Curiouser and Curiouser

[from Alice in Wonderland, Disney movie]

ACIM Workbook Lesson #276

“The Word of God is given me to speak.”

My favorite quote from Alice in Wonderland is: “Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!” I've always felt a kinship with Alice, as I'm sure many of you do, too. Everything seems to be “curiouser and curiouser” until we realize it’s a dream — not just our dream, but a collective consciousness illusion what is reinforced to such an extent that we think it’s our own! In these studies, we’re working toward taking ourselves out of the illusion, away from the beliefs which are so instilled in our minds that we think they are Truth with a capital “T”. I think the Course in Miracles lesson for today could have been an inspiration to Alice. To speak the Word is to live it; to live it is to understand the purity and perfection of true creation. I want to continue allowing Love to lead, taking me to places I never thought could be, thereby finding my way to Truth, just like Alice!

 Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Let discord of every name and nature be heard no more, and let the harmonious and true sense of Life and being take possession of human consciousness.”

Science and Health Page 355:11-14

Dance of Mortal Mind

photo credit: Heather Peters

ACIM Workbook Lesson #275

“God's healing Voice protects all things today.”

I had a lovely, long lunch today with an old friend I hadn’t seen in a couple of years. He has been through some interesting situations with his body, including bouts of extreme dizziness. As we talked of this and other things, he told me he has discovered that getting upset over situations worsen this condition. Intense emotional reactions seem to be a triggering mechanism, causing him to become unbalanced. How’s that for a metaphor?!! One thing we quickly agreed upon was how the physical changes we both have been through since we last visited with each other were wonderful catalysts for change in our lives — for which we are both very grateful. I feel this beautiful day has prepared the ground for receiving these words from today’s workbook lesson: “Yet has this day been chosen as the time when we will seek and hear and learn and understand. Join me in hearing. For the Voice for God tells us of things we cannot understand alone, nor learn apart. It is in this that all things are protected.” And so it is …

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “Upon this stage of existence goes on the dance of mortal mind. Mortal thoughts chase one another like snowflakes, and drift to the ground. Science reveals Life as not being at the mercy of death, nor will Science admit that happiness is ever the sport of circumstance.” 

Living Love

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #274 

“Today belongs to love. Let me not fear.”

I saw a movie in which a businessman was hit in the head, developed a blood clot, and became happy all the time. Since happiness cannot be contained and overflows with no expectations, wonderful things began to happen! He ran a very large, money-making-oriented company, which had always catered to the prospering of the business not the contentment of the employees. After he became happy, he built a daycare center, gave everyone raises in salary, and began to see money as a tool rather than a goal. Then his children were angry because the company wasn't making as much money and they were afraid. While he recognized what was important in life, his children wanted him to go back to his money-based way of living, fearing they wouldn't have enough. He was living Love; they were living fear. We see it every day, don't we? I vow today to support every act of Love-based living I see. While we can't set out to eradicate fear, we can scatter joy and happiness, and watch Love blossom.

Mary Baker Eddy quote: 

"PSALM XXIII [Divine love] is my shepherd; I shall not want. [Love] maketh me to lie down in green pastures: [love] leadeth me beside the still waters. [Love] restoreth my soul [spiritual sense]: [love] leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for [love] is with me; [love’s] rod and [love’s] staff they comfort me.

[Love] prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: [love] anointeth my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house [the consciousness] of [love] for ever."

Science & Health Page 577:4-18

Disturbed or At Peace?

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #273

“The stillness of the peace of God is mine.”

“If we give way to a disturbance, let us learn how to dismiss it and return to peace.” [ACIM] This evening at a monthly gathering of friends, I was talking to someone about how to leave behind disturbing events and hold to the peace of which we speak today. It seems that when this woman wakes up in the night, her thoughts turn to troublesome things which seem to have no solution. Another friend spoke up and said that when this happens to her, she takes deep breaths and repeats the word, “thankful”. As she loses herself in her breath and gratitude, she peacefully returns to sleep. I like that a lot. We all have our ways of turning off this voice which is based in mortal mind, not divine Mind. I love hearing how others tune into the channel of peace, so let me know what you do! I love the realization that if we get lost in the insanity we have the choice of returning to tranquility!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace.Thus the dawn of ideas goes on, forming each successive stage of progress.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 506:11-14

The Cravings of Immortal Man

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Lesson #272

“How can illusions satisfy God's Son?”

