June 22, 2014 - I Am Not Helpless

ACIM Workbook Lesson #173

Central Theme: “God is but love and therefore so am I.” Review of:

#155 "I will step back and let Him lead the way." #156 "I walk with God in perfect holiness."

Today there was a bird trapped between the roof and the ceiling in my gallery. We could hear its frantic cheeps and flutterings for hours. It would pause for a few minutes, then start again. I felt helpless. When a customer commented on it, I told her I was heartbroken, but there was nothing I could do. And that woke me up!! I talk about kinship with all life, I espouse Oneness, and I profess to practice spiritual discernment. What's the use if I think I'm helpless?? I immediately began to affirm the ever-presence of divine Mind, guiding all action. I silently told the little bird to calm down and look around, to look for light and go to it. I assured her that if she got into that space, she could get out of it! And that was the last I heard of the bird. Did it find its way out or die? Which "light" did it go to? Whichever one it was, its friends were very happy. It was well after dark when I walked to my car, and along the road in the trees many birds were chirping in the same voice I'd heard all afternoon. I don't remember birds singing at night on that stretch of road. Maybe they always do and I just haven't been listening. Whatever the case, the bird and I are at peace.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"All of God’s creatures, moving in the harmony of Science, are harmless, useful, indestructible."

Science & Health Page 514:28-30

June 21, 2014 - New World Every Day

"June Snow, Utah"

ACIM Workbook Lesson #172

Central Theme: “God is but love and therefore so am I”

Review of:

#153 “In my defenselessness my safety lies.”

#154 “I am among the ministers of God.”

"I wake up in a new world every day!" I jokingly tell people this when I don't remember that I know them, yet they're repeat customers to Eureka Thyme. As often as not, someone will tell me it's a good thing to wake to a new world -- and I agree. Waking up to a new world, letting go of so-called mistakes, releasing long-held beliefs -- what's wrong with that?! Some might think this is silly, and that I would be giving up the good things along with the bad. But what if being One really is true? We would all be a reflection of the one divine Mind and hence, when allowed to go there, would be accessing the thought of all that Is. Nothing true would or could ever be forgotten. It's all right there, awaiting our acknowledgement. Some call this knowledge the Akashic records. The knowledge of everything that ever was or will be. It's mine today -- even if I don't remember your name!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Teach your student that he must know himself before he can know others and minister to human needs. Honesty is spiritual power.”

Science & Health Page 453:14-15

June 20, 2014 - Starting Over

"Utah Snow in June"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #171

Central Theme: "God is but love and therefore so am I."

Review of:  #151 "All things are echoes of the Voice for God." #152 "The power of decision is my own."

Do you ever seem to have problems with a particular person? If you're like me, it seems the same script runs over and over and we always end up at the same spot. The owners of the building I rent for my business and I have been going around and round in that pointless circle for quite some time now. I won't go into details, as I've realized that's part of the "problem". I seem to have fallen into the trap of replaying past conversations, planning future conversations, and generally being disgruntled about certain things in our relationship. This morning I vowed to stop being self-righteous and really listen for guidance in this situation. Before making a phone call to my landlady, I sat down and reminded myself that we're all doing the best we can, and we're all in this together. I saw the whole world vibrating with the divine Love that I know is everywhere, supreme in its presence. We had the best conversation we've had in a year and a half. While I had been thinking of her as uncaring and arrogant, she had been thinking of me as pushy and stubborn. We cleared the air and she stated, "Let's start over right now." Wow! Divine Love really does meet every need, when we express it rather than just think about it.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Individuals are consistent who, watching and praying, can 'run, and not be weary; . . . walk, and not faint,' who gain good rapidly and hold their position, or attain slowly and yield not to discouragement. Imperfect mortals grasp the ultimate of spiritual perfection slowly; but to begin aright and to continue the strife of demonstrating the great problem of being, is doing much.”

Science & Health Page 254:1-15

June 19, 2014 - Choose Again

ACIM Workbook Lesson #170

“There is no cruelty in God and none in me.”

