October 16, 2012 - Moment by Moment

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #289

“The past is over. It can touch me not.”

"African Sunset"
photo by Aaron Springston

The releasing of the past is one of the things I love about being in retail sales. There is no rhyme nor reason to explain why people buy things -- or not!  Every day I meet many new people. Although I know nothing about them when they walk in the door, when they leave we’ve made a mini-friendship based on what we have learned about each other in a few minutes. It’s pure and clean and nothing matters but the moment we’re together in this small gallery, with a divine atmosphere of Love emanating from the art of more than a hundred people. Wow! What could be better?! And through these daily meetings, I’m seeing this now-ness being demonstrated time and again. It enables me to forget my past when I constantly live in the present. And when others try to take me to the past (whether it’s theirs or mine), I am learning ways of bypassing these trips. With this constant exercise, it seems I allow myself to wander through memory land less and less. And I won't let others bring it into my existence while inside the sanctuary of Eureka Thyme. I love the serene otherworld we create within these walls. It’s helping me see the now in every moment, and the nothingness of moments gone by.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“As the crude footprints of the past disappear from the dissolving paths of the present, we shall better understand the Science which governs these changes, and shall plant our feet on firmer ground. Every sensuous pleasure or pain is self-destroyed through suffering. There should be painless progress, attended by life and peace instead of discord and death.”

Science & Health Page 224: 4-10  

October 15, 2012 - Giving up Notions

"Beautiful Child in Naadam"
photo by Aaron Springston

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #288

“Let me forget my brother's past today.”

I'm glad that we're forgetting the past today, as I've been in an email discussion with a friend where my last note stated that I tend to not remember much of anything! And now here I am being told to forget my brother's past. I think I can do that!! As I ponder these points, I listen to a person singing on the balcony of a nearby hotel/restaurant. To me, the performer sounds rather unmelodious and jarring in tone. To add to my chagrin, he's singing some of my favorite songs. I'm really trying not to blame him for this! And so I'm seeing him as innovative in the changes he's making to well-loved Beatles songs. I'm not attacking him, even though he's so loud I've had to turn off my jazzy piano music because the decibels can't compete! Now this exercise is getting easier. He's playing something I've never heard of, and it doesn't sound so bad! And so I'm forgetting that I don't like him. I'm not going to jump up on my high horse with a holier-than-thou attitude (which crossed my mind to the point of envisioning what I would say to the manager of the hotel!). I'm remembering that we are the same because our source is the same, and I'm not blaming him because he doesn't sing the way I'd like for him to. Now I'm singing along with the Eagles song he's currently butchering and it's become a lovely, comedic parenthesis in eternity. I am not blaming myself for these thoughts any more than I'm blaming him for his actions. It is what it is. Thank goodness!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"One infinite God, good, unifies men and constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, "Love thy neighbor as thyself;" annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry,--whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed."

Science & Health Page 340:23:30

October 14, 2012 - Love is My Only Goal

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #287

“You are my goal, my Father. Only You.”

"Basin Spring Fantasy"
photo created by Gerry Toler

In the early 1900s, people flocked to Eureka Springs for the healing waters. Thousands of people in need found their way here, as they still do today. People are drawn to our town, often without knowing why. I love watching the transformation of circumstance as people's thought changes from focusing on the problem to looking toward the solution. In varying degrees, we are all realizing that true healing comes when we release our beliefs in things and open ourselves to feeling the presence of Love. When this is our only desire, when there is no other need or want, wonderful avenues appear. Often it takes extreme conditions to cause us to seek the understanding of our unity with God. But isn't it sweet when we skip that step and fall straight into the Love!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“All nature teaches God's love to man, but man cannot love God supremely and set his whole affections on spiritual things, while loving the material or trusting in it more than in the spiritual.”

Science & Health Page 326:8-11

October 13, 2012 - Do Less, Accomplish More

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #286

"Black Bass Lake"
painting by Carol Dickie

“The hush of Heaven holds my heart today.”