Today's topic causes me to pause and ask myself if any illusions in the past few decades have been satisfying. During the "years that the locust ate" (as I tend to think of a particular 20-year period), I generally felt happy, but never complete or fulfilled. Years of substance abuse, flitting from man to man, and activities which kept me busy but never satisfied are what I refer to as the lost years. Looking back, I hardly recognize that person. It's not that I was mean or horrible or anything like that, but I was living a drama-filled life, going from one disaster to another, and finding solace by hiding in hedonistic pleasures. The peace which I've found from wanting nothing other than to know divine Love is astounding in its magnitude. When did I recognize the emptiness and want to fill in the blanks with true substance? Ultimately, it doesn't matter because now is all we have! Let's go forward with joy into what awaits us this day!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Higher enjoyments alone can satisfy the cravings of immortal man.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 60:31-32

We're Ready!

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #271

“Christ's is the vision I will use today."

Are we finally ready for the truth? I've heard it said that we, as a human race, can’t stand to hear Truth. I’m told this about everything from extraterrestrial life to religious doctrine, but I think we are ready for it! People say if the truth was told about everything, society would break down. It seems to me that might be a good thing, because our current belief systems don't appear to be be functioning too well! Perhaps everyone's dissatisfaction stems from the feeling that we’re being lied to everywhere we turn. A few centuries ago, a total eclipse of the full moon would cause many fear-based reactions when the orb turned red, disappeared, then reappeared. As the the truth has set us free from that irrational fear, so it can in other ways, allowing us to joyfully look up and say “Wow"! I think we're ready, don't you?!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Truth, independent of doctrines and time-honored systems, knocks at the portal of humanity.” Science & Health Page vii:13-15

Spiritual Vision or ---?

photo credit: Aaron Springston

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #270

“I will not use the body's eyes today.”

I find it’s more important than ever to see with the eye of divine Love. While I’ve become fairly good at saying, “You may be right about that”, and not replaying in thought things I find disagreeable, sometimes I get caught up in feelings from mass consciousness — at least that’s how I define an event which happened today. After a lovely afternoon of bridge, I came home and was doing chores. First I noticed my thoughts straying into a deluge of dread concerning environmental issues. Before I understood what was happening, I found myself loudly singing a song from the 70s by Country Joe and the Fish, having to do with being the “first one on your block to have your boy come home in a box”! I’m very grateful to be developing the tools required to turn away from error toward Truth — and this is what I did by reading a Bicknell Young article, listening to George Winston piano, and watching the birds! What brought on such concentrated disharmony in my thought? I could come up with lots of excuses, but I don’t feel the need to dissect unreality, only to affirm Love!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Spiritual vision is not subordinate to geometric altitudes. Whatever is governed by God, is never for an instant deprived of the light and might of intelligence and Life.”

Science & Health Page 215:11-13

The Face of Divine Love

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #269

“My sight goes forth to look upon Christ's face.”

Acknowledging that everything and everyone we look upon is the face of divine Love takes our perception to another level! With this sight, we do not need to see race or nationalities nor gender, there are no political parties for which to wave flags, and no enemies to fight against  nor allies to side with. I see beautiful things happening in our world. Long-held beliefs are being released in favor of an open-hearted acceptance of everyone as they are, not as we want them to be. Change can seem difficult, but our new perceptions of Life are a conscious choice by which we break free of habits and old thought patterns which have held us in bondage for far too long. Let’s celebrate our new-found sight today!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The eternal Truth destroys what mortals seem to have learned from error, and man's real existence as a child of God comes to light.” Science and Health Page 288:31–1

Let It Be

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #268

“Let all things be exactly as they are.”

“In love was I created, and in love will I remain forever.” [ACIM Lesson #268] One of my friends has a particularly hard time letting “all things be exactly as they are”. She plays events over and over in her mind, making suppositions about why things were said or done, and trying to find solutions to fix everyone involved. Recently, she received a phone call from a lifelong friend whom she hadn’t heard from in the past few years. She didn’t answer the call and was full of worries as to what she may have done wrong which caused her friend to break off contact with her. While I try not to laugh in the face of others’ distress, I couldn’t help myself this time! I quickly reminded her of The Four Agreements, specially “don’t make assumptions” and “don’t take anything personally”. After a brief conversation, she returned to her home and called her old friend. And sure enough, she had done nothing wrong, but her friend had been going through a rough time and needed a friendly shoulder to lean on. I think I’ll look on youTube for a recording of Let It Be, basking in its wisdom!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Human sense may well marvel at discord, while, to a diviner sense, harmony is the real and discord the unreal.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page: 563: 1-3

The Heartbeat of Peace

"First Snow, Utah"
photo credit, Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #267

“My heart is beating in the peace of God"

Living the "peace of God" may seem like a fantasy to those who abide by the laws of materiality. Some think that in order to live this way they would have to be delusional, or stick their heads in the sand, or deny reality in favor of wishful thinking. But many of us see this state of mind in another way! As we learn about the peace which is the Truth of being, we are able to live it in all of daily life, and thereby we see that our ”heart is beating in the peace of God". That state of mind does more for the world than all the preaching we may be tempted to do!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Spiritual living and blessedness are the only evidences, by which we can recognize true existence and feel the unspeakable peace which comes from an all-absorbing spiritual love.” Science & Health With Key to the Scriptures Page 264:24-27

The Epitome of Peace

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #266

“My holy Self abides in you, God's Son.”

