April 14, 2013 - Peace, Joy, Happiness are Mine

"Crow Johnson Evans in Ecuador"
photo by Arthur Evans

ACIM Workbook Lesson #104

“I seek but what belongs to me in truth.”

What is it which belongs to us in truth? Peace and joy and happiness; the kingdom of heaven which is within us. I'm now basking in a day filled with this wonderful Truth. If I had chosen to see discord, disappointment, and unhappiness, that could have been true, also. When I got to the gallery, the first news was that the sale of a major piece of art was not going to take place as had been arranged the day before. My heart went out to the woman who so badly wanted this painting for her home but was not going to be able to buy it. We experienced peace in ending our planned transaction. Throughout the day, no one seemed able to make up their mind  about the simplest of choices. For instance, there were two women who spent a full 45 minutes looking at yarn necklaces, weighing the pros and cons of color options. Then there were two women who were going to purchase five prints, after spending more than an hour deciding between 20 or so. Then they put them all back and left without buying anything. I had to laugh out loud! It seemed to be a day of indecision for everyone, but I had a happy time all day long! As did my featured artist for the gallery stroll. This wonderful woman who does her own spinning and weaving of fabric has also spun a number of stories together in a book called, "Flights of Fancy". She has retired from years of being a performance artist. I remember her so well from the 1970s when she sang and played her guitar at venues in and around the college town where I lived. I told her she was my "hero" back then, and I couldn't believe I had the honor of hosting a show for her forty years later. In looking back at this day, I see how absolutely true it is that God has laid the table for us with peace and joy and happiness all around. We need only partake of the goodness, and know that the supply is endless.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“God has built a higher platform of human rights, and He has built it on diviner claims. These claims are not made through code or creed, but in demonstration of "on earth peace, good-will toward men."

Science & Health Page 226:14-17

April 13, 2013 - Happiness, Love, Butterflies

"Butterfly World in St. Louis, Missouri"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #103

“God, being Love, is also happiness.”

One of my favorite sayings is: If you have a choice of being right or being kind, be kind! In my gallery, I  witnessed a man who was determined to be right no matter what. He was relentless in correcting his wife on everything from her memory of events to her pronunciation of giclee'. I couldn't detect an iota of happiness anywhere in his aura. If he had been familiar with the above saying and had allowed himself to express kindness instead of a staunch determination to be right, perhaps a chink would have appeared in his armor and a ray of joy could have escaped. Mrs. Eddy made this declaration: "Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you." Unfortunately it seems the opposite also applies. We can put up a barrier to Love and refuse to admit that it even exists, much less understand that Love is our essence. We can allow belief to cover up Truth; hiding the knowing that God is Love, happiness. I have an acquaintance who tells me he doesn't know what love feels like. He is certain he's never felt love and wouldn't recognize it if he did. Personally, a most intense feeling of Love came over me when I saw the first butterflies of spring! There they were, a gathering of beautiful Swallowtails, joyously flying from flower to flower. My heart opened at the sight, and I breathed deeper trying to capture just a bit of their grace. And so today I will remember the butterflies, knowing that I Am that same reflection of perfect Love, exuding happiness wherever I go.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Soul has infinite resources with which to bless mankind, and happiness would be more readily attained and would be more secure in our keeping, if sought in Soul. Higher enjoyments alone can satisfy the cravings of immortal man.”

Science & Health Page 60:28-1

April 12, 2013 - Happiness is Mine

"Aaron in Bryce Canyon"
photo by Heather Magnan

ACIM Workbook Lesson #102

“I share God’s Will for happiness for me.”

The last few lessons have concentrated on happiness and what allows us to feel and express it. We have acknowledged that God wants us to be happy, that we want it because our will and God's are the same, and that nothing can keep us from this peaceful joy -- other than our own thoughts! I'm acquainted with a few people who are chronically sad. They seem to revel in this feeling and do everything possible to keep it foremost in their lives. A very talented artist, whom I greatly admire, uses bright colors and paints seemingly happy scenes. One is of a man riding a bicycle, pulling a huge house-like structure through a colorful forest. Everything looks bright and happy, but on the front of the oversized house is a sign which says "Baggage". I've talked to him about this and he realizes he's carrying around every sadness and hurt which has ever touched him, but he can't manage to let them loose. Another acquaintance unfailingly reiterates a story of betrayal which happened to him 20 years ago. I also have certain events from the last 50-plus years which repeatedly come to thought, usually recalled by some reminder. When this happens, there's a choice: I can relive the event mentally and/or verbally and thereby keep it alive. Or I can acknowledge that it's still in my thoughts, but it is not the Truth of my Being. Yes, it happened (whatever it is). It's part of my material history. But my spiritual reality has not been touched by it. What peace is brought by this understanding! I can be happy. Even in the midst of things which we may not think of as particularly joyful -- such as, dealing with paperwork and phone calls and other busywork -- we can give ourselves permission to be happy. It is, after all, our natural state of Being!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"An ill-attuned ear calls discord harmony, not appreciating concord. So physical sense, not discerning the true happiness of being, places it on a false basis. Science will correct the discord, and teach us life's sweeter harmonies."

Science & Health Page 60: 24-28

April 11, 2013 - Perfect Happiness

"Mt. Timpanogos Goat"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #101

“God’s Will for me is perfect happiness.”

