March 7, 2012 - Happiness is my Function

ACIM workbook lesson #66:

“My happiness and my function are one.”

African Sky and Heather
photo by Aaron Springston

[Marsha's thoughts]

Fulfilling my function is happiness. How do I know what this function is? By listening for Truth. Truth, in all its forms, has always been very important to me. I've often felt I was too truthful, and could cite a few instances of this! Having this great love of and need for truth, it came as quite a surprise to find out that the life I'd lived for 37 years, the name I'd used, the birthdate I'd celebrated, the people I'd called my mom and dad, were a lie. When I was two months old, my mom took me in from her niece who was 17 and had given birth with no one to help her. Her boyfriend had skipped over the border into Mexico. Her family ignored her, as they wanted her to give me up and she didn't want to. After two months of being on her own, she relented and gave me to her aunt (which is what her family had wanted all along). The sweet people I had always known as parents then changed everything they had lived for 20 years and moved across the country where they weren't well known. They did this in order to save this baby from the flood of criticism and judgment which accompanied a child born out of wedlock in the decade of the 50s. Perhaps it was their living of this huge lie which caused them to instill truthfullness so solidly in me. For whatever reason, I am thankful to have it. Because of this love of Truth, I've always wanted to know it -- in every way. But in the past two decades, it's taken the form of spiritual Truth, which shows me my function, which is my happiness.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it."

Science & Health Page 57:18-21

March 6, 2012 - One Thing

ACIM workbook lesson #65:

“My only function is the one God gave me.”

African Sunrise
photo by Aaron Springston

[Marsha's thoughts]

For years I resisted admitting that only one thing was required of me in order to know the peace I so wanted. I thought to give myself to this one thing would cause me to be some sort of religious zealot. It seemed that to live only in Spirit would somehow make me into something predictable and boring. At that time, material existence appeared exciting, while spiritual living implied a certain aloneness with God which couldn't possibly be very much fun.  As the years have passed and I've become more aware of what living in Spirit means, the understanding of myself as a reflection of God has taken form in many ways. On the surface, it could seem that nothing has changed. I still work, play, sleep, interact with others. But everything is different. There is no angst nor worry about whether I'm doing the right thing and what future effects this will cause. By listening to my inner Self and following that guidance, I don't need to make lists of pros and cons and weigh the value of these in making decisions. And this following doesn't mean that I mindlessly go through life as an automaton doing what God tells me. It means that infinite possibilities are opened to me, that thought is expanded in ways that transcend the material beliefs of the past, that contentment and peace are waiting for me to find them. While holding first in thought and practice our own desires and learned beliefs about what we should be doing in daily life, it's easy to pretend that we know what we're doing. And if this doesn't bring us the happiness and peace we thought it would, we tend to self-analyze and attempt to revise our ways. By choosing to listen inwardly, life becomes more simple and fulfilling. And that's because I'm listening for my only true function.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"This scientific sense of being, forsaking matter for Spirit, by no means suggests man's absorption into Deity and the loss of his identity, but confers upon man enlarged individuality, a wider sphere of thought and action, a more expansive love, a higher and more permanent peace."

Science & Health Page 265:10-15

March 5, 2012 - I want to be happy

ACIM workbook lesson #64:

"Let me not forget my function"

South African Morning
photo by Aaron Springston

[Marsha's thoughts]