As I was cooking dinner, a neighbor stopped by and asked a question about my flower garden. I stepped outside to talk to her, forgetting about the food on the stove. When I came back in, it was burned. I immediately thought cruel thoughts about my sweet neighbor, blaming her for the ruined meal. Wait a minute!! She didn't ask me to walk outside and chat for ten minutes, and if she had, I could have thought to turn off the burner. I had many options in this situation. My reaction of immediately looking for someone to blame opened my eyes to what I've been doing the last few days. While working in the gallery last weekend, three people from my past came in: one took me back to school in the 60s, one to the 70s for the "years the locusts ate", and one to the 80s and a doomed love affair. My reaction of wanting to blame my neighbor for the burned food made me sit down and think. I can try to apportion blame, but the fact is I have slipped back in thought to a time when my heart was hardened and, very possibly, my reactions were cruel. I am very grateful for today's workbook lesson which has reminded me there is no cruelty in God, and none in me. I am a reflection of divine Love. I'm not responsible for anyone else's actions, only mine. What I'm doing right now redeems the past because now is all there is. I am grateful for these insights -- and the fact that I can "choose again"!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.”

Science & Health Page 497:24-28

June 18, 2014 - Claiming Grace

ACIM Workbook Lesson #169

“By grace I live. By grace I am released.”

It is so easy to feel put-upon! I awoke this morning to thoughts of what to do about things which had gone awry. A water overflow problem in a building I'm responsible for was foremost in thought. Next I pondered what to do about a printer I had ordered, which had not been delivered although I had been charged for two of them. Rather than fall into a why-me way of thought, I decided to take my time and savor the morning readings and meditations to which I've become accustomed. We are told in today's Course in Miracles workbook lesson that grace is inevitable for the prepared mind. And so I prepared to meet the outside world, with no thought for what that might entail, but with a single-minded desire to be an expression of divine Mind. Soon a dear friend with a wet/dry vacuum and a strong back was helping me with the wet carpet. And he even took me to lunch! I trust I've been led to speak to just the right person to solve the printer delivery maze. By grace I live ...

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "Throughout all generations both before and after the Christian era, the Christ, as the spiritual idea, — the reflection of God, — has come with some measure of power and grace to all prepared to receive Christ, Truth." 

Science & Health Page 333:19-23 

June 17, 2014 - Grace

"Tiny Praying Mantis"
photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #168

“Your grace is given me. I claim it now.”

A definition of grace from Webster's Dictionary: "Divine Love and protection bestowed freely on people." As I was closing the gallery, a couple of young women came in. They were a little tipsy and were very appreciative of what they were seeing. One of them said that she didn't have any talent because she had been sexually abused as a child. I smiled at her and she said, No, I mean it! Every day for years and years! I told her I wasn't smiling about what she had said or what had been done, but I was smiling at the part of her which had never been touched by any of this. I told her she had lots of talent and to try different things she found interesting until she found something that she really loved -- and then keep on doing it! By practicing kindness when faced with hardness of heart, meekness when those around us are aggressive, loving those who seem unlovable, and paying it forward at every opportunity, we acknowledge the  grace which is our true heritage. By this, we learn what it feels like, not just what it means.

Mary Baker Eddy quote: “What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds."

Science & Health Page 4:3-5

June 16, 2014 - Frozen Thought

photo courtesy of Creation Spirit

ACIM Workbook Lesson #167

“There is one life, and that I share with God.”

After watching the hit movie, Frozen, someone told me that it had been attacked as being Hollywood propaganda for a liberated way of living which particular groups think of as ungodly. I decided to see if I could turn the movie into a vehicle to push what I think, so here it is -- without going into too much detail. We are frozen in a thought system which has been perpetuated by years of dogma and habit. When someone happens to realize their  power as the expression of divine Mind, they are labeled as bad, perhaps someone to be feared, maybe even told to hide their light so as not to upset others. So they hide until someone finds out how fabulous they are, then they either deny it and continue to hide or accept themselves in all their glory -- and they shine. Shining lights up the world from the inside out . "For the wakened mind is one that knows its Source, its Self, its Holiness." (ACIM)   

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Question: What is Life?

Answer: Life is divine Principle, Mind, Soul, Spirit. Life is without beginning and without end. Eternity, not time, expresses the thought of Life, and time is no part of eternity. One ceases in proportion as the other is recognized. Time is finite; eternity is forever infinite. Life is neither in nor of matter. What is termed matter is unknown to Spirit, which includes in itself all substance and is Life eternal. Matter is a human concept. Life is divine Mind. Life is not limited. Death and finiteness are unknown to Life. If Life ever had a beginning, it would also have an ending.”

Science & Health Pages 468:26-6