November 27, 2013 - Awaken to Peace

"Bryce Canyon"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #331

“There is no conflict, for my will is Yours.”

"Conflict is sleep, and peace awakening". I love this line from today's ACIM lesson. Today begins a series of ten teachings geared to help us understand what the ego, which is spoken of so often in these lessons, actually is. If the thoughts we are having cause us conflict, they are of the ego -- or mortal mind, as Mary Baker Eddy refers to it. If there is harmony and peace, then our thoughts are God's ideas. Actually, there is nothing other than divine Idea; everything else is illusion That is why erroneous thought is considered unreal. The only reality is God. Either God is All or God is not. Hearing statements like this is when that little ego kicks in and makes a fuss. How can that be, it says? What about me?? Don't be afraid to tell it to be still. It is, after all, unreal. The silence that replaces the clamor holds the harmony of Being. 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"When advanced to spiritual being and the understanding of God, man can no longer commune with matter; neither can he return to it, any more than a tree can return to its seed. Neither will man seem to be corporeal, but he will be an individual consciousness, characterized by the divine Spirit as idea, not matter."

Science & Health Page 76:12-17

November 26, 2013 - Oneness Heals

"A New Day"
photo by Sandy Starbird

ACIM Workbook Lesson #330

“I will not hurt myself again today.”

I hurt myself by believing in separation more than unity. This feeling of aloneness is manifested in many ways in our daily life. Perhaps we think everyone is out to get us, or maybe we feel like no one knows what's best other than us. There are quite a number of ways we assert our specialness and keep ourselves separate from God, hence from everyone. Sometimes this separation is manifest in ugly ways. Maybe something is said to another which we wish we could take back, or perhaps anger flares suddenly and we feel guilt over our feelings and shame about the outcome. There are a multitude of human actions we may regret. The acceptance of our heritage as a child of divine Love allows us to forgive and choose again. For this, I am grateful.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Error begins by reckoning life as separate from Spirit, thus sapping the foundations of immortality, as if life and immortality were something which matter can both give and takeaway/.”

Science & Health Page 259:6-15

November 25, 2013 - Thy Will Is Done

Ozark Winter Sunrise
photo by Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #329

“I have already chosen what You will.”

How many years I spent searching for love, grasping at brightly colored baubles and bangles, not realizing that I am Love and nothing can be more beautiful and complete than that. Seeing wholeness and unity where I once saw separation, therein lies the peace sought. Looking back, I remember thinking and saying that I'd be happy if I could only be content. Nothing ever seemed to be enough and I found false contentment in marijuana and alcohol. The illusionary peace which came from material soporifics was a hiding place for a while, but eventually I had to emerge and face what it was that kept me restless. When nothing ever seems to be enough, perhaps it's because we need it All. And that Allness can only be found in one place, and that place is not contained in changing, temporal life. This study which teaches me the meaning of reality also fills me with a calm before unknown. I am very grateful!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Will, as a quality of so-called mortal mind, is a wrong-doer; hence it should not be confounded with the term as applied to Mind or to one of God’s qualities.”

Science & Health Page 597:24-26

November 24, 2013 - Material Sense or Spiritual Ideas?

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #328

"I choose the second place to gain the first."

Many mind-over-matter systems are part of our society. In the 1800's, mesmerism and hypnotism were thought to be the route to changing our physical experience and getting us what we want. Today we have "The Secret" telling us how to get the mate of our dreams and hot cars and such. Some may think that the way of thought we're studying here falls into the same category, because we are "resolving things into thoughts". Here is an example of how it differs: Let's say we need a place to live. How do we think about this in order to manifest it in our existence? By understanding the substance of an idea! What are the spiritual qualities of this place to live, this house, this home? What does it represent? Some of the qualities of home could be warmth, comfort, peace, safety, beauty, love, hospitality. So the thought of "home" is really a spiritual idea, and these qualities of home already exist in our individual consciousness. We don't have to go out and find them, because they're already a permanent part of our being. We can express all these qualities included in the concept of home no matter where we are. And when we express these qualities, we are cherishing our spiritual home, and this blessing is extended to others as well. As we consistently express these and other spiritual qualities, we won't be surprised when every need we have is supplied.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Divine Science, rising above physical theories, excludes matter, resolves things into thoughts, and replaces the objects of material sense with spiritual ideas.”

Science and Health Page 123:12-15

November 23, 2013 - All Need Supplied

"Altai Mountains, Mongolia"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #327

"I need but call and You will answer me."

Change is liberating! I'm seeing many people releasing the past, and it's bringing them peace and a new level of joy. One friend tells me of her beloved cat being at the vet's office, perhaps getting ready to pass on. In years past, she would have been distraught, but is surprised that she is not. It's not that she loves any less, and perhaps she's experiencing love even more fully. Another friend tells me she's going through a time of letting go -- without even being aware of what is being released! Isn't this great? We don't have to know what it is that's bothering us in order to be freed from it. This concept in itself is liberating! To have no need for analysis or so-called deconstruction, but to simply give yourself the gift of freedom -- what a joy! These are just two of the ways in which our call is answered and every need is supplied. I am so grateful for all of you who stand unafraid, welcoming the new paradigm!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"God is not influenced by man. The 'divine ear' is not an auditory nerve."

Science & Health Page 7:20-21

November 22, 2013 - Cause & Effect

"Bryce Canyon"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #326

“I am forever an Effect of God.”

What does it mean to be an Effect of God? We are all familiar with the "laws" of cause and effect. If something is a particular way, then the effect is such-and-such. In the world of Spirit, there is but one Cause, therefore the Effect is a reflection of the Cause. If we are said to be the image and likeness of the One, of divine Mind, then that perfection is inherent in each and every one of us. Once again, it's easy to get caught up in materialism and think we are many things which do not resemble the only Cause. That's why we say that this life and all it entails is an illusion. We have effectively made up a most wonderful world. As the idea of God, we are capable of much more than we know. But we cannot convince anyone other than ourselves that this is so. And that's the nice thing about Oneness! What I know, what I express, is given to the world. Therefore, there is no need to do anything other than live Truth. And how do we know what that is? We ask and listen. Namaste'.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all. Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal. Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual.”

Science & Health Page 468:9-15

November 21, 2013 - What I See

"Reflections"
photo by Gerry Toler

ACIM Workbook Lesson #325

“All things I think I see reflect ideas.”

At a meeting where people speak freely about things of Spirit, one person related an interesting story. As a frequent traveler to India, he had often heard tales  of spirit guides, but had never experienced what others talked about. One day he stated firmly that he wanted to see his guide. And next thing he knew, a purple Ganesh came to him, appearing out of the wall. In his surprise, he rubbed his eyes and said something to the effect of, I don't believe it. When he looked back, it was gone. This story caused many things to run through my mind, but mainly this: If we ask for a higher experience -- a metaphysical event, if you will -- and then turn away from it, we effectively send it away. If everything we see is an idea, it can either be an idea from our mind or one from divine Mind. This is what we're learning to differentiate. Oh boy!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The universe reflects God. There is but one creator and one creation. This creation consists of the unfolding of spiritual ideas and their identities, which are embraced in the infinite Mind and forever reflected. These ideas range from the infinitesimal to infinity, and the highest ideas are the sons and daughters of God.”

Science & Health Page 502:24-32