May 21, 2012 - "The Holy Man" by Susan Trott

A Course in Miracles Workbook lesson #141:

Today begins a review. Our main theme is:

“My mind holds only what I think with God" Specifically we remember #121 and 122: “Forgiveness is the key to happiness”, and “Forgiveness offers everything I want.”

South African Life
photo by Aaron Springston

I am reminded of a delightful little book called, "The Holy Man" by Susan Trott. It is comprised of numerous scenarios recounted by and through a group of people who are waiting in line to see the Holy Man. They feel all their questions will be answered, all their problems solved, if only they can meet and speak with him. The irony is that when they are finally admitted, he simply leads them through the house and out the back door. The beauty of the book is that everyone comes to see what they need to see from their interactions while waiting in the long line and through their reflections on life. In pondering today's workbook lesson, it occurs to me that this is true of us, also. The realization that my true thoughts are those I think with God brings a newness to everyday life. By releasing my practiced thoughts of events and interactions today, I will be able to see without judgment. This is the meaning of forgiveness, which I will practice with every thought I have. If I'm thinking purely with God, I needn't place meaning on anything I experience today. With this pure slate, who knows what insights will be mine? As with those waiting to speak to someone they think has all the answers, I will be finding answers in every moment, simply by the allowing myself to accept that I am One with God. As such, all the answers are mine, without even asking.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“God creates all forms of reality. His thoughts are spiritual realities. So-called mortal mind--being nonexistent and consequently not within the range of immortal existence--could not by simulating deific power invert the divine creation, and afterwards recreate persons or things upon its own plane, since nothing exists beyond the range of all-inclusive infinity, in which and of which God is the sole creator. Mind, joyous in strength, dwells in the realm of Mind. Mind's infinite ideas run and disport themselves. In humility they climb the heights of holiness.”

Science & Health Page 513:26-9

May 20, 2012 - Healing thought

A Course in Miracles workbook lesson #140:

“Only salvation can be said to cure.”

"Bryce Canyon"
photo by Aaron Springston

Today's lesson is a culmination of what we've been studying for the last few days. No matter what "ills" appear to be in our lives, there is no law which says we are condemned to suffer. There is no reason for us to pick ourselves apart and try to figure out what's wrong in our thought. We needn't place blame or experience guilt for having transgressed some material law. We only need realize Truth. This truth is that we're one with God. We are spiritual and reflect only Spirit. It's a mistaken belief that we are victims of heredity, or subject to communicable disease, or any of the myriad problems which seem to be so real in our collective and individual thought. It can be very difficult to take ourselves out of the perpetual loop of dis-ease. We have commercials in various media telling us what's wrong with us, friends and strangers love to relate their maladies, and we're taught through our educational system that we must beware almost everything we encounter. So it can seem impossible to realize this Truth in our life, while living amongst this constant flow of erroneous thought. So everytime we turn away from material illusion into the shining perfection of ourselves, as seen through the spiritual sense we're developing, we should celebrate! Each revelation is a step toward salvation from this trap of victimhood. Only the understanding of what is truth and what is illusion can lift us past the thoughts which hold us trapped in sickness and the disharmony of our existence. And it's not by trying to rid ourselves of illusion that we are freed; it's by knowing what Truth is. Knowing what it is and allowing it to be first in our thought -- no, the only reality in our thought. And by filling ourselves with Truth, error has no room in thought and disappears into the nothingness which is its only reality. Now that's something to celebrate!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Many imagine that the phenomena of physical healing in Christian Science present only a phase of the action of the human mind, which action in some unexplained way results in the cure of disease. On the contrary, Christian Science rationally explains that all other pathological methods are the fruits of human faith in matter,--faith in the workings, not of Spirit, but of the fleshly mind which must yield to [the] Science [of the Christ]. The physical healing of Christian Science results now, as in Jesus' time, from the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation. Now, as then, these mighty works are not supernatural, but supremely natural. They are the sign of Immanuel, or 'God with us,'--a divine influence ever present in human consciousness and repeating itself, coming now as was promised aforetime, ‘To preach deliverance to the captives [of sense], And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised.’"

Science & Health Page xi:9-21

May 19, 2012 - At One with All that Is

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #139:

"I will accept Atonement for myself."

