September 15, 2013 - Let Me Remember ...

"Bryce Canyon Reflections"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #258

“Let me remember that my goal is God.”

Many of us have gone through life feeling that something is missing; that there's an empty place which can never be filled. When we discover that it's not something lacking in us, we get very excited! This mind training, which is spoken of in today's lesson, is not a system of mind control, it's not hypnotism or cult-like obedience -- on the contrary! We train our mind to recognize and release all the "senseless aims ... and pointless little goals" which have become life practices and learned behaviors. The insights and answers which appear in our lives through spiritual awareness are often thought of as serendipitous, which implies an element of luck. This is yet again something we have made up to explain the inexplicable. But spiritual sense needs no explanation! A mere glimpse through the eye of Spirit is enough to convince us of our true Identity.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Spiritual sense is a conscious, constant capacity to understand God. It shows the superiority of faith by works over faith in words. Its ideas are expressed only in ‘new tongues;’ and these are interpreted by the translation of the spiritual original into the language which human thought can comprehend.”

Science & Health Page 209:31-4

September 14, 2013 - One Purpose

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #257

“Let me remember what my purpose is.”

To paraphrase a Bible verse: One thing do I desire: to love God above all else, with all my heart, soul, mind. And that is my purpose. To Love and be an expression of that Love. This happens in countless ways, which we individualize as a compound Idea of divine Mind. What ways will I be an expression today? Each day is an adventure!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Jesus urged the commandment, Thou shalt have no other gods before me," which may be rendered: Thou shalt have no belief of Life as mortal; thou shalt not know evil, for there is one Life,-- even God, good. He rendered "unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." He at last paid no homage to forms of doctrine or to theories of man, but acted and spake as he was moved, not by spirits but by Spirit."

Science & Health Page 19:29-5

September 13, 2013 - One Goal

Bryce Canyon"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #256

“God is the only goal I have today.”

It seems simplistic and perhaps impossible to state that I'm only going to think about God today. But when I analyze this thought, it's pretty inclusive! If it's true that God is All, that God is synonymous with Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, and Love -- as Mary Baker Eddy declares -- then how can we do anything other than think of God?? When seeing ourselves as a reflection of God, as embodying all these attributes of God, it becomes easier to see ourselves as the consciousness of all good, from which nothing need be added nor taken away. "God is the only goal I have today." "There is but one primal cause." What effect can there be, what end result can occur, other than a realization that God is all there is? And so it will be easy to attain this goal today, because nothing else exists!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“There is but one primal cause. Therefore there can be no effect from any other cause, and there can be no reality in aught which does not proceed from this great and only cause.”

Science & Health Page 207:20-22

September 12, 2013 - Breaking the Spell of Error

"Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs"
photo by Steve Shogren

A Course in Miracles Lesson #255

“This day I choose to spend in perfect peace."

Having chosen to spend every day in perfect peace, it always surprises me when I don't! Those first thoughts in the morning are so important, and recently it seemed they had a mind of their own and I couldn't change what was going through my head. From planning busywork for the day to judgmental nitpicking, to total inanities, that was all I could think. I'd try to get on track by repeating well-loved quotations, but it was as though I'd forget and slip into something else. I would determine to affirm what is true of spiritual man and then end up thinking what seems so true of mortal man. It was exhausting! Midday a friend came over to visit and immediately said she'd never seen me looking so bad and asked what was wrong. Apparently more was wrong than I'd been willing to admit, as it all poured out in response to her. And that broke the spell. The act of speaking what frightened me took the fear and confusion away. As I read the below quoted material, I wonder how many of us are feeling the same thing. Fear not! It is the breaking up of error!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“This material world is even now becoming the arena for conflicting forces. On one side there will be discord and dismay; on the other side there will be Science and peace. The breaking up of material beliefs may seem to be famine and pestilence, want and woe, sin, sickness, and death, which assume new phases until their nothingness appears. These disturbances will continue until the end of error, when all discord will be swallowed up in spiritual Truth.”

Science & Health Page 92:12-20

September 11, 2013 - Listening for God

"Ozark September Sunset"
photo by Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #254

“Let every voice but God's be still in me.”

