No Forgiveness Necessary

Photo credit: Stephen Shogren

Living in acknowledgement of our unity shows us a new paradigm, a different perception of what we call reality. The opposite of unity, separation, can be described as anything which separates us from Love. Our separation becomes very apparent on occasions such as Valentine's Day. Numerous people I know expressed their disgust for this sweet day of celebration, supposedly because they are not "in love". Someone even said, "Happy too-bad-you're-not-in-love Day!" I had to burst out laughing, because I feel very much in Love! Every moment is an adventure in experiencing the Love which is my Source. I revel in waking up each day and spending time aligning my thoughts with divine Mind/Love. Through this centering, I feel as though I'm having a love affair with all of life. Yes, situations occur which tempt me to revert to a judgmental way of living, and that’s okay. It seems that recognizing this behavior, and reinterpreting my responses, are an important part of learning the metaphysical precepts I’m studying. With enough practice, I hope to have no need to forgive, because I have not condemned. 

“God does not forgive because He has never condemned. And there must be condemnation before forgiveness is necessary. Forgiveness is the great need of this world, but that is because it is a world of illusions. Those who forgive are thus releasing themselves from illusions, while those who withhold forgiveness are binding themselves to them. As you condemn only yourself, so do you forgive only yourself.” 

A Course in Miracles W-46.1:1-5

 "'God is Love.' More than this we cannot ask, higher we cannot look, farther we cannot go. To suppose that God forgives or punishes sin according as His mercy is sought or unsought, is to misunderstand Love ..." 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 6:17-21

Expressions of Love

 

Graphic created by Aaron Springston

On this day when we celebrate love, I am reminded of the amazing ways people are expressing Love all over the world. It's wonderful to hear stories of individuals who see a need and find a way to meet it! I read a story about a man who started a website to track refugees, in order to help others identify people in need and give assistance. Another man has dedicated his life to saving dogs by transporting them to areas of the country where they can find homes. I have vowed to find at least one incidence of good every day -- and good news is everywhere when we’re looking for it! I'm going to take time today to think of all the people I know who are expressing Love and living a life of grace. This grace doesn't need to be expressed in large ways, it only needs to be heartfelt and sincere. Happy Valentine's Day to us all!!

“Love alone can impart the limitless idea of infinite Mind.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health  Page 510:18-19

“Where, then, are your real thoughts? Today we will attempt to reach them. We will have to look for them in your mind, because that is where they are. They must still be there, because they cannot have left their source. What is thought by the Mind of God is eternal, being part of creation.” 

A Course in Miracles W-45.3:1-5 

“Every concept which seems to begin with the brain begins falsely. Divine Mind is the only cause or Principle of existence. Cause does not exist in matter, in mortal mind, or in physical forms.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 262:28-32

Light Passing Through a Windowpane

Photo courtesy of Alden Stallings

At a recent function, someone leaned in close to me and said something derogatory about another person. I was reminded of Olympia Dukakis in Steel Magnolias when she said, “If you don’t have anything nice to say about anybody, come and sit by me”.  I wanted to say just the opposite and ask this person to go away! But I also wanted to see her comments with the light of Love and interpret them purely rather than through my personal judgment of the words. So I just smiled at her. I was standing there asking Holy Spirit what to say in response, but nothing came to thought, so I didn’t nervously babble something meaningless, nor did I condemn her as I am wont to do. This experience helped me understand that a response is not always necessary. I hope to remember on a daily basis that light is within, not without. My work is to become a clearer transparency from which this light may flow!

“The manifestation of God through mortals is as light passing through the windowpane. 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.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 295:16-24

“In order to see, you must recognize that light is within, not without. You do not see outside yourself, nor is the equipment for seeing outside you. An essential part of this equipment is the light that makes seeing possible. It is with you always, making vision possible in every circumstance.”

A Course in Miracles W-44.2:1-4

We Are More

Art by Jane Newland

“Don't abandon yourself. Not when you're sick. Not when you're tired. Not when you've lost the thread, the thought, or the thing you thought defined you. 