We're doing less and accomplishing more; soon we'll be doing nothing and accomplishing everything! I don't know where I first heard this, but I love it!! And I love the word "hush", as it's used in the sentence above -- "the hush of Heaven holds my heart today." It sounds and feels like what it means! A quiet susserence which feels like nestling into a featherbed, or maybe the sound of a snowfall late at night -- the hush of something exquisitely cozy. These are the feelings I'll call to mind today while remembering there is nothing I need do, because it is already done.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Having no other gods, turning to no other but the one perfect Mind to guide him, man is the likeness of God, pure and eternal, having that Mind which was also Christ."

Science & Health Page 467:13-16

October 12, 2012 - Joy Loves Company

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #285

"Sandy Wythawai Starbird and her mom"
photo by Judy Rhodes

“My holiness shines bright and clear today.”

Today someone said something which I hadn't heard in a long, long time: Misery loves company. Is that why so many of the conversations we hear center around disease and inclement weather? Yikes! I suppose it would be too rude and counterproductive to tell people why this way of existence is not conducive to happiness. But I can feel joy -- and scatter!! -- even in the face of any suffering thought that is brought to me today. And no, this won't be a laughing-in-the-face-of-sorrow type of joy. This will be a gentle joy, a quiet joy, sent out in true compassion while seeing divine reality. This will be my holiness shining today. We know that joy loves company, too. Let's see how infectious happiness can be!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“We must form perfect models in thought and look at them continually, or we shall never carve them out in grand and noble lives. Let unselfishness, goodness, mercy, justice, health, holiness, love—the kingdom of heaven—reign within us, and sin, disease, and death will diminish until they finally disappear”

Science & Health Page 248:25-32

October 11, 2012 - Turning Away from Hurtful Thoughts

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #284

“I can elect to change all thoughts that hurt.”

"Harry and the Christmas Bears"

This process of turning around all hurtful thoughts is an interesting study! Through years of desiring to see through the eyes of Truth, Its realization now comes more frequently and with more ease. I could make a graph of the changing face of grief I've felt through the years surrounding the loss of friends and pets. As a 12-year-old, the loss of my dog was devastating. I wouldn't allow myself to love another animal for more than ten years. After giving myself permission to love again, the process of loving freely has brought my thought closer to understanding continuity through Oneness. When looking in the eyes of a beloved pet, I see those whom I've loved in the past. Often when talking to a new friend, I may have deja-vu-ish feelings of being with someone departed long ago. All these experiences bring the realization of the Oneness of all being, and I relish each loss and gain in this embrace. Whatever the hurt or suffering seems to be, it can be perceived in other ways. Love (God) fills our being at its core and its edge. This unbroken reality allows us to feel a gentle Presence in every experience. And I am grateful.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“It is self-evident that we are harmonious only as we cease to manifest evil or the belief that we suffer from the sins of others. Disbelief in error destroys error, and leads to the discernment of Truth”

Science & Health Page 346: 13-16

October 10, 2012 - Remembering True Identity

"Ozark Sunrise"
photo by John Rankine

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #283

“My true Identity abides in You.”

The meaning of today's topic springs to mind often. Already this morning there have been three instances where people have forgotten their true Identity and attempted to pull me into their forgotten state. By the remembering that these illusions are only that -- illusions -- and that the true essence of everything is Love, I have been able to look for answers to seeming personal conflicts without resorting to speculation and psychological nit-picking. When we get into a "he-said-she-said" playing of people against each other, there is no true resolution. So I've stepped back and said, inwardly, that I know there is only one solution, the Love-based One, and now I'm waiting to hear (see, feel, know) how these seeming conflicts will be resolved. I refuse to speculate on possible resolutions, or wonder who is going to "back down", because we are all in this together and there is only Good to be reflected by us all. I will not project my thoughts onto others, and I reject any that are thrown toward me from them. Divine Mind guides and governs us all, when recognized as our true identity.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Human thought never projected the least portion of true being. Human belief has sought and interpreted in its own way the echo of Spirit, and so seems to have reversed it and repeated it materially; but the human mind never produced a real tone nor sent forth a positive sound.”

Science & Health Page 126:8-14