I want to feel good. I want to be happy. Don't we all want these things, no matter what we say or what our circumstance? While feeling good and being happy may sometimes seem illusive, they are the product of the realization of our true being as Love and the expression of this Love. I've found that when I'm feeling unhappy the way out is to do something for someone else. This action is an emanation of Love and by its expression we are returned to our rightful Mind. As more of the world is waking up to what our function is, there are more writings concerning this and how we can continue to accept this enlightened state by realizing our true consciousness. I am currently reading a book which contains a lovely way to share what we are experiencing. Neale Donald Walsch has currently published the first in a series of books entitled "Conversations with Humanity". As you read this book, you are encouraged to go to a website and post your thoughts, making this a true conversation. His next book in this series will include parts of this conversation with humanity. To share with others in this awakening is exciting! We are all doing it to some extent, aren't we? Look at the groups we are involved with in conversation: book clubs, spiritual meetings of various sorts, salons, chat rooms, virtual discussions, blogs -- the possibilities are endless! As I go through this day, I will not forget my function, and I will scatter joy and happiness along the way.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"It is essential to understand, instead of believe, what relates most nearly to the happiness of being. To seek Truth through belief in a human doctrine is not to understand the infinite. We must not seek the immutable and immortal through the finite, mutable, and mortal, and so depend upon belief instead of demonstration, for this is fatal to a knowledge of Science. The understanding of Truth gives full faith in Truth, and spiritual understanding is better than all burnt offerings." Science & Health Page 285:32-8

March 4, 2012 - Seeing through illusion

ACIM workbook lesson #63

“The light of the world brings peace to every mind through my forgiveness.”

Zion National Park
photo by Aaron Springston

[Marsha's thoughts]

Today I will focus on accepting my function of seeing through illusions so that this sight may be extended to the world. By quieting my mind to the noises of materialism, I prepare myself to hear the voice of Truth, of Spirit, and hear the thoughts which are healing in any given situation. Today a young newlywed couple came into my gallery. They were filled with happiness and excitement about their new life together and their adventure in Eureka Springs. As we talked, she mentioned that it was her birthday and she was sad because it was her first celebration without her mom. As she told me about this, she became teary-eyed and seemed to lose the joy she had been expressing a moment before.   By listening to Spirit rather than her words, I was led to tell her something which was more than just sympathetic commiseration. Taking her hand I told her that Love was eternal and the love she and her mom felt for each other was present no matter where they were at any given time. Her sweet husband, who had been worried and randomly patting her here and there, wanting to help but not sure how to do so, immediately started to smile and excitedly told her how true this was. He stated that he would remind her of that whenever she was sad. In this moment, I realized how important it is to listen and speak from the heart. Giving a glimmer of Truth to people can make all the difference. Giving away whatever it may be that we hear when listening inwardly is Love expressed. Let us not be afraid to listen, hear, and share!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

The effects of Christian Science are not so much seen as felt. It is the "still, small voice" of Truth uttering itself. We are either turning away from this utterance, or we are listening to it and going up higher. Willingness to become as a little child and to leave the old for the new, renders thought receptive of the advanced idea. Gladness to leave the false landmarks and joy to see them disappear,--this disposition helps to precipitate the ultimate harmony. The purification of sense and self is a proof of progress. "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

Science & Health Page 323:28-6

March 3, 2012 - Forgiveness is My Function

ACIM workbook lesson #62:

"Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world."

"Zion National Park"
photo by Aaron Springston

[Marsha's thoughts]
Seeing illusions for what they are and letting them go is my function as the light of the world. With this true sight we are enabled to live a life of peace and joy. In the realization that none of the seeming threats are reality, something happens to us which we never thought possible. We experience true bliss. Not just a momentary high, but a lasting peace. I'm sure we all know people who seem to go from one disaster to another. And they delight in telling everyone the gory details! And if nothing horrible is happening to them at that moment, they are anticipating what will befall them next. I know a woman who lives in a constant state of panic. She will tell me what diseases are coming our way, how the government (both small and huge) is plotting to do us in, the weather is either too hot or cold (or it's going to be awful soon) -- You've met her, haven't you? Of course she wants sympathy and feels slighted if you won't give it to her. A couple of days ago, our electricity was out for a few hours. She came over wringing her hands, telling me there was going to be a storm in the evening and asking what we were to do in a worst case scenario. I suggested that the lightning would be delightful in our darkened homes and asked if she wanted to watch with me. Every possible horror she came up with as easily seen through as illusion, leaving nothing but peace passing between us. This forgiveness, this lifting of the veil of materialism, is not only possible, it is inevitable, when seeing Love everywhere.