You will die many times in one life and create yourself anew. This is natural. This is a gift. I've died a few times now here in this world. The person I was: gone. 

Throw that older skin into the water. Give it to the sky. Step into what wants to emerge now. Nothing can hold you back when you are willing to be yourself.”

Jeannette Enchinias

"[We are] more than a material form with a mind inside, which must escape from its environments in order to be immortal. Man reflects infinity, and this reflection is the true idea of God."

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 258:9-12

“Perception is not an attribute of God. His is the realm of knowledge. Yet He has created the Holy Spirit as the Mediator between perception and knowledge. Without this link with God, perception would have replaced knowledge forever in your mind. With this link with God, perception will become so changed and purified that it will lead to knowledge. That is its function as the Holy Spirit sees it. Therefore, that is its function in truth.”

A Course in Miracles W-43.1:1-7

Pure Vision

Unknown Photographer

"Gut feelings" are often discounted as being invalid, for numerous reasons. Some say they're no more than paranoid thoughts, others may think of them as wishful thinking, but few think of them as divine vision. In this familiar world, we must reinterpret everything we see. Looking at our surroundings with human eyes, hearing with mortal ears, brings to us a false projection of Truth. Discord and inharmony are but misinterpretations we perceive. Through right identification and reinterpretation, we see with a pure vision. As an example, when we see train tracks coming together in the distance, we immediately reinterpret that into the truth of the situation. We know that those tracks aren't coming together and that it will not be dangerous to travel on the train which carries us toward that end. We have been taught to translate many similar situations, and we do not fear them. The metaphysical studies we've embarked upon are doing the same thing: teaching us to recognize misidentification and translate it into Truth. Translating erroneous thought is a present possibility!

“Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 393:12-15

“God is indeed your strength, and what He gives is truly given. This means that you can receive it any time and anywhere, wherever you are, and in whatever circumstance you find yourself. Your passage through time and space is not at random. You cannot but be in the right place at the right time. Such is the strength of God. Such are His gifts.” 

A Course in Miracles W-42.2:1-6

One is a Whole Number

Art by Marianne Faguy

“Deep within you is everything that is perfect, ready to radiate through you and out into the world. It will cure all sorrow and pain and fear and loss because it will heal the mind that thought these things were real, and suffered out of its allegiance to them.” A Course in Miracles W-41.3:1-2

“The capacity to be alone is the capacity to love.

It may look paradoxical to you, but it's not. It is an existential truth: only those people who are capable of being alone are capable of love, of sharing, of going into the deepest core of another person, without possessing the other, without becoming dependent on the other, without reducing the other to a thing, and without becoming addicted to the other.

They allow the other absolute freedom, because they know that if the other leaves, they will be as happy as they are now.

Their happiness cannot be taken by the other,

 because it is not given by the other.”

~ Osho

“Today's idea will eventually overcome completely the sense of loneliness and abandonment all the separated ones experience. Depression is an inevitable consequence of separation. So are anxiety, worry, a deep sense of helplessness, misery, suffering and intense fear of loss.” 

A Course in Miracles - Workbook Lesson #41

“Wilderness: Loneliness; doubt; darkness. Spontaneity of thought and idea; the vestibule in which a material sense of things disappears, and spiritual sense unfolds the great facts of existence.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 597:16-19

I Am an Eternal Creation of Love

Beaver Bridge in Beaver, Arkansas

Photo by Stephen Shogren

Why can’t we all just be happy? I’ve heard this question voiced numerous times, and I’ve probably said it a time or two myself. People may tell you that poverty and abuse keep many people from being happy. On the flip side, what of people who have everything a person could want, but yet they are terribly unhappy? When I was a teenager, a friend of the family had a series of unfortunate events occur in her life. In a three-year period, her husband passed on, their house burned down, and then her daughter was in a car accident which left her in a coma for over a year before she died. And she had also lost an infant daughter years before. This woman lived well into her 80s, always happily helping others, and I was told she died with a smile on her face. At the time, I wondered how she did it. I see now that she knew the open secret of Life. With each loved one who passes on, with each beloved animal I’ve known and loved through the years, something is growing more certain within me: they haven’t gone anywhere. Never born, never dying. If there was a beginning, then there must be an end. Seeing myself as a blessed eternal creation of Love brings me joy!