Peace is a state of mind. We can feel the epitome of peace in the midst of turmoil, or we may be in an outer oasis of stillness but, due to our tumultuous state of mind, be anxious and upset. It helps me to know that we are all the reflection of Spirit. With this realization, I am able to see everything through the eye of divine Love. This is not to say that I'm always calm. Sometimes I forget I am the idea of God, and that everyone else is, too. At those times, who knows how I may be interpreting events! In a state of forgetfulness, I am at the mercy of material belief, being swayed by thought systems which were put in place long before my appearance in this world. But when I remember the spiritual Truth of creation, things appear differently to me -- and there is peace.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace. Thus the dawn of ideas goes on, forming each successive stage of progress.”

Science & Health Page 506: 11-14

Gentleness is All I See

Dylan , Harry, Kapoochie

ACIM Workbook Lesson #265

"Creation's gentleness is all I see."

Creation's gentleness is all around us, but often it's not noticed because of the universal belief in harshness. More and more we're seeing animals showing us the way of gentleness in their interactions with each other. With our realizations of Oneness, we're starting to see that if violence is done to or by one, it's done to or by All. We're allowing our thought to change from fear and anger to Love and gentleness. Many people are holding with the old paradigm, and some say it's necessary for heinous acts to be committed, and also retaliation in kind. On the other hand, more people are realizing the error of this way, and know that it is possible for the lion to lay down with the lamb.

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “The fowls, which fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven, correspond to aspirations soaring beyond and above corporeality to the understanding of the incorporeal and divine Principle, Love.” Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 511:28-3

Surrounded by Love

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #264

“I am surrounded by the Love of God.”

I don’t usually listen to mainstream radio, but there was an occasion where I was bombarded by it for a couple of hours. This forced exposure graphically brought into focus how insane the content was! The songs were totally inane and yet mesmerizing, the commercials were mostly for drugs and disease, the news -- yikes!! It may seem that we are being brainwashed from every direction, including collective consciousness, but this is the illusion. This illusion is not the consciousness of Love which is God. Love permeates everything, leaving no room for anything else to intrude. Nothing but this Love truly has power.  "Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach me." (MBE) "I am surrounded by the Love of God." (ACIM) When I am tempted to be mesmerized by material sense, I will remember what is True: I am surrounded by the Love that is God, which is my essence, my essential Being. So I needn't try to see or feel this Love, because it is what I Am!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

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

Science & Health Page 574: 27-30

Pure Perceptions

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #263

“My holy vision sees all things as pure.”

I recently discovered that one of my best bridge partners holds radically different political views from mine. I vowed to keep my mouth closed on such issues, but then saw a post to social media in which she was bashing one of my favorite presidents. It took about a day to stop mentally hearing the remarks when I thought of her, accepting that I do not need to agree nor disagree, I do not need to correct anything other than my perception. If someone appears to be angry, I needn’t attempt to change that or to love that, but I do need to change my thought and remember that they are, in truth, only Love and Its reflection. “I do not need to love the appearance, I need to love the reality beyond the appearance.” (ACIM) There is a lovely innocence involved in seeing through the eyes of Spirit!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “The divine Principle, or Spirit, comprehends and expresses all, and all must therefore be as perfect as the divine Principle is perfect.” Science & Health Page 492:2-8

Mutual in Divine Love

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #262 “Let me perceive no differences today.”

William Blake says it well: "I am in you and you in me, mutual in divine Love". I understand this to mean that the perfection we are learning to see as ourselves also is everyone else. I often tell people “We’re all in this together”, but I think I’ll change it to “We are all this – together!” I love the study of the Science of Being! Every day, every moment, revelations of thought bring me to a deeper understanding of how this Truth sets us free. I am learning more of what it means that God is Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love. It's joyous to expand understanding to include myself in that definition, as a reflection of All that Is!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“With one Father, even God, the whole family of man would be brethren; and with one Mind and that God, or good, the brotherhood of man would consist of Love and Truth, and have unity of Principle and spiritual power which constitute divine Science.”

Science and Health Page 469:30–5

What is Body?

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #261 “God is my refuge and security." 

