April 11, 2012 - All you need is Love

Mount Timpanogos Goat
photo by Aaron Springston

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #101

“God’s Will for me is perfect happiness.”

[Marsha's thoughts]

How many of us cringe when we hear the words salvation and atonement? I know I always have, and that's just from the general collective consciousness of the world, because I wasn't taught that these are things which God demands of us if we are to get to heaven. I was taught in Christian Science that the kingdom of heaven is within you. That atonement is realizing your unity with God and all of creation. That salvation is understanding the truth of your being and demonstrating it in daily life. That God is Love, and therefore I Am, too. And so what is left other than happiness? If we give up fear and replace it with Love, peace reigns within and is demonstrated without. When we give up notions of separation from God and each other, replacing them with thoughts of unity and feelings of Oneness, joy is expressed. Every situation which seems so real in our material world can be seen through spiritual sense for what its reality is, not what we have made up about circumstances. It is said in A Course in Miracles that everything is either a call for love or an expression of Love. The only difference I see is that a call for love is looking for something outside of yourself to bring you something which you do not have. An expression of Love is an acknowledgement that everything you need is already there, because you are reflecting the Love that you are as the image and likeness of God. As we clear out material beliefs concerning our identity, happiness will fill the void in the realization that  Love is all you need and it truly is All that Is. The Beatles were right!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“That God's wrath should be vented upon His beloved Son [you], is divinely unnatural. Such a theory is man-made. The atonement is a hard problem in theology, but its scientific explanation is, that suffering is an error of sinful sense which Truth destroys, and that eventually both sin and suffering will fall at the feet of everlasting Love.”

Science & Health Page 23:5-10

April 10, 2012 - Happiness is our Heritage

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #100

“My part is essential to God’s plan for salvation.”

Heather, Sunset, Principia
photo by Aaron Springston

[Marsha's thoughts]

Today we are urged to be fully present in the joy which is our inheritance as a reflection of God. When I hear the word joy, I tend to think of exuberant happiness. But quiet, peaceful happiness spreads joy, too. And we've all had times in our lives when happiness doesn't seem to be present at all. At times like those, it's even more important to understand what our part is in all of this: and that is to express God. In every situation, whether solemn or celebratory, our function is the same. Sometimes it seems too simple, doesn't it? All we have to do is to allow everything to be Love: to reflect it, to live it, to be it! A sentence from today's lesson says: "God's Will for you is perfect happiness." Wow! God wants me to be happy!! And not just wants me to, but tells me how to do this, if I will listen. Once again, quieting the material senses is the key to hearing this guidance. There are so many ways to open up to spiritual sense, and I love practicing them in daily life! One of my favorites is the nightly time of listening for what the topic of these writings will be.  I tune in Pandora radio to classical music and/or George Winston piano music and sit quietly, waiting to hear what I'm going to write about. Living all elements of life with an attitude of listening is a constant adventure, and at the same time, it's a calm road to peace and joy. Have you noticed that cameras capture inner feelings? The eyes tell it all, and whatever you're feeling is pretty easy to see in this digital age. But let's not be afraid of those times we're sad. Quietly do what needs to be done, in the surety that happiness and joy are ever present, waiting for each of us to let them in.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Harmony is produced by its Principle, is controlled by it and abides with it. Divine Principle is the Life of man. Man's happiness is not, therefore, at the disposal of physical sense. Truth is not contaminated by error. Harmony in man is as beautiful as in music, and discord is unnatural, unreal.”

Science & Health Page 304:16-21

April 9, 2012 - Salvation is my only function here

ACIM Workbook Lesson 99

“Salvation is my only function here.”

Heather in Glacier National Park
photo by Aaron Springston

[Marsha's thought]

Our only function is seeing, knowing, and living Truth. It's rather difficult to understand that salvation and forgiveness are a part of the dream of material existence; that there is nothing from which to be saved or forgiven. The distinction between illusion and reality is essential to this understanding. And even an understanding does not preclude a desire to hold on to the unreality. I had a dream last night which illustrates how we want to keep our illusions. I had a long and elaborate dream involving not being able to find nor help a loved on who was in trouble. There were piles of snow so deep they couldn't be passed, along with many other impediments which produced anxiety and distress. It seemed to go on forever and I kept trying to climb out of it. But when I woke up, my first thought was going back to sleep to see how the dream would end! As I was sliding back into sleep, the thought came to me that this wasn't necessary. Why should I care how it ended? Couldn't it end any way I wanted it to?? As I came back to conscious awareness, it occurred to me that this was an exact analogy illustrating our desire to hold onto illusions. This experience has caused me to examine everything I've done today, looking at my actions and thoughts from all sides to see if they are coming from God or my own personal ideas of how things should be. I am holding to the fact that God is All, and that I reflect this Love as my governing Principle. I accept this salvation today and always.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The starting-point of divine Science is that God, Spirit, is All-in-all, and that there is no other might nor Mind,--that God is Love, and therefore He is divine Principle.”

Science & Health Page 275 6-9

April 8, 2012 - Resurrection

Heather and Aaron in Red Butte
photo by Sandy Magnan

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #98

“I will accept my part in God’s plan for salvation.”

