February 5, 2013 - Defining Holiness

"Glacier National Park Goat"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #36

"My holiness envelopes everything I see."

What does holiness mean to you? That's the question I will ponder today as I go about my activities. And I will think about another question: Who Am I? Moses tells us that I Am is the answer: I Am that I Am. I take those words to mean that when admitting my true self, my spiritually-revealed Self, I am able to see and express innate holiness. It envelops everything, including me and my thoughts. Everything I see through a spiritual sense is seeing as I Am. This sight shows me the presence of divine Love, God, and Its never-ending principle. To see as Love sees, to be as Love is, to relax into our True Self -- these things, and more, are both the principle and the practice of today's lesson.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Being is holiness, harmony, immortality. It is already proved that a knowledge of this, even in small degree, will uplift the physical and moral standard of mortals, will increase longevity, will purify and elevate character." 

Science & Health Page 492:7-11

February 4, 2013 - Let This Mind Be You

"Glacier National Park"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #35

"My mind is part of God. I am very holy."

A good friend has struggled with depression all her life. She feels her existence has been a series of horrible events, occasionally interrupted by happy times which inevitably end in pain. In an attempt to escape this existence, she has turned to alcohol, drugs, and God. But the judgmental God she sees makes deals with her, and never sees her as worthy of favor. The repetition of her life story seems to be in her thought constantly, affecting her every action. By accepting today's lesson which tells us that we are actually holy as a reflection of God, the feelings of hopelessness and sadness can disappear in the twinkling of an eye. By releasing our material history, we are free to learn the reality of our spiritual Self, which is unending, uninterrupted good. It's a beautiful thing to see someone realize the nothingness of the thoughts they've been replaying in their mind, and to realize the wondrous peace which is their only true story. I think of God as defined by Mary Baker Eddy: Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love. Divine Mind is a palpable presence, realized when we release false belief. To misquote a well-known Bible verse: Let this Mind be you, which was also Christ Jesus. This Mind is you, and me, and everyone, because it is God, which is omnipresent, omniscient, always.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Mortal thought transmits its own images, and forms its offspring after human illusions. God, Spirit, works spiritually, not materially. Brain or matter never formed a human concept. Vibration is not intelligence, hence it is not a creator. Immortal ideas, pure, perfect, and enduring, are transmitted by the divine Mind through divine Science, which corrects error with truth and demands spiritual thoughts, divine concepts, to the end that they may produce harmonious results."

Science & Health Page 259:22-31

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