December 5, 2011

ACIM Lesson #339

December 4, 2011 - Thought

ACIM Lesson #338
"I am affected only by my thoughts."[Marsha's thoughts]

Christian Science Edifice
watercolor by Julie Kahn Valentine

Recently our nearly 100-year-old Christian Science church was on the Christmas Tour of Homes. A man came in and told me he knew lots of Baptist jokes, because that's what he was, but he only knew one Christian Scientist joke, and asked if I wanted to hear it. Of course I did! A little girl comes home from school and tells her mother that her teacher, Mrs. Smith, is sick. The girl's mom says, No, dear, she only thinks she's sick. A few days later the girl comes home and tells her mother that Mrs. Smith is still sick. The mother once again explains that Mrs. Smith only thinks she's sick. A few days later the little girl comes home and tells her mom that Mrs. Smith thinks she's dead. While I chuckled with him over this joke, I also told him that the reason it was really funny was because it was true! And then we really laughed!Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The artist is not in his painting. The picture is the artist's thought objectified. The human belief fancies that it delineates thought on matter, but what is matter? Did it exist prior to thought? Matter is made up of supposititious mortal mind-force; but all might is divine Mind. Thought will finally be understood and seen in all form, substance, and color, but without material accompaniments. The potter is not in the clay; else the clay would have power over the potter. God is His own infinite Mind, and expresses all."

Science & Health Page 310:1-10

December 3, 2011 - Protection

ACIM Lesson #337
"My sinlessness protects me from all harm."



Aaron Springston



[Marsha's thoughts]

When driving a car, I often hear inner prompting to slow down; once to even stop completely. So when my children began driving, I naturally talked to them about this listening which insures we are where we need to be. That split second which puts you in the same place as the car which crosses into your lane, the moments when the deer is stepping out into your path, these are the type of happenings which are avoided by listening to intuition. What allows us to hear this inner direction? The willingness to hear it, of course. But what allows us to hear is the sinlessness spoken of here. When we define sin as anything which separates us from the Love which is God, this helps us understand how to accept our sinlessness. I think of it as getting out of my way. To the so-called logical mind, this listening to intuition makes no sense, and so we don't pay attention. Think how many times you've said to yourself that you felt like you should or shouldn't do something -- after the fact, after you refused to listen because you decided it was just your imagination. And if you do pull to the side of the road due to a "feeling", there's usually no proof that it was necessary. So living this way of life does develop a certain trust in yourself.

What could be better than that!!

 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
"In reality there is no mortal mind, and consequently no transference of mortal thought and will-power. Life and being are of God. In Christian Science, man can do no harm, for scientific thoughts are true thoughts,

 passing from God to man."

Science & Health Page 103:29-32

December 2, 2011 - One Mind

ACIM Lesson #336
"Forgiveness lets me know that minds are joined."[Marsha's thoughts]

Elusive by Diana Harvey

I'm so glad this is our lesson today! I read this following a day in which a longstanding, mutually-profitable business relationship has ended. My first reactions were entirely ego-based: What have I done wrong? What has she done wrong? What could I have done differently? Is she crazy?? So when I read the words, "Forgiveness lets me know that minds are joined", I really wanted to understand this seemingly illusive concept. But it's not a concept, it's the Truth. Concepts seems to be illusive; Truth just stands smiling contentedly. I don't know where this seeming separation will take us, but I'm excited to find out! We are both being freed to go forward in ways we wouldn't be able to find together. When she comes to mind, I will not dwell on any thoughts of unease we have put on each other. I will see her beautiful art and know only the beauty she Is. Our minds are joined, and I allow forgiveness to show me this union.Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"In reality, the more closely error simulates truth and so-called matter resembles its essence, mortal mind, the more impotent error becomes as a belief. According to human belief, the lightning is fierce and the electric current swift, yet in Christian Science the flight of one and the blow of the other will become harmless. The more destructive matter becomes, the more its nothingness will appear, until matter reaches its mortal zenith in illusion and forever disappears. The nearer a false belief approaches truth without passing the boundary where, having been destroyed by divine Love, it ceases to be even an illusion, the riper it becomes for destruction. The more material the belief, the more obvious its error, until divine Spirit, supreme in its domain, dominates all matter, and man is found in the likeness of Spirit, his original being."

