December 10, 2012 - The Law of Love

"Mr. Scrooge's Gifts"
photo by Melanie Myhre

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #344

"Today I learn the law of love; that what

I give my brother is my gift to me."

Today's lesson is the number one thing to keep in thought during our daily interactions with others. In my position as proprietress of an art gallery in a small tourist town, I am an information center, a museum, a drop off point for others, and sometimes a retail establishment. In the process of talking with hundreds of people on a busy day, I sometimes forget that giving is receiving. I sometimes forget that the law of Love is my only reason for being there. Sometimes I don't see myself as one with those wanting to know directions to the Beaver Bridge, or asking where is the best place to eat, or telling me how their aunt/sister/mother is a fantastic artist, or the multitudinous streams of consciousness that flows from them, through me, and back at them. Whew! It can seem overwhelming from a human standpoint. But on those days when I manage to transcend this maze of materiality, then it's one large, swirling ball of joy. The interactions are enjoyed on a level invisible to me when I'm operating from egotistical ideology. Today I choose Love and receive as much joy as I scatter to others!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Who hath found finite life or love sufficient to meet the demands of human want and woe,--to still the desires, to satisfy the aspirations? Infinite Mind cannot be limited to a finite form, or Mind would lose its infinite character as inexhaustible Love, eternal Life, omnipotent Truth."

Science & Health Page 257:22-29

December 9, 2012 - What Do We Give Up?

Ozark Sunset
photo by John Rankine

ACIM Workbook Lesson #343

"I am not asked to make a sacrifice to find the mercy and the peace of God."

To give up our own personalized system of grief and blame sometimes seems difficult. On the surface, it appears that we would do anything in order to gain peace and satisfaction. But when it gets right down to individual events, we want to hold on tight. What if all I need to do to find the peace of God is to stop thinking the limiting thought to which I've become accustomed? Let's say someone wants to change a personal relationship which we've had for some time, and to which we've become accustomed. What comes to mind is when my son was 14 and woke up one morning and said he didn't belong here, in this town, going to this school. My first thoughts were ones of blame -- toward myself and him. Why would he want to leave? What have I done to cause him to feel this way? Now we're years past the time this happened, and it's easy to look back and see that his going away to school was the best thing that could have happened for both of us. But at the time it felt devastating. This is the type of feeling we so often bring to our lives when we look at the situation from an egotistical standpoint. But with an acceptance and loving assurance that all is well, these relationships ebb and flow, yielding to the peace of God which is ever-present, and which is found with a letting go, a sacrificing of personal agendas and preconceived notions of how things should be. So wake up in the morning and say "Namaste" to yourself!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"LAMB OF GOD: The spiritual idea of Love; self-immolation; innocence and purity; sacrifice."

Science & Health Page 590:9-10.

December 8, 2012 - My Thoughts are Known

Happy Dog
Unknown phtographer

A CIM Workbook Lesson #342

"I let forgiveness rest upon all things, For thus forgiveness will be given me."

We believe we can hide emotions and thoughts from those around us, simply by not saying anything. Where did we ever get that idea? I guess it's because we have spent so many years not listening to anything which doesn't present itself to us in physical form. But whether we recognize it or not, we are passing to and receiving from everything which we encounter. Once again, I am most grateful to the animals in my life for their constant reminders of this fact. I recently watched an episode of the "Dog Whisperer" in which a lovely dog was fixated on attacking its own image in a mirror. This was not its only aggressive behavior, and the dog's person was afraid that it would attack someone or another animal any time it was outside. How did Cesar stop this dog's aberrant behavior? By calming its master. This woman was constantly in a state of fear and worry. The dog was mirroring her tense behavior. At first she had to pretend she was calm because she didn't know how to be that way! But as she watched the changes in her dog, she began to understand that her feelings and thoughts were being passed on to not only her dog, but to everyone around her. And so it is that "the world goes with us on our way to God."

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The spiritual reality is the scientific fact in all things. The spiritual fact, repeated in the action of man and the whole universe, is harmonious and is the ideal of Truth. Spiritual facts are not inverted; the opposite discord, which bears no resemblance to spirituality, is not real. The only evidence of this inversion is obtained from suppositional error, which affords no proof of God, Spirit, or of the spiritual creation. Material sense defines all things materially, and has a finite sense of the infinite."

Science & Health Page 207:27-4

December 7, 2012 - Love is the Answer

photo by Aaron Springston

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #341

"I can attack but my own sinlessness, and it is only that which keeps me safe."

