October 20, 2012 - Following Intuition

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #293

"All fear is past and only love is here."

"Mongolia Trek"
photo by Aaron Springston

One evening, I had planned on going to our Course in Miracles meeting, but intuition kept holding me at the gallery until well past the starting time. Although numerous people came in and a few sales were made, nothing seemed worthy of keeping me from people of like mind sharing good food and inspiration.  Some time after seven o'clock, I started to close up and was turning off the lights when a woman came in the door, in tears, asking if I'd found her wallet. She had been in earlier in the day, but had no idea where she may have left all her credit cards and money. She said her husband was very angry with her because they'd had their "identity stolen" a few years before and he was worried it would happen again. We retraced her steps and found her wallet in a print rack. While she was very grateful to have found her things, she was still very fearful because of her husband's reactions concerning things from the past. After she left, I realized what I'd kept repeating to her: You're good. You're good. I'm not sure why I was saying this, but hopefully she knows! This incident has shown me how living in the past is the only place fear exists, and that living in the now allows loving reality to shine forth as our only reality.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The Apostle John says: 'There is no fear in Love, but perfect Love casteth out fear. . . . He that feareth is not made perfect in Love.' Here is a definite and inspired proclamation of Christian Science."

Science & Health Page 410:17-21

October 19, 2012 - Happy Outcomes

"Lila Allison in the
May Festival of the Arts Parade"

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #292

“A happy outcome to all things is sure.”

Putting God first is living a life of constant prayer. This prayer brings us into harmony with divine Mind, and from this we witness happy outcomes. In 1999, I took my young boys on a 3,000-mile road trip. We made no reservations at hotels and had no plans on where to stop -- other than to attend women's World Cup soccer games and look for miniature golf courses. In preparation for this trip, I spent a lot of time studying the science of Mind and bringing thought into alignment with these metaphysical principles. Through this process, we witnessed many happy outcomes, but the most dramatic was on the first day of our trip. I had worn glasses to see at a distance for more than 30 years and suddenly found I could see without them. I enjoyed this freedom until a few years ago when renewing my driver's license and found that they were needed again. Although I complied with the law and obtained glasses, I steadfastly refused to accept this prognosis as reality. The next time I renewed my license, there were no restrictions as to sight. Instances such as this affirm my conviction to live single-mindedly, with  God as my only goal, expecting happy outcomes.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The scientific unity which exists between God and man must be wrought out in life-practice, and God's will must be universally done.”

Science & Health Page 203:3-5

October 18, 2012 - Guides to Stillness and Peace

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #291

“This is a day of stillness and of peace.”

"Peace at the end of Linwood Street"
photo by Marsha Havens

This still and peaceful day is a perfect backdrop for the thoughts we are holding today. It's a beautiful, gray day in the Ozarks and the peace is easily felt in the misty splendor of the fall beauty. I am grateful for these words in A Course in Miracles. I am grateful for the words of Mary Baker Eddy and her determination to practice absolutely the Science of The Christ. These words point toward the Truth of our Being, and assure us that it is there for us all the time. These writings show us how to move away from the learned behaviors of a lifetime. I am grateful that they help us to see this Truth. By living in Light, we pass it on to others, especially our children who have not been indoctrinated in material belief as heavily as we have. The stillness and peace of wildlife aids in leading me in the way of this Truth. I will watch for proof of this in everything today -- and be grateful for every sighting.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Certain moods of mind find an indefinable pleasure in stillness, soft, silent as the storm's sudden hush; for nature's stillness is voiced with a hum of harmony, the gentle murmur of early morn, the evening's closing vespers, and lyre of bird and brooklet." 

Christian Science versus Pantheism Page 3:8-13

October 17, 2012 - Well Days

"A Gathering of the Girls"
photo by Jerry Dupy

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #290

“My present happiness is all I see.”

When my boys were little, I heard Wayne Dyer tell us something which I still practice to this day. He told the story of getting up in the morning, feeling wonderful, and saying, It's such a beautiful day, I think I'll call in sick! This made me smile at the time because in the past I'd often get a cold when I needed a break from the routine --  and had come to look forward to these days of respite. Although his illustration talked of a person pretending to be sick, I find that this pretense often manifests itself in our existence. And so I started to advise my children to let me know when they needed some time for themselves and we'd take "well days". (With full disclosure to their school, of course:) Today has been such a day for me. After a minor obligation this morning, I chose to simply Be on this beautiful 75-degree fall day. It's easy to feel “my present happiness” while sitting in the sun watching squirrels gathering nuts. Tomorrow I will choose to feel this happiness shining through whatever the day may bring.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Earth has little light or joy for mortals before Life is spiritually learned. Every agony of mortal error helps error to destroy error, and so aids the apprehension of immortal Truth. This is the new birth going on hourly, by which men may entertain angels, the true ideas of God, the spiritual sense of being.”

Science & Health Page 548:9-16

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