October 2, 2013 - Enlarged Perception

"Beloved Family"

ACIM Workbook Lesson #275 “God's healing Voice protects all things today.” 

The fragile feeling which envelopes us following the loss of a loved one isn't often thought of as something to cherish. In times past, I may have wished this feeling away. Now, I choose to honor it as one of the exquisite experiences we are granted in this beautiful plane of existence we call life. As with love, we are told life is fleeting. We are advised to grab hold and not let go, because there is a finite amount of it. Our human experience of life and love does seem to come and go with the wind, and it can feel just as hard to hold on to. From the perspective of mortal mind, this is so. When looked at from our humanness, there is no predicting when we may lose life or love. Accepting ourselves as spiritual Beings allows an expanded viewpoint of our experiences. Yes, they are to be savored. But enlarged perceptions of existence bring us something different. Understanding that my true self is a product of divine, never-ending Love causes me to want to experience that here and now. And so I'll listen for this healing Voice we are told of in today's ACIM lesson, because an inner knowing tells me of its Truth.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
"Faith, if it be mere belief, is as a pendulum swinging between nothing and something, having no fixity. Faith, advanced to spiritual understanding, is the evidence gained from Spirit, which rebukes sin of every kind and establishes the claims of God."
Science & Health Page 23:14-17 

October 1, 2013 - Let Love Lead

ACIM Workbook Lesson #274:

"Ozark Rainbow"
photo by Marsha Havens

“Today belongs to love. Let me not fear."

At one point in her writings, Mary Baker Eddy refers to earth as a "preparatory school". To me this means we are learning how to let life become Life! As the image and likeness of God, we reflect eternal Life, divine Mind, healing Love. ​A number of friends are currently facing major challenges in their lives. While I can't experience what they are (as their feelings are individualized) I can remind them that they are always embraced in Love, and that that Love is contained by each and every one of us. We are unified in our essence, but individual in our form. As we go through our day, no matter what the circumstance, let's allow divine Love to lead the way.

 

​Mary Baker Eddy quote: "Suppose

 one accident happens to the eye, another tot

 ​ ​

he ear, and so on, until every corporeal sense is quenched.

​ ​

What is man’s remedy? To die, that he may

 ​ ​

regain these senses? Even then he must gain

​ ​

spiritual understanding and spiritual sense in order to

 ​ ​

possess immortal consciousness. Earth’s preparatory

​ ​

school must be improved to the utmost. In reality man

 ​ ​

never dies. The belief that he dies will not establish his

​ ​

scientific harmony. Death is not the result of Truth but

 ​ ​

of error, and one error will not correct another.

​"

Science & Health Page 468:4-13

September 30, 2013 - The Peace of God is Mine

"Roadside Poppies"
photo by Marsha Havens

ACIM Workbook Lesson #273
“The stillness of the peace of God is mine.”

I've heard it said that the older we get, the less things bother us. In earlier years, when I was bothered by everything, it seemed impossible that this could be so. While it seems to be true now, I see plenty of people riper in years who are much-bothered all the time! And so my conclusion is that peace is a state of mind. As we cultivate an awareness of the presence of God within ourselves, it becomes natural to turn to that gentleness in times of seeming turmoil. The peace of God is always there, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not. Today I look forward to relishing this gentle presence every moment.

 Namaste' ~~~~~~~~~

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
“Mind [God] demonstrates omnipresence and omnipotence, but Mind revolves on a spiritual axis, and its power is displayed and its presence felt in eternal stillness and immovable Love.”
From Retrospection and Introspection Page 88-89

September 29, 2013 - Illusions

"The Spiral Path"
created by Sandy Wythawai Starbird

ACIM Workbook Lesson #272 “How can illusions satisfy God's Son?”


