June 24, 2014 - At Home with Happiness

photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #175

Central Theme: "God is but love and therefore so am I." Review of: #159 "I give the miracles I have received." #160 "I am at home. Fear is the stranger here."   

I'll always remember a man who came in the gallery and told me that he thought Eureka Springs was stuck in a time warp. He seemed to think this was a detrimental thing so I considered what he meant. Of course, it's not wise to be stuck in the past, so I asked him if that's what he thought. Yes, he said, but even more than that he found the people here to be oblivious to the outer world. He actually asked if we watched television and had computers here! He said that everyone he had met was happy, and if we knew what was going on in the world we wouldn't be. Wow!! I really liked that he saw us in this way, but, as we know, it's more than that. I know many happy people who are aware of what's going on out there. Perhaps this is what is meant by "being in this world but not of it". This happiness we exhibit is being shared unselfishly with all who wander into our world. We give our acceptance of Life to everyone we meet. With the understanding that God is love and so am I, there is nothing to fear. To live Love is to claim peace and express it in every action and thought. This man caused me to examine what it is which allows us to live this way, and I'm happy with what I see! I'd be willing to bet he's had a few thoughts along these lines, too! He's probably out there scattering joy just like we're doing here in Eureka. It's contagious!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Beauty, wealth, or fame is incompetent to meet the demands of the affections, and should never weigh against the better claims of intellect, goodness, and virtue. Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it.”

Science & Health Page 57:15

June 23, 2014 - Am I Projecting?

ACIM Workbook Lesson #174

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

photo by Arthur Lau-Sed

Review of: #157 "Into His Presence would I enter now." #158 "Today I learn to give as I receive."

I made a blanket statement about a lot of people the other day. It still echoes in my ears and I've examined why I said it. I said to a friend when he inquired about business: "Everyone seems to be dull, uninterested and uninteresting." Quickly, I remembered that when I'm pointing a finger at someone, three are pointing back at me. Yes, I was being uninterested and uninteresting, and yes, I was accusing everyone else of being the same. Yikes! This is definitely not being the reflection of divine Love, and it's most certainly not giving what I am receiving as the expression of God. I am so grateful for dear friends who provide a sounding board, helping me to see the error of my ways. Namasté!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"One moment of divine consciousness, or the spiritual understanding of Life and Love, is a foretaste of eternity."

Science & Health Page 589: 8-11

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