Tuesday, January 28, 2014

January 29, 2014 - Everything I See

ACIM Workbook Lesson #29: 
"God is in everything I see". 

A dear friend, Patricia Robinett, has recorded these daily workbook lessons, which can be found on youTube by searching for Auntie Patricia.  She also posts them on her Facebook page. Before starting to write, I went there to listen to this lesson. Following her post, someone had asked if God is in "rapists, pedophiles, and murderers". Mary Baker Eddy tells us that the word "in" is obsolete if used in reference to Spirit, or Deity. So just a slight change in thought would render the statement to be that God is Everything.  Where does that leave evil? "Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is unreal, temporal." (MBE) Evil is a mortal belief, often seeming vividly real. But it's not, because the only true reality is spiritual. To see past the material miasma to the spiritual Truth takes practice. And that's what we're doing today. I'm so glad we're doing it together!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
"God is individual, incorporeal. He is divine Principle, Love, the universal cause, the only creator, and there is no other self-existence. He is all-inclusive, and is reflected by all that is real and eternal and by nothing else. He fills all space, and it is impossible to conceive of such omnipresence and individuality except as infinite Spirit or Mind. Hence all is Spirit and spiritual."

Science & Health Page 331:18-25

Monday, January 27, 2014

January 28, 2014 - What is This Really?

"Altai Mountain, Mongolia"
photo by Aaron Springston
ACIM Workbook Lesson #28:
"Above all else, I want to see things differently."

Today's lesson asks us to give up any notions we have concerning the meaning of anything and everything. By doing this, we cease to look at a thing and start to look at the consciousness which sustains it. With enough practice, we can see everything as God revealed. When we begin asking what things are rather than telling them what they are, interesting answers may be coming our way. For instance, the way we, as a society, punish wrong-doing: Does our present system of retaliation and retribution actually accomplish anything? In reading a book, "The Buddhist and the Terrorist", an alternative to the treatment of a murderer is explored. This book is one of many which encourage me to see differently, to see myself as God sees me, to continue asking mySelf how that sight is gained and kept, to practice the Presence in every moment.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The objects cognized by the physical senses have not the reality of substance. They are only what mortal belief calls them." Science & Health Page 311:26-28

Sunday, January 26, 2014

January 27, 2014 - One Thing Have I Desired ...

"Montana Sunrise"
photo by Aaron Springston
ACIM Workbook Lesson #27:
"Above all else, I want to see."

It's often said that waking up to Truth is simple, but not easy. It takes a dedicated desire to see, to know. It takes discipline of thought, of word, of action. It is suggested that we repeat these few words as often as possible today: "Above all else, I want to see." This has been the advice of many seers throughout the ages who have told us that this is "the way". The way to what? The way to everything! Yet no formula or ritual is involved. There is no dogma nor any form of worship. The path is an individual one and only you can know what it is. All we need do is admit that more than anything else we want to see; we want to know God.  Know thyself. One thing have I desired …

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
Question.--What is God?
Answer.--God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love."

Science & Health Page 465:6-8

Saturday, January 25, 2014

January 26, 2014 - Nothing Unreal Exists

"Montana Morning"
photo by Aaron Springston
ACIM Workbook Lesson #26
"My attack thoughts are attacking my invulnerability."

In the introduction of A Course in Miracles textbook is the following statement: “Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists.” At first glance this may seem to make no sense! But when you think of reality as being the creation of divine Love, the reflection of God (Love), and this is all that is real, then anything unlike God, good, is nonexistent -- hence its unreality is exposed. The realization that all attack comes from within is an eye-opener! When we worry about lack of money, or possible illness, or what our neighbor might do, these are thoughts which seem to attack our invulnerability.  Actually our invulnerability as an expression of God cannot be attacked, but we certainly can think of ourselves as weak victims of life's circumstances. Through a conscious choice to reject the unreality of material existence and claim our heritage as powerful spiritual beings, unafraid to stand up and declare our Oneness with God and all Its creation, we are able to transcend the fears we have thought to be inevitable. I love the new world which is being revealed through this understanding!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Every law of matter or the body, supposed to govern man, is rendered null and void by the law of Life, God. Ignorant of our God-given rights, we submit to unjust decrees, and the bias of education enforces this slavery." Science & Health Page 380:32-4

Friday, January 24, 2014

January 25, 2014 - What Does it Mean?

