August 9, 2014 - Peace To My Mind

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #221

“Peace to my mind.  Let all my thoughts be still.”

What does peace mean to you? Thinking back through the years, at different times, it's meant different things to me. When I was a child, I didn't want peace because that seemed boring: excitement and adventure was what I craved. As a young adult, I thought that having a husband and plenty of money would mean peace. Later on when I had children, I thought when they grew up I would have peace! Now I see that peace isn't a personal desire or activity: it's a state of Mind. No matter how busy I am today, there will be moments to treasure, slipping into the the space between the thoughts and knowing the peace which is eternally ours.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Willingness to become as a little child and to leave the old for the new, renders thought receptive of the advanced idea. Gladness to leave the false landmarks and joy to see them disappear,--this disposition helps to precipitate the ultimate harmony. The purification of sense and self is a proof of progress. ‘Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.’"

Science & Health Page 323:32-6

August 8, 2014 - Choosing Peace

ACIM Workbook Lesson #220

photo from Arthur Lau-Sed

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #200 “There is no peace except the peace of God.”

Do you ever wonder how to choose peace rather than turmoil and negativity? I've recently found myself being cynical whereas I used to be a Pollyanna. I'm not going to waste time figuring out how this has happened, rather my time will be spent in choosing peace. When we need help, it shows up, and mine did when looking at last year's blog entry where I quoted a statement by Mary Baker Eddy. In it, she tells us the "secret"  of living the Science of the Christ. "It is seeing and hearing and repeating good only, at all times and under all circumstances, and in spite of everything that appears to the contrary." There is more to this statement than this (and it can be found in its entirety on the blog entry for August 6, 2013), but these words are what I will wake up thinking about and bring to mind continually throughout the day. This peace I aspire to is not for a select few, it doesn't run out, it's not difficult to access -- so just say "yes"!

Mary Baker Eddy quotes:

"Spiritual living and blessedness are the only evidences, by which we can recognize true existence and feel the unspeakable peace which comes from an all-absorbing spiritual love."

Science & Health Page 264:24-27

August 7, 2014 - Freedom

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #219

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #199 “I am not a body. I am free.”

Have you ever dreamed you could fly? My favorite freedom dream is one of running fast, sometimes leaving the ground and floating in mid-stride. Although I haven't had this recurring dream for some time, I can still fell the perfection of it. As I watch people dance and use their bodies in other life-affirming ways, I marvel at the beauty and grace expressed in these activities. Just as physical boundaries are broken and new records set, there is more to come in this so-called physical existence. We are learning of the limitlessness of God's ideas, of which we are One.   What is your highest ideal of freedom? 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"This mortal is put off, and the new man or real man is put on, in proportion as mortals realize the Science of man and seek the true model." Science & Health Page 408:22-26

August 6, 2014 - Am I Worthy?

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #218

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #198 “Only my condemnation injures me.”

"I'm not worthy!" When certain comedians said this in a silly movie, it seemed funny. But when I hear this coming from people in everyday conversations, even though they don't use these exact words, it's tempting to tell them that they are very much worthy!! This evening, I had dinner with a group of people who were going to the Passion Play here in Eureka Springs. One woman stated that she had mixed feelings about the play because no one was "good enough" to play the part of Jesus. She felt it was presumptuous and arrogant for anyone to do so. As you can imagine, it was all I could do to keep a smile on my face and not disrupt this gathering of people who were here to learn more about our sweet town. But I did. And I said a quick, silent affirmation of our goodness as the expression of God, the image of Mind, the reflection of Love. Jesus was here to teach us about our true Being, for which I am very grateful. 

Mary BakerEddy 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 497:24-27

August 5, 2014 - Gratitude All Around

ACIM orkbook Lesson #217

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.” Review: #197 “It can be but my gratitude I earn.

Gratitude is usually thought of as an outward action to be given, not received. But we have learned that what we give IS what we receive, and this is so with gratitude, also. Salvation often implies a thing to be sought after and earned through attrition of some sort. The salvation we speak of today is a realization that we are Love (God), that the thanks we give is a perpetual realization of this Being that we are, and by this knowing we live in Love and unending gratitude of All that Is.  This understanding brings us to the Truth of Being. The understanding of Truth is salvation, for which I am very grateful.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“One kind of faith trusts one's welfare to others. Another kind of faith understands divine Love and how to work out one's ‘own salvation, with fear and trembling.’ ‘Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief!’ expresses the helplessness of a blind faith; whereas the injunction, ‘Believe . . . and thou shalt be saved!’ demands self-reliant trustworthiness, which includes spiritual understanding and confides all to God.”

Science & Health Page 23:23-31

August 4, 2014 - Come Down From There!

ACIM Workbook Lesson #216

Central Theme: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.”Review: #196 “It can be but myself I crucify.”

It's easy to fall into erroneous thought. A friend recently caught me attacking others and crucifying myself. We were discussing sales in the gallery and I made a blanket statement, which I must admit I've made more than once. I stated that people were willing to spend lots of money on clothing to adorn their bodies, but they weren't willing to spend that same money to buy art and adorn their soul. My dear friend piped up and told me I was wrong. She said that purchasing clothing might well be adorning their soul every bit as much as art would bring grace to their lives. I'm very grateful, dear Mary Ann, for your insight which has opened my eyes to the crucifixion I had set up for myself. And I thank another friend for helping me see by sending me the following quote. Thank you both. Namastè.

Bicknell Young quote:

"Your cross is your own consciousness of evil, nothing more; and it has been on this cross that you have nailed yourself all these years. You crucify yourself, at the same time call to be taken down from the cross. It is up to you." From an article entitled "Finance", 1917

August 3, 2014 - Releasing the Future

"In-The-Moment Squirrels"
photo by Richard Quick

ACIM Workbook Lesson #215

Central theme: "I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me." Review: #195 "Love is the way I walk in gratitude."

Today's review tells us to release the future: What does that mean? We've learned that we must release the past in order to live in the present. "Those who live in the past are condemned to live there alone." (Einstein's Dreams, by Alan Lightman) But what of releasing the future? Does that mean we can't make plans and have dreams of what we'd like to do? No, of course not. It simply means that we mustn't allow those "what-if" situations to control us. If we take the future to the level of overwhelming worry, affecting our every moment in the present, then it's time to release it! I feel there is nothing wrong with thinking about the past or the future, unless it begins to be our focus and affects our every action. No fear of the future nor regret in the past places me in the now. I revel in finding out what that means!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“As the crude footprints of the past disappear from the dissolving paths of the present, we shall better understand the Science which governs these changes, and shall plant our feet on firmer ground.”

Science & Health Page 224:4-7