How many of us cringe when we hear the words salvation and atonement? I know I always have, and that's just from the general collective consciousness of the world, because I wasn't taught that these are things which God demands of us if we are to get to heaven. I was taught in Christian Science that the kingdom of heaven is within you. And atonement's definition is the realization of your unity with God and all of creation. Salvation is understanding the truth of your being and demonstrating it in daily life. God is Love, and therefore I Am, too. And so, what is left other than happiness? If we give up fear and replace it with Love, peace reigns within and is demonstrated without. When we give up notions of separation from God and each other, replacing them with thoughts of unity and feelings of Oneness, joy is expressed. It is said in A Course in Miracles that everything is either a call for love or an expression of Love. I see a call for love as looking for something outside of yourself to bring you something which you do not have. An expression of Love is an acknowledgement that everything you need is already there, because you are reflecting the Love that you are as the image and likeness of God. As we clear out material beliefs concerning our identity, happiness will fill the void which is left. This comes from realizing that Love is all you need. The Beatles were right!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“That God's wrath should be vented upon His beloved Son [you], is divinely unnatural. Such a theory is man-made. The atonement is a hard problem in theology, but its scientific explanation is that suffering is an error of sense which Truth destroys, and that eventually both sin and suffering will fall at the feet of everlasting Love.”

Science & Health Page 23:5-10

April 10, 2013 - Happiness and Joy!

"Happy Dog in Boulder, Colorado"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #100

“My part is essential to God’s plan for salvation.”

Today we are urged to be fully present in the joy which is our inheritance as a reflection of God. When I hear the word joy, I tend to think of exuberant happiness. But quiet, peaceful happiness spreads joy, too. And we've all had times in our lives when happiness doesn't seem to be present at all. At times like those, it's even more important to understand our part in all of this: and that is to express God. In every situation, whether solemn or celebratory, our function is the same. Sometimes it seems too simple, doesn't it? All we have to do is to allow everything to be Love: to reflect it, to live it, to be it! A sentence from today's lesson says: "God's Will for you is perfect happiness." Wow! God wants me to be happy!! And not just wants me to, but tells me how to do this, if I will listen. Once again, quieting the material senses is the key to hearing guidance. There are so many ways to open up to spiritual sense. Let's listen and see what joyous ways we discover today!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Harmony is produced by its Principle, is controlled by it and abides with it. Divine Principle is the Life of man. Man's happiness is not, therefore, at the disposal of physical sense. Truth is not contaminated by error. Harmony in man is as beautiful as in music, and discord is unnatural, unreal.”

Science & Health Page 304:16-21

April 9, 2013 - My Only Function

"Zion National Park"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #99

“Salvation is my only function here.”

Our only function is seeing, knowing, and living Truth. It can be rather difficult to understand that salvation and forgiveness are a part of the dream of material existence; that there is in reality nothing from which to be saved or forgiven. The distinction between illusion and reality is essential to this understanding. And even an understanding does not preclude a desire to hold on to unreality. I was shown an illustration of this reluctance while sleeping. I had a long and elaborate dream involving not being able to find nor help a loved on who was in trouble. There was snow so deep it couldn't be passed, along with many other impediments which produced anxiety and distress in my slumber. The dream seemed to go on forever. and I kept trying to climb out of it. But when I woke up, my first thought was of going back to sleep to see how the dream would end! As I was sliding back into sleep, the thought came to me that this wasn't necessary. Why should I care how it ended? Couldn't it end any way I wanted it to?? As I came back to conscious awareness, it occurred to me that this was a perfect analogy showing our desire to hold onto illusions. From this perspective I will notice my actions and thoughts today, looking at them from all sides to see if they are coming from God or my own personal ideas of how things should be. I am holding to the fact that God is All, and that I reflect this Love as my governing Principle. I gratefully accept this salvation today and always.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The starting-point of divine Science is that God, Spirit, is All-in-all, and that there is no other might nor Mind,--that God is Love, and therefore He is divine Principle.”

Science & Health Page 275 6-9

April 8, 2013 - Renewal

"Denver, Colorado Sky & Airport"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #98

“I will accept my part in God’s plan for salvation.”

The wording of today's lesson could seem to be a form of predestination, in which our free will is taken away and we are put into some sort of automaton state where we are warriors for God. The freedom which comes with our resurrection from material belief does not feel oppressive to me! The message of the crucifixion and resurrection, I see as uplifting. Neither A Course in Miracles nor Christian Science puts Jesus on the cross. The crucifixion is simply the death of material belief, in which the Christ idea is risen in all the beauty of divine Love, and the ascension of our thought is the ultimate reality of Life. This is God's plan for salvation: Accept yourself as the spiritual idea you are and let go of the material thought basis which binds you to unreality. Spring is a time of renewal in all of nature. We have chosen this time of year to rise in the spirit of Truth, to celebrate our transformation which comes by the renewal of our minds, to realize that no one can give us salvation because it's already ours. What could be more joyously perfect!! I share with you in celebration today!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"RESURRECTION: Spiritualization of thought; a new and higher idea of immortality, or spiritual existence; material belief yielding to spiritual understanding."

Science & Health Page 493:9-12