February 5, 2014 - How Do I See?

"Aaron at Zion NP"

ACIM Workbook Lesson #36

"My holiness envelopes everything I see."

Markawasi, Peru is found high in the Andes Mountains in South America. This is the site where there are hundreds of figures, faces, and various shapes which may be seen in the living stone. There is much speculations concerning the origins of these fabulous monuments. Yet some people cannot see them. As shown by time-lapse photography, these illusive figures are more obvious at some times of the day than at others. I would suppose it also is predicated (as so many things are) on whether we want to see or not. While watching a documentary on this subject, I was repeatedly reminded of its metaphorical relationship with our spiritual study. The very first Wayne Dyer book I read jumped out at me because of its title: When You Believe It, You'll See It. This is the exact opposite of our material basis of truth: When I see it, I'll believe it! These stone faces are the same way. They are easily overlooked if you don't want to see. So as I go through this day seeing my holiness enveloping everything, I shall keep in mind that many things are beyond my ability to see. But that's okay, because knowing they're there is enough for now.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"As mortals gain more correct views of God and man, multitudinous objects of creation, which before were invisible, will become visible. When we realize that Life is Spirit, never in nor of matter, this understanding will expand into self-completeness, finding all in God, good, and needing no other consciousness."

Science & Health Page 492:7-11

February 4, 2014 - I Am ...

"Snowy Ozark Sunset"
photo by Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook lesson #35

"My mind is part of God. I am very holy."

A good friend has struggled with depression all her life. She feels her existence has been a series of horrible events, occasionally interrupted by happy times which inevitably end in pain. In an attempt to escape this existence, she has turned to alcohol, drugs, and God. But the judgmental God she sees makes deals with her, and never deems her worthy of favor. The repetition of the past seems to be in her thought constantly, affecting her every action. By accepting today's lesson which tells us that we are actually holy as a reflection of God, the feelings of hopelessness and sadness can disappear in an instant! By releasing our material history, we are free to learn the reality of our spiritual Self, which is unending, uninterrupted good. It's a beautiful thing to see someone realize the nothingness of their personal history, and to realize the wondrous peace which lies within. I think of God as defined by Mary Baker Eddy: Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love. Divine Mind is a palpable presence, realized when we release false belief. To misquote a well-known Bible verse: Let this Mind be you, which was also Christ Jesus. This Mind is you, and me, and everyone, because it is God, which is omnipresent, omniscient, always.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Immortal ideas, pure, perfect, and enduring, are transmitted by the divine Mind through divine Science, which corrects error with truth and demands spiritual thoughts, divine concepts, to the end that they may produce harmonious results."

Science & Health Page 259:26-31

February 3, 2014 - Scatter Peace

ACIM Workbook Lesson #34:

"I could see peace instead of this."

Family disputes, contentious work situations, people acting in ways we think to be wrong -- every day we witness situations which give us opportunities to see peace. Even if we're not directly involved in these scenarios, we are given the opportunity to "see peace instead of this". We are learning to sit quietly, with Love, and watch how that spiritual truth brings healing. Peace is inherent in every seemingly volatile situation. A calm glow is brought forth when Love is felt within! By practicing peace, we are allowed to witness its inevitable spread through everything it touches. I have numerous opportunities to practice this with my dog. He exhibits aberrant, aggressive behavior towards people and other dogs. It's difficult for me to not become aggressive myself! I've witnessed calm, assertive behavior on my part bringing this little bundle of nervousness to a relaxed state, but all too often I simply join with him in his tense communication. So today I scatter Love everywhere, with particular attention to myself, as I watch Its manifestation grow.  

   

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Truth and Love enlighten the understanding, in whose 'light shall we see light;' and this illumination is reflected spiritually by all who walk in the light and turn away from a false material sense.”

Science & Health Page 510:9-12

February 2, 2014 - Shifting Perception

"Dismal Creek"
photo by Gerry Toler

ACIM Workbook Lesson #33:

"There is another way of looking at the world."