“Can you imagine how beautiful those you forgive will look to you? In no fantasy have you ever seen anything so lovely. Nothing you see here, sleeping or waking, comes near to such loveliness. And nothing will you value like unto this, nor hold so dear. Nothing that you remember that made your heart sing with joy has ever brought you even a little part of the happiness this sight will bring you. For you will see the Son of God. You will behold the beauty the Holy Spirit loves to look upon, and which He thanks the Father for. He was created to see this for you, until you learned to see it for yourself. And all His teaching leads to seeing it and giving thanks with Him.” 

A Course in Miracles T-17.II.1:1-9

“As the reflection of yourself appears in the mirror, so you, being spiritual, are the reflection of God. The substance, Life, intelligence, Truth, and Love, which constitute Deity, are reflected by His creation; and when we subordinate the false testimony of the corporeal senses to the facts of Science, we shall see this true likeness and reflection everywhere.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 516:2-8

The Days and Seasons of Mind’s Creation

Photo Courtesy of Aaron Springston

“No one needs practice to gain what is already his.” (ACIM Workbook Lesson #39) We tend to forget that holiness is and always has been ours, simply for the acknowledgement of it. By experiencing our holiness, we extend it to everyone and everything. With the understanding that we can choose our experiences by listening for the divine Mind which flows through all that is, we reach beyond our beliefs and see salvation. This state of Mind is the answer to anything we may ask. I am grateful for Life, Truth, and Love. I am grateful for everything leading to this point in time. Thank you greatly —- 

“The periods of spiritual ascension are the days and seasons of Mind’s creation, in which beauty, sublimity, purity, and holiness — yea, the divine nature — appear in man and the universe never to disappear.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 509:24-28

“My holiness is my salvation. Since my holiness saves me from all guilt, recognizing my holiness is recognizing my salvation. It is also recognizing the salvation of the world. Once I have accepted my holiness, nothing can make me afraid. And because I am unafraid, everyone must share in my understanding, which is the gift of God to me and to the world.” 

A Course in Miracles W-58.4:1-5

Reversing the “Laws” of the World

Photo credit: Aaron Springston

"Your holiness reverses all the laws of the world. It is beyond every restriction  of time, space, distance and limits of any kind." [ACIM Workbook Lesson #38] Haven't you always felt this to be true? Isn't that the appeal of Harry Potter stories? We know -- we just know! -- that there is more to all of this than what we see with our mortal eyes. It’s very exciting to ponder these new/old ideas!  The writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the teachings of A Course in Miracles reveal the spiritual interpretation of our material belief. A multitude of teachers give us books and videos to help us understand. The internet has brought us a plethora of information which can be accessed in an instant. Tapping into our inner knowing is facilitated by the knowledge that it is possible. There are many ways to practice recognizing intuitive knowledge. And that's all it is: recognition. No one is without this ability. As with many decisions in life, if we choose based on material evidence, everything may seem to be a matter of luck. When we allow our holiness to guide us, there is only the peaceful certainty of Good.

"Lulled by stupefying illusions, the world is asleep in the cradle of infancy, dreaming away the hours. Material sense does not unfold the facts of existence; but spiritual sense lifts human consciousness into eternal Truth." 

Mary baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 95:28-32

“My holiness is unlimited in its power to heal, because it is unlimited in its power to save. What is there to be saved from except illusions? And what are all illusions except false ideas about myself? My holiness undoes them all by asserting the truth about me. In the presence of my holiness, which I share with God Himself, all idols vanish.” 

