November 19, 2011 -- What do we give up?

ACIM Lesson #323
I gladly make the "sacrifice" of fear.


[Marsha's thoughts]

"Bursting with Love"
from Randal Thompson

The word "sacrifice" is another of those which can hold negative connotations!

It seems to embody ideas of giving up something precious to gain favor from God, or sacrificing our own happiness for that of another, or at the very least giving up certain foods for the betterment of our bodies.

But this sacrifice we speak of today only asks that we exchange pain for Love!

Although it seems that we'd be waiting in line to do this, I find it interesting that so many of us seem to enjoy our pain and work to hold onto it! I have a friend who seems to enjoy his pain so much that he constantly recounts the events which have led up to his present circumstance. It seems it would be a diminishment of his perceived self to let go of this sadness in favor of joy.

 Just as we've let go of the idea that wearing animal furs makes us more beautiful,

we shall release beliefs that being miserable will make us more interesting people.

Today I will see grace in everyone I meet, beauty in everything I see, paying the debt I owe to Truth.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Give up your material belief of mind in matter, and have but one Mind, even God; for this Mind forms its own likeness. The loss of man's identity through the understanding which Science confers is impossible; and the notion of such a possibility is more absurd than to conclude that individual musical tones are lost in the origin of harmony."

Science & Health Page 216:30-5



November 18, 2011 - Reality

ACIM Lesson #322
“I can give up but what was never real.”

[Marsha's thoughts]

Oftentimes we don't realize we're holding on to unnecessary illusions. As I look at this world, many metaphors for this holding-on-letting-go action come to thought. The proliferation of storage sheds illustrates how we've fallen into the belief that we need more of everything. And the vastness of our trash dumps are the flip side of this record, where we leave all the big plastic things we've amassed. Most everyone I know is yearning for a more simple existence, in which their needs are met in nurturing ways. We want real food, grown by people we know, with Love. We don't want knick-knacks to fill our shelves, but search for meaningful objects which bring grace and beauty to our lives. These changes in material trappings exemplify the changes in our thought whereby we strive to release illusive beliefs in exchange for the new/old ideas of Soul. Today I will recognize the difference in the unnecessary illusions which only serve to dull my sense, and the palpably glowing Ideas which nourish me.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Man is the idea of Spirit; he reflects the beatific presence, illuming the universe with light.”

Science and Health Page 266:27–29

November 17, 2011 - Freedom

ACIM Lesson #321
“Father, my freedom is in You alone.”

"Bird at Heart"
from Sandy Wythawai Starbird

[Marsha's thoughts]
An old Kris Kristofferson song, Me and Bobby McGee, has the line: Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose. That seems forlorn on the face of it, as in, I've already lost everything and have nothing left and so I guess that's supposed to be freedom. But then again, there's something to be said for nothing left to lose! Does it have to imply loneliness and emptiness? I don't think so. By not counting on another person, or yourself, or anything other than God to supply everything you need, there is an ultimate freedom in not worrying about what, who, where you'll be or anything else! You may happily follow that inner knowing which supplies you with the freedom to be open to anything and everything without wondering or questioning your own motives or those of others. It's quite a delightful trip, this waiting with heart wide open to see what's coming next!Mary Baker Eddy quote:
“The enslavement of man is not legitimate. It will cease when man enters into his heritage of freedom, his God-given dominion over the material senses. Mortals will some day assert their freedom in the name of Almighty God. Then they will control their own bodies through the understanding of divine Science. Dropping their present beliefs, they will recognize harmony as the spiritual reality and discord as the material unreality.”
Science & Health Page 228:11-19

November 16, 2011 - God is All. I Am All.

ACIM Lesson #320
“My Father gives all power unto me.”

[Marsha's thoughts]

