful ways, when allowed to transpire. Thinking back on this, many instances are remembered: deciding whether to travel through inclement weather, knowing when to postpone plans, finding lost objects — other decisions which can’t be made by weighing “facts”, but where yielding to divine Mind brings answers. Let me know about some of your light-bringing moments!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The power of the human will should be exercised only in subordination to Truth; else it will misguide the judgment and free the lower propensities. It is the province of spiritual sense to govern man. Material, erring, human thought acts injuriously both upon the body and through it."

Science & Health Page 206:4-9

March 13, 2015 - Upside-Down World

"Yoga in the Forest"

ACIM  Workbook Lesson #72

“Holding grievances is an attack on God’s plan for salvation.”

An upside down world seems normal to us. We have become accustomed to believing that the testimony of our physical senses is reality, while the feelings of intuition gained through what we think of as otherworldly are just that -- unreal and imaginary. Many of my favorite authors write about these concepts, and some of them use the genre of fiction to allow them the leeway to take this new/old thought all the way without empirical evidence in support. And I applaud this method! What better way to introduce ideas to a skeptical audience than through the entertainment field? Dan Brown is an expert at this form of writing. He brings us thought-provoking concepts without asking us to accept them as true, such as in "The Lost Symbol". Paulo Coelho gently hits closer to home in his books. Two of my favorites are "The Alchemist" and "The Aleph". The enjoyment of these novels is softly preparatory for the life-changing concepts presented in A Course in Miracles and also Science & Health. Without prior opening of thought, the ideas contained in these books can be jarring indeed! In the lesson today, we learn that God did not create this body. God created everything that is real and eternal, and it's our realization of this true Self which brings us peace and harmony of being. I find that revelations in thought such as this open doors to understanding. Oftentimes what we think of as religion leads us down dead-end streets, with no logical explanation. "A creator wholly unlike [its] creation is inconceivable." (ACIM) "[You are] not material,[you are] spiritual." (MBE) These concepts are slowly beginning to be understood. To me, this is salvation! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Is Spirit the source or creator of matter? [The] Science [of the Christ] reveals nothing in Spirit out of which to create matter. Divine metaphysics explains away matter. Spirit is the only substance and consciousness recognized by divine Science. The material senses oppose this, but there are no material senses, for matter has no mind. In Spirit there is no matter, even as in Truth there is no error, and in good no evil. It is a false supposition, the notion that there is real substance-matter, the opposite of Spirit. Spirit, God, is infinite, all. Spirit can have no opposite."

Science & Health Page 278:1-11

March 12 2015 - What a Plan!

"Magic in the Moonlight"
created by Woody Allen

ACIM Workbook Lesson #71

“Only God’s plan for salvation will work.”

The topic for today's workbook lesson could be misinterpreted as meaning there is some sort of predestined plan which we must follow if we are to achieve happiness and fulfillment. What we are learning has nothing to do with blindly following something we don't understand. It involves understanding that we are the expression of God, and until we realize what that means, we have no hope of trusting what we hear within our being. But mortal mind (the thoughts which come to us from material teachings and long-held beliefs) tells us that to listen to anything other than "logic" is foolishness. And so we plant our feet on the shifting sands of materialism and think we're doing the best we can under impossible circumstances. I recently watched the latest Woody Allen movie: Magic in the Moonlight. Colin Firth plays a magician who is out to expose a beautiful, young spiritualist/medium as a fraud. His character is an interesting one, absolutely certain there is no such thing as metaphysics. After watching this delightful romantic comedy, I'm seeing their characters through Woody's eyes, being positive that we, as humans, are doomed to a life of misery, perhaps with moments of joy. This is one of the traps we have set for ourselves, thinking that something else is going to bring salvation to us, never guessing that it's already ours! But Woody's dancing closer to Truth with every autobiographical movie he gives us. What fun to watch his journey! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “Salvation. Life, Truth, and Love understood and demonstrated as supreme over all…” Science & Health Page 593:20-21

March 11, 2015 - Lives Examined

photo by Glory Leggett

ACIM Lesson #70

“My salvation comes from me.”

