December 13, 2012 - Anger/judgment Denounced

"Aaron in Colorado"

ACIM Workbook Lesson #347

"Anger must come from judgment. Judgment is the weapon I would use against myself, to keep the miracle away from me."

There are many reasons I'm grateful to my children. When they were very young it seemed they could push all the buttons which brought forth anger in me. Through their instruction, I've learned that no one can make me angry. Anger is an internal emotion which has no cause other than within myself. And the ability to rid myself of anger is also within myself. Because of my dear children, the desire to be loving and free of destructive emotions was stronger than my need to have them. This realization freed us all from the negative and hurtful results which would boil up from time to time. There are so many wonderful things which have resulted from the interactions my boys and I experience. I am very grateful for the opportunity to love and live with them. Thank you, Aaron and Dylan, for everything!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Material man is made up of involuntary and voluntary error, of a negative right and a positive wrong, the latter calling itself right. Man's spiritual individuality is never wrong."

Science & Health Page 491:7-10

December 12, 2012 - Auspicious Date

"Somewhere in Mexico"
photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Lesson #346

"Today the peace of God envelops me, And I forget all things except His Love."

On this most auspicious date in history, 12/12/12, many people are awaiting the change in consciousness and perception which has been predicted. Planets are aligning and many material phenomenon are happening which supposedly portend great change. We who have been studying and practicing divine metaphysics have seen this change occurring within ourselves for quite some time. Perceptions change moment-by-moment as we realize our true Being as a reflection of God. Not only do we see this Truth in ourselves, but in everything and everyone. It's not that we're changing, but the way we're all seeing is changing. We're developing the spiritual realization which puts material senses in their proper place: behind us. So I encourage you to not be afraid if things which were invisible are becoming visible. Embrace change. Let's do what Apple entreated us to do years ago: Think Different!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The true history of the universe, including man is not in material history but in spiritual development. Inspired thought relinquishes a material, sensual, and mortal theory of the universe, and adopts the spiritual and immortal."

 Science & Health Page 547

December 11, 2012 - What is a Miracle?

"South Africa Misty Morning"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIMWorkbook Lesson #345

"I offer only miracles today,

For I would have them be returned to me."

When I first began reading ACIM writings, the word "miracle" bothered me very much. As a student of Christian Science, I had learned that a miracle, as we think of it, is non-existent, because all these wonderful things are natural occurrences. And so there are actually no such things as miracles, only a revealing of the perfection that Is. But, as with many words, it is only the meaning we have placed upon them that makes them good or bad. Now I choose to think of miracles as anything which reveals the omnipresence of God, good. By this I can freely offer miracles to others and accept them in turn. God's goodness is reflected in my actions and everyone else's. This I embrace whole-heartedly. Giving and receiving; receiving and giving. What a lovely cycle!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Christian marvels (and marvel is the simple meaning of the Greek word rendered miracle in the New Testament) will be misunderstood and misused by many, until the glorious Principle of these marvels is gained."

Science & Health Page 474:11-15

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