August 23, 2013 - I Am Love

photo by Heather Magnan

ACIM Workbook Lesson #235

“God in His mercy wills that I be saved."

The gist of today's lesson is that God's Love surrounds us and we are saved from any perceived dangers or problems. This lesson could be interpreted as God decides who is worthy of mercy and metes it out in proportion to our worthiness. This is, of course, not so. We recognize that God is Love, and that Love is not apportioned to one person more than another. For the last few days, I've been rebelling against cold symptoms. In my busy-ness, I did this mentally, more or less wishing them away. This is no more than a form of mental hypnotism, and this morning I awoke to very aggressive symptoms. Finally, I realized what I've been doing. This realization was enough to turn me to the law of divine Love. Having spent the day affirming what I Am as a reflection of this Love, rather than denying what I had been perceiving as the material reality of sickness, my outlook has changed. I'm no longer seeing myself as a sick mortal, but as the image and likeness of God; a creation of divine Mind. The belief in sickness and health is another way we set up separation through duality. I will go to sleep pondering what I Am as this reflection of Mind, not wondering about what I seem to be through the eyes of mortal belief.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The scientific unity which exists between God and man must be wrought out in life-practice, and God's will must be universally done. If men would bring to bear upon the study of the Science of Mind half the faith they bestow upon the so-called pains and pleasures of material sense they would not go on from bad to worse …”

Science & Health Page 202:3-9

August 22, 2013 - Thank Goodness We're Spiritual!

"China, 2009"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #234

“Father, today I am Your Son again.”

Let's not allow thoughts of gender bias or time constraints to prejudice our focus today. There never was a time when we were separated from God, and gender has no place in what divine Mind has created. As I say goodbye to a treasured friend who is moving away, I realize this Truth more than ever. We share more than a few years' worth of memories. We share eternity. That is, after all, what Oneness is, isn't it? Sometimes I think it may be too difficult to wrap my brain around this we-are-one thing. And sometimes it feels the same with saying goodbye: it's just too difficult to examine closely. And for mortal mind, it is too much. Thank goodness we're spiritual! With this knowledge, I am free to examine how divine Mind sees the situation. No separation, no loss, all One. What a great opportunity to practice feeling this Truth! Namaste', dear One.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Life is without beginning and without end. Eternity, not time, expresses the thought of Life, and time is no part of eternity. One ceases in proportion as the other is recognized. Time is finite; eternity is forever infinite. Life is neither in nor of matter. What is termed matter is unknown to Spirit, which includes in itself all substance and is Life eternal. Matter is a human concept. Life is divine Mind.”

Science & Health Page 568:26-4

August 21, 2013 - Leading with Divine Mind

"South Africa Morning"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #233

“I give my life to God to guide today."

There are so many examples I could give to illustrate today's lesson. In order to "give my life to God to guide today", it is imperative to stop micro-managing the details of daily life. Recently a number of art galleries had planned to go in together to contract for a rather expensive bit of advertising. At the last minute, one of the galleries stated they were not going to participate. Many hours of planning had gone into getting this put together, and it appeared it was not going to happen. When I was told of this situation, my response was that we needed to hold a positive outlook about this and know it was for the best. Within the hour, the gallery which was backing out indicated that they wanted a larger ad than we had contracted for, and they then volunteered to pay the difference in cost. Wow! When we leave behind mortal mind and listen to divine Mind, it's always a win-win situation!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“When we fully understand our relation to the Divine, we can have no other Mind but His,--no other Love, wisdom, or Truth, no other sense of Life, and no consciousness of the existence of matter or error. The power of the human will should be exercised only in subordination to Truth; else it will misguide the judgment and free the lower propensities. It is the province of spiritual sense to govern man.”

Science & Health Page 205:32-7

August 20, 2013 - Divine Mind as Reality

"CottonWood Canyon in Utah"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #232

“Be in my mind, my Father, through the day."

Someone told me that hopes hold us captive, and if we don't accept the "reality" of what we see around us, we are lost in dreams of what could be, with no hope of changing what is. He tells me that dreams are illusions. I am coming to see that the opposite is true. The material picture of good and evil warring with each other is what we have decided is true, and we hope and strive for good to win. With the burgeoning knowledge that divine Mind is the reality and mortal mind is the illusion, we are freed to do more than hope. The divinely endowed spiritual scientific consciousness within us is opened, and like a fountain the ideas we need flow forth. This consciousness is realized when we see that God is our Mind, not just in our mind. Our reality is the divine Mind which we reflect. What a freeing concept!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Mortal mind is the acknowledged seat of human motives. It forms material concepts and produces every discordant action of the body. If action proceeds from the divine Mind, action is harmonious.”

Science & Health Page 239: 23-27

August 19, 2013 - The Low of Love

"A Trail Through the Wilderness"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #231

“Father, I will but to remember You.

Love is one of my favorite synonyms for God. Today as I remember Love, I also remember a lovely documentary entitled, "Wings of Life". At one point, it's described as a love story to pollinators, from the flowers. As an added bonus, it's narrated by Meryl Streep. While the flowers multiply in beauty and gratitude to the bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and bats, I pause to think of what spurs me to multiply goodness and Love. There are so many things -- people who fill my heart, music which quickens spirit, and watching movies like this one! In the same vein of being with those who help my being, I will fill entertainment time with beauty and grace, turning away from inanities and programing designed to disturb the senses. It feels right, following the law of divine Love.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Jesus aided in reconciling man to God by giving man a truer sense of Love, the divine Principle of Jesus' teachings, and this truer sense of Love redeems man from the law of matter, sin, and death by the law of Spirit,--the law of divine Love.”

Science & Health Page 18:6-11

August 18, 2013 - Peace Within

"Ozark Sunset"
photo by Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #230 

“Now will I seek and find the peace of God."

Although the peace we say we want is ours for the acceptance of it, sometimes it seems difficult to clear the way for it to shine through us. Someone was telling me how difficult they find it to know -- to really know! -- that it is safe to walk the streets of Eureka Springs. Of course, it doesn't matter what I say to her, she must find this peace within herself. It was brought home to me when I left the gallery after dark and walked down a little side street to my car. There's quite a bit of nightlife on this street and lots of people hanging out who could be thought of as frightening. As I was passing one of the bars, a man was walking toward me in what seemed to be a drunken manner. As we got close to each other, he reached his hand out to the side, I did too, and we had a short clasp of hands and a nod and a smile. Not a word was spoken, but it was a perfect moment of peace! Priceless ---

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “Spiritual living and blessedness are the only evidences by which we can recognize true existence and feel the unspeakable peace which comes from an all-absorbing spiritual love.”

Science & Health Page 264:24-27

August 17, 2013 - I Am Love

"Rocky Mountain Trail"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #229

“Love, which created me, is what I am."

Very few of us have no regrets when we look back at our lives. Sometimes it's tempting to replay them in our minds and think of ways we could have done things differently. Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese man who lost his family during the war in the 60s. He has spent his life practicing peace and showing others how to do the same. He helps American Viet Nam vets forgive themselves. He tells them that no matter how bad they feel, it will never bring back the lives that were lost. But they can help people today. He shows us how to be the Love which we are. Peace Is the Path, he tells us. I want to follow that Path, without looking back.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action. Love is priestess at the altar of Truth. Wait patiently for divine Love to move upon the waters of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept. Patience must 'have her perfect work.'" 

Science & Health Page 454:18-24