December 20, 2012 - Compassionate Thought

"Mongolian Mountaintop"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #354

"We stand together, Christ and I, in peace And certainty of purpose. And in Him Is His Creator, as He is in me."

Knowing the Truth and believing it to be True don't always occur at the same time. When we hear of some unspeakable horror, it's hard to believe that such things can happen when we've been holding our thought to all that is good and pure. Once again we have witnessed a massacre of children in our schools. It seems unthinkable, unspeakable, impossible. We find ourselves questioning God as to how this can happen. I find solace in knowing that God has nothing to do with it. God does not create material circumstance and push us out the door to face it alone. This Oneness we all share is Spirit, not form. In Spirit, we all "stand together". Looking with God's eyes shows us the Truth of our being, and that Being is the same whether it's Hitler or Mother Teresa. And so I will look with these eyes in true compassion, as I see the dear children and their families with the same eyes as I witness the perpetrator of this travesty and his loved ones: the same way we are all seen by God. When these people come to thought, I send them peace, Love, calm contented thought. We have all seen how our thoughts affect those around us. In our unity, they are beneficial to everyone. This "certainty of purpose" blesses all.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The relations of God and man, divine Principle and idea, are indestructible in Science; and Science knows no lapse from nor return to harmony, but holds the divine order or spiritual law, in which God and all that He creates are perfect and eternal, to have remained unchanged in its eternal history."

Science & Health Page 470:32-5 

December 19, 2012 - Express Joy, from the Heart

"Basin Spring and Hotel in
Eureka Springs, AR"
photo by Richard Quick

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #353

"My eyes, my tongue, my hands, my feet today

Have but one purpose; to be given Christ

To use to bless the world with miracles."

At this time of the year, we are often reminded that not everyone includes themselves in this thing we call Christmas. In order to be politically correct, we go through all sorts of angst while expressing the Joy of the season to others. Today's lesson states that Christ is but my Self. Not just my Self, but everybody's! The man we know as Jesus was here to show us the Truth of our Being. There were no limitations placed on this message’s target. Everyone, everywhere were and are the recipients of his revelation that we are all the Sons of God. In seeing, speaking, and moving with the realization that God is our Life, this lesson is demonstrated in everything we do. And so today I will speak from my heart when the occasion arises to express the joy of the season to others. What I say will be heartfelt, with no regard to what should or shouldn't be said. And I will see everyone as the Christ that they are, regardless of how it may seem to my limited human concepts. My prayer will be to realize my true conception is spiritual, and to act and speak accordingly as led by Spirit. Merry Christmas and Namaste'!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The illumination of Mary's spiritual sense put to silence material law and its order of generation, and brought forth her child by the revelation of Truth, demonstrating God as the Father of men. The Holy Ghost, or divine Spirit, overshadowed the pure sense of the Virgin-mother with the full recognition that being is Spirit. The Christ dwelt forever an idea in the bosom of God, the divine Principle of the man Jesus, and woman perceived this spiritual idea, though at first faintly developed."

Science & Health Page 29:20-29

December 18, 2012 - Judgment or Love?

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson #352

"Judgment and love are opposites. From one

Come all the sorrows of the world. But from

The other comes the peace of God Himself."

Did you know that colors appear differently when placed on different background colors? I recently read an article about this which explained that the way we perceive a color is based on our education about color perception and how we've been conditioned to see color. Who knew?? As I struggled to grasp this fact, I realized it's the same with our perceptions of what reality is. Spiritual perception allows us to see beyond the seeming reality of our material senses. Interactions with others may be full of judgments and suppositions when we look at the situation with by-rote, learned behavior and the immediacy of emotions. But the Truth which comes from seeing from a different standpoint, from a spiritual perspective, allows an improved interaction with others. This is true because our human experience is the visible expression of our thinking. To see the world and others through the eyes of Love frees us to love as God Loves: purely, without a skewed view of the color and fabric of everything we see. Now I know what the expression "showing your true colors" means!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Thought will finally be understood and seen in all form, substance, and color, but without material accompaniments."

Science & Health Page 310: 6:8

December 17, 2012 - What Do I Choose To See?

ACIM Workbook Lesson #351

"My sinless brother is my guide to peace.

My sinful brother is my guide to pain.

And which I choose to see I will behold."

