January 29, 2013 - Everything I See

"Aaron Shooting Deer;
Heather Shooting Aaron"

ACIM Workbook Lesson #29:

"God is in everything I see".

To see God in everything entails utilizing a sight other than to which we're accustomed. The material basis of our thought leaves little room for seeing spiritually. This is why our study includes so many exercises which help us to let go of learned beliefs concerning the purpose of everything we see with our material eyes; to release what we think we know about those things.  When we are able to do that, then we leave the way open for spiritual sight. Then we see that God is everywhere, because God Is. This Is-ness is omnipresent, no matter what we think about it, so we don't have to make anything happen; we need only take off our blindfolds and see Truth.  This is why it helps me to think of God as Love.  For me, it's easy to see the idea of Love being expressed in everything, as Love is everywhere, just as sunshine is. And if something happens to obscure that light, such as clouds, I know it's still there, just as potent and perfect as ever. No matter how I perceive things to be with these material eyes and thoughts, the true idea of Spirit, God, Love, is there waiting for me to remember it.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"God fashions all things, after His own likeness. Life is reflected in existence, Truth in truthfulness, God in goodness, which impart their own peace and permanence. Love, redolent with unselfishness, bathes all in beauty and light. The grass beneath our feet silently exclaims, "The meek shall inherit the earth." The modest arbutus sends her sweet breath to heaven. The great rock gives shadow and shelter. The sunlight glints from the church-dome, glances into the prison-cell, glides into the sick-chamber, brightens the flower, beautifies the landscape, blesses the earth. Man, made in His likeness, possesses and reflects God's dominion over all the earth. Man and woman as coexistent and eternal with God forever reflect, in glorified quality, the infinite Father-Mother God."

Science & Health Page 516:9-23

January 28, 2013 - What Is This Really?

"Altai Mountains of Mongolia"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #28:

"Above all else, I want to see things differently."

Years ago, I had friends who were expecting their first baby. They thought it would be interesting to teach it the "wrong" things -- such as, blue would be red, a table might be called a chair, maybe a dog would be a cat. That would certainly be seeing things differently! I see a correlation in their mis-information scheme and the illusions and limitations we have set up for ourselves in our world.  Today's lesson asks us to give up any notions we have concerning the meaning of anything and everything. By doing this, we enable ourselves to drop what we've always thought about a particular something and allow ourselves to be open to what it is and what it is for. Won't it be fun to find out where this exercise will take us?! When we begin asking what things are for, rather than telling them what they are based on our previous labeling of them, interesting answers may be coming our way. I love this exercise and have fun with its applications. For instance, the way we, as a society, punish wrong-doing: Does our present system of retaliation and retribution actually accomplish anything? In reading a book, "The Buddhist and the Terrorist", an alternative to the treatment of a murderer is explored. This book is one of many which encourage me to see differently, to see myself as God sees me, to continue asking mySelf how that sight is gained and kept, to practice the Presence in every moment.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The objects cognized by the physical senses have not the reality of substance. They are only what mortal belief calls them." Science & Health Page 311:26-28

January 27, 2013 - I Want To See

"Glacier National Park"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #27

"Above all else, I want to see."

Today someone said to me, "There are only two powers, and she's chosen the wrong one."  Wow. Once we have split power into a loving God and Its evil twin, some seriously hard-to-let-go images have taken hold in our mind. And so when I'm thinking of today's lesson throughout the day, I won't concentrate on the myriad of ways we've constructed to cloud our vision, but I'll ask to see with true sight, as God sees. And when I wonder how that seeing can be mine, I'll go to the definition of God given in the Christian Science textbook, which is cited after this T. S. Eliot quote which reminds me of what "seeing" is. This quote is from the poem Little Gidding: “We shall not cease from exploration, / And the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time.”

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

Question.--What is God?

Answer.--God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love."

Science & Health Page 465:6-8

January 26, 2013 - Nothing Unreal Exists

"Glacier National Park"
photo by Heather Magnan

ACIM Workbook Lesson #26

"My attack thoughts are attacking my invulnerability."