[Marsha's thoughts]

The wording of today's lesson could seem to be a form of predestination, in which our free will is taken away and we are put into some sort of automaton state where we are warriors for God. The freedom which comes with our resurrection from material belief does not feel this way to me! The message of the crucifixion and resurrection, I see as uplifting. Neither A Course in Miracles nor Christian Science puts Jesus on the cross. The crucifixion is not an act which is dwelt upon in divine metaphysics. It is simply the death of material belief, in which the Christ idea is risen in all the beauty of divine Love, and the ascension of our thought is the ultimate reality of Life. This is God's plan for salvation: Accept yourself as the spiritual idea you are and let go of the material thought basis which binds you to unreality. Spring is a time of renewal in all of nature. We have chosen this time of year to rise in the spirit of Truth, to celebrate our transformation which comes by the renewal of our minds, to realize that no one can give us salvation because it's already ours. What could be more joyously perfect!! I share with you in celebration today!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"RESURRECTION: Spiritualization of thought; a new and higher idea of immortality, or spiritual existence; material belief yielding to spiritual understanding."

Science & Health Page 493:9-12

April 7, 2012 - I Am Spirit

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #97

“I am spirit.”

Photo taken in Washington, D.C.
by Aaron Springston

[Marsha's thoughts]

Once again today's workbook lesson takes me to the seven synonyms for God as given in Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. Those are: Life, Truth, Love, Soul, Spirit, Mind, Principle. And I, as a reflection of this thing called God, embody all of these synonyms within the truth of my being. Seeing Spirit as our true substance shows us how to live beyond thought which holds us in the belief that we are this body. Seeing beyond this mental image of ourselves caged in matter allows a breaking free within us. The much-quoted "Our Deepest Fear" from Marianne Williamson's A Return to Love tells us that what we fear most isn't our inadequacies but our power. Here is the paragraph from the book: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” These words will be a constant reminder to me today that I Am a reflection of God, and this will be demonstrated through knowing that I am Spirit, I am Soul, I am Life, I am Truth, I am Love, I am Mind, I am Principle.

Mary Baker Eddy quote: [This is from a dialogue between matter and Spirit]

“I am Spirit. Man, whose senses are spiritual, is my likeness. He reflects the infinite understanding, for I am Infinity. The beauty of holiness, the perfection of being, imperishable glory,--all are Mine, for I am God. I give immortality to man, for I am Truth. I include and impart all bliss, for I am Love. I give life, without beginning and without end, for I am Life. I am supreme and give all, for I am Mind. I am the substance of all, because I AM THAT I AM.”

Science & Health Page 252:32-8

April 6, 2012 - Self-Government

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #96

“Salvation comes from my one Self.”

Mongolian Morning
photo by Aaron Springston

[Marsha's thoughts]

What a peaceful realization it is to know that salvation is not something given to us by someone or something, but is from our own Self. This is the one self which is shared with All that Is, which we cannot be separated from, which we cannot lose through the actions of ourselves or others. Salvation is peace and joy which cannot be given nor taken by someone else. I witnessed a little interlude today in which two people thought their happiness and peace were being affected by each other. It was a simple interaction, but I could see the feathers flying from the encounter! I was in the doorway of the gallery and a man was standing in the street taking a picture. He started to come back to the sidewalk, but because of the stacks of limestone and barricades between him and the walkway, he needed to go 20 feet or so in either direction to get there. He chose to step over an orange cone and cross amidst the construction. The owner of Peace, Love, and Cheesecake reprimanded him, pointing out the reasons he shouldn't be doing that. I was standing in my doorway and the trespasser was walking my way. Seeing that he was disgruntled, I said jokingly (and I hoped flirtatiously!) as he passed: You're such an adventurer! He blurted out some disparaging words about the man who had gently corrected him. I made my final pitch for lightheartedness, as the man stomped up the street. These little encounters would be much different if we realized and demonstrated today's lesson. By listening for guidance from your One Self, I seriously doubt you could be led to either walk where there is danger, or point out that danger to someone else. Knowing your only real government is from Love, God, allows salvation for you and everyone and everything. Today I will remember this sentence from Lesson 96: "Problems that have no meaning cannot be resolved within the framework they are set.”

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"When we endow matter with vague spiritual power,-- that is, when we do so in our theories, for of course we cannot really endow matter with what it does not and cannot possess,--we disown the Almighty, for such theories lead to one of two things. They either presuppose the self-evolution and self-government of matter, or else they assume that matter is the product of Spirit. To seize the first horn of this dilemma and consider matter as a power in and of itself, is to leave the creator out of His own universe; while to grasp the other horn of the dilemma and regard God as the creator of matter, is not only to make Him responsible for all disasters, physical and moral, but to announce Him as their source, thereby making Him guilty of maintaining perpetual misrule in the form and under the name of natural law."

Science & Health Page 119:1-16

April 5, 2012 - I Am One Self

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #95

“I am one Self, united with my Creator.”

Group in Mongolia
photographer unknown

[Marsha's thoughts]

Don't we all love stories of people overcoming adversity with super-human strength and ability? For instance, Kerri Strug in the 1996 Olympics, spraining her ankle on a vault, then continuing and sticking her landing on the next one. We all know people who continue through seemingly insurmountable odds against them doing so. We love movies such as The Blind Side or Precious which show us exactly how difficult it can be to survive, much less flourish in life. And each of us have turning points, times when we could give up or take an easier route than the one we have chosen. We all have times we need someone to lean on. Humanly we may not have this support. Spiritually, we always do. Today's lesson tells us we are never alone, because we're one Self, united with our Creator and all of Creation. Everything we need is always a part of us, inseparable, complete within. Divine Love is our essence, forever an integral part of our Being. Once we have felt this ever-presence, once we've gotten but a small taste of Its peace, we can never go back to believing we're alone. Any help we need is always available, no matter how difficult our circumstance may seem, by allowing Love to replace fear.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Identity is the reflection of Spirit, the reflection in multifarious forms of the living Principle, Love. Soul is the substance, Life, and intelligence of man, which is individualized, but not in matter. Soul can never reflect anything inferior to Spirit."

Science & Health Page 477:20-25