Love, Understood and Demonstrated

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

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 knowing 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. 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. Salvation is an ongoing event, facilitated by releasing our belief in separation. I’m ready to surrender to unity! How about you?

Mary Baker Eddy quotes: "Salvation is as eternal as God. To mortal thought Jesus appeared as a child, and grew to manhood, to suffer before Pilate and on Calvary, because he could reach and teach mankind only through this conformity to mortal conditions; but Soul never saw the Savior come and go, because the divine idea is always present." Unity of Good: 59:13-18

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

Peace Within

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Lesson #70

“My salvation comes from me.”

An old friend tells me that it has taken her seven decades to stop believing the things her parents told her about herself. They said she was ugly, stupid, worthless, and other hurtful damnations. She believed these things and they stayed with her until being in a group with spiritually aware people allowed her to see the truth about herself. She no longer feels unworthy of love and goodness. Hallelujah! Her salvation has come! How often do we all believe lies about the reality of our being? We don’t realize we have chosen guilt for ourselves, but thankfully we are recognizing this and seeing that we have a choice! Nothing outside of our own self can save us; nothing from outside can bring us peace. The source of salvation and peace lies within. This acceptance is, indeed, cause for celebration!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Innocence and Truth overcome guilt and error.”  Science & Health Page 568:1

Love Never Dies

Resting Place

ACIM Workbook Lesson #69

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

Every animal which has come into my life, every person I’ve loved, have enriched my daily experience and helped me see through the illusion of separation, allowing me to feel the light of the world shining. Every dog I’ve ever known has taught me more about pure Love, and I am most grateful. Today I choose to see the light, to let it shine through me in everything I do, to allow it to brighten all. Even though I no longer have my Chili Dog by my side, I feel his presence and cherish the Love which never dies. 

Mary Baker Eddy Quote:

“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 295:19-24

An Angel Entertained Unawares

ACIM Workbook Lesson #68: “Love holds no grievances.”

"You want to switch off your heart and mind", I was told by a dear woman who used to read these writings. This is how she interpreted A Course in Miracles teachings. Wow, really?! I wanted to know more about why she felt this way, as strong opinions tend to close the mind and I try to stay open. She was translating these teachings into a mind control system which is just the opposite of what it is meant to be. On the contrary, it seems to me that the opinions we hold about ourselves shut us off from the function for which we were created -- which, as we learned a few days ago, is happiness! I love to have conversations like this, testing my understanding of what I am learning, to see if there are holes in my logic, or dead-ended trails of principles. Let's allow ourselves to experience the one Mind, through which we shall express infinite individuality, with open hearts and minds!

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

The Great Miracle

photo credit: Richard Quick

 ACIM Workbook Lesson #67

“Love created me like itself.”

In today’s lesson we are asked to recognize ourselves as unchanging Love, rather than the limited self we have been thinking we are. “Love created me like Itself.” Love has created everyone like Itself!! We have many false ideas about what we are and what others are, but let’s realize the illusory nature of those ideas and see ourselves as the one infinite divine Love. It’s fairly easy to see ourselves as loving, but as pure Love its own Self?? Let’s try to undo our ideas of what God is, what we are, releasing all our beliefs and asking Holy Spirit to fill us with the Truth of our being! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The great miracle, to human sense, is divine Love, and the grand necessity of existence is to gain the true idea of what constitutes the kingdom of heaven in man.”   Science & Health Page 560:11-15

Gather Joy and Spread Happiness

Joy in Mongolia

ACIM Workbook Lesson #66: “My happiness and my function are one.”

I recently heard about a study which has been taking place for 40+ years, following certain people throughout their lives and coming to conclusions on why they are or are not happy. Turns out happiness isn’t reliant on how much money people have, nor does it matter what religion they espouse — or not. Happiness isn’t dependent or where people live, what job they have, nor if they’re married or single. But it does have a direct correlation to their interpersonal relationships, their friendships, their interactions with others. While there was no direct correlation to marriage nor job, the way we relate to our spouse or co-workers affects our happiness levels. Those who were not married or didn’t have a job were still happier if they interacted with others on a regular basis. So let’s go out and gather joy, spread happiness, and be Love!

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

Yielding to Love

photo credit: Aaron Springston

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 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

Be Happy and Bloom

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:

“Can we gather peaches from a pine-tree, or learn from discord the concord of being? Yet quite as rational are some of the leading illusions along the path which Science must tread in its reformatory mission among mortals. The very name, illusion, points to nothingness.”  Science & Health Page 129:24-29

Leaving False Landmarks

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #63

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

It’s easy to feel peaceful when all things are going according to our plans, but what about those unexpected events such as loss of a job, breaking up of a marriage, illness and accidents? At such times, it can feel as though our peace has been disrupted, perhaps never to be felt again. In order to extend peace to others, we must accept it for ourselves. How grateful I am for this inkling of knowledge about the Science of Being! The unfolding reality which has replaced the shattering illusions around me have been facilitating a change in perception and an acceptance of peace. It’s sort of like Michelangelo chiseling away everything but the image he was seeing. We are working to release everything unlike Love, leaving behind pure peace! 

