November 20, 2012 - Follow Your Heart

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #324

“I merely follow, for I would not lead.”

"The Gate"
painting by Paul O'Neill

This should be a simple lesson for us, as we seem to enjoy and even need to follow others in various ways. I see us as wanting someone to tell us what to do and when to do it. Often three or four cars turn down the dead-end street that I live on, each following the lead car without noticing that the signs indicate there is no way out and implying that turning around could be difficult. The lemming effect often takes over! We seem to seek out and follow orders from anyone we perceive to be wiser or more knowledgeable than we are. Perhaps we do this in case things go wrong, then we can say it wasn't our fault because someone else told us to do it (whatever it may be!). I'm sure there are more reasons for this behavior than the simplistic examples I've given here today. And these are really irrelevant because we don't need to tarry at the problem, but focus on the solution. And the solution is to follow the inward direction which we all hear, but often ignore. Today I confidently listen and follow, secure in the knowledge that a sure ending is inevitable.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds. Science & Health Page 4:3-5

November 19, 2012 - Sacrificing Fear

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #323

"I gladly make the 'sacrifice' of fear"

"Opening Day at Alta"
photo by Aaron Springston

Sacrifice is another of those words which can hold negative connotations to many of us. The idea of sacrifice seems to embody the thought of giving up something precious in order to gain favor from God. It can make us think of sacrificing our own happiness for that of another. Perhaps we think of giving up certain foods for the benefit of our bodies and the environment. But this sacrifice we speak of today only asks that we exchange pain for Love! Although it seems we'd be waiting in line to do this, I find it interesting that so many of us seem to enjoy our pain and work hard to hold onto it/ I have a friend who seems to enjoy his pain so much that he constantly recounts the events which have led up to his present circumstance. It seems it would be a diminishment of his perceived self to let go of this sadness in favor of joy. Just as we've let go of the idea that wearing animal furs makes us more beautiful, we shall release beliefs that being miserable will make us more interesting. Today I will see grace in everyone I meet, beauty in everything I see, acknowledging Love as reality.

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Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Give up your material belief of mind in matter, and have but one Mind, even God; for this Mind forms its own likeness. The loss of man's identity through the understanding which Science confers is impossible; and the notion of such a possibility is more absurd than to conclude that individual musical tones are lost in the origin of harmony."

Science & Health Page 216:30-5

November 18, 2012 - All I Can Lose Are Illusions

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #322

“I can give up but what was never real.”

"Geneva's Dinner"
photo by Marsha Havens

So often we don't realize we're holding on to illusions. We seem afraid that letting go of long-held beliefs will diminish us. Today's lesson explains how we cannot give up anything real, so there is nothing to fear. As I look at this world, many metaphors for this holding-on-letting-go action come to thought. The proliferation of storage sheds illustrates how we've fallen into the belief that we need more of everything. Most people I know are yearning for a more simple existence, in which needs are met in nurturing ways. We want real food, grown by people we know, with Love. We don't want knick-knacks to fill our shelves, but instead find meaningful objects which bring grace and beauty to our lives. These changes in material trappings exemplify the changes in our thought, whereby we strive to release illusive beliefs in exchange for the new/old ideas of Soul. Today I will recognize the difference in the unnecessary illusions which only serve to dull my sense, and the palpably glowing Ideas which nourish me.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Man is the idea of Spirit; he reflects the beatific presence, illuming the universe with light.”

Science and Health Page 266:27–29

November 17, 2012 - Heritage of Freedom

"Bird at Heart"
Sandy Starbird

ACIM Workbook Lesson #321

“Father, my freedom is in You alone.”