A few days ago, an icon of Eureka Springs, a chef and restauranteur, died suddenly and unexpectedly. Facebook has been filled with lovely tributes to his life, and many people have openly questioned their existence and wondered why they haven’t been appreciating every moment of this thrilling life. My heart’s compassion flows to this fine man’s new bride, young grandchild, and everyone else who loves him. But I’m not the least bit worried about him: he’s discovering something about Life. I learned today that a dear friend, companion, ACIM student, was involved in a three-vehicle accident which could have been devastating. In talking to him about it, we were not only extremely grateful to be sitting there talking about it, but we acknowledged how everything can change in the blink of an eye. This leads us back to this moment, the now, and how important it is to be living in it, loving it, accepting our salvation. Healing our thought heals our lives. The kingdom of heaven is withIN. The choice is ours! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“If divine Love is becoming nearer, dearer, and more real to us, matter is then submitting to Spirit. The objects we pursue and the spirit we manifest reveal our standpoint, and show what we are winning.” 

Science & Health Page 239:18-22

March 10, 2015 - Spring Cleaning

photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #69

“My grievances hide the light of the world in me.”

I think of spring cleaning in my home as similar to rooting out hidden grievances which are hiding the light within myself. It's possible I'm holding onto some of these illusions because it's comfortable. The story I've created for myself might just fall apart if I let go any part of it. I may have convinced myself that I like my history and wouldn't want to give up any of it, much less all of it. I'm like a little child holding on to a stuffed animal, feeling like it's my security. Or maybe I'm a little older, holding on to cigarettes because they feel like friends and I'm not sure what I'd do without them. These are stories I've been building for years and years. It seems if I let them go, I may disappear. But what brilliance is hiding behind the cover of these grievance clouds? What light have I hidden behind the illusions I've created for myself and the world? I know something wonderful is there, just out of reach. So when an old story comes to mind, I will turn thought instead to contemplation of the wondrous Truth which flows in, out, and through me when I lift the veil created by my grievances. Now that's spring cleaning!

Mary Baker Eddy Quote:

“The manifestation of God through mortals is as light passing through the window-pane. The light and the glass never mingle, but as matter, the glass is less opaque than the walls. The mortal mind through which Truth appears most vividly is that one which has lost much materiality--much error--in order to become a better transparency for Truth. Then, like a cloud melting into thin vapor, it no longer hides the sun.” Science & Health Page 295:14-24

March 9, 2015 - Love Let's Go

"Moon Over the Ozarks"
photo by Chris Fischer

ACIM Workbook Lesson #68:

“Love holds no grievances.”

Some painful memories seem to stay with us. Throughout the years, certain events have re-played regularly in my mind. Although these re-runs are mostly gone now, there are current events which seem to beg me to take offense. They jump up and down asking to be retold, wanting to hold me to them with emotions. To hold a grievance, you must live in the past. I remember a line from a little book by Alan Lightman called "Einstein's Dreams". He tells us that those who live in the past are condemned to live there alone. Habitually recounting what used to be, or wishing for what never was, or wanting what could have been, are thought processes which are symptoms of holding grievances. Today's lesson commentary tells us that forgetting that I am Love, forgetting that everyone is Love, forgetting that everything is Love, is holding a grievance. So today I will hold thought to a return to Love -- a figurative return, as I remember that I never left, and neither has anyone else. This Love replaces all grievances in my thought, and by this process I am safely and peacefully at One with God and all.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The circumstance, which your suffering sense deems wrathful and afflictive, Love can make an angel entertained unawares.”

Science & Health Page 574:27-30

March 8, 2015 - I Am Love

"Overlooking Basin Park"
photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #67

“Love created me like itself.”

Usually it’s easier for me to see that Love created me like Itself than it is for me to see that Love created those bigoted people over there. When those thoughts come bouncing into my brain, I’m reminded of something Marianne Williamson said: “I can’t stand fundamentalist Christians; they’re so judgmental!” And that brings a laugh and breaks the spell I’m casting for myself, wherein I’m the kind, open-hearted person and they’re the hate mongers. There is only one Creator and only one Self. My Self is your Self, whether it seems that way or not. This illusion we’ve set into motion changes moment-by-moment with the script we have written for it. The unchanging Love which is our Creator is Truth. All else is a product of the illusion. And so any time I’m tempted to write a letter of chastisement to our local newspaper concerning activities in our town, I will stop and ask myself, What would Love do? And then I’ll do my best to follow where I’m led.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“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.”

Science & Health Page 280:4-8

March 7 2015 - Truth

"Mongolia"
photo by Aaron Springston

 ACIM Workbook Lesson #66:

“My happiness and my function are one.”