"Heather, Light, Zion National Park"
photo by Aaron Springston

Atonement is one of those words which often trigger uncomfortable feelings. Visions of atoning for sins can be pretty creepy, especially when it's possible we may have committed said sins, possibly without even knowing it!  That's the way the concept of atonement has come to be interpreted by many theologians. It has been decided that we're all born sinners and we must spend our life finding ways to atone for that. It seems to me that this way of interpreting atonement is yet another material illusion. We are learning that sin is anything which separates us from the Love which is God. Simple, huh? Atonement is accepting our Oneness as the image and likeness of God. Some may say this is a form of sacrilege to say you're one with God. I say it's a sacrilege not to! To acknowledge God as the only Cause, and to see ourselves as the effect of that Cause, is to accept our at-one-ment with All that Is. What could be more humble? I will accept this reality today, and see everyone I meet in this light. Namaste' ~~~

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The atonement of [the] Christ reconciles man to God, not God to man; for the divine Principle of Christ is God, and how can God propitiate Himself? Christ is Truth, which reaches no higher than itself. The fountain can rise no higher than its source. Christ, Truth, could conciliate no nature above his own, derived from the eternal Love. It was therefore Christ's purpose to reconcile man to God, not God to man. Love and Truth are not at war with God's image and likeness. Man cannot exceed divine Love, and so atone for himself. Even Christ cannot reconcile Truth to error, for Truth and error are irreconcilable. Jesus aided in reconciling man to God by giving man a truer sense of Love, the divine Principle of Jesus' teachings, and this truer sense of Love redeems man from the law of matter, sin, and death by the law of Spirit,--the law of divine Love.”

Science & Health Page 18:13-11

May 18, 2012 - Choices?

A Course in Miracles Lesson #138

“Heaven is the decision I must make.”

"Maryhill, Washington"
photo by Aaron Springston

In these teachings, heaven is not some place with which you are rewarded after you die if you've been good. As Jesus told us, The kingdom of heaven is within. With this knowledge, we are free to live this heritage -- or not. It seems every step of our day involves choices of some sort, and it's very easy to be overwhelmed by them. I find that a dedicated time of silence in the morning is essential to allowing myself to live in Spirit. This space of all-knowing silence is always there for us, but so often we forget to listen for it. But the realization that I can choose heaven, or I can choose the materialism that is clamoring for my attention at every turn, keeps me centered in the space where Love leads. Today I realized I had forgotten a deadline given to me by our public relations person for our gallery association. Having only a few moments to come up with something which would bring the ideas together was at first daunting! But I decided to choose the one Mind to guide me. In quietness the right words came to me. Through this listening, the word "tonality" came to me and then the rest fell into place. Here it is: "We at Eureka Thyme have noticed that all the galleries in Eureka Springs have a distinct song to sing. When all these songs are put together, they are a magnificent symphony. This tonality is what we celebrate every day in Eureka. But specifically for the month of June, our theme for the gallery stroll is 'The Music of the Springs'. We join with the town in celebration of the springs for which we are named, and the musical events which are being held here this month." There is really no choice about anything when we choose God above all else.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Heaven represents harmony, and divine Science interprets the Principle of heavenly harmony. The great miracle, to human sense, is divine Love, and the grand necessity of existence is to gain the true idea of what constitutes the kingdom of heaven in man.” Science & Health Page 560:10-15

“HEAVEN: Harmony; the reign of Spirit; government by divine Principle; spirituality; bliss; the atmosphere of Soul." Science & Health Page 587:25-27

May 17, 2012 - I am not healed alone

"Mt. Timpanogos Goats"
photo by Aaron Springston

A Course in Miracles Lesson #137

“When I am healed I am not healed alone.”

Today I was led to read Liz Cronkhite's blog on A Course in Miracles.

http://www.acimmentor.blogspot.com/

In it she reminds us to not allow the "ego" to bring us guilt when we are experiencing sickness in our life. These teachings we're studying are so pure that we tend to think we'll never be sick again, we'll never be unhappy again, we'll never have a need which is not immediately met. It's easy to feel this way when our first initiation into this way of thought is accompanyed by immediate physical relief of whatever malady we may have been suffering. I have a friend who recently was introduced to this Truth and experienced relief from a long-standing physical problem which has caused her much pain through the years. Certainly when this happens, we are very grateful for the peace it brings. Christian Science has been propounded as a healing Science since its discovery in 1865. That is because the knowledge of the Truth of our Being replaces erroneous thought and allows harmony to prevail in every way. Although I, personally, have never felt guilt when I have a cold, I suppose there are those who might. There are at least two books on the market which tell of the horrors of growing up in a household which practiced divinely scientific healing. In the many families I've known where Christian Science is the way of life, people haven't beat themselves up over illness and have visited doctors when they felt the need. I tell you this to emphasis that it's not physical healing we're striving for, but a greater understanding of Truth, of God. As this understanding is attained through the opening of thought to it, many adjustments take place simultaneously. I urge you to be truly open to the guidance which is always there. Just because I'm not led to go to a doctor doesn't mean you won't hear that call! Listen and act, on whatever that may be.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"To-day the healing power of Truth is widely demonstrated as an immanent, eternal Science, instead of a phenomenal exhibition. Its appearing is the coming anew of the gospel of "on earth peace, good-will toward men." This coming, as was promised by the Master, is for its establishment as a permanent dispensation among men; but the mission of Christian Science now, as in the time of its earlier demonstration, is not primarily one of physical healing. Now, as then, signs and wonders are wrought in the metaphysical healing of physical disease; but these signs are only to demonstrate its divine origin,--to attest the reality of the higher mission of the Christ-power to take away the sins of the world."