I met a young woman who told me that God was talking to all of us -- and it was time to listen! As we chatted briefly, she told a story of finding out her husband had a girlfriend, getting divorced, feeling hopeless. Then she left a job she didn't enjoy and followed her dream of starting a little antique store where she has lots of cool stuff, like freshly ground coffee and books she wants to share with others: a place where everyone feels welcome. She tells me this happened because she listened to God. Now, this guidance can be called many things -- following your heart, listening for the still small voice, living your dream -- but whatever it's called, it can only be heard by shutting out ego thoughts, the material-based fears, all those other voices telling us we're not good enough, not capable enough. It's heard by silencing the advice of mortal mind, telling us to just stay put because it's safe there and who knows what might happen if we listen to intuition and follow an unknown path. Well, I was very much buoyed by her joy and new-found confidence. It was inspiring that she started the conversation by telling me it was time to listen to God! She made me want to shout Hallelujah!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Nature voices natural, spiritual law and divine Love, but human belief misinterprets nature. Arctic regions, sunny tropics, giant hills, winged winds, mighty billows, verdant vales, festive flowers, and glorious heavens,--all point to Mind, the spiritual intelligence they reflect. The floral apostles are hieroglyphs of Deity. Suns and planets teach grand lessons. The stars make night beautiful, and the leaflet turns naturally towards the light.”

Science & Health Page 240:1-9

September 10, 2013 - I Am

ACIM Workbook Lesson #253

“My Self is ruler of the universe.

Every day's lesson is leading us to the same end. We are learning that we have a choice. We can accept ourselves as limited humans, or we can learn to recognize ourselves as spiritual beings. How does this recognition come about? By continually turning away from the material picture and knowing the spiritual truth. It's easy to fall into the ego's trap of looking at the mortal situation and trying to turn it into something spiritual. And we, with our material thinking, cannot do anything but that. So let's stop analyzing and simply know a truth -- any truth which allows our mind to be cleared of the temptation to analyze and fix. Two times two equals four might work for you, but I prefer something like this: "I Am the infinite reflection of divine Mind". Whatever truth comes to you, clear your thought and then let go. Give it to God, if you will. Sit quietly and listen if you have a moment, or go about your business with a open heart. Live every moment in the conscious awareness of good. Let me know how this works out for you!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“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 265:31-5

September 9, 2013 - What is my Identity?

"Mt. Timpanogos Goat"
photo by Aaron Springston 

ACIM Workbook Lesson #252

“The Son of God is my Identity."

It's very easy to forget our identity of a child of God, and once that's done, it's easy to wander down a path we never wanted to visit. A year or so ago, I found myself thinking uncharitable  thoughts about people at times. I engaged in banter with friends, complaining about other people. I found myself having strong opinions about political stuff. And it has taken its toll. For quite some time I've been experiencing health problems. A rash here, a twisted ankle there -- but a pretty steady stream of material problems. Not long ago I included an article by Mary Baker Eddy entitled "Demonstration". In this she tells us a "secret". And that secret is to have no negative thoughts about anything or anyone -- anytime, ever! In looking over the last twenty years I've spent in serious contemplation of Truth, there was a time I honestly didn't have ugly thoughts about anything. My first thoughts in the morning were acknowledgements of spiritual Truth. That is not true now. In working with a Christian Science practitioner for the last few days, many erroneous thoughts are being uncovered and are laying on the table for examination and excision. This exercise and study is full of joy for the things I'm discovering. I trust delving into my true Identity will not leave me where it found me!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"I watch my thoughts about people, the lame, the old, the unloved to sense that I pass in the street, stray animals, I except nothing. I have taken my radical stand for perfection and I will not, absolutely will not, relax this perfect standard.

The result has been simply marvelous. Try it and you will find that you forget your glasses; they will become unnecessary.

You will be seeing with God's eyes, His perfect sight, and you will behold a perfect universe, the outward condition of your inward thinking. To change the picture you must change the sight that produced the picture." 

From an article entitled "Demonstration"