August 5, 2013 - Gratitude, No Strings Attached

"Montana Trees"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #217

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #197 “It can be but my gratitude I earn.

Gratitude is usually thought of as an outward action to be given, not received. But we have learned that what we give IS what we receive, and this is so with gratitude, also. Salvation often implies a thing to be sought after and earned through attrition of some sort. The salvation we speak of today is a realization that we are Love (God), that the thanks we give is a perpetual realization of this Being that we are, and by this knowing we live in Love and unending gratitude of All that Is.  This understanding brings us to the Truth of Being. The understanding of Truth is salvation, for which I am very grateful.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“One kind of faith trusts one's welfare to others. Another kind of faith understands divine Love and how to work out one's ‘own salvation, with fear and trembling.’ ‘Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief!’ expresses the helplessness of a blind faith; whereas the injunction, ‘Believe . . . and thou shalt be saved!’ demands self-reliant trustworthiness, which includes spiritual understanding and confides all to God.”

Science & Health Page 23:23-31

August 4, 2013 - Why crucify anyone?

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #216

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #196 “It can be but myself I crucify.”

When I think back on my marriages, I wonder if things would have been different if I had put as much effort into knowing God as I did into the accoutrements of the union. Expectations abounded in every direction: what we would be doing in a few years, how many kids we would or wouldn't have, how we would grow together until we were some sort of perfect single being. All sorts of odd things go through your mind when you're young and you believe in the mid-1900s television version of marriage. And so I crucified myself time and again (and again!) with false expectations and blame. Would things be different today with the Knowledge I am beginning to understand? I like to think so ~~~~

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Marriage should signify a union of hearts. Furthermore, the time cometh of which Jesus spake, when he declared that in the resurrection there should be no more marrying nor giving in marriage, but man would be as the angels. Then shall Soul rejoice in its own, in which passion has no part. Then white-robed purity will unite in one person masculine wisdom and feminine love, spiritual understanding and perpetual peace."

Science & Health Page 64:17-25

August 3, 2013 - Loving Gratitude

"Bryce Canyon"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #215

Central theme: "I am not a bodyz. I am free. For I am still as God created me." Review: #195 "Love is the way I walk in gratitude."

Today we focus on releasing the future. Although the future is an illusion of time and space, we tend to live in it a lot of the time. Fantasies of the way things could be, expectations projected onto loved ones, wondering what tomorrow will bring, all these thoughts can be haunting. One of the lessons I'e learned about planning and predicting the future was brought about by my art gallery, Eureka Thyme. At its inception, I imagined an herbal gift shop, hence its name. But it quickly took on a life if its own, and I chose to follow by listening for inner knowing rather than sticking with what I had dreamed. The business focus has shifted from locally-made herbal gifts to locally-created art and fine craft. This happened by having no parameters for what I would sell there, other than it must be made with Love. And this flowing idea now blesses more than a hundred people who sell everything from handmade wooden toys to fine art! It takes practice to see the difference between pushing for what I want and being led by the Spirit that I Am. Axioms such as "Let go and let God" may seem mundane, even ridiculous to some, but for me it's the only way. If I'd insisted on having what I wanted -- which was, I suppose, to be Martha Stewart of the Ozarks -- well. let's not go there! All I know is that it's wonderful just as it is, for which I'm most grateful.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Spiritual sense, contradicting the material senses, involves intuition, hope, faith, understanding, fruition, reality.”

Science & Health Page 298:13-14

August 2, 2013 - Listening to Intuition

"Monolith in Mongolia"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #214

Central theme: "I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me." Review: #194 "I place the future in the Hands of God."

Recently I was in a local thrift shop and overheard a woman telling of how she had "just known" she should bring her camera with her to work that day. She told her friend that she had repeatedly thought to pick up her camera and have it with her, but she had rationalized that there was no reason for that. So she left the camera behind. I did not have the chance to eavesdrop on why she had ended up needing it, but she had. She also told how she often had thoughts which proved to be valid, but she couldn't make herself believe them. Aren't you glad we're learning that these intuitions are what we receive when we clear the way for spiritual thought to be heard? And we know there is nothing to fear in this. Woo-hoo!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“We cannot fill vessels already full. They must first be emptied. Let us disrobe error. Then, when the winds of God blow, we shall not hug our tatters close about us.”

Science & Health Page 201:13-15

August 1, 2013 - Changing Thought

"Light Show in St. Louis"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #213

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #193 “All things are lessons God would have me learn.”

Today we review a lesson which tells us numerous times to "Forgive, and you will see this differently." See what differently? Everything! Seeing through the eyes of unified goodness, God, changes our outlook from one of sense perception and learned belief. No longer will we put meaning on things just because that's the way we've always done it. Giving up how I feel about death, for instance, allows celebration of Life to replace sadness for my loss. It may be a bittersweet celebration at first, but as I learn the reality of our Oneness, I can let myself stop missing someone's presence, because we are never apart. Whether we're not together because we've grown apart, or maybe someone is moving across the globe, or if they have passed on from their material body, we are never separated by more than the thought which caused the rift in our connection. And I learn peace.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Sorrow has its reward. It never leaves us where it found us. The furnace separates the gold from the dross that the precious metal may be graven with the image of God." 

Science & Health Page 66:30-1

July 31, 2013 - Trust YourSelf!

"South African Night"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #212

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #192 “I have a function God would have me fill.”

With the freedom that we're realizing, many things are becoming clear. I know people who are changing their life's work, following dreams or discovering new skills which they're putting into practice. It's very exciting to see someone coming alive with the excitement of doing what they've always wanted! Whether it's moving to another part of the globe, or beginning a new career, or "retiring" and doing things which make them and others happy, things are changing. It's so wonderful that we're feeling free to follow our heart and move into the space of Love which fulfills our function. And how do we know what that is? Trust yourSelf!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Spirit, God, gathers unformed thoughts into their proper channels, and unfolds these thoughts, even as He opens the petals of a holy purpose in order that the purpose may appear.”

Science & Health Page 506:18-21

July 30, 2013 - We are the Son of God

Photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #211

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #191 “I am the holy Son of God Himself.”

We have insisted on separating ourselves from each other by setting up divisions such as nationality, gender, and religion. It seems as though it should be simple to accept our unity as an idea of divine Mind. We all have a song to sing, and we are all  part of the grand symphony of Life. To rejoice in being One with everyone, to live from Love rather than fear and its imaginings, is to humbly accept the goodness we inherently are. I pray to turn away from the illusion of material problems as I wholeheartedly accept my function as a reflection of God, seeing that image mirrored in everyone I meet.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The world believes in many persons; but if God is personal, there is but one person, because there is but one God. His personality can only be reflected, not transmitted. God has countless ideas, and they all have one Principle and parentage. The only proper symbol of God as person is Mind’s infinite ideal"

Science & Health Page 517:15-20