February 3, 2012 - Peace instead of this ...

ACIM Workbook Lesson #34:

"I could see peace instead of this."

Glacier National Park
photo by Heather Magnan

[Marsha's thoughts]

Family disputes, contentious work situations, city council meetings in Eureka Springs -- every day we find ourselves involved in situations which give us the opportunity to see peace instead of the dissension which is taking form before us. Even if we're not directly involved in these scenarios, we are given the opportunity to "see peace instead of this". We are learning to sit quietly, with Love, and watch how that spiritual truth brings healing. Peace is inherent in every volatile situation. What a calm glow is brought forth when Love is felt within! By practicing peace we are allowed to witness its inevitable spread to everything it touches. I have numerous opportunities to practice this precept with my dog. He exhibits aberrant, aggressive behavior towards people and other dogs. It's difficult for me to not become aggressive myself! Even though I've witnessed the effect of calm, assertive behavior on this little bundle of nervousness, bringing him to a relaxed state, all too often I simply join with him in his tense communication. So today I scatter Love everywhere, with particular attention to myself,

 as I watch Its manifestation all around.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Who that has felt the loss of human peace has not gained stronger desires for spiritual joy? The aspiration after heavenly good comes even before we discover what belongs to wisdom and Love. The loss of earthly hopes and pleasures brightens the ascending path of many a heart. The pains of sense quickly inform us that the pleasures of sense are mortal and that joy is spiritual. The pains of sense are salutary, if they wrench away false pleasurable beliefs and transplant the affections from sense to Soul, where the creations of God are good, 'rejoicing the heart.' Such is the sword of Science, with which Truth decapitates error, materiality giving place to man's higher individuality and destiny.”

Science & Health Page 265:23-5

February 2, 2012 - How do I see the world?

ACIM Workbook Lesson #33:

"There is another way of looking at the world."

Forbidden City Acrobats
photo by Aaron Springston

[Marsha's thoughts]

This lesson asks us to recognize that we can shift our perception of the world in both its outer and inner aspects. We are asked to look at things around us, and then to look at our thoughts. This is to be done casually: no judgment, only noticing. Okay. I'm looking around the room. The first thing I see is a lamp which was bought at a Clear Spring School auction. Interestingly, it was donated by Victorian Reflections, a shop which occupied the space Eureka Thyme Gallery now has. This lamp has a story. It brings back lots of memories and feelings within me, all lovely to remember. Now then, when I close my eyes and follow my thoughts, a long trail has opened up with memory links galore! I could follow them and spend a great deal of time living in the past. Or I can simply see it for what it is and ask myself why that lamp makes me smile. It represents to me light, beauty, happy times with children and friends. Whether this exercise brought me lovely thoughts or caused distress makes no difference, because they both need to be released. This doesn't mean that I must never feel the Love reflected by this lamp and its connections. That feeling is mine all the time. This release lightens the barriers I've built against Spirit. It helps me become more transparent and allows good, God, to be my only Sight. What an adventure this is!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Dear reader, which mind-picture or externalized thought shall be real to you,--the material or the spiritual? Both you cannot have. You are bringing out your own ideal. This ideal is either temporal or eternal. Either Spirit or matter is your model. If you try to have two models, then you practically have none. Like a pendulum in a clock, you will be thrown back and forth, striking the ribs of matter and swinging between the real and the unreal."

Science & Health Page 360:13-21

February 1, 2012 - I have invented the world I see

ACIM workbook lesson #32:

“I have invented the world I see.”

[Marsha's thoughts]

We've invented a cocoon called Eureka Thyme. We are invisible to people who wouldn't appreciate us, we're invisible to anyone who wants to talk coffee-shop banter about politics and how the world is doomed, we are invisible to fans of gossip -- it's delightful! We just don't hear such things in the gallery, and on the rare occasions we do, I've found ways to lead people back to paths of peace. This is not to say our world is always spent in quiet contemplation. Everything in the gallery reflects the Love with which it was made, and that shows forth in an atmosphere which glows with this Love. And it's also joyous! We have artist shows, author events, celebrations for every reason imaginable. I tell you these things to illustrate that we needn't allow inharmony to permeate our world. Peace and love are the realities of spiritual creation. When disharmonious materialism raises its voice, we refute it, with Love.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“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 261:4-7

January 31, 2012 - I am not a victim

ACIM Workbook Lesson #31:

"I am not the victim of the world I see"  

Glacier National Park photo
by Heather Magnan

[Marsha's thoughts]

It seems to me that the more I feel victimized, the more I'm victimized! I say this jokingly, but it's true. For instance, recently I have felt put-upon by my landlord, the city, and any number of decisionmakers involved in the renovation of the street in front of the gallery.  I had accepted the proposed disruption of business and decided to enjoy some stay-at-home days to do yard work during our unseasonably warm weather. While doing just that, I discovered that they are not doing the work on the street, and that I had shut down for no reason. During the two hours following this discovery, I must admit to some attack thoughts directed towards those in charge. And also during this period of time, any and every project I started to do around the house was thwarted, for various reasons. So I took my Corgi, Chili-dog, and we walked around a peaceful little lake in the woods. The sunshine and exercise washed away any worries as to how things would progress -- or not!  Shortly after returning home, I received a phone call from someone who wanted to purchase a drum they had seen in the gallery last fall. I wonder what events would have transpired if I'd chosen to rattle cages in connection with the business situation. I feel certain I could have created any number of disruptive scenarios in which I could star! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Man is tributary to God, Spirit, and to nothing else. God's being is infinity, freedom, harmony, and boundless bliss."