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

Remembering my Function

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #62: "Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world."

“I wish I'd known about this way of thought earlier in life,” a friend once said to me. He was concerned that he wouldn't have enough time to assimilate these ideas. Many responses came to thought, but I chose to say none of them. Time -- what a concept! We are eternal, so how can there not be enough time to realize something we've always known? Yes, that does sound rather esoteric, or perhaps a bit airy-fairy -- but doesn't it feel true? I know I've mentioned this Deepak Chopra quote before, but it bears repeating: "Time is something we've made up so everything doesn't happen all at once." Looked at in this way, don't we already know everything that ever has been or every will be? This is our function: to remember. And through forgiveness, we grasp our strength as the expression and experience of God. With that knowledge of our true Self, we open the gates of understanding in all areas of existence. There are no limits as to time and space. We have the ability to grasp concepts, to actualize ideas, and to function as the light of the world. The lovely thing about this is (no matter how much I may think I know) there is always more to this never-ending adventure! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “Truth and Love enlighten the understanding, in whose ‘light shall we see light;’ and this illumination is reflected spiritually by all who walk in the light and turn away from a false material sense.” Science & Health Page 510:9-12

Revelation and Progress

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #61: “I am the light of the world”

A lot has changed in the last couple of millennia, don't you think? We could spend hours listing changes in thought and our understanding of our universe! Some things which have not changed much are our ideas about God. Religion has pretty well held us locked in to what has been thought of as truth. Many of us are fearlessly admitting that we are all the expression and experience of God. We're happily allowing our thought to embrace new concepts such as, "I am the light of the world"! This is not a self-important declaration, but an all-inclusive, divine-Love centered exclamation of the wonder we know as Life. Our expanding thought is bringing a joy we never dreamed would be possible on this earth plane. We're starting to understand that the kingdom of heaven is right here, waiting for us to embrace it. Let's go forth today and shine!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

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

Science & Health Page 591:23-24

A Higher Plane of Action

photo credit: 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 thoughts of superiority and magnanimous gestures. Salvation has an odd interpretation which includes paying penance to someone or something. As we turn away from the material conceptions of these 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 forgiveness 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 quote: "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 256:3-8

A Wider Sphere of Thought

photo credit: Nick Franchi

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

With physical or emotional maladies, as with other seeming discord or inharmony, it's not our job to figure out where we went wrong — rather it’s our task to see how we are right! It may be said that metaphysical treatment is "denying error and declaring Truth”, but there is no set way to go about this process. When we glean a bit of spiritual Truth, we often think we can repeat it over and over, as a sort of mantra, and this will heal us. We can tell ourselves that disease is an illusion and that it's no part of us, but until we know the reason why, it does nothing more than further the illusion. When we find ourselves beginning to understand that disease cannot be in matter because there is no matter for disease to manifest in, then -- and only then -- are we coming close to understanding this Truth of which we speak. It may seem impossible to make this shift in thought, but I love the baby steps leading to it! One of my favorite scientists, Lothar Schafer, is leading others to see the unreality of matter in his latest book, Infinite Potential: What Quantum Physics Reveals About How We Should Live. I invite you to travel with him in this adventure!

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

A Holy State of Being

photo credit: Aaron Springston

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! We may hear that worry is counterproductive, because 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 onto 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

Freedom of Thought

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #57:

Today we review Lessons 31-35. 

I love the freedom of our lesson reviews for today!  "I am not the victim of the world I see."  "I have invented the world I see." "There is another way of looking at the world."  "I could see peace instead of this." "My mind is part of God's. I am very holy." 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

The Emperor Has No Clothes!

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #56: Today we review Lessons 26-30. For a guide to this review, and a short description, go to this link: http://acim.org/Lessons/lesson.html?lesson=56

The first lines from our review are these: “How can I know who I am when I see myself as under constant attack? Pain, illness, loss, age and death seem to threaten me. All my hopes and wishes and plans appear to be at the mercy of a world I cannot control.” When we feel helpless, we’re willing to grab onto anything we think will make us safe. For instance, if an insidious group wants to recruit new members, they look for those who feel bullied, or abused, or worthless, offering them control over their lives, power and security, honor and respect. By the time people find this is not true, they might think they are in too deep to escape the controlling influences which have not delivered what they promised. In our spiritual studies, we are learning to look past illusions to Truth. Let us not be afraid to give up views precipitated by fear, or beliefs held onto for comfort, because when we empty ourselves of these things we welcome a surety of purpose which keeps us moving forward, never fearing to shout out, “The emperor has no clothes!!”