     

This lesson asks us to recognize that we can shift our perception of the world in both its outer and inner aspects. We are asked to look at things around us, and then to look at our thoughts. This is to be done casually, with no judgment, only noticing. Okay. I'm looking around the room. The first thing I see is a lamp which was bought at a Clear Spring School auction. Interestingly, it was donated by Victorian Reflections, a shop which occupied the space Eureka Thyme Gallery now has. This lamp has a story. It brings back lots of memories and feelings within me, all lovely to remember. Now when I close my eyes and follow my thoughts, a long trail has opened up with memory links galore! I could follow them and spend a great deal of time living in the past. Or I can simply see it for what it is and ask myself why that lamp makes me smile. It represents to me light, beauty, happy times with children and friends. Whether this exercise brought me lovely thoughts or caused distress makes no difference, because they both need to be released. This doesn't mean that I must never feel the Love reflected by this lamp and its connections. That feeling is mine all the time. This release lightens the barriers I've built against Spirit. It helps me become more transparent and allows good, God, to be my only Sight. What an adventure this is!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Dear reader, which mind-picture or externalized thought shall be real to you,--the material or the spiritual? Both you cannot have. You are bringing out your own ideal. This ideal is either temporal or eternal. Either Spirit or matter is your model. If you try to have two models, then you practically have none. Like a pendulum in a clock, you will be thrown back and forth, striking the ribs of matter and swinging between the real and the unreal."

Science & Health Page 360:13-21

February 1, 2014 - See Love in Every Reflection

"Eureka Thyme"
photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #32:

“I have invented the world I see.”

I often wonder if we are hesitant to live from the heart because others will think we're foolish. When we insist on seeing as God sees rather than through the interpretations of human belief, we are often looked at askance! Shortly before Christmas, there were two large purchases made in my retail establishment. Shortly after Christmas, these checks given in payment were returned unpaid -- not because of insufficient funds, but because the account was frozen. I was advised by fellow shopkeepers and friends to take legal measures to get the money. This did not feel right to me. Instead, I wrote the woman a letter explaining my position; telling her that I wasn't a large business which could absorb the cost of bad debt; that our items were made by real people, with love, and weren't meaningless trinkets. After two weeks, I hadn't heard from her and so I checked with the authorities as to what my options were. And it turns out there were none, other than filing a civil lawsuit against her. I have often said that nothing was so horrible as to cause me to file suit against someone, and so this wasn't an option. So I waited to hear what to do. One of the pieces of art she had taken was very special to both the artist and me.The thought came to send her the artist's explanation of her art. When she received this, she immediately called us saying she had every intention of paying the debt. Others who knew of this situation were happy to hear about this, but immediately had questions as to when and how she would do so. But this doesn't matter to me. I know all is well. I don't need details, but will continue to see her spiritual perfection every time I think of her, seeing a world of Love in every reflection.  

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts." Science & Health Page 261:4-7

January 31, 2014 - What is Truth?

"Save the Ozarks"
digital depiction by Edward C Robison III

ACIM Workbook Lesson #31:

"I am not the victim of the world I see"   

Recently our book club of wonderful women met and discussed The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey. This author led environmental activists in the 1970s by waking us up to what we were doing in the name of progress. Our discussions turned to the topic of environmental destruction being perpetrated by utility companies in our area. In our distress, one friend stated emphatically that she just wanted to know the truth. What is the truth of this and other situations, and how do we find out what that is?? It's very easy to feel victimized in these situations. It seems as though "they" are going to do whatever they want and come up with reasons why it's necessary. I don't know and don't want to wonder why things are as they are. But I am excited and expectant of good as I watch individuals doing things to improve communications and provide knowledge! We each are doing this in our individual ways. One of my heroes is a man named Michael Moore who has dared question powers that be on topics most are afraid to broach. His latest documentary I watched is "Capitalism: A Love Story". While he shows us transgressions of government and corporations, he also tells of individuals and businesses that dare to challenge the accepted standards and make a difference. He gives us hope by showing us how we, too, can carry a light and spread it to others. And while we can never know what material truth is, as it is ever-changing and fickle, we can know spiritual Truth and allow it to lead our way.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Man is tributary to God, Spirit, and to nothing else. God's being is infinity, freedom, harmony, and boundless bliss."

Science & Health Page 481:2-4

January 30, 2014 - Sight to Vision

"Montana"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #30:

"God is in everything I see because God is in my mind."

Seeing everything as a part of us by looking within rather than without is the point of today's exercise. And this is not limited to what we can see with our eyes in the limited proximity of them. Close your eyes and see what pops into your thought and include that in your knowing. We are working toward changing sight to vision. I look at my sweet dog and see my experience of him. I close my eyes and envision all the Love expressed by all the dogs I have known. I feel the Love expressed by my parents and children and friends. I can feel the warmth of a spring day, smell the earth and flowers, see past my limiting thoughts to the ideas of Soul. 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"It is the illumination of the spiritual understanding which demonstrates the capacity of Soul, not of material sense. This Soul-sense comes to the human mind when the latter yields to the divine Mind." Science & Health Page 85:2-6