April 25, 2014 - New Heaven, New Earth

ACIM Workbook Lesson #115

Review of: #99 "Salvation is my only function here."

#100 "My part is essential to God's plan for salvation."

The beauty of nature inspires me to be more aware and in tune with the rhythm of Life. Leaving habitual behaviors behind opens us to new-old thought and the experiences which come with this spiritual sight. Perhaps inspired by Earth Day activities, my thoughts go to sustainable farms, organic and pure food, happy animals, pesticide-free vegetables! How wonderful to attend farmers' markets and actually talk to people who grow our food. In the last fifty years, the production of food has changed so drastically that most of our young people have no idea where it actually comes from. And, in too many cases, we don't want to know. Every decision I make at the supermarket casts a vote for the process involved in its production. Every dollar I spend at a Farmers' Market also casts a vote. I want food produced with love. As I release all guilt, as I see that forgiveness is there for the realization of it, new worlds become visible. The New Earth has always been here. Now we're remembering it, and discovering heaven Within. 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Were this new heaven and new earth terrestrial or celestial, material or spiritual? They could not be the former, for the human sense of space is unable to grasp such a view.”

Science & Health Page 572:28-2

April 24, 2014 - Accepting Your True Self

ACIM Workbook Lesson #114

Review of:  #97 "I am spirit."

#98 "I will accept my part in God's plan for salvation."

The knowledge that we are Spirit and the understanding of what that means allows us to live by divine law rather than material belief.  It's difficult to accept that we are so much more than we ever thought! We tend to continue behaviors which are comfortable, rather than opening up to a whole new paradigm of thought and action. As an example of our resistance to change: In the 1970s, IBM wanted to change the traditional keyboard on typewriters. The setup is based on something which is no longer valid, and many of the most-used letters are assigned to fingers which are typically the least-used. Also, why wouldn't we want to exchange the question mark and the slash mark, saving oodles of shifts in the process? The option of testing a new keyboard was given to those of us who had purchased an IBM Selectric typewriter. The hoped-for improvements were cancelled because the great majority did not want to change. Will we accept the changes which  come with the admission that we are really, truly spiritual? What a grand adventure we have in store!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Question.--What is the scientific statement of being?

Answer.--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 468:8-15

April 23, 2014 - Divine Law or Material Rules?

photo by Steve Shogren

ACIM Workbook Lesson #113

Review of:

#95 "I am one Self, united with my Creator."

#96 "Salvation comes from my one Self."

As a society, it seems we have gone overboard with rules, don't you think? For instance, look at our tax laws! When we look to Spirit to guide and govern every action, there is no need for a multitude of laws to tell us what we can and cannot do. Take, for instance, laws which tell us how and who to love. Love cannot be legislated. So many of the laws we are expected to live by have no purpose other than to satisfy the control freaks who made them. Personal government is not dictated by material laws. No matter how many mandates we make in the name of safety, there will still be trees that fall down without prior notice. When we are governed by divine Law, which is heard when listening to that "still, small voice" within, we truly can live by the Golden Rule of doing unto others as we would have them do unto us. Living by this rule of Oneness results in a peaceful feeling. If uneasiness is bouncing around in my chest, it's time to wonder why! I want to be governed by the intuitive feeling which comes from listening with spiritual sense. Ah -- At-One-Ment!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Atonement is the exemplification of man's unity with God, whereby man reflects divine Truth, Life, and Love.”

Science & Health Page 18:1-3

April 22, 2014 - Peace and Joy Are Yours

ACIM Workbook Lesson #112:

Review of:

#93 "Light and joy and peace abide in me" 

#94 "I am as God created me."

I met a woman today who was very busy. As she rushed about the laundry mat she talked non-stop. At one point, she said, A woman's work is never done. And a bit later she told me it was good to be busy, because if you weren't busy, you would be thinking too much, and that would make you unhappy. Wow. And I suppose she's right, if your thought is muddled and circular and leading nowhere other than fear and guilt. How grateful I am to have a spiritually-centered curriculum which leads me to peace, joy, and harmony. I sent her peace while we talked. I send it to you now! Namaste'.  

