November 11, 2011 - Pay It Forward

ACIM Lesson #315
“All gifts my brothers give belong to me.”



Glowing light
photo from Sandy Starbird



[Marsha’s thoughts]

Pay it Forward. Almost everyone knows what this means. In 2000, Catherine Ryan Hyde wrote a book by this title. A few years later, a movie was made based on the premise. In Utah, a man has started a Pay it Forward movement dedicated to spreading this Love. As part of Charley Johnson's vision, there are Pay It Forward bracelets. When you do something nice for someone and they thank you, you give them a bracelet and ask them to pass it on in the same way. This is only one example of the many ways this thought is spreading!

Today is 11/11/11. When I'm asked what I think this means to humanity, my only response can be that anything which brings us together in ways of mutual devotion to good is a wonderful thing. The more people who center their thought in Love, the more we realize how very much we like this way of life and we want it all the time. So let's go forward with Love, joining with all who are gathering in thought to this end today and every day, and paying IT forward with each and every loving action.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
"In the scientific relation of God to man, we find that whatever blesses one blesses all, as Jesus showed with the loaves and the fishes,--Spirit, not matter, being the source of supply."
Science & Health Page 206;15-17

November 10, 2011

ACIM Lesson #314
“I seek a future different from the past.”

Beaver Bridge
Photo from Jim Young

[Marsha’s thoughts]

History was always my least favorite subject in school. And I always questioned why I needed to know these things. Of course people told me I must know this in order to benefit from the good things and not to repeat the bad. This never felt right and it still doesn't! The statement that "the future now is recognized as but an extension of the present" seems all too true of our existence. And so now that we're more fully realizing the possibility of living in an entirely new way through other-dimensional thought, my reluctance to read and study past events makes more sense to me than ever. With new understanding concerning the nature of our Being, there is no need to educate ourselves by past mistakes. When we live through the understanding of spiritual Truth, many material laws seem pointless and we are able to turn away from them with no worries for our well-being. It is this understanding which allows us to surpass what has been thought of as human limits. I see a future of happiness and love. Giving up strong opinions helps me to see spiritual perfection. How exciting!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
“The human mind, imbued with this spiritual understanding, becomes more elastic, is capable of greater endurance, escapes somewhat from itself, and requires less repose. A knowledge of the Science of being develops the latent abilities and possibilities of man. It extends the atmosphere of thought, giving mortals access to broader and higher realms. It raises the thinker into his native air of insight and perspicacity.”
Science & Health Page 128:11-19

November 9, 2011

ACIM Lesson #313
“Now let a new perception come to me.”

[Marsha’s thoughts]

The gift of a whole day to enjoy Being is the epitome of luxury to me! Having spent this day in quiet contemplation (prayer, if you will), I can honestly say there’s nothing I’d rather be doing! The fall colors on this gray and rainy day have intensified throughout, culminating in a dusk which reflected glows of orange and yellow and red. This other-worldly feeling has permeated everything today, including my Self. The electrically-charged atmosphere of rain/ lightning/thunder has mingled with the peace of gently falling leaves. My excitement in living combines with the calm of resting in holy completeness. What a joy, looking inward for the guidance so needed today. What fun to see activities unfold in unthought-of ways, unplanned, even unknown to my current perception! New ways of seeing and opening of Self are revealed to us as we tap into the thought which is God, supplying us in ways we never knew existed. I eagerly look toward new perceptions!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
“This apodictical Principle points to the revelation of Immanuel, ‘God with us,’--the sovereign ever-presence, delivering the children of men from every ill ‘that flesh is heir to.’ Through Christian Science, religion and medicine are inspired with a diviner nature and essence; fresh pinions are given to faith and understanding, and thoughts acquaint themselves intelligently with God."
Science & Health Page 107:7-15

November 8, 2011

ACIM Lesson #312
“I see all things as I would have them be.”

