February 3, 2013 - Growing peace

"Aaron at Glacier National Park"
photo by Heather Magnan

ACIM Workbook Lesson #34:

"I could see peace instead of this."

Family disputes, contentious work situations, city council meetings in Eureka Springs -- every day we find ourselves involved in situations which give us the opportunity to see peace instead of the dissension which is taking form before us. Even if we're not directly involved in these scenarios, we are given the opportunity to "see peace instead of this". We are learning to sit quietly, with Love, and watch how that spiritual truth brings healing. Peace is inherent in every volatile situation. What a calm glow is brought forth when Love is felt within! By practicing peace we are allowed to witness its inevitable spread to everything it touches. I have numerous opportunities to practice this precept with my dog. He exhibits aberrant, aggressive behavior towards people and other dogs. It's difficult for me to not become aggressive myself! Even though I've witnessed the effect of calm, assertive behavior on this little bundle of nervousness, bringing him to a relaxed state, all too often I simply join with him in his tense communication. So today I scatter Love everywhere, with particular attention to myself, as I watch Its manifestation grow.  

   

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. The pains of sense are salutary, if they wrench away false pleasurable beliefs and transplant the affections from sense to Soul, where the creations of God are good, 'rejoicing the heart.' Such is the sword of Science, with which Truth decapitates error, materiality giving place to man's higher individuality and destiny.”

Science & Health Page 265:23-5

February 2, 2013 - Adventures in Seeing

"Forbidden City Acrobats:
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #33:

"There is another way of looking at the world."

     

This lesson asks us to recognize that we can shift our perception of the world in both its outer and inner aspects. We are asked to look at things around us, and then to look at our thoughts. This is to be done casually, with no judgment, only noticing. Okay. I'm looking around the room. The first thing I see is a lamp which was bought at a Clear Spring School auction. Interestingly, it was donated by Victorian Reflections, a shop which occupied the space Eureka Thyme Gallery now has. This lamp has a story. It brings back lots of memories and feelings within me, all lovely to remember. Now when I close my eyes and follow my thoughts, a long trail has opened up with memory links galore! I could follow them and spend a great deal of time living in the past. Or I can simply see it for what it is and ask myself why that lamp makes me smile. It represents to me light, beauty, happy times with children and friends. Whether this exercise brought me lovely thoughts or caused distress makes no difference, because they both need to be released. This doesn't mean that I must never feel the Love reflected by this lamp and its connections. That feeling is mine all the time. This release lightens the barriers I've built against Spirit. It helps me become more transparent and allows good, God, to be my only Sight. What an adventure this is!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Dear reader, which mind-picture or externalized thought shall be real to you,--the material or the spiritual? Both you cannot have. You are bringing out your own ideal. This ideal is either temporal or eternal. Either Spirit or matter is your model. If you try to have two models, then you practically have none. Like a pendulum in a clock, you will be thrown back and forth, striking the ribs of matter and swinging between the real and the unreal."

Science & Health Page 360:13-21

February 1, 2013 - What Do I See?

ACIM Workbook Lesson #32:

“I have invented the world I see.”

"Three Fun Artists"

We've invented a cocoon called Eureka Thyme. We are invisible to people who wouldn't appreciate the art within our space. We're invisible to anyone who wants to talk coffee-shop banter about politics and how the world is doomed. We are invisible to fans of gossip. It's delightful! We just don't hear such things in the gallery, and on the rare occasions we do, we find ways to lead people back to paths of peace. This is not to say our world is always spent in quiet contemplation. Everything in the gallery reflects the love with which it is made, and that shows forth in an atmosphere which glows with goodnessFe. And it's also joyous! We have artist shows, author events, celebrations for every reason imaginable. I tell you these things to illustrate that we needn't allow inharmony to permeate our world. Peace and Love are the realities of spiritual creation. When disharmonious materialism raises its voice, we refute it, with Love.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts." Science & Health Page 261:4-7

January 31, 2013 - I Am not a victim

"Aaron at Glacier National Park"
photo by Heather Magnan

ACIM Workbook Lesson #31:

"I am not the victim of the world I see"   

It seems to me that the more I feel victimized, the more I'm victimized! I say this jokingly, but it's true. For instance, there was a time I felt put-upon by my landlord, the city, and any number of decision-makers involved in the renovation of the street in front of my business. I had accepted the proposed disruption and decided to enjoy some stay-at-home days to do yard work during our unseasonably warm weather. While doing just that, I heard that they were not doing the scheduled work on the street, and that I had shut down for no reason. During the two hours following this discovery, I must admit to some attack thoughts directed towards those in charge. And also during this period of time, any and every project I started to do around the house was thwarted, for various reasons. So rather than fret, I took my dog for a walk around a peaceful little lake in the woods. The sunshine and exercise helped dispel any worries as to how things would progress -- or not!  Shortly after returning home, I received a phone call from someone making a major purchase from the gallery. I wonder what events would have transpired if I'd chosen to rattle cages in connection with the situation. I feel certain I could have created any number of disruptive scenarios in which I could star! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Man is tributary to God, Spirit, and to nothing else. God's being is infinity, freedom, harmony, and boundless bliss."

Science & Health Page 481:2-4

January 30, 2013 - God Is Everything

"Yellowstone National Park Sunrise"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #30:

"God is in everything I see because God is in my mind."

I like to leave the word "in" out of the above statement, so that it reads: God is everything I see because God is my Mind. This philosophy we're studying is showing itself everywhere, isn't it? From so-called new-age thought, to the divine sciences, to wonderful books such as "The Celestine Prophecy" and "The Lost Symbol" -- everything is pointing us toward Truth. To see as God sees is our birthright. We are realizing this every day in everything we experience. When we acknowledge that we want to experience divine Reality, we open our mind to infinity. We can turn to this certainty of thought, and by opening ourselves to All That Is, we are led in paths perhaps less traveled, but most wondrously rewarding! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"In: A term obsolete in [Christian] Science if used with Spirit or Deity." Science & Health  Page 588:22-23

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