"The Tarentella of Autumn"
from Sandy Wythawai Starbird

The last phrase in the Eddy quote below reminds me of a popular new age saying that I've always liked: Fake it 'til you make it! "We must act as possessing all power from Him in whom we have our being." (MBE) Often we feel incapable of believing, much less understanding, that the reality of our being is limitless. We are capable of so much more than we realize. Some of the descriptive words used above have gotten a bad reputation because of abuse of power and dominion being exercised in awful ways. But let's shed those notions and see these words defined as empowering and helpful. The power bestowed within us is a wonderful, beautiful thing! And so if we must pretend today that we are Love and nothing else, if we must fake it, let’s be certain that we will make it! It is something I will continue to do today when I feel fear, or lack, or irritation with someone. My will and God's will are one and the same. I acknowledge that at every opportunity.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The fading forms of matter, the mortal body and material earth, are the fleeting concepts of the human mind. They have their day before the permanent facts and their perfection in Spirit appear. The crude creations of mortal thought must finally give place to the glorious forms which we sometimes behold in the camera of divine Mind, when the mental picture is spiritual and eternal. Mortals must look beyond fading, finite forms, if they would gain the true sense of things. Where shall the gaze rest but in the unsearchable realm of Mind? We must look where we would walk, and we must act as possessing all power from Him in whom we have our being."

Science & Health 263:32-12

November 15, 2011 - Arrogance?

ACIM Lesson #319
“I came for the salvation of the world.”

[Marsha’s thoughts]

Sunrise September 12,
captured by Sandy Wythawai Starbird



I love that this lesson goes to there being no arrogance in the realization that I am here for the salvation of the world! If we feel that our material reasoning and contrived actions and reactions are humble, but the admission that we are on the same level of thought as God would have us be arrogant, we are not admitting the powerful, capable abilities which are ours by virtue of this admission. It seems to me that thinking we can do it all on our own is the height of arrogance. The understanding that I can do nothing on my own, but that I am capable of anything when I allow my true Self to be expressed by utilizing the power of the divine, is humbling. By this humble yielding to the divine which we are, we are admitting that what/who we are is indeed spiritual not material. From this point, there are no limits and we free to live in Truth.

Mary Baker Eddy quotes:

“Millions of unprejudiced minds--simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert--are waiting and watching for rest and drink.”

Science & Health Page 570:14-17

“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 259:15-18

November 14, 2011 - At-One-Ment

ACIM Lesson #318

“In me salvation's means and end are one.”[Marsha’s thoughts]

We're all in this together. I've said this so many times in so many situations. It seems as though we all see things through different eyes. We seem to be satellites, rotating around something unseen, sometimes floating in unison, often bumping into each other and throwing our orbit out of sync! But we're all in this together. Let's leave out the "in": We're all this together. Occasionally this togetherness manifests itself as groups of people who commingle for the joy of being with each other. We may have book clubs, and study groups, and sewing circles, and various groups of people who come together in communion. This fellowship has been sought-after since the beginning of time. Personally, I have no interest in being a part of any group simply to be with others. I need for there to be a communication which surpasses the ordinary. I want stunning honesty, inspiring exchanges, Love shared. From this at-one-ment, this demonstrated Oneness with each other as reflections of God, salvation is realized as the means, the end, the Only.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Glory be to God, and peace to the struggling hearts! Christ hath rolled away the stone from the door of human hope and faith, and through the revelation and demonstration of life in God, hath elevated them to possible at-one-ment with the spiritual idea of man and his divine Principle, Love.”

Science & Health Page 45:16-21

November 13, 2011 - Following the lead

ACIM Lesson #317
“I follow in the way appointed me.”
[Marsha’s thoughts]

Sweet Spring Stairs
photo by Gerry Toler

For a number of years I have felt that I am yielding my will to "follow in the way appointed me". Usually this yielding goes by unnoticed and I am happy letting go of strong opinions and other emotions which used to lead to turmoil and difficulties. But this was not so today. Often I will work 12 hours on Saturday, and I usually enjoy this time and even look forward to the second-wind high that kicks in at some point. Around the 10th hour, a woman walked into the gallery whom I hadn't seen in a number if years. When she had been a regular customer, I had always found her difficult to be around and often had to work hard at being nice to her. When she came in the gallery, my first reaction was one of recognizing someone I hadn't seen in a long time and greeting her warmly. That feeling lasted about ten seconds and I was suddenly repelled by her demeanor and the things she was saying. In the past, I would have just accepted this as part of the inevitable way life is: some people we like, some we don't. But that’s not enough now. I understand that my true self and her true self are one and the same. If I dislike her, I dislike myself. I don't dislike myself, and I don't dislike her. I look forward to seeing her again to see if this understanding will be demonstrated in action. (And I almost forgot why I mentioned the hours! After my shift in attitude, not one sale was made in the gallery)

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
“All the evidence of physical sense and all the knowledge obtained from physical sense must yield to Science, to the immortal truth of all things.”