Science & Health Page 481:2-4

January 29, 2012 - God Is All

ACIM workbook lesson #29:

 "God is in everything I see".

Aaron Shooting Deer
photo by Heather Magnan

[Marsha's thoughts]

To see God in everything entails utilizing a sight other than what we're accustomed to using. The material basis of our thought leaves little room for seeing spiritually. This is why our study includes so many exercises which help us to let go of learned beliefs concerning the purpose of everything we see with our material eyes; to release what we think we know about those things.  When we are able to do that, then we leave the way open for spiritual sight. We are able to see that God is everywhere, because  God Is. This Is-ness is omnipresent, no matter what we think about it, so we don't have to make anything happen; we need only take off our blindfolds and see Truth.  This is why it helps me to think of God as Love.  For me, it's easy to see the idea of Love being expressed in everything I see. I can see Love being everywhere, just as sunshine is. And if something happens to obscure that light, such as clouds, I still know it's there, just as potent and perfect as ever. No matter how I perceive things to be with these material eyes and thoughts, the true idea of Spirit, God, Love, is there waiting for me to remember it.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"God fashions all things, after His own likeness. Life is reflected in existence, Truth in truthfulness, God in goodness, which impart their own peace and permanence. Love, redolent with unselfishness, bathes all in beauty and light. The grass beneath our feet silently exclaims, "The meek shall inherit the earth." The modest arbutus sends her sweet breath to heaven. The great rock gives shadow and shelter. The sunlight glints from the church-dome, glances into the prison-cell, glides into the sick-chamber, brightens the flower, beautifies the landscape, blesses the earth. Man, made in His likeness, possesses and reflects God's dominion over all the earth. Man and woman as coexistent and eternal with God forever reflect, in glorified quality, the infinite Father-Mother God."

Science & Health Page 516:9-23

January 28, 2012 - I will see differently

ACIM workbook lesson #28:

"Above all else, I want to see things differently."

Altai Mountains in Mongolia
photo by Aaron Springston

Years ago I had friends who were . expecting their first baby, and they thought it would be interesting to teach it the "wrong" things -- such as, blue would be red, a table might be called a chair, maybe a dog would be a cat. That would certainly be seeing things differently! And I can see that there is a correlation in their planned mis-information and the illusions and limitations we have set up for ourselves in our world.  Today's lesson asks us to give up any notions we have concerning the meaning of anything and everything. By doing this, we enable ourselves to drop what we've always thought about a particular item -- a chair perhaps -- and allow ourselves to be open to what it is and what it is for. Won't it be fun to find out where this exercise will take us?!  When we begin asking what things are for, rather than telling them what they are, based on our previous thoughts of them, interesting answers may be coming our way. I love this exercise and have fun with its applications. For instance, the way we, as a society, punish wrong-doing: Does our present system of retaliation and retribution actually accomplish anything? In reading a book, "The Buddhist and the Terrorist", an alternative to the treatment of a murderer is explored. This book is one of many which encourage me to see differently, to see myself as God sees me, to continue asking mySelf how that sight is gained and kept, to practice the Presence in every moment.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The objects cognized by the physical senses have not the reality of substance. They are only what mortal belief calls them." Science & Health Page 311:26-28

January 27, 2012 - One thing do I desire ---

ACIM workbook lesson #27:

"Above all else, I want to see."

Glacier National Park photo by Aaron

[Marsha's thoughts]

Today someone said to me, "There's only two powers, and she's chosen the wrong one." I had to step back and wonder how it felt to believe in such a duality as this. Once we've split power into a loving God and Its evil twin, some seriously hard-to-let-go images have taken hold in our mind. And so when I'm thinking of today's lesson throughout the day, I won't concentrate on the myriad of ways we've constructed to cloud our vision, but I'll ask to see with my True sight, as God sees. And when I wonder how that seeing can be mine, I'll go to the definition of God given in the Christian Science textbook, which is cited after this T. S. Eliot’s quote which also reminds me what "seeing" is. This is from the poem Little Gidding: “We shall not cease from exploration, / And the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time.”

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

Question.--What is God?

Answer.--God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love."

Science & Health Page 465:6-8