Truth has always been very important to me. Having this great love of truth, it came as quite a surprise to find out that the life I'd lived for 37 years, the name I'd used, the birthdate I'd celebrated, the people I'd called my mom and dad, were not the ones I'd been given at birth. When I was two months old, my parents took me from a niece who was 17 and had given birth with no one to help her. Her boyfriend had skipped over the border into Mexico. Her family ignored her, in an effort to convince her to give away her baby. After two months of being on her own, she relented and gave me to her aunt -- which is what her family had wanted all along. These wonderful people (who were the only parents I had ever known) then moved across the country and made a new beginning for us all. They did this in part to save this baby from the flood of criticism and judgment which accompanied a child born out of wedlock in the 1950s. Perhaps it was their living of this huge lie which caused them to instill truthfulness so solidly within me. For whatever reason, I am thankful to have it. Because of this love of Truth, I've always wanted to know it -- in every way. But in the past two decades, it's taken the form of spiritual Truth, which shows me my function and is my happiness. And it has set me free!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"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 57:18-21

March 6, 2015 - Yielding

photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #65:

“My only function is the one God gave me.”

As a restless young person, I resisted the only thing which was required in order to experience peace. I thought that to live in Spirit would be predictable and boring. Decades past that time, I find that everything is exciting and new! Without the willingness to be open to the field of all possibilities, I would be repeating by-rote behaviors and following learned beliefs. That, I now see, is what would be boring! By being willing to go inward and listen, I'm never sure of what I will say or do, but I'm confident of where that guidance will lead. On the occasions I forget to listen but rather hold forth with long-held, strong opinions, things don't usually work out in the same harmonious ways as they do when I'm willing to yield. That is a strong reminder to remember that I, of my own self, know nothing. 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"This scientific sense of being, forsaking matter for Spirit, by no means suggests man's absorption into Deity and the loss of his identity, but confers upon man enlarged individuality, a wider sphere of thought and action, a more expansive love, a higher and more permanent peace."

Science & Health Page 265:10-15

March 5, 2015 - Pure Expression

photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #64:

"Let me not forget my function"

Have you ever been accused of something you did not do? An unjust charge carries with it a terrible feeling. This same feeling follows many of us around because we have been told that we were born sinners and there is nothing we can do about it. We have come to believe it is our function on this earth to try ever so hard to overcome this innate badness. Isn't it a wonderful thing to experience teachings which show us that this is not true? The understanding of our essence as the pure expression of God, and the realization that anything unlike this experience is a material illusion brought to us courtesy of tainted human beliefs, frees us to be happy. Gone is all the guilt we may have carried around, thinking we were condemned by a power from which we couldn't escape. There has been no condemnation by any power, only illusionary powers to which we have given credence. Breaking free from these beliefs, we are free to be happy, healthy, whole -- and we bloom! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Whatever indicates the fall of man or the opposite of God or God’s absence, is the Adam-dream, which is neither Mind nor man, for it is not begotten of the Father. The rule of inversion infers from error its opposite, Truth; but Truth is the light which dispels error. As mortals begin to understand Spirit, they give up the belief that there is any true existence apart from God." 

Science & Health Page 282:28:3 

March 4, 2015 - Peace Through Forgiveness

"A Community at Peace"
photo series by John Rankine

ACIM Workbook Lesson #63

“The light of the world brings peace to every mind through my forgiveness.”

I used to have a bad temper. Starting in childhood, I was easily “irritated” by things. The sound of someone eating a banana noisily would “set my teeth on edge”. A lost item in the house would infuriate me. Teachers who I deemed to know less than I did would bring, at the very least, a roll of the eyes in exasperation. I’m not sure when those feelings fell away from me, but I’m really glad that they have! Being angry at anything, for any reason, is not the way I want to feel. I can only imagine the damage these feelings caused over the years. There were ruined relationships, missed opportunities, multitudes of circumstances which could have been joyful but instead were wasted. Nowadays, it’s pretty darned difficult to burst my bubble of happiness. I’m looking through the illusion of the past and forgiving myself more every day. For that, I am grateful.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Gladness to leave the false landmarks and joy to see them disappear,--this disposition helps to precipitate the ultimate harmony. The purification of sense and self is a proof of progress."

Science & Health Page 324:3-5

March 3, 2015 - Letting Go of Illusion is My Function

"Downtown Eureka Springs"
photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #62:

"Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world."

