June 8, 2012 - Setting aside so-called laws

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #159

“I give the miracles I have received.”

"Forbidden City Acrobats - China"
photo by Aaron Springston

Today I had an interaction with someone who tells me he has cancer. I nearly wrote this as "tells me he has the claim of cancer", because that's the vernacular used in Christian Science to denote the unreality of erroneous thought. But that sounds awfully pompous, don't you think? Semantics notwithstanding, the principle is sound. We are not trying to change a physical condition, but rather to change thought about the basis of Being and what that means. This dear man told me that he felt there were certain laws of living which could not be usurped. Most of us have seen numerous examples of how this is not so. We have witnessed what appears to be a law set aside, and society generally thinks of this as supernatural intervention. In Christian Science, we call these events the demonstration of Truth. Today's ACIM workbook lesson asks us to give what we have received. This sharing of the understanding of our relationship with God is given through our living of it. When we let ourselves slip into that space which releases all mortal thought, we allow that "Mind to be us, which was also Christ Jesus". Through this simple -- yet not always easy --process, we give all we have accepted, and this is referred to as healing. I look forward to a day of flowing miracles!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Though demonstrating his control over sin and disease, the great Teacher [Jesus] by no means relieved others from giving the requisite proofs of their own piety. He worked for their guidance, that they might demonstrate this power as he did and understand its divine Principle. Implicit faith in the Teacher and all the emotional love we can bestow on him, will never alone make us imitators of him. We must go and do likewise, else we are not improving the great blessings which our Master worked and suffered to bestow upon us. The divinity of the Christ was made manifest in the humanity of Jesus."

Science & Health Page 25:22-33

June 7, 2012 - I give as I receive

"Photographer at Rest"
photo by Heather Magnan

A Course in Miracles Lesson #158

“Today I learn to give as I receive.”

The first paragraph of this workbook lesson states: “What has been given you? The knowledge that you are a mind, in Mind and purely mind, sinless forever, wholly unafraid, because you were created out of Love. Nor have you left your Source, remaining as you were created. This was given you as knowledge which you cannot lose. It was given as well to every living thing: for by that knowledge only does it live.” I've said it before and I'll probably say it again: It would be much easier to demonstrate this way of living if I could be sequestered on an unreachable island! Intellectually, I grasp today's lesson and know that what I'm giving by receiving is the knowledge that we are creations of the same Mind, that we are pure ideas of All that Is, that when I see this in others, it becomes what I see in me. Now, I know this to be true. So why is it that when I feel bothered by someone or something, I look for ways to apportion blame and/or find ways to fix it, rather than going straight to the source of my Being and recognizing this Love to be the only fact, both in me and in whatever-it-is-I-think-is-bothering-me? If I find someone to be irritating, perhaps it's because I am. Maybe the neighbor who seems dull and mean-spirited is my reflection pointing to something within my mortal self. What if the micro-managing busybody down the street is me? And with that said, do I really want to pull apart every emotional response, lay it out on the table with the purpose of dissecting it until it disappears? No! I choose to recognize creation in Its perfection. I know this is true for the same reason you do. We all have this knowledge at the core of our Being. We've forgotten this, but we're remembering! This Truth is not just something to be repeated, but rather I will send it out as love reflected in Love. In that emanation there is no place for mortal blame and guilt. Voila! Pure peace is mine -- and yours!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Mind [God] creates [Its] own likeness in ideas, and the substance of an idea is very far from being the supposed substance of non-intelligent matter. Hence the Father Mind is not the father of matter. The material senses and human conceptions would translate spiritual ideas into material beliefs, and would say that an anthropomorphic God, instead of infinite Principle,--in other words, divine Love,--is the father of the rain, ‘who hath begotten the drops of dew,’ who bringeth ‘forth Mazzaroth in his season,’ and guideth ‘Arcturus with his sons.’” 

Science & Health Page 257: 12-21

June 6, 2012 - A shift makes all the difference!

A Course in Miracles Lesson #157

“Into His Presence would I enter now.”