Today's topic causes me to pause and examine what has brought happiness and a feeling of completeness through the years. During the "years that the locust ate", as I tend to think of a particular 20-year period, I generally felt happy, but never complete or fulfilled. Years of substance abuse, flitting from man to man, and activities which kept me busy but never satisfied are what I refer to as the lost years. Looking back, I hardly recognize that person. It's not that I was mean or horrible or anything, but I was living a drama-filled life, going from one disaster to another, finding solace by hiding in hedonistic pleasures. The peace which is found from wanting nothing other than to know God is astounding in its magnitude. What makes the difference in then and now? Obviously there is a world of difference, but I'm not sure what event caused the change in expectations. Ultimately, it doesn't matter because now is all we have! And so let's go forward with joy into what awaits us this day!


Mary Baker Eddy quote:
“Higher enjoyments alone can satisfy the cravings of immortal man. We cannot circumscribe happiness within the limits of personal sense. The senses confer no real enjoyment.”

September 28, 2013 - Spiritual Vision

"Aaron and Marsha - Silly!"

ACIM Workbook Lesson #271

“Christ's is the vision I will use today."

Learning to see with " Christ's vision" is a passion with me. I relish letting go of beliefs and corporeal perceptions, reaching toward spiritual sight and Truth. The leaving behind, even to a minuscule degree, of these beliefs, and the replacement of them with the vision of God, is an adventure which allows every moment of this existence to be exciting and new. This doesn't mean that I want to leave behind loved ones or other experiences of beauty and grace. My oldest son, who lives far away and rarely has a chance to be here, left today after a good, long visit. I have loved every minute of our interactions! It has been a joy in every possible way. That's not what I'm striving to give up. But I do want to dismiss any thoughts that we are anything other than a reflection of divine Love. Letting go the past and future, we revel in the now! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“This dual personality of the unseen and the seen, the spiritual and material, the eternal Christ and the corporeal Jesus manifest in flesh, continued until the Master’s ascension, when the human, material concept, or Jesus, disappeared, while the spiritual self, or Christ, continues to exist in the eternal order of divine Science, taking away the sins of the world, as the Christ has always done, even before the human Jesus was incarnate to mortal eyes.”

Science & Health Page 334:12-20

September 27, 2013 - Spiritual Vision

"It's All About the Leaves"
by Sandy Wythawai Starbird

ACIM Workbook Lesson #270

“I will not use the body's eyes today.”

During these times of shifting thought, many of us are frightened by the feelings and insights we are having. I love working with artists, and one of the reasons is that they fearlessly allow multi-dimensional energy into their experience. By the act of looking upon their palpably loving works of Art, I am guided to other ways of seeing. Their artistic expressions take me past the obvious into the ethereal. Every instance of this "seeing through the veil" brings us closer to our goal of seeing that way all the time. Slipping into the silence between thoughts, seeing past the obvious, listening within -- all this and more seeks our awareness. Listen, See, Be.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Spiritual vision is not subordinate to geometric altitudes. Whatever is governed by God, is never for an instant deprived of the light and might of intelligence and Life.”

Science & Health Page 215:11-13

September 26, 2013 - Pure Sight

"The Starbirds"
photo by Judy Rhodes

ACIM Workbook Lesson #269

“My sight goes forth to look upon Christ's face.”

The face of Christ which is spoken of in today's lesson is everywhere. Christ is not necessarily Jesus. Jesus was a man who was here to show us the Truth of our Being. Christ is the Sprit, God (if you will) which is the essence of everything. The Christ, The Universe, Harold -- it really doesn't matter what you call It, because It simply is. So this face of Christ that we are looking at today is what you see when you look in the mirror, what you see when you look at your loved ones, what you see when you look at your so-called enemies -- it is everything, minus material belief and learned behavior. Our earlier lesson, which teaches us that nothing we see means anything, prepares the way for today's truth. Giving up meaning clears the way to accept spiritual reality. The closer I come to knowing nothing, the happier I am!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The eternal Truth destroys what mortals seem to have learned from error, and man's real existence as a child of God comes to light.”

Science and Health Page 288:31–1