I am so glad to see this reminder of forgiveness as my function! The last two years I have been on the board of an organization in our tourist-oriented town. Even though I am no longer affiliated with this great group of people, I have the utmost respect and admiration for them. Recently the Director has come under attack for taking what is being interpreted as a biased position against gay people. He has been fired and a number of his associates have resigned for various reasons — some in support of him and others because they don’t want anything to do with a prejudiced organization. It would be easy to take sides in this situation. I could easily fall into discussions on chat boards which are buzzing with these happenings. I have always made an effort to refrain from strong opinions, as having them precludes seeing things without prejudice. In today’s topic, I am happy to see the reminder to hold thought to the purity of non-judgment, thereby allowing my mind to be guided by Mind when responding to conflict. Thinking of forgiveness as letting go of illusions helps me to see everyone with the vision of divine Love, freeing me from apportioning blame and feeling guilt. Namastè ~~~

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "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 254:12-15

March 2, 2015 - Liberating Light

photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #61:

“I am the light of the world”

The understanding that we are all "the light of the world" is liberating! So often when we catch glimpses of our light, we deny the sight in the name of humility, or a false sense of sinfulness, or perhaps because we can't accept something so perfect about ourselves. We are learning that true humility is accepting our divine function and proudly reflecting light, never hiding under a guise of smallness. This light is demonstrated in many ways, often contrary to what we've been taught.  Personally, I find that letting my light shine means nothing other than listening for guidance and following through with what I hear. And how do I know that what I hear is not my ego wanting something? If it is, I feel uncomfortable with it, so I step back and start again. If it feels perfect, if it blesses everyone, then I follow through with confidence that it's divinely inspired. Sometimes the perfect, light-reflecting solution simply seems too difficult to do, so I try to convince myself it's an ego-based thought and refuse to do it. Ha! Once again, I go back to how I feel when sitting quietly. Experience has taught me to be ever-alert, as my ego really likes to masquerade as an ell-knowing presence. But the quietude where we may feel our unity with God always exposes the charade -- if I let it.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Light: Symbol of Truth; revelation and progress."

Science & Health Page 591:23-24

March 1, 2015 - The Beauty of Forgetting

"White River Winter"
photo by Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #60

Today we review Lessons 46-50. 

Love, forgiveness, salvation -- these and many other words have taken on interesting connotations through our material interpretations and beliefs. Often our version of love includes jealousy, attachment, and various demands we insist upon for someone to be a worthy recipient of our human-based love. Forgiveness seldom is an acknowledgement that there is truly nothing to forgive, but carries with it superior thoughts and magnanimous gestures. Salvation has an odd interpretation which includes a paying of penance to someone or something. As we turn away from the material conceptions of these and other words, we are allowed to glimpse Love, wherein there is no forgiveness nor salvation as we think of them. We are told in the first lesson review today that "God does not forgive because He has never condemned." And we are told that the forgiveness we are learning of as human beings is "the reflection of God's Love on earth." When looked at from this view, it seems senseless to say that we can forgive but not forget. If we truly are, in reality, the perfect reflection of divine Love, if this is the spiritual reality (hence, the Only reality), it becomes easy to lay down the sword and go forward living from the heart rather than the brain. We can let go all thoughts of retaliation or revenge and live by the law of grace. How I long to forget everything and begin again from Love!

Mary Baker Eddy correlative quote:

"Progress takes off human shackles. The finite must yield to the infinite. Advancing to a higher plane of action, thought rises from the material sense to the spiritual, from the scholastic to the inspirational, and from the mortal to the immortal. Love, the divine Principle, is the Father and Mother of the universe, including man."

Science & Health Page 256:1-8

February 28, 2015 - One Mind

"Snowbird"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM #59: Today we review Lessons 41-45. 

