June 27, 2014 - Answered Prayer

ACIM Workbook Lesson #178

Central Theme: "God is but love and therefore so am I." Review of: #165 "Let not my mind deny the Thought of God." #166 "I am entrusted with the gifts of God."

How surprised would you be if your prayers were answered? I have a friend who tells me she's given up on God because she's never seen any proof. Upon questioning her, it turns out she has a laundry list of things she asks for regularly, and none of her wishes have come true. Once again, I feel we often confuse divine Love with Santa Claus. We may be asking some guy in the sky for special dispensation, rather than recognizing that this Principle is an eternal activity which we can plug into at any time. It's kind of like electricity: It's there, but it doesn't supply our needs unless we know how to utilize it. And the secret to plugging in is to not want anything! By not delineating what we think we need, but rather keeping our thoughts tuned to the divine Mind, all our needs are supplied. The nature of this Oneness insures that what we need comes to us, and goes out to others, and we needn't tell It what It is!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“How empty are our conceptions of Deity! We admit theoretically that God is good, omnipotent, omnipresent, infinite, and then we try to give information to this infinite Mind. We plead for unmerited pardon and for a liberal outpouring of benefactions. Are we really grateful for the good already received? Then we shall avail ourselves of the blessings we have, and thus be fitted to receive more. Gratitude is much more than a verbal expression of thanks. Action expresses more gratitude than speech.”

Science & Health Page 3:17-27

June 26, 2014 - Science & Spirituality

ACIM Workbook Lesson #177

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

Review of:

#163 "There is no death. The Son of God is free."

#164 "Now are we one with Him Who is our Source."

There is much talk nowadays about the melding of science and religion. In their traditional meanings, this would be impossible. Religion has taken on too many facets to be purely the knowledge of God. On many levels, it has become more political than spiritual. Science, on the other hand, means knowledge. But since its definition includes rational explanations and predictable results, it has long been left out of spirituality. While typical religion may never qualify under this definition, the knowledge of God certainly does. When Mary Baker Eddy discovered the science of the Christ in the 1860s, she first called it moral science. In her 600 pages of explanation, this science is shown to meet all the criteria to be called such. In this time of rapidly shifting perceptions, many people are grasping what this means and embracing the beauty and perfection of it. Mary would be pleased!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“When the final physical and moral effects of Christian Science are fully apprehended, the conflict between truth and error, understanding and belief, Science and material sense ,,, will cease, and spiritual harmony reign.”

Science and Health Page 288:10–14

June 25, 2014 - I Am ...

photo by Aaron Springston

One of our review topics for today includes the words "I am as God created me." I would be willing to bet that if you asked 100 people what that sentence means, you would get quite a few different answers. It's also a pretty good bet that many of those answers would be influenced in varying degrees by the Adam and Eve story or some other matter-based creation myth. In the spiritual creation story given us in the first chapter of Genesis, God made us in Its image. In the third chapter, there is another story entirely, one in which we are made from dirt and don't advance very far from that sorry beginning. As we learn more about our spiritual self as the expression of God, we realize we have far more choices than we have been taught. As powerful spiritual beings, we are not the victim of fate and circumstance, but are masters of the universe, because we are one with it and it with us!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Keep in mind the verity of being, — that man is the image and likeness of God, in whom all being is painless and permanent. Remember that man’s perfection is real and unimpeachable, whereas imperfection is blameworthy, unreal, and is not brought about by divine Love."

Science & Health Page 414:26-31

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