A Course in Miracles  W-58.3:2-6

Seeing Ourselves as Whole

Photo Courtesy of Aaron Springston

Have you seen the movie or read the book, “The Hundred-Foot Journey”? It’s very beautiful for many reasons. We are shown lovely French countryside, exquisite food, and a wonderful acceptance of and by people who are learning about our connection with each other. When we accept our holiness, we do so by realizing that we are the expression of Love. When we see this truth, we understand that we are not alone, as we are all the reflection of divine Mind. How can we express racial prejudice, or any other form of hatred and fear, when we realize these things? I am freed by the understanding that the act of seeing everything in its spiritual reality is my function. It is everyone's function! By our realization of spiritual Truth, we see that everything is already complete and whole. I look forward to seeing more of this expanding vision which awaits us, just beyond the horizon of our material views.

"We are all sculptors, working at various forms, moulding and chiseling thought. What is the model before mortal mind? Is it imperfection, joy, sorrow, sin, suffering? Have you accepted the mortal model?" "We must form perfect models in thought and look at them continually, or we shall never carve them out in grand and noble lives." 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 248:15-17 and 26-29

“My holiness envelops everything I see. From my holiness does the perception of the real world come. Having forgiven, I no longer see myself as guilty. I can accept the innocence that is the truth about me. Seen through understanding eyes, the holiness of the world is all I see, for I can picture only the thoughts I hold about myself.”

A Course in Miracles W-58.1:1-5

Visions of Holiness

Rock Formations in Peru

Markawasi, Peru is high in the Andes Mountains in South America. At this site, there are hundreds of figures, faces, and various shapes which may be seen in the living stone. There is much speculation concerning the origin of these fabulous monuments, yet some people cannot see them. As shown by time-lapse photography, these illusive figures are more obvious at some times of the day than at others. I would suppose it also is predicated (as so many things are) on whether we want to see or not. While watching a documentary on this subject, I was repeatedly reminded of its metaphorical relationship with our spiritual study. The very first Wayne Dyer book I discovered  jumped out at me because of its title: When You Believe It, You'll See It. This is the exact opposite of our material basis of truth: When I see it, I'll believe it. These stone faces are easily overlooked if you don't want to see. With these thoughts as my inspiration, I shall go through this day seeing my holiness enveloping everything. And while many things are beyond my ability to see, that's okay, because knowing they're there is enough for now.

"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." 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 492:7-11

“From my holiness does the perception of the real world come. Having forgiven, I no longer see myself as guilty. I can accept the innocence that is the truth about me. Seen through understanding eyes, the holiness of the world is all I see, for I can picture only the thoughts I hold about myself.” 

A Course in Miracles W-58.1:2-5

The Oneness of Divine Mind

Photo Courtesy of Aaron Springston

A good friend has struggled with depression all her life. She feels her existence has been a series of horrible events, occasionally interrupted by happy times, which inevitably end in pain. In an attempt to escape this existence, she has turned to alcohol, drugs, and God. But the judgmental God she sees makes deals with her, and never deems her worthy of favor. She often recounts events from the past, and this seems to affect her every action. We can escape this trap by accepting that we are actually the holy reflection of divine Love, a/k/a God. Any feeling of hopelessness and sadness can disappear in an instant! By releasing our material history, we are free to learn the reality of our spiritual self, which is unending, uninterrupted good. It's a beautiful thing to witness someone realize the nothingness of their personal history and to see the wondrous peace which lies within. 

"Immortal ideas, pure, perfect, and enduring, are transmitted by the divine Mind through divine Science, which corrects error with truth and demands spiritual thoughts, divine concepts, to the end that they may produce harmonious results."

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 259:26-31

“As I share the peace of the world with my brothers, I begin to understand that this peace comes from deep within myself. The world I look upon has taken on the light of my forgiveness, and shines forgiveness back at me. In this light I begin to see what my illusions about myself kept hidden. I begin to understand the holiness of all living things, including myself, and their oneness with me.” 