I've always had a tough time understanding political conflicts. It seems to me that if everyone is for the good of all, why would there be a conflict? I simply don't understand why we have these problems, and certainly don't want to talk about these crazy-seeming scenarios. We have one such brouhaha churning in our small tourist town. As hard as it is for me to believe, apparently some establishments refuse to do business with people of certain sexual orientations, so our town council passed an anti-discrimination ordinance. Now the state says this is illegal because people should be able to serve whoever they want to and refuse service to whomever they choose. Some people say, Why should we have to pass a law to facilitate something which should be happening in the first place: equality for all. We watch sadly as people choose a side and prepare for battle. Then there are the people who say they don't want to condone behavior by doing business with people whose actions are not approved of by them. Some go so far as to say this is mandated by God. If we believe and practice today's review topics, this is all a moot point. The presence of divine Love is with me and everyone all the time, so why should I feel compelled to condemn? The realization that I am seeing with Spirit's vision, and that I cannot see any other way, precludes any judgment too, because God is Love and does not judge. If God is the Mind with which I think, and that thought is only light, there is no fear nor condemnation. We could stop trying to change others' thought to what we think, knowing that every thought with divine Mind is exponential. Let's go forth and multiply -- Mind with a capital M, that is! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"This scientific sense of being, forsaking matter for Spirit, by no means suggests man's absorption into Deity and the loss of his identity, but confers upon man enlarged individuality, a wider sphere of thought and action, a more expansive love, a higher and more permanent peace."

Science & Health Page 265:10-15

February 27, 2015 - What, Me Worry?

photo by Heather Magnan

ACIM Workbook Lesson #58:

Today we review Lessons 36-40. 

This review speaks of "my holiness" in four of the five summarized lessons. What does that mean? Is my holiness different from your holiness, perhaps based on actions or thoughts? We are learning that this holiness is our true state of being as reflections of Love, realized through forgiveness in its purest sense. When I assert this Truth about myself, I affirm it for everyone. The urge to micro-manage things is strong in most of us, because we've been taught to make plans, to set goals, to nail down all the details. But most things in this life are beyond our control, aren't they? How many times do we make intricate plans only to have to change them when circumstances change?  I could write a book! Wayne Dyer tells us that worry is counterproductive. He asks, Why worry? If we can do something about a situation, we will. If we can't do anything about it, what's the use in worrying? Living by this precept has brought a freedom I wouldn't have known had I held on to my old drama queen ways. My mantra is: Only Good can come of this. For this realization, I am most grateful.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Man walks in the direction towards which he looks, and where his treasure is, there will his heart be also. If our hopes and affections are spiritual, they came from above, not from below, and they bear as of old the fruits of the Spirit." Science & Health Page 451:14-18

February 26, 2015 - Happily Letting Go

"Parade in Eureka Springs"
photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #57:

Today we review Lessons 31-35. 

Reading today's lesson reviews, I am reminded that I am not a victim of the world I see, and that I have invented this sight. It suggests that perhaps there is another way of looking at it all, a way where I could see peace instead of this. It reminds me that my mind is of God, that I am Its holy image. What if we could simply relax into Truth, and not feel the need to make others think as we do or change anyone's mind about anything. It wouldn't matter if anyone believed in God, or followed any particular teaching system or religion -- it just wouldn't matter.  We could all relax and "let it Be", I know quite a few people who are ready to stop the madness and let freedom of thought take us to new heights of equality! And it's not just the airy-fairies who think this way, but physicists and learned people from all walks of life. Every thought counts! Let's go forward today with Joy, knowing that's something which will spread without any effort other than the sheer happiness of it all!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The conceptions of mortal, erring thought must give way to the ideal of all that is perfect and eternal. Through many generations human beliefs will be attaining diviner conceptions, and the immortal and perfect model of God's creation will finally be seen as the only true conception of being."

Science & Health Page 260:7-12

February 25, 2015 - Connected -- or not!

"Camels in Mongolia"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #56:

Today we review Lessons 26-30

I've been contemplating our connectivity and, also, lack of connection. Many people say that we are suffering from a loss of connections with real people; that we have given ourselves to technology and think we are making connections when we're actually just passing time. I wonder if the face-to-face connections we so often have are any more "real" than the computer relationships we sustain. So far, my conclusion is that any relationship can be shallow or deep, and how they come about really has nothing to do with it. Admittedly, I don't sit on my front porch with neighbors watching the sunset and chatting. But I've noticed that the great majority of communications I have with people have nothing to do with Reality, but have everything to do with mindless chatter. On the other hand, friendships I keep up with on the computer tend to be more substantial. No one emails me and tells me gossip about mutual friends or the details of their gallbladder operation. Although I have received no great insights about how changes in communications have affected our friendships and how they affect the world, I know that we have more opportunities to enjoy each other than ever before, and I want to take advantage of every moment of it!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Here let a word be noticed which will be better understood hereafter,--chemicalization. By chemicalization I mean the process which mortal mind and body undergo in the change of belief from a material to a spiritual basis.”

Science & Health Page 168:30-2