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “Speak the truth to every form of error.” Science & Health Page 418:28-29

Aghast at Nothingness

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #55:

Today we review Lessons 21-25. For a guide to this review, and a short description, go to this link: http://acim.org/Lessons/lesson.html?lesson=55

This review is so exciting that I want to write about each and every one of the five topics -- but I've already done that, so I'll just focus on the first part of the review, which is from lesson #21 in A Course in Miracles workbook: "What I see now are but signs of disease, disaster, and death. This cannot be what God created for His beloved Son." Christian Scientists are often criticized for attempting to use Spirit to heal disease. Obviously, this would be impossible. Alternatively, we are chastised for doing nothing when faced with this thing called disease. If you have a so-called disease, it does no good to pretend it's not there. While affirmations, visualizations, different psychological techniques are often effective at changing matter, that is not what spiritual healing is all about. Some people think that the metaphysical treatment is an attempt to affect a change in experience. It is not. And some think that healing through prayer is asking God to cure something. It is not. Yet others feel that prayer is doing nothing. It is not. Seeing past the material illusion to a single moment of spiritual Truth, that is what spiritual healing is about. This knowledge is available to anyone, anywhere, anytime; the Principle is changeless and eternal, and all we need do is awaken to it. Today I am determined to see!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "Human sense may well marvel at discord, while, to a diviner sense, harmony is the real and discord the unreal. We may well be astonished at sin, sickness, death. We may well be perplexed at human fear; and still more astounded at hatred, which lifts its hydra head, showing its horns in the many inventions of evil. But why should we stand aghast at nothingness?” Science & Health Page 563:1-2

Higher and Deeper

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #54

Today's review is of Lessons 16-20. A short description may be found at: http://A Course in Miracles.org/Lessons/lesson.html?lesson=54

Upon awakening, I had about 20 inane and/or insane thoughts before I realized what I was doing! I started off with, What day is this and where am I supposed to be?, which was quickly followed by a chain of remembrances which took me from a lovely cooking store, to my childhood home, then my little mind zoomed over to a friend's house and a remembered conversation, before zipping back to a neglected household chore. This illustrates the importance of stilling rampant thinking and centering ourselves in Truth before beginning our day. We so often feel bombarded by thoughts of fear and hostility, lack and disease, error and disharmony. To hold thought in accord with divine Mind is a lofty goal, and may seem daunting, but we are learning it is a possibility and that even a glimpse of Truth is tantalizing. Join me in taking a stand for higher, deeper thought today and every day!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Temporal things are the thoughts of mortals and are the unreal, being the opposite of the real or the spiritual and eternal.” Science & Health Page 337:26-28

Open Mind, Open Heart

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #53

Today is the third of a ten-day review of the first lessons. 

http://acim.org/Lessons/lesson.html?daily_lesson=53

Today I had an interesting interlude with my mechanic. I had taken my car in for some minor work and when I went to pick it up, he started talking about the “news”. He told me he listened to it all day long while he worked on cars. When I told him I never listened to news, but read it instead, he started telling me things he felt I needed to know. Fortunately, earlier in the day I had taken a lenten vow of giving up the need to respond to thought which I find disagreeable; rather than responding, I would listen with compassion, seeking to understand. The things he was telling me were so outlandish I asked him if he was sure they were true. He was convinced of their veracity, and I assured him that if these things are so, we need to do something to change them. I also told him how I tried not to have strong opinions because they closed my mind to anything else. After an interesting chat, he told me he was going to charge disagreeable customers a “Marsha tax” — that he was going to charge them more so he could charge me less. Even though I hope this isn’t true, it made me feel good that we engaged in a productive conversation despite our differences of opinion! I am very grateful —

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “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 with Key to the Scriptures Page 466:9-13

To See Or Not To See

PC: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #52

Today is the second in a ten-day review of the first lessons. For a guide to this review, and a short description, go to this link: http://acim.org/Lessons/lesson.html?lesson=52

Metaphysicians often hear words like these: "Get real! Face facts! Pull your head out of the sand!" Trying to explain myself to the spiritually-deaf ear would be akin to explaining purple to a blind child. But if I were asked to do that, it would have to be through feeling the color and allowing that sight to pass to the sightless. So when someone doesn't understand where I'm coming from, rather than explaining -- or worse, arguing! -- I will feel Love, which is the spiritual reality. I have not always been so easy to get along with! A number of years ago, a dear friend and I had an altercation which was deeply interconnected to many areas in our friendship. If either she or I had held onto the past, we wouldn't share the palpable Oneness we feel today. As this lesson tells us, it's not a choice of seeing past or present, but a choice to see or not to see. Where I've chosen to shade my thoughts with the unreality of inharmony, I will choose again and flow in Oneness with God.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Spiritual causation is the one question to be considered, for more than all others spiritual causation relates to human progress. The age seems ready to approach this subject, to ponder somewhat the supremacy of Spirit, and at least to touch the hem of Truth's garment." Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 270:22-27