A Course in Miracles W-57.5:3-6

I Could See Peace …

Valerie Damon in a Eureka Springs, Arkansas Parade

Photo courtesy of Richard Quick

“I could see peace instead of this.” ACIM Lesson #34. This statement reminds me  that I am not a victim of the world I see. It suggests that perhaps there is another way of looking at it all; a way where I could see peace rather than turmoil. It reminds me that my mind is of God, and that I am Its holy image. What if we could simply relax into truth, not feeling the need to make others think as we do, nor to attempt to change anyone's mind about anything. It wouldn't matter if anyone believed in God, or followed any particular teaching system or religion -- it simply wouldn't be of any importance to us.  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 peace is something which will spread without any effort, other than the sheer happiness in our hearts!

“When I see the world as a place of freedom, I realize that it reflects the laws of God instead of the rules I made up for it to obey. I will understand that peace, not war, abides in it. And I will perceive that peace also abides in the hearts of all who share this place with me.” 

A Course in Miracles  W-57.4:2-4

“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.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 510:9-12

Another Way of Looking at the World

Painting by Carol Dickie

Everywhere we look, changes are occurring. It’s wonderful that we are not afraid to look at traditional values in a new light! New ways of looking at old words, such as The Lord's Prayer give us fresh insights and understanding. Some people fear that these interpretations are sacrilegious, and perhaps they are. Religion should be about spirituality, but often it is no more than dogma and tradition, which is often perpetuated through fear. There are many interpretations of what we call The Lord’s Prayer. Here is a beautiful modern-day interpretation by Peter Russell. I feel these words are very helpful in facilitating our shifting perceptions of ancient Truth.

Peter Russell's Contemporary Lord's Prayer

“Our essential Being, that dwells within,

'I am' is thy name.

May thy true nature be revealed.

May thy knowing inform our daily lives

As it does our inner Being.

Nourish us today with thy Presence.

Release us from any judgment we have held against ourselves,

As we release others from judgments we've held against them.

Let us not be tempted to seek solace in worldly things.

Liberate us from that which veils the truth.

For it is in our Being that we find your Presence,

The Source of all good, the home of all joy,

Eternally, and without change.

So be it.”

Peter Russell

“As human thought changes from one stage to an other of conscious pain and painlessness, sorrow and joy, — from fear to hope and from faith to understanding, — the visible manifestation will at last be man governed by Soul, not by material sense.“ 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 125:12-15

“Peace is the bridge that everyone will cross, to leave this world behind. But peace begins within the world perceived as different, and leading from this fresh perception to the gate of Heaven and the way beyond. Peace is the answer to conflicting goals, to senseless journeys, frantic, vain pursuits, and meaningless endeavors. Now the way is easy, sloping gently toward the bridge where freedom lies within the peace of God.” 

A Course in Miracles W-200.8:1-4

We See What We Want

Art by Catrin Welz-Stein

I often wonder if we are hesitant to live from the heart because we worry others might think we're foolish. When we insist on seeing as Mind sees, rather than through the interpretation of human belief, we are often looked at askance! I remember once when I was in a monthly meeting of gallery owners in our town and the talk turned to theft in their shops. I turned my attention away from the discussion and was looking into a corner, thinking about something else, when suddenly I noticed everyone had stopped talking. I looked up and saw they were all looking at me! Someone asked me what I thought about this situation and I honestly told them that thievery was not a part of my existence and I didn't want to make it a reality by giving it energy. Someone said, Good for you! And the conversation continued in a different vein. With that in mind, I will not hesitate to wander away from discussions centered on fearful beliefs or angry reactions, while reinterpreting them with the Love which defines our being. 

“Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts." 

Mary Baker Eddy- Science & Health Page 261:4-7

“You are not the victim of the world you see because you invented it. You can give it up as easily as you made it up. You will see it or not see it, as you wish. While you want it you will see it; when you no longer want it, it will not be there for you to see.” 

A Course in Miracles W-32.1:2-5