This lesson begins a series of topics addressing the question, “What is the Body?” Metaphysically, this is an intriguing question and many of my favorite authors have written articles which examine it. A favorite, of course, is from Mary Baker Eddy, written in 1886 — although it is found in no book, it is filed in the Library of Congress and may be read in its entirety at this site: http://www.christianscience.org/index.php/unpublished-items/103-body This is the first sentence of the treatise: “The term Mind and body literally means God and man, for man is the expression of Mind and the manifestation of Mind is the embodiment of Mind.” I’m looking forward to an informative few days of delving into this rich subject by way of the ACIM Workbook topics, examining how they come into play in our daily life!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Mortal body and mind are one, and that one is called man; but a mortal is not man, for man is immortal.” Science & Health Page 250:14-15

Ever Appearing Creation

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #260

“Let me remember God created me.”

The correlative Mary Baker Eddy passage for today says it all for me: “Infinite Mind creates and governs all, from the mental molecule to infinity. This divine Principle of all expresses Science and art throughout His creation, and the immortality of man and the universe.” What do you think of when you read the statement, “Let me remember God created me”? Perhaps Adam and Eve stories come to mind. Maybe something more ethereal floats into thought. Whatever we may think about this statement is a material belief-based idea — don’t you think? “Creation is ever appearing, and must ever continue to appear from the nature of its inexhaustible source.” (MBE) Whatever I think I am, whatever you think you are, is ever-changing, appearing and unfolding, from “its inexhaustible source”. This idea makes me feel wrapped in a cocoon of eternity, open, free — One in a way I can’t even comprehend. And I am happy, complete, needing nothing else. Namastè ~~~

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Infinite Mind creates and governs all, from the mental molecule to infinity. This divine Principle of all expresses Science and art throughout His creation, and the immortality of man and the universe. Creation is ever appearing, and must ever continue to appear from the nature of its inexhaustible source.” Science & Health Page 507:24-28

Seeing Through the Mirage

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #259

“Let me remember that there is no sin.”

It certainly seems as though sin is tangible in our world. We look at the news and see things which seem too horrible to be anything other than evil and sinful. But, once again, this is the material illusion. The reality is God and reflective creation. This creation is spiritual, everlasting substance, unchanging goodness. That is why there is no sin, because it is unreal! This same revealing of reality exposes other material discord as nothing more than mist to be seen through and dispelled. There is no magic potion which allows us to look past the mirage of sin, and many reports of our senses seem real until we look through them to the other side -- and then what a treat we have in store for us! There, waiting to be recognized, is the reality of our Being, just waiting for us to discover it.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Question: Is there no sin?

Answer: All reality is in God and His creation, harmonious and eternal. That which He creates is good, and He makes all that is made. Therefore the only reality of sin, sickness, or death is the awful fact that unrealities seem real to human, erring belief, until God strips off their disguise. They are not true, because they are not of God.” Science & Health Page 472:23-30

Remembering to Remember

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #258

“Let me remember that my goal is God.”

I had a friend who died from cancer. She was very active and always busy doing things. I once asked her if she ever had any quiet time and she told me that she didn't want any because then she would have to think. Many traumatic events had happened in her life, including the violent deaths of her parents and tragic passing of her children. Our thoughts can be occupied by many temporal things, such as collecting material possessions, or perhaps we simply need the busyness of daily life to keep us from thinking about painful memories -- whatever the case, we rarely allow ourselves the quiet we need to hear Spirit. We may fear the unknown and think that the activities we busy ourselves with are necessary, rather than looking beyond them to the Truth which heals our fear. We may use alcohol and drugs to cover up the turmoil for a little while, but lasting peace only comes through knowledge of Love. Sometimes love is used as a soporific, placating our desire for an all-encompassing Love with no beginning nor end. Today I will remember to remember what I have forgotten, which is only found within.

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

Remembered Purpose

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #257

“Let me remember what my purpose is.”

I love the first sentence in today’s lesson commentary: "If I forget my goal, I can be but confused ..."! Looking back over the last half-century, I see many times of major confusion, and lots of minor confusions which flutter around constantly, asking for more room to spread their wings. I like seeing them from this standpoint, that these confusions are nothing more than times when I've forgotten that my Life is Spirit. So then I wonder, What is this purpose I am to remember? It's unfolding every moment, and all I need do is show up and be willing -- willing to be open-hearted, open-minded -- just open! -- with no expectations and no plans of how things should be. It's tempting to think of this as undisciplined, and others may be critical of this attitude, but I can attest to the fact that wandering around in college for five years perfectly prepared me for freelance court reporting. And thirty years of taking down and transcribing depositions was an incredible education which paved the way for running an art gallery for ten years. All those things brought me to where I am today, and none of it could have been planned. Today, I think of this as listening and following. Back then, I didn't think of it at all …

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Spirit, God, gathers unformed thoughts into their proper channels, and unfolds these thoughts, even as He opens the petals of a holy purpose in order that the purpose may appear.”

Science & Health Page 506:18-21