June 29, 2014 - Living Grace

ACIM Workbook Lesson #180

Central Theme: "God is but love and therefore so am I." Review of: #169 "By grace I live. By grace I am released." #170 "There is no cruelty in God and none in me."

Although I don't beat myself up over the past, occasionally reminders pop up which I'd rather not acknowledge, but when I saw our review topics, I knew they must be faced. I used to have a very volatile personality. In conversation with a dear friend, I related a few incidents of anger -- which caused me to remember even more occasions. It's certainly not something I'm proud of, but I am happy that those highly-emotional feelings are gone. Many factors were involved in moving past those times, including becoming a parent, stopping alcohol consumption, and a sincere desire to live a life centered in divine Love. I'm glad this has come up now, because I've noticed a certain hardening of heart recently. There may be many supposed reasons for this, but none of them matter to me. I'd rather skip all the causes and return to the one Cause: God. Today I will reread ACIM workbook lessons #169 and 170, listening for inspiration while knowing "God is but love and therefore so am I." I want to feel what it means that "By grace I live. By grace I am released." May I fully accept that "There in no cruelty in God and none in me."

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Christian Science commands man to master the propensities, — to hold hatred in abeyance with kindness, to conquer lust with chastity, revenge with charity, and to overcome deceit with honesty. Choke these errors in their early stages, if you would not cherish an army of conspirators against health, happiness, and success."

Science & Health Page Page 405:5-11

June 28, 2014 - Deathless Life

photo courtesy of Creation Spirit

ACIM Workbook Lesson #179

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

Review of: #167 "There is one life, and that I share with God."

#168 "Your grace is given me. I claim it now."

I joyously accept the fact that Life is deathless! But then I try to turn that immortality into material existence. I imagine myself going into the "afterlife" in this body, with these feelings, seeing others I love in their bodies with their individuality intact. I may get very upset if anyone tries to tell me differently! I think it's comforting to believe that life beyond the "pearly gates" will be just like this one is -- except better! But wait a minute. If we are spiritual right now, not material, if we are One by virtue of being an idea of God, then we are joined with everyone we love right here and now. We needn't wait until we die to be together because we've never been apart! No one of us knows exactly what will happen after the change we call death. But by listening to those who have more experience than I do in such matters, I am gaining a sense of what seems plausible and what doesn't. One thing I'm absolutely sure of is that there is nothing to fear and nothing to lose. Life is eternal right now!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"If the Principle, rule, and demonstration of man’s being are not in the least understood before what is termed death takes mortals, they will rise no higher spiritually in the scale of existence on account of that single experience, but will remain as material as before the transition, still seeking happiness through a material, instead of through a spiritual sense of life, and from selfish and inferior motives."

Science & Health Page 290:3-10

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