Science & Health Page 150:4-17

May 16, 2012 - More Defenses Against the Truth?

A Course in Miracles Lesson #136:

“Sickness is a defense against the truth.”

"Illinois Peace"
photo by Aaron Springston

Yesterday we thought about the defenses we set up to supposititious attacks. "If I defend myself I am attacked." This is the statement we endeavored to understand. Basically, if anything is a perceived danger and we make plans to counter-attack, we have set ourselves up for a continuous battle: my will against the world. When we let all that go and are led by Truth, there is no need for defense. When looked at with our new knowledge of the defense/attack relationship, today's lesson that sickness is a defense against the truth holds some very interesting aspects for us to examine! First of all, let's be aware of something. We tend to take these statements personally, getting upset at the idea that we are "causing" our own illnesses. Please put that thought aside and try to see this without any kind of judgment. This is what we practiced for the first 50 lessons this year: looking at things as meaningless, not placing our preconceived notions on anything, being free to be led by spiritual sense, Soul, God. The topics we're studying are very important to our overall understanding of our relationship with All That Is. I urge you to read the Course in Miracles Workbook Lessons for yourself. They are readily available online or at your library. I strongly encourage you to read any of the Christian Science publications, particularly Science & Health, with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy. I tease you with this first paragraph of today's ACIM lesson: “No one can heal unless he understands what purpose sickness seems to serve. For then he understands as well its purpose has no meaning. Being causeless and without a meaningful intent of any kind, it cannot be at all. When this is seen, healing is automatic. It dispels this meaningless illusion by the same approach that carries all of them in truth, and merely leaves them there to disappear.” With this and the below MBE quote to hold in thought, what an adventure we have in store today!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“That mortal mind claims to govern every organ of the mortal body, we have overwhelming proof. But this so-called mind is a myth, and must by its own consent yield to Truth. It would wield the scepter of a monarch, but it is powerless. The immortal divine Mind takes away all its supposed sovereignty, and saves mortal mind from itself. The author has endeavored to make this book the Aesculapius of mind as well as of body, that it may give hope to the sick and heal them, although they know not how the work is done. Truth has a healing effect, even when not fully understood.”

Science & Health Page 151:31-8

May 15, 2012 - Plan of defense??

A Course in Miracles Lesson #135

"If I defend myself I am attacked."

"Rain Catchers"
oil painting by Denise Ryan

I love this lesson as it pertains to absolutely everything. (But I guess they all do!) Let's think of the more obvious ways we defend ourselves. Perhaps we are watchful of what we say and do, planning responses and activity based upon accepted behavior. Maybe we use hand sanitizer and take vitamin-c pills during so-called cold and flu season. I often wonder why we focus so intently on that which is not reality, rather than developing and demonstrating spiritual sense.  In this life, we tend to feel attacked by everything from ice cream to nuclear weapons, and we defend ourselves in various ways, insuring the attack our thought insists upon. As an example, let's take ice cream. Most everyone enjoys ice cream, but lots of us think of it as attacking us with fat and cholesterol and sugar, things which we must defend ourselves against if we are to be healthy. We are told in both A Course in Miracles and Christian Science that the body performs best when given the least thought. 'The body ... need merely be perceived as quite apart from you, and it becomes a healthy, serviceable instrument through which the mind can operate until its usefulness is over.' (ACIM) Another point I love in this lesson is this: 'A healed mind does not plan. It carries out the plans that it receives through listening to wisdom that is not its own. It waits until it has been taught what should be done, and then proceeds to do it.' (ACIM) What a freedom it is to realize we needn't be in charge of everything! To wake up in the morning, open to Spirit, God, we are led in ways that wouldn't be obvious if we weren't listening. Of course, there are often parameters involved in our day, but that doesn't preclude our being open to thought about ways to "think outside the box". Life is an adventure, and a harmonious one when we leave behind the desire to plan every moment of it!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"One says: 'I take good care of my body.' To do this, the pure and exalting influence of the divine Mind on the body is requisite, and the Christian Scientist takes the best care of his body when he leaves it most out of his thought ..."

Science & Health Page 383:5-9