Photo by Aaron Springston

Let us remember that we already are and always will be "in his Presence". The space "I enter now" is a shift in perception, a change of thought. This shift allows us to realize that we always were and always will be the image, the reflection, of God. Anything which separates us in thought from this Love, from this gentle presence, is unreal and will dissolve with our realization of the Truth. In a popular advice-to-the-artist newsletter by Robert Genn, he speaks to what the Course refers to as "ego": "These days, some high-priced shrinks are talking about "Your Inferior Shadow." This creepy critter is a dark presence--always with you--and he wants you to be fearful, incompetent, lousy, victimized, procrastinatory and self-loathing. Some of us have almost untamable Shadows while others have small ineffective ones." This false sense of self jumps out at us in ways which seem logical to mortal mind. When we enter into his Presence in thought, this shadow disappears as we step into that light. Our living in Truth erases any shadow of erroneous thought which seemed so real. I Am that I Am. If good news were reported in the media, it would be proclaiming all the instances of this yielding to Truth. I see it everywhere! I trust you do, too. That's what it's all about, huh? What I give, I receive. What I receive, I give. We are being "renewed by the transforming of our mind". We're transforming our mind into Mind, and entering into the kingdom of heaven. How lovely to know we have that choice!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“One moment of divine consciousness, or the spiritual understanding of Life and Love, is a foretaste of eternity. Time is a mortal thought, the divisor of which is the solar year. Eternity is God's measurement of Soul-filled years.”

Science & Health Page 598:23-28

June 5, 2012 - "Baraka"

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #156

“I walk with God in perfect holiness.”

"Hike Over Alta"
photo by Aaron Springston

Allowing ourselves to be led is such a fun and exciting thing to do! One of the latest adventures in non-planning I've had has been in choosing a DVD at the library. Rather than read reviews, or ask friends, or even read the titles, I stand in front of the shelf and allow movies to call to me. The most recent DVD which jumped off the shelf is entitled, "Baraka". Oh my goodness! When I started watching this, I hadn't even read the cover. I only knew there was a photo of an eclipsed sun with its title. So it was very confusing when this film started and quickly skipped from what appeared to be Mongolian mountains to monks and priests deep in ritual, then moved to a beautiful baboon, with the most wonderfully expressive eyes, sitting in a hot, steaming pool of water. Adding to both my confusion and an attempt to attach no meaning to what I was seeing, there were no words to go with the mind-boggling glimpses into the lives of multitudes of people around the globe. At first I thought this film was not for the faint of heart, but by the end I had decided that all six billion of us would benefit by its viewing. This is the type of movie that will hit you where you need it! Towards the last of this smorgasbord, I had started to hum. I was om-ing in harmony with it, feeling oneness in a way I've not before experienced. I truly felt I was "walking with God in perfect holiness", along with everyone and everything. Another line from today's lesson reads, "As you step back, the light in you steps forward and encompasses the world." As I go through this day, my personal opinions will step back out of the way, allowing a perfect self to shine for the world. Bits and pieces of this beautiful movie will weave in and out of my daily doings, bringing deep reflection and a smile.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“We must look where we would walk, and we must act as possessing all power from Him in whom we have our being.”

Science & Health Page 264:10-12

June 4, 2012 - What am I following?

A Course in Miracles Lesson #155

“I will step back and let Him lead the way.”

"Gobbler's Knob"
photo by Aaron Springston

As witnessed by the popularity of Harry Potter and other fictional characters, we love to explore the magical and mystical! Most everyone, including myself, has been enchanted by stories involving extraordinary powers.  Could it be we feel very close to demonstrating many of these things for ourselves? Aren't we all realizing abilities which could be interpreted as otherworldly? Mrs. Eddy referred to this as supremely natural, not supernatural. As we begin to understand our nature as reflections of God, we also start to see how material principles have limited us. These long-accepted principles are taking on a transparency in the light of Truth. Our burgeoning understanding of the one Principle is setting us free from the bonds of mortal laws. Through our acceptance of a basis which is all-inclusive, it becomes unnecessary to analyze each and every thing we encounter. There is no need for counting calories, or weighing our options in making decisions, nor worrying over the actions of others. Acceptance of ourselves as God's image and likeness allows an expansiveness to develop which includes an innate knowing of what to do in any given situation. When I "step back" from my planning and worry, I can witness the guidance which is always governing me. Everyday I hear people marveling at the serendipitous occurrences in their lives. We are all experiencing this shift in perception of reality. Today I accept my spiritual sense of Being as a natural, normal expression of consciousness. I embrace it with joyous acknowledgement of its divine origin, translated through me.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Spiritual sense, contradicting the material senses, involves intuition, hope, faith, understanding, fruition, reality. Material sense expresses the belief that mind is in matter. This human belief, alternating between a sense of pleasure and pain, hope and fear, life and death, never reaches beyond the boundary of the mortal or the unreal. When the real is attained, which is announced by Science, joy is no longer a trembler, nor is hope a cheat. Spiritual ideas, like numbers and notes, start from Principle, and admit no materialistic beliefs. Spiritual ideas lead up to their divine origin, God, and to the spiritual sense of being.” 

