November 25, 2012 - Why Have Celebration Days?

"Aaron and Mom on
Graduation Day, 2009"

ACIM Lesson #329

“I have already chosen what You will.”

We have invented holidays to celebrate certain things -- such as, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving. I used to think it was silly to do this. Why would we forget to be grateful, or be thankful for everyone who works hard to insure that things keep on keeping on, or to remember loved ones? But now I see we're simply trying to remember that every day should be the way these days of celebration are. The custom of celebrating birthdays seems odd, too. I love the way the Aboriginal people think of this. They see no reason to celebrate being a year older, but instead announce to loved ones when they have grown in some way, and this is reason for celebration. I have never wanted my children to make a big deal of mother's day or my birthday. I really feel that we honor each other every day, and occasionally things happen which make us appreciate each other even more. Recently my son posted on Facebook that I am his hero. It doesn't get much better than that! The leaving behind of our personal sense of will and the acceptance of the divine Will leaves nothing but Thanksgiving every day. For this I am grateful.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. [MBE's spiritual interpretation of this line from the Lord’s Prayer] Enable us to know,--as in heaven, so on earth,--God is omnipotent, supreme.”

Science & Health Page 17:1-3

November 24, 2012 - Cause and Effect

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #328

"I choose the second place to gain the first."

"Montana Morning"
photo by Aaron Springston

Our material conceptions of reality are, for the most part, the opposite of the Truth of Being. We see the cause of our present existence and circumstances to be a direct result of past actions. I was recently given a 20-page address on the subject of "Cause and Effect". It is a thorough and clear explanation of the only Cause and why we cannot be anything other than an Effect of It. On the surface, it seems that knowing what we are would preclude the assumptions of what we aren't. But we seem to need proof -- material proof that we are something other than human beings who are vulnerable to material so-called laws. And that is why every humble protest for Truth is important. By totally giving myself to the pursuit of knowing this Truth, every day becomes an adventure in transformation!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all. Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal. Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual.”

Science & Health Page 468:9-15

November 23, 2012 - A New Paradigm

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #327

"I need but call and You will answer me."

photo by Aaron Springston

Change is liberating! I think we hold onto traditions and memories in the hopes of keeping the past alive. The letting go of memories, which I'm witnessing in so many, is bringing peace and a new level of joy. One friend tells me of her beloved cat being at the vet's office, perhaps getting ready to pass on. In times past she would have been distraught, but is surprised that she is not! It's not that she loves any less, and perhaps she's expressing Love even more fully in her peaceful acceptance of what is. Another friend tells me she's going through a time of letting go -- without even being aware of what is being loosed! Isn't this great? We don't have to know what it is that's bothering us in order to be freed from it! This concept in itself is freeing, to have no need for analysis or so-called deconstruction, but to simply give yourself the gift of freedom. These are just two of the ways in which our call is answered and every need is supplied. I am so grateful for all of you who stand unafraid, welcoming the new paradigm!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"God is not influenced by man. The 'divine ear' is not an auditory nerve. It is the all-hearing and all-knowing Mind, to whom each need of man is always known and by whom it will be supplied."

Science & Health Page 7:20-22

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.

.

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