In the introduction of A Course in Miracles textbook is the following statement: “Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists.” At first glance this may seem to make no sense! But when you think of reality as being the creation of divine Love, the reflection of God (Love), and this is all that is real, then anything unlike God, good, is exposed as nonexistent -- hence its unreality is exposed. This realization that all attack comes from within is an eye-opener! When we worry about lack of money, or possible illness, or what our neighbor might do, these are thoughts which seem to attack our invulnerability.  Actually our invulnerability as a reflection of God cannot be attacked, but we certainly can think of ourselves as weak victims of life's circumstances. Through a conscious choice to reject the unreality of material existence and claim our heritage as powerful spiritual beings, unafraid to stand up and declare our Oneness with God and all Its creation, we are able to transcend the fears we have thought to be inevitable. What a new world is being unveiled in this process of living Truth!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Every law of matter or the body, supposed to govern man, is rendered null and void by the law of Life, God. Ignorant of our God-given rights, we submit to unjust decrees, and the bias of education enforces this slavery." Science & Health Page 380:32-4

January 25, 2013 - Why Do What You Do

"Tanyard Creek"
painting by Carol Dickie

ACIM Workbook Lesson #25

"I do not know what anything is for".

Today's lesson comes at a particularly pertinent time for me, in which I'm examining why I'm selling art. In Northwest Arkansas, we have had an amazing museum open its doors. This has prompted much speculation as to what affect this will have on surrounding galleries and artists. We are being advised that many buyers will be flooding into our area, with expectations of world class art, and that we should raise our prices to show them that we are capable of competing on a global level. This doesn't feel right to me. And so today's lesson of "I do not know what anything is for" is a perfect format for the questioning I've done as to why I'm selling art. I've always asked prospective buyers to go with how the piece they're considering makes them feel. Does it bring a smile to your face? Will it add beauty and grace to your life? If it does,don't miss your chance for that! And from the other side, the artists we represent bring forth their art from Love. One of our artists describes her style as abstract naturalism. Her love of nature glows forth in every painting she brings to canvas. Another artist births what she sometimes calls primal images. These fabric creations are profoundly moving.. For me, they bring forth emotions which perhaps have been hiding for years.But this is neither here nor there. When this art comes forth, it is not examined for what it does for the artist or for the appreciator of it. When I put it on the wall it is not placed there because of how much money it will bring in. My exercise today is to allow everything to Be, with Love expressed all around, and to let its real meaning and purpose come forth without my personal sense being projected onto it.

Mary Baker Eddy's spiritual interpretation of this line of the Lord's Prayer: 'Give us this day our daily bread'

"Give us grace for today; feed the famished affections." Science & Health Page 17:4-5

January 24, 2013 - Follow Your Heart

"Glacier National Park"
photo by Heather Magnan

ACIM Workbook Lesson #24:

"I do not perceive my own best interests.”

How joyous it is to watch our children demonstrate the ideas we're studying! When my oldest son graduated from college, he moved to a large city which has the type of snow he loves for skiing. After applying for and being turned down for numerous jobs, including bread delivery in the wee hours of the morning, he finally found a job doing graphic design grunt work at minimum wage. In the time he was with that company, he advanced to the position of multimedia producer, and had  appreciable raises in salary and work satisfaction. The training he received at that job was the main reason he caught the eye of a television station in a nearby resort town. By allowing himself to be open to the field of all potentiality, he is now working at his "dream job". This has come about because he had no plans or goals he was abiding by, and he knows that following his heart never leaves him where he started. Join with me today in thinking of times you have listened within, when you were "leaning on the sustaining Infinite", and found yourself someplace you could never have planned!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, today is big with blessings."

Science & Health Page vii:1-2

January 23, 2013 - Escape by Giving Up ...

"South African Sunset"
photo by Heather Magnan

ACIM Workbook Lesson #23:

"I can escape from the world I see by giving up attack thoughts."

We hear talk of raising our vibrations, of activating our DNA strands, of various ways to remember our true Identity. All these effects are meant to lead us to an end result which is peaceful and harmonious, or to somehow take us back to the Cause of these effects. Could it be that all these ways from which we seek to attain "higher consciousness" can be realized from giving up of attack thoughts? When we find ways of bridging the separation we have set up in our minds, will we then realize our Oneness and allow ourselves to get back to the garden from which we've never left? So today we practice giving up attack thoughts in order to facilitate our realizations of this Oneness.  Attack thoughts are often obvious, but look out for the ones which wear a disguise! All thoughts which are not the emanation of God, Love, are attack thoughts. I Am the thought of God. Joy guides me in this realization!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"We reason imperfectly from effect to cause when we conclude that matter is the effect of Spirit, but a priori reasoning shows material existence to be enigmatical. Spirit gives the true mental idea. We cannot interpret Spirit, Mind, through matter. Matter neither sees, hears, nor feels. Reasoning from cause to effect in the Science of Mind, we begin with Mind, which must be understood through the idea which expresses it and cannot be learned from its opposite, matter. Thus we arrive at Truth, or intelligence, which evolves its own unerring idea and never can be coordinate with human illusions."

Science & Health Page 467:23-3