When we go into an attack mode, we obstruct the flow of goodness to ourselves. Recently a group of women walked into my gallery. One of them is a long-time "customer" who always tells me what she's bought in other places, never purchasing anything from us. I've learned to enjoy her antics and not fault her. I'm not sure why she would do this. Perhaps she's making it up and she never buys anything anywhere! But it used to make me feel inadequate. Why wouldn't she want what I have to offer? Why would she rather purchase other art and not ours? These questions no longer matter to me. I have stopped having attack thoughts toward her, which were actually towards myself, and through this I feel safety. There is no need to defend, attack, or wonder why. Love is the answer.

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 65:16-21

December 6, 2012 - Stillness is Priceless

"Snowbird in Colorado"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #340

"I can be free of suffering today."

Why is it that someone who feels they are following their path, who works hard to make a living in this way, seems to fail at every turn? I can't answer this question, but I can ask other questions! Are you desiring success or are you finding ways to understand your Being as the image and likeness of God? Are you expressing joy in everything you do? Are you grateful for every little thing which brightens your day? It seems to me that people are dropping their negative reactions and unfounded beliefs, but may be floundering because they have nothing to fill the void left from this letting go. I feel that some sort of active spiritual practice is necessary to facilitate a joyful existence. So my advice is to go to Sufi dances, or practice yoga, or study the teachings of something you feel demonstrates Truth. But most importantly, meditate. Make time to rest in quietude, regularly and as often as possible. And don't forget that five seconds of stillness, caught in between activity is priceless!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Who that has felt the loss of human peace has not gained stronger desires for spiritual joy? The aspiration after heavenly good comes even before we discover what belongs to wisdom and Love. The loss of earthly hopes and pleasures brightens the ascending path of many a heart. The pains of sense quickly inform us that the pleasures of sense are mortal and that joy is spiritual."

Science & Health Page 265: 25-30

December 5, 2012 - Ask and Receive

"Celestial Garden"
oil painting by Denise Ryan

ACIM Workbook Lesson #339

"I will receive whatever I request."

It's sometimes difficult to realize that we're requesting pain. No one wants to admit they're doing this. I have a friend who is always wondering why she has problems. She repeatedly tells me how her thinking is pure, yet the problems persist. I've been there and know what she's going through. It's easy to fall into defensive thinking, constantly wondering what's going to befall us next. It's difficult to convince ourselves to look for One thing, and through that singleness of purpose solutions appear. To hold thought to God and the demonstration of our reflection of that perfection is the way. We seek and cannot find. When we stop looking and allow ourselves to see Truth, that perfection unfolds and shows itself in every facet of our lives. If I truly let go and let God, there is no reason to worry about results. God is All.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Science only can explain the incredible good and evil elements now coming to the surface. Mortals must find refuge in Truth in order to escape the error of these latter days. Nothing is more antagonistic to Christian Science than a blind belief without understanding, for such a belief hides Truth and builds on error."

Science & Health Page 83:6-11

December 4, 2012 - Metaphysical Joke

Christian Science Edifice
painting by Julie Kahn Valentine

ACIM Workbook Lesson #338

"I am affected only by my thoughts."

When our nearly 100-year-old Christian Science church was on the Christmas Tour of Homes, I had the opportunity to talk to lots of people who wanted to know more about our way of thought. A man came in who told me he knew lots of Baptist jokes, because that's what he was, but he only knew one Christian Scientist joke, and asked if I wanted to hear it. Of course I did! A little girl comes home from school and tells her mother that her teacher, Mrs. Smith, is sick. The girl's mom says, No, dear, she only thinks she's sick. A few days later the girl comes home and tells her mother that Mrs. Smith is still sick. The mother once again explains that Mrs. Smith only thinks she's sick. A few days later the little girl comes home and tells her mom that Mrs. Smith thinks she's dead. While I chuckled with him over this joke, I also told him the reason it was funny was because it was true! And then we really laughed!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The artist is not in his painting. The picture is the artist's thought objectified. The human belief fancies that it delineates thought on matter, but what is matter? Did it exist prior to thought? Matter is made up of supposititious mortal mind-force; but all might is divine Mind. Thought will finally be understood and seen in all form, substance, and color, but without material accompaniments. The potter is not in the clay; else the clay would have power over the potter. God is His own infinite Mind, and expresses all."

Science & Health Page 310:1-10