[Marsha’s thoughts]

Rain catching light

We seem to have enacted laws of illness for ourselves. The common cold (as it's called!) is a perfect example of this, along with all the other dis-ease we take for granted as unavoidable and even necessary. We think that certain symptoms appear, progress through phases with time, and then diminish and disappear. Well, this is not the way I choose to judge today! This morning I awoke with a runny nose and scratchy throat. I am not going to judge what this means. Instead, I choose to drop this illusion as quickly as I would drop one of any false sense which comes to me. Would I be tempted to be mean to an animal or stab my neighbor in the back? No! And so I turn away from the thoughts of coughing and sneezing with the same authority I have to turn away from thoughts of doom and gloom. Today I will keep as a constant companion the words of Mary Baker Eddy which are quoted herein. And as I sit looking at the beautiful fall colors and listening to the intermittent rain, I will see my perfection in every falling leaf.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
"Take possession of your body, and govern its feeling and action. 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."
Science & Health Page 393:10-15

November 7, 2011

ACIM Lesson #311
“I judge all things as I would have them be."[Marsha's thoughts]

Fall in Eureka Springs
Photo by Randal Thompson

I love to see how all disciplines of spiritual understanding show us the same thing from different avenues. As I read today's lesson, I think of ancient Toltec wisdom as shown to us by Miguel Ruiz in the Four Agreements. The guidance for life revealed by two of these agreements perfectly lead us in nonjudgmental ways. "Don't make assumptions", and "Don't take anything personally" are my constant companions and always come to mind when I'm tempted to take offense by someone's statements or to blame someone for their actions or words. If I don't take anything personally, then there are no assumptions as to others' motives. If I make no assumption about why someone says or does something, then I won't be thinking they are attacking me personally. Perhaps the problems with releasing guilt and blame come from our beliefs that these things are true of us. And so when we feel this way, let’s not hesitate to examine these feelings and note if there is something in our actions which needs to be changed or expunged. When we are living our true Being as a child of God, we can rest guiltless and blameless.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"No final judgment awaits mortals, for the judgment-day of wisdom comes hourly and continually, even the judgment by which mortal man is divested of all material error. As for spiritual error, there is none."

Science & Health P 291:28-32

November 6, 2011

ACIM Lesson #310
“In fearlessness and love I spend today.”

[Marsha’s thoughts]

Cheering Life with Eggrolls!

The love we feel for friends is a foretaste of the possibilities of all-encompassing Love which we are left with when all else is gone from thought. Last night, two of my son’s friends from forever came by to visit. It was as though they’d been here every day and the time spent in our home was a sweet reminder of days gone by. At the time my children were growing up, I spent much more time every day in prayerful study and contemplation than I do now. Or so it seemed! But when I stop to think about it, every interaction is expressing this Love with a fearlessness that grows more complete every day. These seeds were planted and are still being nurtured through these moment-by-moment expressions of Love. Even if we are not in the public eye, this Love can be expressed in many ways – actually, in every way! And by loving yourself, you’re loving everyone. By living fearlessly, you’re spreading this confidence to all. I go forth with loving gratitude today and expect only Good.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“If we look to the body for pleasure, we find pain; for Life, we find death; for Truth, we find error; for Spirit, we find its opposite, matter. Now reverse this action. Look away from the body into Truth and Love, the Principle of all happiness, harmony, and immortality. 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”

Science & Health Page 260

November 5, 2011

ACIM Lesson #309
“I will not fear to look within today.”

[Marsha’s thoughts]

Loving Friends

The concept of fearing to look within seems foreign to me. Although I know there must be lots of reasons that we fear this inner Self, I really don't know why this is. Now that I've said this, something will probably come up tomorrow to bite me in the behind and show me what I'm missing! And I welcome that. The most profound growth noted in this past year or so has come about because of beloved friends leading or pushing me in a new direction, or perhaps rubbing my nose in some mess I've left behind, or flat out telling me to get a grip!! I relish these prompts to look within and past whatever erroneous beliefs or habits have been guiding my actions! Every moment of this weeding out of distracting and unnecessary emotions is leaving more room for flowers and sweet herbs to grow. What a delight to find these inside, rather than hideous imaginings! Knowing that the only Truth to be found is in this inner space, gladly I look there today.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
“When speaking of God's children, not the children of men, Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is within you;" that is, Truth and Love reign in the real man, showing that man in God's image is unfallen and eternal. Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick. Thus Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is intact, universal, and that man is pure and holy. Man is not a material habitation for Soul; he is himself spiritual. Soul, being Spirit, is seen in nothing imperfect nor material.”
Science & Health Page 476-28-8