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The harmony and immortality of man are intact. We should look away from the opposite supposition that man is created materially, and turn our gaze to the spiritual record of creation, to that which should be engraved on the understanding and heart “with the point of a diamond” and the pen of an angel."

Science & Health Page 475:13-22

April 21, 2014 - Divine Principle

ACIM Workbook Lesson #111

Review of:  #91 “Miracles are seen in light." #92 "Miracles are seen in light, and light and strength are one.”

When I first encountered A Course in Miracles writings, I was bothered by the use of the word "miracle". In Christian Science, I've learned that what we tend to think of as a miracle is actually the unfolding of divine law. In most cases, when someone says, "It's a miracle", there's the implication that material laws have been set aside for something unbelievable to happen. There is often the assumption that God has intervened and caused things to occur which otherwise wouldn't have. So I would cringe when hearing the word miracle. I have come to see that A Course in Miracles is using this term in much the same way as Mary Baker Eddy refers to it. It is the revealing of divine Principle, which is seen by replacing material illusions with spiritual sense. This experience is referred to in Science and Health as being "not supernatural, but supremely natural". I love that we are seeing ourselves as complete beings, utilizing the so-called sixth sense in everyday life, and not being surprised when "miraculous" things happen! When we wash away the dust of material belief, the light of Truth can shine through, giving us strength where we before thought we were weak. We need not worry about which road to take when we trust our inner knowing, our intuition, our true Self.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The miracle introduces no disorder, but unfolds the primal order, establishing the Science of God's unchangeable law."

Science & Health Page 135:6-8

April 20, 2014 - Resurrection

ACIM Workbook Lesson #110

“I am as God created me.”

What does the Easter story mean to you? I see it as a tale which illustrates the death of false beliefs and the resurrection of thought to the Truth of being. Jesus was here to teach us that we are all the children of God, that we are all capable of far more than we realize, and that we are all immortal. And he did teach these things, but people have diluted the message throughout the years. You would think such a lesson of power and freedom would grow in thought rather than dissipate, but it has not. At this point in time, we seem satisfied living a mortal life of fear and guilt. Perhaps it's easier than accepting the majesty of our Being. I'm not sure why we don't jump up and down in celebration of Truth! Truth is that we are not mortal sinners, but rather immortal reflections of All that Is. We crucify ourselves on the cross of belief and stay there because we don't know how to get down. Jesus told us to know the Truth and be freed. This Truth is that the kingdom of heaven is Within. No one needs to help us down, we don't need anyone to clear the path to God, because it's already here inside, waiting to be found. Today I want to celebrate more than just having good food and people who love me. I want to look deep within and find what Jesus told me was there, and be grateful for that knowledge.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Resurrection: Spiritualization of thought; a new and higher idea of immortality, or spiritual existence; material belief yielding to spiritual understanding.”

Science & Health Page 593:9-11

April 19, 2014 - Let Go and Rest

ACIM Workbook Lesson #109

“I rest in God.”

To rest in God frees us from all planning and worry.To give away all belief in and living from past experience clears the way to knowing God. To know God means to know ourselves, and to demonstrate Truth in our every thought and action. Although I find this spiritual practice invigorating, not everyone feels the same. I know people who think they would be giving away their individuality if they let go of their personal history. I find the opposite to be true. When I lose a sense of personal responsibility, when I let go the beliefs I've had about certain circumstances, there is a pure empty space in thought. This space is now open to recognize what has always been there: Love. Divine Love. This is our power: the ability to accept the good that is there for us, the ability to rest in God. 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The miracle of grace is no miracle to Love. Jesus demonstrated the inability of corporeality, as well as the infinite ability of Spirit, thus helping erring human sense to flee from its own convictions and seek safety in divine Science"

Science & Health Page 494:15-19