Science & Health Page 298:13-24

June 3, 2012 - I'm Listening

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #154

“I am among the ministers of God.”

"I'm Listening - At Crystal Bridges Museum"
photo by Aaron Springston 

A few days ago I wrote about women asking me if I suffered the same age-related symptoms they did and the fact that I didn't feel I could be quiet any longer, but must speak from the heart to them. The workbook lesson today reinforces my feeling that Truth is to be both lived and given to others. Now, whether this giving is through spoken words or silent emanations is yet another topic, one which I feel is addressed today. And interestingly, a man I'd never met before came into the gallery and began telling me about his prostate problems and the fact that he had found no relief except through smoking marijuana. As much as I hoped this was a time I would hear the calling to keep my mouth shut, it was not to be. And so we had a rather lengthy discussion, with him telling me things I didn't want to hear and me occasionally interjecting Truth as I heard it given to me. Whew! Often it would be easier to turn our back on what we are led to do, to follow a well-worn path or retreat into oblivion, but it is so much more interesting and fulfilling to listen and be led in paths not only untrod but unknown! Some of my friends don't understand that my gallery is a haven in any number of ways, but another friend tells me it's my "ministry". And so it is.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Millions of unprejudiced minds--simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert--are waiting and watching for rest and drink. Give them a cup of cold water in Christ's name, and never fear the consequences.”

Science & Health Page 570:14-17

June 2, 2012 - Safety is Mine -- and Yours!

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #153

“In my defenselessness my safety lies.”

Baby and Aaron
Photo by Heather Magnan

One of the lines from today's lesson is: "You do not realize what you have done to sabotage the holy peace of God by your defensiveness." The truth of this statement really hit me in the wake of a vivid dream I had last night. In this dream, I was with a group of people. We were being extremely defensive in guarding against a gang of people who were planning to kill us. It was a very graphic dream which I couldn't escape. I'd almost wake up, then sink back into it. This is very unusual for me to experience nightmares, and so I've closely examined what I've been thinking recently. And, yes, I've been defensive, hence attacking and feeling attacked. The inability to pull myself out of the illusion of this nightmare certainly parallels the miasma of material beliefs which come at us every day. The world we live in teaches us we should try to defend against every contingency which may come up -- i.e., get your inoculations, take out insurance for every possible disaster, check your blood pressure, teach your children not to talk to strangers -- the list goes on and on. Our acceptance of good as the only reality is where our safety lies. Is it possible to protect our mortal selves from every material malady which may befall us? Of course not. But we can be aware of the still, small voice which is always guiding us in our every action, when we listen. I've taught my children to be aware. If intuition tells them to slow down the car, or even speed up! -- (although this is not something I told them when they were young :) -- then they should do so without question. Trust yourself! Listen to your instinctual prompts. This is where safety lies. I now see that defensive behavior is nothing more than trusting in suppositional evil more than the good which is God. Trusting Mind, Soul, Spirit, Principle Truth, Life, Love, God, is how safety is experienced. Then a peace you've always dreamed of is actualized, and you find yourself imparting that peace to others, through your living of it.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Instead of tenaciously defending the supposed rights of disease [and other seeming threats], while complaining of the suffering disease brings, would it not be well to abandon the defense, especially when by so doing our own condition can be improved and that of other persons as well?”

 Science & Health Page 348:21-25