November 22, 2012 - Thank You Greatly ~~~

ACIM Workbook Lesson #326

“I am forever an Effect of God.”

As usual, these daily lessons are easily seen as Truth when we are able to remove our beliefs from the picture. I Am grateful for the footsteps of Truth which have brought me to this present understanding. I Am grateful for where these steps will take me tomorrow. I Am most grateful for the omniscient Love which upholds me right where I Am. Today will be a day of gratitude expressed in every action. Every abundance witnessed today leads me to a humble appreciation for All that Is.

Thank You greatly ~~~

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Are we really grateful for the good already received? Then we shall avail ourselves of the blessings we have, and thus be fitted to receive more. Gratitude is much more than a verbal expression of thanks. Action expresses more gratitude than speech."

Science & Health Page 3:22-27

November 21, 2012 - Reflecting Ideas

ACIM Workbook Lesson #325

“All things I think I see reflect ideas.”

Humanity is so wondrous that we tend to glory in its magnificence. Some of the things humans do are so hideous we are repelled and saddened by the horror. Is one of these statements more true than the other? Both of them mirror the reflection of human ideas and can be classified as erroneous thought. So where does this leave us? "There is nothing good nor bad, ‘tis only thinking makes it so." (Shakespeare) By our giving up of insane expectations, foolish judgments, and other preconceived values, we are able to see the world as an unfolding of spiritual ideas. What this unfoldment of Truth consists of, we can't predict. What we do know is that this is our true Being, apart from any thought of good and bad, right and wrong. As difficult as it seems to let go of all these notions, the more we watch the unfoldment of these spiritual ideas, the more we are willing to let go of the contrived and untrue. And the noticing of this allows us to know the difference.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The creative Principle--Life, Truth, and Love--is God. The universe reflects God. There is but one creator and one creation. This creation consists of the unfolding of spiritual ideas and their identities, which are embraced in the infinite Mind and forever reflected. These ideas range from the infinitesimal to infinity, and the highest ideas are the sons and daughters of God.”

Science & Health Page 502:24-32

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