An old Kris Kristofferson song, "Me and Bobby McGee", has the line: Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose. That seems forlorn on the face of it: I've already lost everything and have nothing left and so I guess that's supposed to be freedom. But then again, there's something to be said for nothing left to lose! Does it have to imply loneliness and emptiness? I don't think so. By not counting on another person, or yourself, or anything other than God to supply everything you need, there is an ultimate freedom in not worrying about what, who, where you'll be -- or anything else! Then you can happily follow that inner knowing which supplies you with the freedom to be open to anything and everything, without wondering or questioning your own motives or those of others. It's quite a delightful trip, this waiting with heart wide open to see what's coming next!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The enslavement of man is not legitimate. It will cease when man enters into his heritage of freedom, his God-given dominion over the material senses. Mortals will some day assert their freedom in the name of Almighty God. Then they will control their own bodies through the understanding of divine Science. Dropping their present beliefs, they will recognize harmony as the spiritual reality and discord as the material unreality.”

Science & Health Page 228:11-19

November 16, 2012 - Fake It 'Til You Make It

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #320

“My Father gives all power unto me.”

"Mongolia"
photo by Aaron Springston

The last phrase in the Eddy quote below reminds me of a popular new age saying that I've always liked: Fake it 'til you make it! Often we feel incapable of believing, much less understanding, that the reality of our being is limitless. We are capable of so much more than we realize. The word "power" has gotten a bad reputation because of people wielding material power over others and dominion being exercised in awful ways. But let's shed those notions and see its spiritual connotation. The power bestowed within us is a wonderful, beautiful thing! If we must, let's pretend that we are Love and nothing else. If we must fake it, let’s be certain that we will make it! It is something I will continue to do when I feel fear, or lack, or irritation with someone. My will and God's will are one and the same. I acknowledge that at every opportunity!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The fading forms of matter, the mortal body and material earth, are the fleeting concepts of the human mind. They have their day before the permanent facts and their perfection in Spirit appear. The crude creations of mortal thought must finally give place to the glorious forms which we sometimes behold in the camera of divine Mind, when the mental picture is spiritual and eternal. Mortals must look beyond fading, finite forms, if they would gain the true sense of things. Where shall the gaze rest but in the unsearchable realm of Mind? 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 263:32-12

November 15, 2012 - Arrogance or Humility?

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #319

“I came for the salvation of the world.”

"Sunrise Silhouette"
photo by Heather Magnan

I love that this lesson reiterates that there is no arrogance in the realization that I am here for the salvation of the world! We tend to feel that our material reasoning, our contrived actions and reactions are humble. And, alternatively, we think the admission that we share the thought of God indicates arrogance. We are frightened of the powerful capabilities which are ours by virtue of this acceptance. It seems to me that thinking we can do it all on our own is the height of arrogance. The understanding that I can do nothing on my own, but that I am capable of anything when I allow my true Self to be expressed, is powerful. By this humble yielding to the divine which we are, we are admitting that what/who we are is indeed spiritual. not material. From this point, there are no limits and we are free to live in Truth.

Mary Baker Eddy quotes: “Millions of unprejudiced minds--simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert--are waiting and watching for rest and drink.”

Science & Health Page 570:14-17

November 14, 2012 - A Present Possibility

"Top of the Mountain in Mongolia"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Lesson #318

“In me salvation's means and end are one.”

We're all in this together. I've said this so many times in so many situations. Yet it seems as though we all see things through different eyes. We are like satellites, rotating around something unseen, sometimes floating in unison, often bumping into each other and throwing our orbit out of sync. But we're all in this together. Let's leave out the "in": We're all this together. Occasionally this togetherness manifests itself as groups of people who commingle for the joy of being with each other. We may join together in book clubs, or study groups, perhaps sewing circles or various groups of people who come together in communion. This fellowship has been sought after since the beginning of time. Personally, I have no interest in being a part of any group simply to be with others. I want a communication which surpasses the ordinary. Let there be stunning honesty, inspiring exchanges, and Love shared. From this at-one-ment, this demonstrated Oneness with each other as reflections of God, salvation is realized as the means, the end, a present possibility.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Glory be to God, and peace to the struggling hearts! Christ hath rolled away the stone from the door of human hope and faith, and through the revelation and demonstration of life in God, hath elevated them to possible at-one-ment with the spiritual idea of man and his divine Principle, Love.”

Science & Health Page 45:16-21