February 5, 2012 - What is holiness?

ACIM workbook lesson #36

"My holiness envelopes everything I see."

[Marsha's thoughts]

What does holiness mean to you? That's the question I will ponder today as I go about my activities. While "my holiness envelopes everything I see", I will think about what, exactly, that means. I feel that the question, Who Am I?, is an important one to ask when defining my holiness. Moses tells us that I Am is all that is: I Am that I Am. I take those words to mean that when I admit my true self, my spiritually-revealed Self, I am able to see and express my holiness enveloping everything, which includes me and my thoughts. Everything I see through a spiritual sense is seeing as I Am. This sight turns us to the presence of divine Love, God, and Its never-ending principle which guides and guards. To see as Love sees, to be as Love is, to relax into your True Self -- these things, and more, are both the principle and the practice of today's lesson.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"We know that a desire for holiness is requisite in order to gain holiness; but if we desire holiness above all else, we shall sacrifice everything for it. We must be willing to do this, that we may walk securely in the only practical road to holiness. Prayer cannot change the unalterable Truth, nor can prayer alone give us an understanding of Truth; but prayer, coupled with a fervent habitual desire to know and do the will of God, will bring us into all Truth. Such a desire has little need of audible expression. It is best expressed in thought and in life." Science & Health Page 11:22-32

February 4, 2012 - I Am

Glacier National Park
view from the mountaintop
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM workbook lesson #35
"My mind is part of God. I am very holy."


[Marsha's thoughts]
I've recently been working with someone who has been struggling 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 this God never sees her as worthy of favor. The repetition of her hopeless life story seems to be in her thought constantly, affecting her every action. By accepting today's lesson which tells us that we are actually holy as a reflection of God, the feelings of hopelessness and sadness can disappear in the twinkling of an eye. By releasing our material history, we are free to learn the reality of our spiritual Truth, which is unending, uninterrupted good. It's a beautiful thing to see someone realize the nothingness of the thoughts they've been replaying in their mind, and to realize the wondrous peace which is their only true story. I think of God as defined by Mary Baker Eddy: Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love..Divine Mind flows through us all, is always available to us to replace the thoughts of our mind, and is an ever-presence which can be counted on to replace any feelings of sadness and depression which may seem to be real to us. To misquote a well-known Bible verse: Let this mind be you, which was also Christ Jesus. This Mind is you, and me, and everyone, because it is God, which is omnipresent, omniscient, always.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
"Mortal thought transmits its own images, and forms its offspring after human illusions. God, Spirit, works spiritually, not materially. Brain or matter never formed a human concept. Vibration is not intelligence, hence it is not a creator. 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."
Science & Health Page 259:22-31

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