"Wonderment"
Primal Image
 by Sandy Wythawai Starbird
ACIM Workbook Lesson #25
"I do not know what anything is for".

Being in the business of selling art gives me lots of practice in realizing "I do not know what anything is for"! Often I've advised prospective buyers to go with how the piece they're considering makes them feel. Does it bring a smile to your face? Will it add beauty and grace to your life? If it does these things, then don't miss your chance for that! And from the other side, the artists we represent bring forth their art from Love. One of our artists describes her style as abstract naturalism. Her love of nature glows forth in every painting she brings to canvas. Another artist births what she sometimes calls primal images. These fabric creations are profoundly moving.. For me, they elicit emotions which perhaps have been hiding for years. But this is neither here nor there. When this art is made, it is not examined for what it does for either the artist or the appreciator of it. When I put it on the wall, it is not placed there because of how much money it will bring. My exercise today is to allow everything to Be, with Love expressed all around, and to let its real meaning and purpose come forth without my personal sense being projected onto it. How fun to listen while deeper meaning seeks my awareness!!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
"The chief difficulty in conveying the teachings of divine Science accurately to human thought lies in this, that like all other languages, English is inadequate to the expression of spiritual conceptions and propositions, because one is obliged to use material terms in dealing with spiritual ideas. The elucidation of Christian Science lies in its spiritual sense, and this sense must be gained by its disciples in order to grasp the meaning of this Science."

Science & Health Page 349:13-21

Thursday, January 23, 2014

January 24, 2014 - Clearing the Way to Peace

ACIM Workbook Lesson #24:
"I do not perceive my own best interests.”


A number of years ago the art gallery that I run was on the verge of closing. We needed more business and I had exhausted every avenue I could think of to save it. And then I stopped thinking. It had seemed impossible to exchange worry for inner knowing (or gnowing, as a dear friend says -- equating inward knowing to Gnosis). After I stopped wondering about all the "what-ifs", after I stopped worrying about financial obligations, after I stopped imaging worst-case scenarios, something happened. The words of Mary Baker Eddy transformed before my eyes, as well-loved verses took on new meaning. Meditations brought peace before unknown. And things began to happen in relation to Eureka Thyme in ways I would never have imagined, much less planned. I tell you this story to remind myself of the feeling that surrounded that time. I was in awe, and joyous, and at peace. As I'm sure you know, once you've tasted that, you want it all the time!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
"To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, today is big with blessings."

Science & Health Page vii:1-2

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

January 23, 2014 - Escape to Freedom

"Ozark Winter Sunset"
photo by Arthur Lau-Sed
ACIM Workbook Lesson #23:
"I can escape from the world I see by giving up attack thoughts."

I'm really tempted to tell you about all the attack thoughts I've been having lately toward coal companies and chemical producers, but I won't. (Actually, I just wrote two pages and then deleted them!) I won't do that to you, because feeding your attack thoughts does nothing to take mine away. This fertilizing of attack thoughts can be found everywhere, from coffee shops to churches, and it doesn't do a single thing to change the world. We are told today that the only way out of fear that will ever succeed is giving up attack thoughts. If the world we see is an effect, the only way to change this hallucination is to alter the cause: our thought. Some may ridicule this idea, and for those who do I only ask them if any of the material manipulations have ever in all of history affected a change? Did our civil war free the slaves? It was a beginning, of course, but many people stayed in bondage long past when laws were enacted. It takes a change of thought. Let's free ourselves today -- and forever! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Legally to abolish unpaid servitude in the United States was hard; but the abolition of mental slavery is a more difficult task. The despotic tendencies, inherent in mortal mind and always germinating in new forms of tyranny, must be rooted out through the action of the divine Mind." Science & Health Page 225:22-28

New Today

Friendship

My cat, Scout, and our neighbor, Maggie “The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companio...