One of our local artists tells me that she went to Crystal Bridges, the fabulous museum here in Northwest Arkansas. When I asked her how she liked it, she told me many wonderful things about it, but then said that she had gotten depressed at one point. This feeling had come about when she saw another local artist who was also there. This other artist said to her that she felt hopeless because she realized that no matter how good she was, she would never be as good as the people they were seeing on the walls there! And these words from the other artist had thrown her into a funk, putting quite a damper on her enjoyment of the day. Yikes!! I'm not going into the erroneous thought I see coming from that statement. But let's look at how this relates to today's lesson. If I see the statement-maker as sinless, whatever she says is also harmless. Her words cannot bring me pain or suffering of any sort. She is the pure Idea of God. Her words can only be translated into my depression if that's what I perceive. When I see her as she really Is, there is no need for pain, depression, or blame. She can't ruin my day. Only my thoughts toward her can do that for me. As this story was related to me, these are the things I thought toward the teller. These thoughts replaced all the incredulous ones which first came to me. I chose peace, even though my first reaction was to jump on my soapbox and tell her why she was wrong!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Final deliverance from error, whereby we rejoice in immortality, boundless freedom, and sinless sense, is not reached through paths of flowers nor by pinning one's faith without works to another's vicarious effort. Whosoever believeth that wrath is righteous or that divinity is appeased by human suffering, does not understand God."

Science & Health Page 22:23-28

December 16, 2012 - Silence is Golden

"Lake Leatherwood"
photo by Gerry Toler

ACIM Workbook Lesson #350

"Miracles mirror God's eternal Love. To offer them is to remember Him, And through His memory to save the world."

Once, while on a long car trip with five children, I told one of the young people, "Everything that goes through your mind doesn't need to come out of your mouth." I remember this well, because I took the advice to heart and often would remind myself to examine the need to speak. As the years have passed, it seems I have forgotten this integral touchstone. A few days ago, a reminder presented itself in a way I couldn't ignore. While pontificating about something I'm sure I felt was important, in mid-sentence I lost my voice. The enforced silence which has ensued allows reflection on many things.  Am I being overly critical in looking at the actions of others? Am I making assumptions that I know why someone said or did things? In silence and humility, I seek purity.  It's easy to fall into self-righteous indignation and holier-than-thou thought. What I am finding is that I've slipped into ways of thinking which are not in concordance with the teachings I  follow. In this realization, the goal will be to check the thought, hence negating the necessity of wondering if it should come out of my mouth! But knowing the need for silence, I will seek out moments, hours, perhaps days of this precious commodity which is always present, within.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The miracle of grace is no miracle to Love. Jesus demonstrated the inability of corporeality, as well as the infinite ability of Spirit, thus helping erring human sense to flee from its own convictions and seek safety in divine Science."

Science & Health Page 494:15-19

December 15, 2012 - Miracle of Love

"Colorado Peace"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #349

"Today I let Christ's vision look upon all things for me and judge them not, but give each one a miracle of love instead."

Science fiction, the speculation of how life will be in the future, has always fascinated me. The serene surroundings of those who neither want nor need is very appealing! A place where there is no room for anger and warlike behavior because all actions are filled with Love, where the rare disagreement is settled through the decision of a "fair witness". The utopia which ensues in this atmosphere seems so simple. It feels as though these dreams of future perfection are here with us now. They are being realized in a myriad of ways. Do an internet search on good deeds, or Age of Aquarius, or peaceful living, if you feel the need for affirmation that this reality is with us here and now. I recently saw a movie in which a 102-year-old woman said these words: "We ain't what we should be, we ain't what we gonna be, but at least we ain't what we were." The major shifts in thought that we're experiencing is making many people uncomfortable. Some tell me that they feel restless and discontented. I think this is a symptom of the shift we're experiencing. It is tempting for many to cover these feelings of distress with alcohol and drugs, perhaps even with extreme physical activity. I urge you to fear not, but to hold thought steadily to the good and True. Follow your intuition to find ways to assuage this discontent. I see now that nothing can keep the miracle away, no matter how hard we try.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The Science Jesus taught and lived must triumph over all material beliefs about life, substance, and intelligence, and the multitudinous errors growing from such beliefs.”

Science & Health Page 43:23-25

December 14, 2012 - No Cause for Fear/Anger

"Bob, the Cat"

ACIM Lesson #348

"I have no cause for anger or for fear, For You surround me. And in every need that I perceive, Your grace suffices me."

                  

As these words of today's lesson have swirled through my head, I keep coming back to an event which demonstrates this truth. Our family had a wonderful cat named Bob. While I'm not going to tell the Story of Bob in this writing, one part of his time with us stays with me: It has to do with having no cause for anger or for fear. When our household welcomed a Corgi puppy, Chili, it wasn't an easy time for the cats of the house! After an encounter with Clili, in which Bob's ear was ripped by a herding nip, this cat called Bob moved outside. When Chili would go outside, occasionally he would challenge Bob by growling and rushing at him. Bob would flop over on his back, squirming happily, while purring and smiling at the dog! Bob never exhibited any fear or anger; he never retaliated with his claws; he simply dissipated the anger with Love. When he was outside with his paws in the dirt, he seemed to be centered in nature, knowing what to do at all times in order to either avert or evaporate danger. Bob lived the Love which is God. There was only happiness and contentment surrounding him. Bob "got It"!! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "The great miracle to human sense is divine Love, and the grand necessity of existence is to gain the true idea of what constitutes the kingdom of heaven in man. This goal is never reached while we hate our neighbor." 

Science & Health Page 560: 11-13