Science & Health Page 97:5-20

December 1, 2011 - Purity

ACIM Lesson #335
"I choose to see my brother's sinlessness."

[Marsha's thoughts]

Forgiveness is a choice". I remember years ago during a metaphysical society meeting someone saying "Evil is a choice". She said this in relation to years of sexual abuse and psychological torture, perpetuated by the two people she should have trusted most as a child. She recognized that evil was a choice when she was presented with what seemed to be an overwhelming suggestion to do something similar to her infant child. In that moment, she realized she could choose. And she did. And now she chooses forgiveness in all aspects of her life. She has chosen to see her parents in the holy light of Love. She has chosen to live her life in peace, with a willingness to turn from past remembrances and see things in the reality of God's Love. She has chosen forgiveness for herself and her brother, knowing that they are One.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Reasoning from cause to effect in the Science of Mind, we begin with Mind, which must be understood through the idea which expresses it and cannot be learned from its opposite, matter. Thus we arrive at Truth, or intelligence, which evolves its own unerring idea and never can be coordinate with human illusions. If Soul sinned, it would be mortal, for sin is mortality's self, because it kills itself. If Truth is immortal, error must be mortal, because error is unlike Truth. Because Soul is immortal, Soul cannot sin, for sin is not the eternal verity of being."
Science & Health Page 467:29-7

November 30, 2011 - Gifts of Forgiveness

ACIM Lesson #334
"Today I claim the gifts forgiveness gives."


[Marsha's thoughts]

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2) This renewal is "claiming the gifts forgiveness gives." I've often heard people say they can forgive, but they'll never forget. But isn't the forgetting a result of true forgiveness? When we actually let go of our thoughts of any given circumstance, isn't it as though it never happened? I feel certain this has happened within myself, but since the remembrance is gone, I couldn't tell you what has been forgotten! But a small event which remains unforgiven is brought to mind every time I see a turtle crossing the road. When I was quite young, I was sent to get the mail from the box which was located across the highway from our house. As I was going to the mailbox, I met a turtle coming toward me as he crossed the road. I thought I'd get the mail and then pick him up and take him across on my way back. Before I completed my task and turned back, a car came by and hit the turtle. The regret in not picking it up immediately, the guilt for "failing" to safely carry it across the road, these feelings recur every time I see a turtle. In recounting this event, I realize there is no need to examine each supposed wrongdoing on our part. There is no need to examine our lives and be sorry and be forgiven. To accept the gifts of this forgiveness is our heritage when we clear our minds of blame.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
"We acknowledge God's forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts."
Science & Health Page 497:9-11

November 29, 2011 - Conflicted Illusions

ACIM Lesson #333
“Forgiveness ends the dream of conflict here.”

[Marsha’s thoughts]

The dream of conflict spoken of here reminds me of the myth of Santa Claus and how conflicted I was when it was expected that I participate in it. When my son was two and I was expecting my second child, I announced to a friend that I wasn't going to do the Santa-thing. She told me that was a terrible thing to do to children and gave me many reasons why I shouldn't do away with their belief in this massive illusion. And so in the face of this hysteria, I gave in and perpetuated this suppositional conflict within myself. This is a perfect example of all the illusion we willingly put on ourselves, isn't it? The spirit of Christmas is defined in many superficial ways, and it seems the most blatant of these is Santa Claus. It is used in the same way religion tends to use God. If you are good, if you don't cry, if you don't pout, then Santa/God will give you certain things. If you break these rules, you'd better watch out! Yes, Santa is fun and yes God is good. And there are so many ways to celebrate the goodness which is innately ours through our inseparable Oneness with God! So let's face up to what is real and true about our Life. There is so much to celebrate in that perfect experience!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
“The suppositional warfare between truth and error is only the mental conflict between the evidence of the spiritual senses and the testimony of the material senses, and this warfare between the Spirit and flesh will settle all questions through faith in and the understanding of divine Love.”
Science & Health Page 288:3-7