Mary Baker Eddy has a spiritual interpretation for the Lord's prayer. Her correlation for the line, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" is this: "For Love is reflected in love."

Science & Health Page 17:7

March 2, 2012 - Light

ACIM Workbook Lesson #61:

“I am the light of the world”

"Lightshow"
photo by Aaron Springston

[Marsha's thoughts]

The understanding that we are all "the light of the world" is a freeing one! So often when we catch glimpses of our Godly reflection, we deny the sight in the name of humility, or a false sense of sinfulness, or perhaps because Jesus said that's what he was and we don't think we can be, too. We are learning that there are no degrees of perfection, and this realization enables us to proudly reflect the light which we are, never hiding under a guise of smallness. This light which we are is demonstrated in many ways, and it makes no difference if ours is different from what we've been taught it should be! A friend and I were recently talking about our children and how wonderful they are and how glad we are to know them. She said she didn't know how her boys had turned out so great, as she had moved them around frequently when they were young, and many of her ways wouldn't have been advocated by the so-called experts in childrearing. Yet because she was honest with her children, and she always loved them fully without judgment, they are wonderful human beings and super parents in their own right. My boys also are wonderful, but the physical circumstances of their childhood was entirely different. They attended a beautiful independent school in a small town, had a full-time mom and every-other-weekend dad, and made lifelong friends while learning about the world from their small neighborhood. There are some things my friend and I had in common raising these boys. We didn't place limitations and judgments on them. We encouraged their light to shine and made sure they knew what that meant. We weren't afraid to teach them about God, but we didn't threaten them with this knowledge. Now that they're adults, we have the pleasure of watching their light shine, fearless and loving, giving forth what they have received.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Light: Symbol of Truth; revelation and progress."

Science & Health Page 591:23-24

March 1, 2012 - Guided by Love

ACIM Lesson #60

Today is the tenth of a ten-day review of the first lessons. For a guide to this review, and a short description of each of the five, go to this link:

http://acim.org/Lessons/lesson.html?lesson=60

Mardi Gras Parade in Eureka Springs
photo by Melanie Myhre

[Marsha's thoughts]

Today's review is just what I need to open my sight in loving ways to a construction situation outside my gallery. "They" are getting ready to tear up the street in order to repair a falling wall underneath said street. They have told me all the horrible things that could go wrong, how they have no idea what they'll find once they get under there, and on and on. So applying this review to the situation, I start with no condemnation or blame because this work wasn't done earlier. I am holding to the fact that everything happens at the correct time and this is happening now. And as God is the strength in which I trust, I don't have to search for a stronghold to keep me from blame and fear in this situation. Everything is contained within divine order and I trust in that principle to guide and guard everyone. I see that there is nothing to fear in this or any situation. Even though there are variables which depend on human judgment, I know that everyone's actions are a part of this divine order and that they will be listening to intuition rather than forging ahead with blind determination. And by my own listening, I will know what objects to move in the gallery. Although I cannot be given assurance by mortal minds that the jackhammers and concrete cutters and rebuilding of underground walls will not cause damaging vibrations, I can be certain that I will know what to do in any given situation. As I am sustained by the Love which is God, I know that everyone else is, too, as they are maintained within that same Love. Today I've been seeing these workmen in the light of Love, knowing that they are expressing the wisdom of the Ages, and already I'm seeing Love reflected in Love. A simple act of turning around their truck, so the sawdust from the cutting of boards would not be dropped in front of my entry -- that's enough to assure me that Love is here and all is well.

Mary Baker Eddy correlative quote:

"Progress takes off human shackles. The finite must yield to the infinite. Advancing to a higher plane of action, thought rises from the material sense to the spiritual, from the scholastic to the inspirational, and from the mortal to the immortal. Love, the divine Principle, is the Father and Mother of the universe, including man."

Science & Health Page 256:1-8